The Show: Rebel Content Tour, October 17, 2015, Greek Theater, Berkeley, California
Prelude: What a night and great show! It included a protest movement about Monsanto seeds. The GMO has been found to be unhealthy and dangerous to the farm and food system. Neil had songs and explanations during this concert. Couldn’t pick a better place than Berkeley, long known for protest. Enlightening news that I did not know much about at the time.
The Greek Theater is an outdoor theater that holds 8,900 people but does not feel that crowded. Acoustics and sound were good. Berkeley is very energetic city and has a lot to see in the Bay area. It was a long show: twenty-five songs, pushing three hours.
Promise of the Real includes Lukas Nelson on guitar, Micah Nelson on guitar, Corey McCormick on bass, Anthony Logerfo on drums, and Tato Melgar on congas. I think this band – after hearing this concert – was tight. They know Neil’s songs and do a great job as his band. Some more shows with them that were performed in July 2019 in Europe were filmed for a double live album and movie called Noise & Flowers.
The show started out solo acoustic. After The Gold Rush on piano, followed by My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue), Helpless, Old Man, and Mother Earth on pump organ. All sounded great, voice, music, acoustics — another great start with his magic in the air. Then an electric song, Hold Back The Tears. A real chestnut from the Zuma album. Next, some songs from Harvest and Harvest Moon (close together), Out On The Weekend, Unknown Legend, From Hank to Hendrix, , Harvest Moon, Wolf Moon, Words, Alabama, and Are You Ready For The Country? Perfect pairings of two classic albums played like you would want on the records – live being better. That was a great run. Then September Song was sung by Lukas, sounding a lot like his dad Willie. He has his own distinctive voice too.
Next came songs about corporations and Monsanto. Neil and the band started sowing Monsanto seeds and challenged the police to arrest them. Of course, no officer in Berkeley would even think of that – unless he wants a mob scene lol. Neil was standing-up-for-what-is-right and encouraging us to do the same. The songs were all electric and grunge (and good too). They included A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop, People Want to Hear About Love, Big Box, and Rules Of Change.
Then what followed was a very long version of Down by the River (36 minutes), Workin’ Man, and Seed Justice. They all backed up his discussion about bad seeds, bad laws, and bad corporations. Then they brought out some Work Horses – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Mr. Soul, and a fiery closer, Love And Only Love, after which Neil collapsed on stage with exhaustion. He gave it his all until he could give no more. Those Les Paul Customs are heavy guitars. Lukas and bass player Corey McCormick lifted him back up to his feet. There he stood giving his signature wave to the roaring crowd as he walked off.
Closing: I can see why they wanted to do a live album of their tour in 2019, plus a movie too. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Neil and Promise of the Real, for a memorable night!
