See Neil Young Trot Out 2 Tour Debuts At Latest Stop Of The Coastal Tour

Neil Young‘s Coastal Tour pulled in to Auburn, Washington on Thursday for a show at White River Amphitheatre. Young continues to dig into his massive repertoire with last night’s setlist including tour debuts of “I Am A Child” and “Homegrown.”

The 77-year-old musician, who has just two shows left on his first tour since 2019, played 21 songs in Auburn representing the most he’s performed since kicking off the tour in Los Angeles on June 30. Young opened the show at White River Amphitheatre with the same five songs that launched each Coastal Tour concert (“I’m The Ocean,” “Homefires,” “Burned,” “On The Way Home” and “If You Got Love.”) Next came “A Dream That Can Last” along with “Birds,” an After The Gold Rush gem dusted off one performance earlier in Ridgefield, Washington for the first time in public since May 15, 2019.

Neil Young switched between various acoustic guitars, electric guitar, piano and pump organ during his solo performance on Thursday. “Birds” was played on piano as was the “My Heart” that followed. The Sleeps With Angels deep cut has been a staple of the run after just five versions came between 1994 and 2019. Young went electric for “Vampire Blues” and “Prime Of Life” with an acoustic “Throw Your Hatred Down” breaking up the plugged-in tunes.

The current California resident moved from piano to electric guitar while delivering “When I Hold You In My Arms,” which returned to action this tour. Young hadn’t played the tune off 2002’s Are You Passionate? from Farm Aid 2001 through opening night of The Coastal Tour on June 30, 2023. Neil treated fans to the evening’s first tour debut, “I Am A Child,” next.

“I Am A Child” dates back to Neil Young’s days in Buffalo Springfield. The group featuring Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin, Bruce Palmer and Jim Messina recorded the song for their third and final studio album, 1968’s Last Time Around. Neil went acoustic for his first “I Am A Child” since the Harvest Moon gathering on September 14, 2019.

The multiple Rock Hall inductee stuck with Buffalo Springfield material for the ensuing “Mr. Soul” and then reeled off beloved favorites “Ohio,” “Don’t Forget Love,” “Heart Of Gold” and “Comes A Time” to close his set. Neil Young returned for an encore of new tune “Love Earth” and the late Ian Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds.”

Just when it appeared the concert was over, Neil Young came back to the stage for a second encore. Young unleashed a rollicking “Homegrown” in which he accompanied himself on harmonica while he strummed acoustic guitar. The acclaimed performer went a capella and was joined by those singing along in the audience for his first public take on the 48-year-old song since Farm Aid 2019.

Neil Young now heads to Wine Country for a show on Sunday at Napa’s Oxbow RiverStage. The tour concludes in Stateline, Nevada on Monday, July 24.

Setlist (via SugarMtn.org)

Set: I’m The Ocean, Homefires, Burned, On The Way Home, If You Got Love, A Dream That Can Last, Birds, My Heart, Vampire Blues, Throw Your Hatred Down, Prime Of Life, When I Hold You In My Arms, I Am A Child, Mr. Soul, Ohio, Don’t Forget Love, Heart Of Gold, Comes A Time.

Encore:Love Earth, Four Strong Winds

Encore2: Homegrown