On the 17th Roel and I headed early to Amsterdam so we could walk
around the city until it was time for my First Neil Show Ever (and
His Thirteenth Or Something hehe, it's always special isn't it). He
showed me around, got to see the beautiful canals, took a zillion
pictures or so, met some cool venues as Paradiso and the Milky Way,
and had the mandatory taste of Homegrown goods in a cool sunny day.
Then, off to the venue!

I had decided not to hear anything off the US tour or the few dates
before Amsterdam. I had heard a song or two a long time ago, when the
US tour kicked off. But I really didn't know what to expect,
performance-wise. I did know the setlist he had been playing, though.
So the great gems he's unearthed lately were no surprise to me. I
told Roel how funny it was that I was most certainly sure I'd hear 2
o 3 Love Art Blues versions, for instance.

Anyway, we got close to the venue, but first got to the Rockefeller,
where a bunch of Rusties had gathered. I got to meet many cool people
there, who've had the pleasure to see so many Neil shows that I can't
even imagine what it must be like! We headed later to the venue and
there I was, among people I had only heard of/from through the
internet (people like Cor, Mario, Cornell, Tino and some other folks
but as I've mentioned my memory is really crappy, especially for
names. Sorry!). They were all really cool to me and were amused to
hear that would be my first Neil show ever, and even more to know
that I was going for the whole thing (which of course was their case
as well, hehe).

My 2/17 seat was way on the back, but the venue was small and the
seat distribution good enough that it didn't take away from the
experience one bit. We got to see Pegi first, but I was just too
psyched and couldn't really pay attention as I would normally do when
I get to see an artist or band I have never heard. Then the short
break, and then...

The Man. And his Old Guitars. Finally! It's hard to describe what it
felt like, but I guess I don't have to. Of course he kicked off with
From Hank To Hendrix as expected, and all I could do was stay still.
Listen. Feel the vibes in the venue. See the guy playing his guitar,
like he started doing many decades ago, way before I was born. Like I
watched him play in many videos. This guy is the real deal. I've seen
so many artists going through the motions that I just think we
sometimes take for granted how great it is to have Neil still giving
it all. When he's playing and he gets into it, you just know. Anyway,
time started going back and forth in my mind. 1992. Jeez even then I
was so young! And Neil was already in his `comeback' (according to
the mainstream anyway) as the `Godfather of Grunge' (heh) who of
course decided to release his softer album in a long time shortly
afterwards (heh heh). I was so into my Neil high that it took me a
while to mention the take on the song had gotten a bit weird. That's
when I had my `shut up, asshole' concert experience. On my very first
song ever! Haha I knew Santiago –a friend of mine from Argentina-
would be amused by the fact. He likes the `grumpy' Neil stories, so
of course it was the first thing I told him after the show. But it
got tense at that time. As I was way on the back, I didn't notice
what the deal was until Neil angrily commented on it (besides, Roel
commented on the incident well enough already, and most of you will /
have already heard the tapes!). But I can tell you, the whole venue
seemed relieved when Neil said `That felt good!'.

Still, I think the take on Ambulance Blues `suffered' from the weird
vibes after this. And I say `suffered' like that because I think it
actually gave it an extra edge which made it into one of the rawest
takes I have ever heard. Intense! Gotta love this tune, I decided I
need to play this one myself during one of the harp bits in the show.

I knew I would most likely get that song on all shows (as it
eventually happened) but it still was a relief to hear it live for
the first time. My first ever complete song, heh. All the stories I
had read about the On The Beach period were floating in my head as
the Man was strumming his guitar, filling the air with sound in a way
no one else does. Beautiful, passionate version.

Then on to the 3rd song, my first unreleased tune to hear live! Sad
Movies, one of the many songs that made me make the connection (that
I saw some other people make) between these tours and the 1976 ones.
Acoustic and electric sets, all those songs from that period
reappearing, even the obscure ones. I realized again how lucky I was,
listening to Sad Movies. I would have never dreamt I'd get to see a
Neil show, let alone one with Sad Movies on it, period.

