Our correspondent Jane files this report from another spectacular XRT 40 concert event:

Last Thursday night Neil Young and Crazy Horse took the stage at United Center for another stunning WXRT show. Los Lobos started the night off at 7:30 pm, playing some XRT favorites and a Grateful Dead medley of Not Fade Away and Bertha. Thank you to our friend David Hidalgo for the XRT shoutout.

Mad scientist stagehands took their time making sure the giant Neil Young set was functioning properly. From the 12-foot-tall Fender speakers to the monstrous (fake) microphone that rested front and center. Once the set was in order, the stage crew and the band kicked off the show by singing the Star Spangled Banner (the crowd joined in, too).

Neil Young and Crazy Horse played “Love and Only Love” first:

The setlist continued with classics “Powderfinger”, “Born In Ontario”, and “Cinnamon Girl”. From the new album, Americana, “Walk Like a Giant”.
The debut of new tune “Twisted Road” gave Neil the chance to sing about listening to the Dead on the radio and letting the good times roll. Neil also came out for a solo (wearing a harmonica that he never played) for an acoustic performance of “The Needle and the Damage Done”.

About halfway through the show Neil Young and Crazy Horse got spooky with a psychedelic jam that lead into flashback footage from the 60s, including
Neil Young and Crazy Horse sets and the rain delay at Woodstock. The stagehands came out wearing bright yellow rain gear as the sounds of thunder and pouring rain filled the United Center.

Almost half of the songs jammed for ten minutes or longer including their Buffalo Springfield cover of “Mr. Soul” that transitioned into “Hey
Hey, My My”.
Encore: “Tonight’s the Night”.

As far as fashion goes? Frank “Poncho” Sampedro represented Jimi Hendrix on his t-shirt and drummer Ralph Molina sported cowboy boots.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse – United Center Setlist Chicago October 11, 2012:
Love and Only Love
Powderfinger
Born In Ontario
Walk Like a Giant
The Needle and the Damage Done (Acoustic; Neil solo)
Twisted Road
Singer Without a Song
Ramada Inn
Cinnamon Girl
F**kin’ Up
Mr. Soul (Buffalo Springfield cover)
Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
Encore:
Tonight’s the Night

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