October 24th, 2025Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – Hollywood Bowl, LA , 15/09/2025

To set the scene…
A balmy LA evening, a perfectly located AirBnB a block from Hollywood Boulevard, and on the Monday evening, myself and Susan, my wife and fellow traveller, joined the throng of undeniable Neil Young fans.
I needn’t go into the unmistakable Neil Young demographic, perhaps I resemble that remark, heading into the Hollywood Hills, a short 10-15 minute walk to the Hollywood Bowl. A dream venue, so LA, so California, with its beautiful location and design which resembles Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl, with ample seating and where picnics and even some BYO alcohol is encouraged. The unmistakable smell of something I vaguely recognised in the air and the presence of young people in a range of Neil Young tour t-shirts, certainly let me know this was no Australian gig.
As with last year’s tour with Crazy Horse, the presence of local and national environmental groups was in the foyers and entrances, and there was a stronger political presence with petitions, no surprise to which side they were leaning.
Following the warm-up of gospel-inspired environmental group, Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir and his sister, Astrid Young, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts were looking like a band who had played together for a long time.
Consisting of Neil Young (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano), legendary Spooner Oldham (keyboards, organ – fresh from a basketball injury at the age of 82), Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), Corey McCormick (bass, vocals), and Anthony LoGerfo (drums), they are nothing short of superb. The setlist featured both acoustic and some extended electric numbers, and some new songs where he let his lyrics do the talking.
Gloriously ragged in appearance, the band began with Ambulance Blues, an unusual opening song choice, but certainly one for the fans. This was followed by some glorious, extended shredding, stunning version of Cowgirl in the Sand. The first of three extended electric guitar work outs, this was as blistering, raw and urgent as when it was recorded. Southern Man and Like a Hurricane received similar treatment.
Two selections from the performance concept album of 2003 Greendale featured. The first, Be The Rain, providing the introduction to a four-song political statement, with no spoken monologue. The disturbingly still-apt Ohio from the late 60s was received with rapturous applause and the very new, almost wet paint tune Big Crime, had no subtlety with its clear and poignant narrative.
A move to the piano for Long Walk Back served to provide another reminder that nothing much has changed, politically, since first being recorded, but also where the band could allow Neil to stretch out vocally.
New acoustic material included Silver Eagle about his tour bus, and there were crowd pleasers such as Only Love Can Break Your Heart and of course Harvest Moon.
Old Man allowed the band to add flourishes, helping to keep the light and shade of this set list. Hey Hey My My and Roll Another Number rounded off the evening.
Almost 80, Neil is showing no sign of slowing down. As he remarked at the start of the gig: “I first played here with Stills and The Springfield in 65, and here I am again.”