It was a cold December morning in late 2013. Neil Young live at Massey Hall tickets were going sale at 10 AM at Ticketmaster. I was at work, so a couple buddies were helping me out. I was on one phone call at exactly 10 AM, while a friend was on another phone at exactly 10 AM, along with another friend on the computer at exactly 10 AM, thinking let’s get a hold of Ticketmaster and get some tickets for Frank. On hold of course and never to be answered. Shit out of luck. I got home that evening and went on StubHub because that was the only place you could get decent tickets for any popular concert. What do you know! I got a couple tickets, right side balcony, face value $150 plus taxes and fees, amounting to $170.09. I forget what I actually paid the person but I’m sure it was double and that’s OK.
Time goes by quickly and soon enough it was Sunday, January 12th, 2014. Concerts are never on a Friday or Saturday night in Toronto so we decided we’d book a couple days off and stay at the nice hotel on the corner of Yonge and Gerrard Streets. Right in the heart of beautiful downtown Toronto. Getting ready Sunday morning, I was very excited, and I thought about my kids who grew up with Neil’s music since they were babies. Especially my daughter Angela who was very colicky as a baby. All I needed to do was pick up my acoustic guitar and play Sugar Mountain, and the crying stopped instantly every time, even if I played the song on the stereo.
So going online once again, StubHub still had tickets, so I called my kids and asked if they wanted to go. Very short notice they said. Angela called me back a couple hours later and said she would love to go. Unfortunately, Derek had a prior engagement and respectfully declined. I wish I had thought of it sooner to invite them along. I think the three of us saw Neil perform 3 or 4 times, including a CSNY show. So I bought another ticket for Angela from StubHub, which I could pick up at a Boston Pizza location close to the north shore of Lake Ontario. About a one hour walk each way… no problem. I went back to the hotel and contacted my friend who was also going to the show and arranged a meeting with him and his girlfriend, along with myself and my girlfriend.
But of course I didn’t forget Angela. We all met at the Hard Rock Café for dinner. Poor Angela had to drive to Toronto downtown about an hour and a half and park in the lot and walk the back streets to the Hard Rock Café to meet us. She was the last to arrive and walked in with a silly looking toque with ear flaps on it. Cutest thing you’ve ever seen, especially seeing the relief that she arrived and the excitement of what was to come! Nice dinner and then a 5 or 10 minute walk to Massey Hall, where we were greeted by many native Canadians from Alberta for whom the benefit concert was addressed to. Amazing to hear the drums and see the vibrant colors of their Native attire. And yes they did go on stage at the beginning, followed by the beautiful sounds of jazz musician Diana Krall, whose first words were, “I can’t believe I am playing Neil Young’s piano!” as she settled in to play in her exquisite jazz style. I was located in the right balcony with my future bride Vicki, and my daughter Angela was about 17 rows back with an aisle seat on the floor. I was ecstatic for her!
Then the stage was set for Neil… he walked out humbly as he usually does and said hello to everyone in his usual fashion. Next I heard, “Welcome home, Neil!” as he smiled gracefully. The set list included many of the songs that he had performed 43 years prior at the same venue. Of course all the guitars were displayed behind him on their stands, which is a familiar sight and so cool to see, especially for anyone who plays guitar. Another familiar thing Neil did was he told us he’s going to play his “Hit”… and the comical way he mentioned it was priceless, as it always is. Of course it is a great song, but in my eyes almost every song he writes is a hit… Anyway, I won’t go into detail about all the songs Neil played that evening, as my story of seeing this particular show is about all the events surrounding it. Let’s just say ‘71 was not that long ago. Truly a night to remember, and it stands out as the most special and memorable show of Neil’s shows that I have ever been to… and there have been quite a few.
Thank you Neil for that night, especially since my baby girl was able to see you once again, and at such a great vantage point of the venue. Truly a very special evening.
Tickets from Massey Hall January 12, 2014 and newspaper clip
Angela, Frank and Derek Cesar