Photo: Marc Millman

On Monday evening, September 23, Neil Young returned to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., for the first time in nearly six years. The performance arrived after Young participated in the 39th annual Farm Aid events in Saratoga, N.Y., on Saturday, Sept. 21. The artist’s follow-up represented his first billed appearance with his new band, The Chrome Hearts; guitarist Micah Nelson, organist Spooner Oldham, drummer Anthony LoGerfo and bassist Corey McCormick. During the night, the bandleader interspersed classic acoustic compositions beside raging rock epics from the Crazy Horse ether, finding balance as he worked through 14 selected arrangements. 

Beginning on a high note, Young and The Chrome Hearts performed an electric take on “I’m the Ocean,” in line with 1995’s Mirror Ball cut, instead of delving into acoustics akin to his 2023 Before and After rendition. Next, the artist and his accompaniment dusted off a classic, “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere.”

From electric to acoustic, Young and company tapped into a classic take on “Comes A Time” with its signature harmonica interludes. Keeping the aforementioned tone, the ensemble arrived at “From Hank to Hendrix,” before adding “Harvest Moon,” and “Unknown Legend.” The lead turned his attention from guitar to piano with the arrival of “Journey Through the Past.” Young remained behind the keys while reverberating his love and respect for the natural environment with the aptly titled “Love Earth,” from the birds in the sky/ to the fishes deep in the sea.

Back cradling his acoustic guitar, Young took the audience through “Homegrown” and “Big Time” before a soft and subtle take on “One of These Days,” which represented a dust-off, last played live in 2019. For the final songs of the night’s main frame, it was an all-electric affair, beginning with a rousing delivery of “Powderfinger” and the night’s highlight, a 13-rendition of “Down by the River” with extensive instrumental back and forth between Young and Nelson. Watch below. 

After band introductions, the group picked up their final offering of night one in Port Chester, delivering a fittingly placed “Roll Another Number (For the Road)” as their encore. Tonight’s follow-up, night two of Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts at The Capitol Theatre, is sold out. 

Scroll down to watch a series of fan-shot clips from last night’s performance. 

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts

The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y.

Sept. 23, 2024 

Set: I’m The Ocean, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Comes a Time, From Hank to Hendrix, Harvest Moon, Unknown Legend, Journey Through the Past, Love Earth+, Homegrown, Big Time, One of These Days%, Powderfinger, Down by the River

Enc.: Roll Another Number (For the Road) 

Notes:

+ Neil on piano 

% First time since 2019

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