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Topic: Neil Young: Heart of Gold Film |
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 8:52 am |
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Just saw the new Neil Young concert-film, Heart of Gold, filmed by Jonathan Demme quite recently at the Ryman Auditorium, with Emmylou Harris singing backup vocals, and a whole slew of his longtime pals in the band, like Spooner Oldham on keys, and of course, Ben Keith on pedal steel. Keith sits right up front, playing an S-10 pushpull and gets lots of camera-time. I hadn't expected to enjoy this movie as much as I did. It's really a very up close and personal view of the man and his music. Recommended.
p.s. Oh, yes, b0b will be pleased to hear that Ben Keith doubles on marimba on one song! (But he sure don't break-dance like you b0bby!  )[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 19 February 2006 at 08:53 AM.] |
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Peter Jackson
From:
Midcoast Maine, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 11:06 am
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| Also,there is a great interview with Young and Demme on Fresh Air with Terry Gross that you can archive. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 3:16 pm
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I saw it last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a fair amount of complaining on the Forum, and justifiably so, that steel guitar doesn't get featured as much these days as in decades past.
Not so in this film, and at this concert. Ben Keith actually gets credit as Neil's band leader, and his Emmons and what appeared to be a Rick bakelite lap steel are the only electric guitars present, if you don't include bass. Grant Boatwright is a fine picker, but he played acoustic, mostly rhythm throughout the whole thing.
Ben's Emmons was front and center and did the lion's share of the lead playing. He doesn't rip off Buddy E.-like dazzling licks, but he plays perfectly for the songs-it was a fine performance, with some beautfully understated playing.
He plays dobro on one song, and like a number of good pedal steel players, this sounds like it is only an occasional instrument for Ben. Plus it was a fairly cheesey sounding guitar, appeared to be an imported Regal. You'd think Ben Keith would hang out in a better resonator neighborhood than that!
Not to get picky, but I'm pretty sure Ben played the vibes on one song, not Marimba-we may not think it's that big of a deal here-but it would probably tick off good players of those instruments if we got that one wrong on their forum! 
I really enjoyed the singing and "peppy" attitude of Pegi Young, Neil's wife.
If you like Neil Young, you will definitely enjoy this film-and even if you don't, you might find yourself liking him more if you go see it-and the playing of Ben Keith was a real treat.
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 19 February 2006 at 03:17 PM.] [This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 19 February 2006 at 03:17 PM.] [This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 19 February 2006 at 03:19 PM.] |
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Bill Llewellyn
From:
San Jose, CA
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 3:38 pm
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| Where is the film? In theaters? PBS? |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 7:35 pm
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In the Red Rocks concert (on DVD), I'm pretty sure it was a marimba. It's amazing that they wheel in a big instrument like that and only use it on one song, but I guess if you're a millionaire rock star you can afford frills like that.
I've always enjoy Ben Keith's pedal steel playing - tasty and right for the songs. He's wicked on that Rickenbacker, though!
I can't wait until the movie comes to Cloverdale...
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 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 19 Feb 2006 9:35 pm
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| As to "where" it's playing, here in Philly it's at the Ritz Two, which is known to be more of an "art-y" movie house, though they do get some of the better first run, major market films too. But you might not find it in your real mass-market theaters. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 7:24 am
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Bobby-it's playing at The Rialto in Santa Rosa, so gear up for the long drive!
I believe Ben has been known to play both marimba and the vibes, and it seems to me that during the film credits at the end that the word "vibraphone" was listed, but I wouldn't swear on it.
Bill-as you have figured out by now it's in theaters. Go to www.Neilyoung.com and there is a link to the film with theater times, etc., based on zip code.
It is playing mostly I believe, as Jim wrote, in the more "art film" genre theaters. I don't recall the name, or even if it still exists, but I recall the theater complex downtown near San Jose State-it might be there.
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 20 February 2006 at 07:38 AM.] [This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 20 February 2006 at 07:55 AM.] |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 8:09 am
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Speaking of Ben Keith, how old IS he anyway? He played on "I Fall To Pieces" for Patsy Cline in November, 1960!
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Mark
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Posted 20 Feb 2006 8:41 am
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...and then a mere 35 or so years later produced Jewel's debut "Pieces of You"
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“I always knew that there was something out there that I needed to get to.
And it wasn't where I was at that particular moment."
-Bob Dylan
[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 20 February 2006 at 08:47 AM.] |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 28 Mar 2006 11:31 pm
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| Wow, finally made it to this tonight--took my 16 year old daughter. Great old theatre with good sound. I really enjoyed it, and I think she did, too ... |
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