I hear Neil said "there will never be any more CSNY shows"
that's like saying there are mountains in Tibet
we know Neil ….we already knew
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) October 10, 2014On Wednesday night Neil Young played his first of two sold-out solo shows at the Academy Of Music in Philadelphia, where the legendary rocker told the capacity crowd that while he loves David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash CSNY will never tour again. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young last toured in 2006 and most recently performed at the 2013 Bridge School Benefits.
Umphrey’s LD Jefferson Waful was in attendance last night and notes that the banter started when Neil picked up a guitar and said, “this was given to me by my good friend Stephen Stills.” Young responded to something yelled out by an audience member with “CSNY will never tour again, ever…but I love those guys.” Waful reports that while Neil was in his standard joking banter mode, he seemed firm in his statement about CSNY’s future.
Young stuck to a similar setlist in Philadelphia as he did for Night One and Night Two in Boston earlier this week, including the performance of three new songs debuted on Sunday night at the Wang.
Yesterday, Rolling Stone posted an interview with Neil that included details on what Young’s second album of 2014, Storytone, is all about. Storytone will be released in two editions on November 4 -a solo version and and “the other gilded with orchestral and big-band arrangements, all recorded live with no overdubs, and Young singing in the same room as the musicians, Sinatra-style,” according to Rolling Stone. ‘It’s the most different thing that I’ve ever attempted,” Young told the magazine.
For the orchestral album, Young focused on vocals as it’s his first album where he doesn’t play guitar or piano. Neil relied on Michael Bearden and Chris Walden to conduct, arrange and co-produce the orchestral Storytone. The Rolling Stone piece also notes that Neil Young has started smoking marijuana, in moderation, after he had stopped in recent years following a brain aneurysm. The ever-prolific Young will also release his second book, Special Deluxe, on October 14.
Here’s the cover art for Storytone, which is currently available for pre-order:
Check out the track list for both versions of the new LP:
Orchestral Album:
1. Plastic Flowers
2. Who’s Gonna Stand Up?
3. I Want To Drive My Car
4. Glimmer
5. Say Hello To Chicago
6. Tumbleweed
7. Like You Used To Do
8. I’m Glad I Found You
9. When I Watch You Sleeping
10. All Those Dreams
Solo Acoustic:
1. Plastic Flowers
2. Who’s Gonna Stand Up?
3. I Want To Drive My Car
4. Glimmer
5. Say Hello To Chicago
6. Tumbleweed
7. Like You Used To Do
8. I’m Glad I Found You
9. When I Watch You Sleeping
10. All Those Dreams
