From the 60's til 60 Shakey still shakin it
Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 11:05 
Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia), who previously filmed Neil Young for Heart of Gold, once again captures Young’s musical and spiritual soul—this time during two shows at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania during the Chrome Dreams II tour. Young surrounds himself with his favorite instruments, played at whim, and a stage set filled with personal icons: a small-scale model of a guitar shop, a red phone and other items. The feeling on the stage is of a favorite place where Young is able to create his music exactly as he wants, supported by long-time touring band friends Ben Keith, Ralph Molina, Rick Rosas, Pegi Young and Anthony "Sweet Pea" Crawford, plus an onstage painter portrayed by Eric Johnson. There are delicately offered acoustic numbers like "Sad Movies" and "Mexico"; mesmerizing electric travelogues into the artist's psyche ("No Hidden Path"); searing, chaotic anthems including "Like a Hurricane" and "Cinnamon Girl"; and rarely performed pieces like "Kansas" and "Ambulance Blues" that provide glimpses of Young's less public persona.
In "Trunk Show," Young -- who also produced under his usual Bernard Shakey credit for his Shakey Pictures banner -- and Oscar-winning director Demme go for a much more stripped-down affair, covering a two-night stand at the Tower Theatre near Philadelphia during Young's 2007 tour supporting his album "Chrome Dreams II."
An extended jam on "No Hidden Path" recalls how Young has inspired hard-rocking bands from Nirvana and Pearl Jam to Sonic Youth and the Pixies with his guitar pyrotechnics.
From his musical origins with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young through his prolific solo career and numerous collaborations, Young's music has maintained an artistic integrity and emotional resonance matched by few other artists. Demme's latest doc is another worthy contribution to the artist's lifelong body of work. Official website
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