"You Never Call" (Video by Jeff
Taylor - aka neilyoungsoloist)
JEFF
TAYLOR MEETS
NEIL YOUNG FACE TO FACE
By Jeff Taylor, May 25, 2010
I arrived at Constitution Hall four hours early to visit with other Rusties at
the Exchange Saloon on G Street in DC before Neil's solo concert on May 24,
2010. Although I met a bunch of cool Neil fans and wanted to hang out with them
longer than I did, I was itching to get to the Hall to see if I could spot and
actually meet Neil. I came prepared for such an occasion.
I brought with me a
cool 13x19 poster of Neil in his early days and three of my Neil Young Tribute
tee-shirts for Neil to autograph should I have the chance to actually meet my
“master”.
Glenn and I went around the back of the Hall around 5:30pm
and spotted Neil’s 18 wheeler and tour bus. His bus was very cool indeed. On the
top of his bus it looked to me like he had a 50’s Buick Roadmaster Sedan front
end and two of the same tops welded onto to the top of his bus.
We had no idea where Neil was so I asked everyone who
looked like they “belonged” there if they knew anything! After asking everyone I
could, “do you know where Neil is”, and getting different answers and mostly
denials each time I asked, I fortunately asked the right security guard who told
me that I just missed Neil getting into his bus by about five minutes. That was
all I needed to hear! I had Neil cornered and I was determined I was going to
get my chance to meet the Godfather!
About an hour later, Luke, Jason (and his wife), and Lynn
hooked up with me and Glenn and we all waited about eight feet from the main
door of Neil’s bus. We all waited for Neil to appear until about 8:10 when Glenn
and Lynn decided they weren’t going to wait any longer because they really
wanted to see Bert Jansch’s opening performance. Me, Luke and Jason wanted to
see Bert too but there was no way we were going to give up our opportunity to
meet Neil Young, especially me!
It was about 8:30pm and lo and behold the bus door opens
and there he was, big as life. There were security guards surrounding Neil and
one of them tried to stop me from getting to Neil to no avail. I “gently” pushed
my way past the security guy and walked right up to the man! I introduced myself
as Jeff Taylor of the DC Neil Young Tribute band. Neil looked me straight in the
eye about six inches from my face.
He looked old and disgruntled with his
scraggly beard, classic. Neil never said a word or cracked a smile. He looked
like he just woke up from a nap, grumpy, pissed off, disoriented, dazed and a
little unbalanced. Typical Neil I’ve always expected.
I handed him my 13x19 poster and he
autographed it for me. After he autographed my poster, he slowly walked to
the back door leading to the stage never stopping for anyone else. Those twenty
seconds of meeting Neil were surreal!
Me and my band mates immediately took off to get inside to
try and catch the remaining of Bert’s performance. We made it inside and caught
his last two songs. Bert was fantastic and I wish I could have seen his entire
show.
During the intermission after Bert Jansch’s show I walked
right up to the stage to check out Neil’s “toys”. Being a musician myself and
being in a tribute band to Neil Young I examined everything to detail. I can
just tell you that Neil has got some great toys that any musician would love to
play with.
Around 9:20pm the lights went down and out walks Neil.
There was no introduction from anyone, just a huge applause. Just like when I
met him outside, he walked in very slow, did not speak a word, sat down in his
chair, picked up his Martin guitar and started playing “My My, Hey Hey”. Of
course, I was in awe hearing him play “My My”. After “My My”, Neil went right
into “Tell Me Why”. Again I was blown away with the loud but clear and
outstanding sound of Neil’s voice and acoustic guitar.
One of my buddies somehow found a way to sneak in a video
camera and he captured the entire show except he forgot to hit the record button
for the first two songs. Bummer right?
The third song Neil did was “Helpless” with his Martin and
harmonica. He played it perfect and used some chords I’ll be using from now on.
After “Helpless”, Neil got up from his chair and walked over near his upright
piano and picked a guitar I did not recognize. I think it was a small body
Martin or Gibson acoustic. He played this guitar for the next three songs (which
are all brand new) called “You
Never Call”, “Peaceful
Valley” and “Love
And War”. The lyrics for “You
Never Call” seemed like they were written about/for his dad. Neil stood up
playing “You
Never Call” and sat back down to play “Peaceful Valley” and “Love
And War”. You could hear a pin drop in the audience while he played these
three new heart felt songs. I loved all three of them.
Photo by Jeff Taylor
Jeff Taylor's signed autograph by
Neil Young
and his ticket stub
Jeff Taylor's ticket (Scanned by Jason Guay)
Neil Young Live Twisted Road Tour
DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
May 24, 2010
Photo by Jeff Taylor (captured
from video camera)
Neil Young performing "Rumblin"
Photo by Jeff Taylor (captured
from video camera)
Neil Young performing "Leia"
Photo by Unknown
Neil Young's semi truck trailer
outside of
DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
May 24, 2010
Photo by Unknown
Neil Young's tour bus outside of
DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
May 24, 2010
Photo by Catherine's Friend May
24, 2010
Neil Young's stepping off of his tour
bus outside of
DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
May 24, 2010
-----Original Message-----
From: cat@mindfulmeetings.com
[mailto:cat@mindfulmeetings.com]
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 11:16 AM
To: jeff@neilyoung-tribute.com
Subject: Neil Young autograph signing
Jeff,
You don't know me, but I'm on your mailing list. I
just read your awesome newsletter about meeting Neil
on Monday. Are you sitting down?