As many mentioned, Neil kept going back and forth, touching a guitar
neck here, a string there, a piano over there... But he kept it safe
with A Man Needs A Maid next. Not that I cared. I know many people
don't like this version, but I do like it. The `minimalistic' version
as I like to call it, heh. And you know, the song is so good I don't
think Neil would be able to screw it up even if he played it with a
vocod... err... Look! A three-headed monkey right behind you, Neil!
(Thank you, Monkey Island, for the inspiration).

Again, the set kept going as usual. Which was quite cool `cause next
was one of my favorite Neil piano tunes. A great version of No One
Seems To Know. Really, for a maniac like me to be there for the very
first time made me feel like getting `inside' one of the Sugar
Mountain setlists, haha, if you know what I mean. Simply unreal. The
crowd listened in absolute silence, which only made the whole
experience even stronger.

Harvest was next. A fuck-up here or there (`Did she tell you that /
Tell you that') included but sweet version nonetheless. Another song
that fits on what I think is Neil's current Journey Through The Past
(to the Homegrown era, of course). I was really paying close
attention to how Neil can carry a tune by his own, sometimes hardly
playing at all. Really mellow and spare, and yet it doesn't feel
incomplete or anything. He just knows what he's doing, I hope some of
that rubs on me after the three shows, lol.

But I said JTTP, and that's what we got next. Again, probably no big
news with the whole US setlists on Sugar Mountain to see, but still,
JTTP in my first concert! Neil has really put out a solid,
interesting setlist. I could notice some people close to me mistaking
the song for ATTG, by the way.

He then dedicated Mellow My Mind to the Dutch guy who wrote the
review Neil included in the TTN artwork (we later saw the guy on TV
at Roel's place). "Apparently it was not a very glowing review. But
it looked so cool to me `cause I didn't understand a damn thing it
said (...) So I used it in my album cover. I still love it when I
look at it". He then said the guy looked great and made a funny
remark about the `healthy lifestyle here' as I think Roel already
commented. I was really looking forward to this one. Gotta love MMM
on the guitjo. It's reaffirmed my idea that I should get one of those
sometime in the future (when I don't happily spend all my money in
Neil, hehe).

Love Art Blues next. A few years ago I would be seeking for a
recording of an odd show with a performance of this song. No more!
Another beautiful mellow tune that I was looking forward to. It's
crazy, how many great tunes from that era are still unreleased. It's
so cool we have recordings, and of such an amazing quality these
days. Thank you all, tapers out there, wherever you are, for your
GREAT job. It never hurts to remember the passion and work they put
on it.

That's where I couldn't tell anymore what Neil would normally do next
in his latest setlists. He started strumming the intro to Don't Let
It Bring You Down and after a few bars it almost seemed like he would
stop. Roel would tell me after the 3rd show was over how cool it was
to actually hear Neil's SOUND for real. And although he was talking
about Old Black at that time, I think the same could be same for his
acoustic sound as well. You know, the really low tuning, the lower
string rattling. You could feel it in the air.

Neil then started playing a few licks on his acoustic guitar. Like a
very loose solo. I wasn't sure what it was, but it felt familiar.
Then Cowgirl In The Sand kicked off, the strummed chords sounded BIG,
crisp, and I immediatly recalled Roel had been talking about how he
had missed this one and wanted Neil to play it. I knew he was having
a blast. Well, I was! It was my first CITS too, hehe.

The acoustic set was then over. I was absolutely pysched out. We met
outside, rambled like maniacs about this and that, and got ready for
some loud rock. It's so cool to have had the chance to share this
unique experience among rusties! It really added a LOT to the
experience. A guy working at the theater had really enjoyed the show,
by the way. He then asked me `who is this?' as Neil was about to
start the electric set. I asked him `Do you mean, who's playing with
Neil now?'. And he went something like `Oh it's him again? Playing
electric?'. He wasn't expecting subtle acoustic folkie Neil of the
first set to make some loud noise, but he was about to find out what
Old Black can do. Back in our seats, and Neil kicks off with Mr.
Soul. My first sight of rocking Neil. `Nuff said.

Don't Cry No Tears next. I really like how this band plays this tune.
Of course with Neil's music small details can enhance a song, and
there's a feel to this one that I love even though I can't put it
into words. Beautiful playing, and yet again I could see in a
flashback the many different versions I had heard on this one, and
yet it sounded totally fresh to my ears.

