The Barstool Blues at Old Princeton Landing
In 1996, Neil Young and Crazyhorse let out some steam at the small
Old Princeton Landing bar in Princeton By the Sea, a sleepy
ocean-side community about a half hour down the coast from San
Francisco. Billed as the Echos, Neil and Crazyhorse filled nearly
half the bar with their equipment-- the other half reserved for
those lucky few in attendence, a combination of family, VIP's and
die-hard fans who had caught wind of the event through the
grapevine. Those in the know waited outside in the hopes of
earning the extremely limited, and quite coveted, wristband that
would grant them entrance. Those that did not make it one day,
often made it the next. Others were just content to cram near a
window and listen to the music shake the walls of the tiny wooden
bar.











The March and April shows featured a wonderful spattering of
Neil's large repertoire, showcasing more than a handful of great
songs that had been seldom played or never played before--
including the Zuma classics "Dangerbird" (previously only played
live at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz back in Novemeber of 1990)  and
the never-before played "Stupid Girl." "Wonderin'," a curious
doo-wop tinged tune from his early Crazyhorse days (also
reworked with the Shocking Pinks) resurfaced with a decidely
more rock and roll edge. In addition, the seldom-played "Old
Country Waltz" was given a more edgier reading than usual-- as
well as a curious, but quite effective, cover of Jimmy Reed's classic
blues shuffle "Baby What You Wante Me to Do."








In May, before returning to the Old Princeton Landing, Neil and
Crazyhorse played a couple of surprise gigs at the larger, yet still
small and intimate Santa Cruz club The Catalyst. By the late May
shows, Neil began debuting songs from Broken Arrow. By June he
was playing the entire album and the rumors of a European and US
tour were becoming reality. The Junes shows, especially the 5th and
6th, were the strongest of the fourteen. Not only did Neil pump
out some amazing versions of the new songs, but he also played
what might be considered definitive performances of chestnuts
like "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Cortez the Killer," and "Dangerbird."





None of the performances of the European or US tours, as great as
they were, ever matched the same level of intensity found at the
Old Princeton Landing shows. There was just something about the
intimacy of the small bar that fueled Neil and his longtime
sidekicks into a groove that was not only insatiable, but
unstoppable! Check out the scintillating jams on "Cowgirl in the
Sand" from the 5th of June show. They will give you goosebumps.
Keep in mind, as you listen to the tapes (or discs) from these shows,
that, as Neil and Crazyhorse frantically jammed, they had to be
sure not to crash into the crowd standing around them-- some
members mere feet away from a guitar in the jaw if they weren't
paying attention!

One has to wonder if he'll do it again sometime.
The Barstool Blues at Old Princeton Landing