Because I was right there with you, when Neil came out
of the bus. I was the woman wearing a black shirt,
jeans. I have short black hair. I took a video of
Neil coming off the bus and signing autographs. I
said to him 'Welcome to Washington' I can't say for
sure that I see you in the video. But I remember
seeing you out there waiting. I was wondering if
that might have been you! I tried to send the video
from my phone to my friend but it didn't work. So I
have to figure it out and then I can send it to you.
My friend took a photo. (Attached.) I believe you may
be in it! If you want to use it I'm sure she would
be cool with it as long as you acknowledge her name
as the photographer. (Taken on her iPhone)
My friend and I never bought tickets to see the show.
We went down to DAR to see what might happen. I
asked the Universe to 'see' Neil Young and was
granted my request. :)
I felt the ticket prices were exorbitant and there was
only one scalper selling at $175/ticket. Ouch. So, I
guess I will have to come see your show in Bethesda.
Soon!
Take care and see you soon! Enjoy the photo!
Catherine
Read Jeff's concert review on
THRASHER'S WHEAT
NEIL YOUNG NEWS
I was in awe when Neil strapped on his Gibson Les Paul (Old
Black) and started jamming on “Down By The River”. I’ve never seen anyone
including Neil play “DBTR” solo with an electric guitar. It was loud as hell,
distorted to the max and his bottom end notes punched right into my chest but
his vocals were crystal clear. Unbelievably cool as hell!
After “DBTR” and still wearing Old Black, Neil played “Hitchhiker”.
This was quite the treat for me since I’ve been working on this song
acoustically. He had what seemed to be a piano pedal where he would stomp down
on low notes for a very big bottom end sound. From all of the electric solo
songs he performed, I liked “Hitchhiker”
the best.
Out comes Neil’s Gretsch White Falcon! The audience was
yelling out requests and Neil just responded by tipping his head and taking a
drink of water from his harmonica table before starting “Ohio” on his White
Falcon. The audience went nuts over his solo electric version of “Ohio”. He
ended “Ohio” with a long stream of feedback while standing directly in front of
one of his Fender Tweed amps. I love this shit!
Then, as expected, Neil played another new song, “Sign Of
Love” with his White Falcon. Neil’s White Falcon had a bunch of phase shifting
or flanging which gave his electric guitar sounds and a feeling of a spaceship
“landing on water”.
Its keyboard time now for Neil. After rockin’ out on “Sign
Of Love”, he walked over to his upright piano and for the first time he actually
spoke to the audience. He started talking about little people, tiny little
folks, little kiddy’s regardless of who they belong to. He began playing yet
again another new song called “Leia”.
The song has a theatrical story telling “feeling” as if he was writing a song
with Carry Snodgrass. This song is without a doubt my favorite song he did the
entire night. I’ll be learning this tune and performing it as soon as possible.
Again, Neil slowly got up and walked over to his pump organ
which was on a two foot tall riser. He blew a few notes on his around-the-neck
harmonica while sitting down and pumping his organ with his feet. I knew he was
going to play “After
The Gold Rush”. Man was I right and he played it flawlessly. It sounded as
though I was listening to sounds from heaven on top of a Ferris wheel. Neil
walked to the front of the stage, made a prayer hand and bowed to the audience,
again never speaking a word.
Much to my surprise, Neil went to his White and Red Grand
Piano and like an angel he began singing “I
Believe In You”. This had to be the most emotional song he performed all
night. He played the piano and sung it perfectly with his eyes closed and head
rising up as if there was no one in the same room with him, just him and that
grand piano. I felt like I was in his living room.
Neil nonchalantly walked back over to get his White Falcon
and someone in the audience yelled out Powderfinger and Neil acknowledged his
request by shaking his head up and down but never speaking a word. He did not
play Powderfinger, he played another new song called “Rumblin’” which was a
mellow tune played electrically and again with the phasing and flanging like
“Sign Of Love”.
After his new tune “Rumblin’”, he switched again to his Old
Black Les Paul. I heard a bunch of crunching distortion and recognized within
the first five seconds that I was in for the treat of my life, “Cortez
The Killer” solo and electric! I have to tell you that I felt like Neil was
playing that song just for me. How did he know that I loved that song so much?!
Neil kept his Old Black on and began playing “Cinnamon
Girl”. While doing his signature bouncing moves on stage he jammed out on
Cinnamon girl as if Crazy Horse was there jamming right along with him. He even
played the one-note lead parts at the end. Very cool.
Neil left the stage and again never speaking a word. He
sort of tipped his hat to the screaming audience before slowly walking off
stage.
It only took Neil a few minutes before he came back on
stage for his encore. He came back wearing his White Falcon again. This time he
actually spoke to the audience saying, “Thank you, appreciate it. Thanks for
coming out. You never know what’s going to happen...”. Again, loud distortion
and another new song that I’ll be learning to end our show with, “Walk With Me”.
It was very obvious to me that he wrote this new tune to speak directly to his
loving fans. He did some very cool vocal techniques. He walked over to one of
his Fender Tweeds and sang into his harmonica mics. It reminded me of his Trans
and Arc days.
After a standing ovation Neil simply bowed his head, waved
goodbye and walked off the stage never speaking a word. I hurried to get back
outside to see if I could catch him again. It only took me about two minutes to
get outside where Neil’s bus was parked and when I got there, his bus was just
pulling away from the curb. Neil must have been in a hurry.
Meeting Neil for the first time and witnessing his solo
show was an extreme highlight of my life as I’m sure it was for every “Real
Neil” fan that came out to witness this fantastic performance. My favorite Neil
material is his solo acoustic songs. Although I would have loved to have caught
one of his more intimate solo acoustic shows, I have to tell you that I fell in
love all over again with Neil as he performed his new