Dirty Old Man kicked in. Piece Of Crap, Part II? As many have told
me, this song becomes way cooler when you hear it live. I may now
even look at the album version in a different way. Hard rocking song.
Cool. Got Neil fired up for Spirit Road.

I thought about Vicente, the guy who introduced me to Neil (I
mentioned it at the very beginning but anyone brave enough to be
still reading will be forgiven for not remembering at all LOL, long
freaking post, I'm sorry but I have to get this out!). He's not a
Neil maniac as we are, but he does love the man. And he plays guitar
in a similar way, which I think is quite cool. He's a bit jazzier
than Neil but can get all fired up. I know he'll love the recordings.
I'll get them to him soon and see what he thinks! I wish he could've
been there too. Some smokey solos on this one. A few of the rusties
had told me before the show that they had seen a lot of Neil shows
and yet, they thought he really was on top of the game on this tour.
Now I realized they really meant it. By the way, the theater guy who
worked at the door by this time was sitting in an empty seat, banging
his head to the beat. Rock & roll, baby! :D

Bad Fog Of Loneliness was next. Perfect for this setting. And a bit
of relax before the next noise attack! Neil then introduced the band.
Neil introduced Ralph as his `old brother' and I had to explain the
guy that he didn't mean that literally.

Speaking of old brothers, Winterlong came next with Neil dedicating
it again to Danny. I could hear some aaaw's in the audience. I love
Ben Keith's sound, by the way. That guy has some taste! It's cool, as
I hear the recording of that night, how I can actually recall the
exact moment for some parts of it. What things came to mind, what
drew my attention, what words stuck to my mind.

Then came one I was really expecting to hear: Oh, Lonesome Me. I had
heard some average quality recording a few times a long time ago, so
my expectations to get the real deal were high. This song absolutely
blew my mind. I love this band's version and the beautiful harmonies
(especially on the part that goes `But I still love her so / And
brother, don't you know...') and the mournful harmonica bits sent
shivers up my spine. I could really feel Danny around on this one,
too. Wow. Great performance by Anthony Crawford as well.

Neil then told the story about his mom that others have commented on
and played The Believer. It was sweet. The tune itself sounds to me
like it could've fit on the Are You Passionate? album somehow. But
that was the last break Neil would give us...

A smoking No Hidden Path featured some of the most violent and
inspired playing by Neil. I'm getting the idea Neil is really nailing
this one on the tour, though I haven't heard other versions except
for the ones in Amsterdam. Before my whole adventure even started, I
thought I might get tired of hearing this long song on the three
shows, but no-freaking-way! This of course was only the first, but I
already knew by then I'd want to listen to this one over and over.
Whenever the `and with you I fear no hidden path' part came, the
lighting on stage got really intense and I don't know if I was
already too easily suggestible by then or what, but I loved that.
Neil follows no lead guitar book, of course. His solos are the sound
of him playing straight out of his heart. That's what makes him (and
every performance) so unique.

Encores on the way! Neil slightly hinted to the opening of The Loner,
as if only touching the neck of the guitar with the left hand's
fingers, no right hand strumming (almost sounds like that, could be
mistaken, though). And then the band started full on. As Joost
commented, slow, powerful version. Slow enough to make the song more
dense, yet without dragging. Cool stuff.

Last song of the night came next. The funky `what the hell is up with
the tempo' version of Cortez. As Roel mentioned, Neil sang the
opening verse a few times at first, as if he was trying to get the
feel to it, so he could fit in the lyrics. At first it sounded like
he had to pack the words up hurriedly for each verse and make it fit
somehow, but it got better as the song progressed. Some great wailing
solos, as you could expect. Listening to the last few minutes and
even though it sounds LOUD, noisy, dirty, it still manages to be so
emotional I can't listen to it without closing my eyes and being
there again.

Sorry for the RIDICULOUSLY long post, my next two will probably be at
least a bit shorter, I promise. But it was just so much going on...
Oh well.

My first Neil show was over. Back to discuss this and that with
Rusties outside, pat ourselves on the back for a great Neil
experience and off to Roel's where he quickly posted the fresh news.
We rambled on and on and had a hard time getting any sleep hehe. And
that was only the first show!

What else can I say...?

Thank you, Neil. I'll never forget.