photos by Expecting To Fly
The following page is one of a series of posts to the Neil Young mailing list Rust on the amazing August 2005 concerts at the original Grand Ol Opry historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The series reveals the pure ethic of a Neil Young fan: "Don't Be Denied!" Here are Rustie John Duncan's exhaustive tales from Nashville in 10 parts.
Postcard from Nashville Part 1 Postcards from Nashville From:
"John Duncan" <dunca@...>
Go to Postcard from Nashville Part 10
A Concert Odyssey by John Duncan
Date:
Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:19
pm
Subject:
Postcard from Nashville Pt 9 Happy ending and Closing credits
So to finish off a fantastic couple of days, I thought I'd jot down
what is buzzing around my sleep deprived head now.
1. Prairie Wind. The discipline of the filming really brought the
best out of a spontaneous and heartfelt work. I can't wait to get it
in my cd player and fall in love with it even more. I can't wait for
the Demme dvd.
2. Neil. There is real raw-hearted human feeling in this record and
it pulsates from the PW songs. But I love him for not letting
himself wallow in it. The music is steeped in reflection and regret
and loss, but in the end he makes himself move on from reflection
and finds childlike joy in his family, his musical heroes, his
guitar and his belief in human beings and music. It stills your
heart for six songs and then lifts it up again. I love that he can
still do that to me after all this time.
3. My rust friends. I can't express how much fondness for life and
living we've shared here over the past two days. We've been
mischievous, we've laughed, we've broken traffic regulations, we've
eaten at Wendy's in Smyrna TN, drunk at Tootsies, and talked and
talked and talked about everything. And been part of two stunning
shows that we'll never forget. I don't think I've made so many
friends I want to stay friends with for many many years. You all
made me feel like a kid again. You just can't buy a feeling like
that. Thanks.
4. Absent friends. It's been a privelige to share this with so many
people I don't really know. And I can't tell you how touched I've
been to find out that telling the story has been worthwhi;e and
helped some of you feel like you were almost here. It's a feeling
you don't normally get from professional journalism. What did we all
do before the internet let us talk to each other this way?
It really has been amazing, and who knows something wonderful could
still happen....I'm not leaving til tomorrow...
jd
Thrasher's Wheat - A Neil Young Archives
"Prairie Wind" Reviews
Concert Reviews of Neil Young