Photo: Bill Kelly

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts revived their setlist during Friday’s concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif. After coming off their previous gig in Bend, Ore., where the five-piece did not stick to the script, instead, they whispered on stage, planning their next move while the crowd responded to their previous entry, September 12’s performance was a return to form for the Love Earth Tour, co-opting the group’s trend of moving the pieces, and providing tour debuts. 

Taking the stage, Young and his accomplices settled into the standard concert starter, “Ambulance Blues,” and ultimately followed up with the plucks of “Cowgirl in the Sand,” prompting folks to their feet in response to the barnburner. Thirsty for something different, the ensemble sank their teeth into the On The Beach feature, “Vampire Blues,” for the first time since Young’s Painted Turtle Camp team-up with former bandmate, Stephen Stills, on October 5, 2024. Despite Young’s association, it gave the next generation of collaborators, his Chrome Hearts band, an opportunity to test the waters. 

“Powderfinger” kicked off a storyline that alluded to Young’s commitment to freedom and continued a political questioning, and accounted for the Reagan era “Long Walk Home” and environmental call to action, “Be The Rain.” The motif brought more consideration to the US’s handling of events on “Southern Man,” “Ohio,” and stark new number, “Big Crime.” After “Silver Eagle,” the group settled into the 70s-released “Sail Away,” also included on Young’s 2025 delivery Oceanside Countryside. 

Young had not performed “Sail Away” since April 18, 2013, prior to Friday night’s return. During the last live mention, the track was played in celebration of Willie Nelson’s 80th birthday in Nashville, on April 18, 2013. The night grew softer and more melancholy with the arrival of “Harvest Moon,” later, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” and further cementing the emotional lean of the night with “Old Man.” For their final number, the band turned up the tempo on “Rockin’ in the Free World.” 

After turning in last night’s appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, which was a standard delivery of songs and marked the completion of the Love Earth Tour, Young will participate in Farm Aid 40 on Saturday, September 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. 

Scroll down to view Young’s Friday night setlist.

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts

Shoreline Amphitheater – Mountain View, Calif. 

September 12, 2025 

Set:  Ambulance Blues, Cowgirl In The Sand, Vampire Blues+, Powderfinger, Long Walk Home,  Be The Rain, Southern Man, Ohio, Big Crime, Silver Eagle, Sail Away+,  Harvest Moon, Looking Forward, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Sun Green, Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black), Like A Hurricane, Name Of Love, Old Man, Rockin’ the Free World 

Notes:

+ Tour debut