Magical and gloriously ragged

Neil Young is getting more brilliantly unpredictable with age, arguably more powerful and energetic than when he last played the Marquee in 2008.

Six years ago, he had a great band with him. This time, he had one of the greatest live bands in living memory, Crazy Horse. Rick Sampedro on guitar, Ralph Molina on drums, with the addition of Rick Rosas on bass, standing in for Billy Talbot, who is recovering from a mild stroke.

Neil Young’s vocal is as strong as ever, his guitaring better than in 2008, no doubt rejuvenated by the sight of Sampedro and Rosas huddling with him in a triangle for shared solos.

The song choices were certainly pleasing for those seeking classic hits. There were plenty of old gems like ‘Heart of Gold’, ‘After the Goldrush’, ‘Powderfinger’, and ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ (backing vocalists Doreen Carter and Donna West were at their sweetest on this one).

Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Live at the Marquee. Flipping #EPIC #MarqueeCork pic.twitter.com/ZqyKXaNgLw

— Kismet (@Kismet80) July 10, 2014

But it is perhaps the songs selected from 1990s Ragged Glory which are most oddly apt for where Young is at musically right now. A blistering 15-minute reworking of ‘Love And Only Love’ got the night off to a ripping start, while his new take on ‘Days That Used To Be’ shows that, while Young may be soul searching through his past glories, he’s certainly not in nostalgic mode. ‘Rockin’ In the Free World’ was the highlight of the night.

Young is as single-minded as ever. Several of the songs feature on his own followers’ “Worst 20 Neil songs” fanzine hit lists.

But, don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m in awe. Last night’s willful jukebox was the most magical, gloriously ragged night the tent is ever likely to produce. Magnificent is just too small a word for where Neil Young is at right now. Glorious is a bit closer, but not close enough.