BEST
BET: NEIL YOUNG
With Pegi Young
By Barry Gilbert
St.
Louis Post-Dispatch
November 15, 2007
7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard. $58 to $184.50. 314-534-1111 or metrotix.com.
No, the tickets aren't cheap. But you'll be getting more than two hours with rock pioneer Neil Young, plus a free copy of his new CD, "Chrome Dreams II" (see metrotix.com for details). The Chrome Dreams Continental Tour promises to be a special evening, even by Young's lofty standards. The show will be divided into three sets: an opening segment by wife Pegi Young, whose self-titled debut CD was recently released; an acoustic set by Neil Young; and a closing electric set supported by longtime band mates Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, dobro), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass). Expect a monster helping of beloved as well as obscure older tunes, plus songs from the new CD, which is a sequel to a never-released 1977 record (oh, don't ask, it's Neil) that runs the table of Young styles: acoustic balladry, Crazy Horse-like blasts of power and even the unveiling of an 18-minute epic from the Blue Notes days. For 40 years, Young has been musically prolific, artistically fearless and relentlessly independent. It's hard to put a price on that.