Forever Young

Memories, music and photographs from Massey Hall on Neil’s 80th birthday

Back on November 12th we celebrated Neil Young’s 80th birthday at Massey Hall with an epic show. It was a night full of great songs and performances, and a privilege to share the stage with so many friends and musical peers. Many thanks to band director, Aaron Goldstein, for the invite and to Dale Gago & Spencer Shewen for promoting and producing the event.

My Old Man, Bill Plaskett, (more nerdy, Neil related dad jokes to follow) accompanied me on guitar. I played my four string tenor and we performed Thrasher, a favourite of mine since I first heard it on Rust Never Sleeps as a teenager. In a box somewhere there’s a four track cassette tape recording of me singing my own “shakey” version at sixteen years old. If I ever dig it up and manage to get it digitized, I’ll add it to this post.

Rust Never Sleeps is acoustic & trippy on Side A and fuzzed out & rockin’ on Side B. It basically set the template of how I’ve wanted to roll since first hearing it. It’s like Neil gave me permission to chase art, hit the pedals and make it up as I go along. At Massey, Dad and I leaned into that Side A mood. I managed to remember the words with an exception - I sang “in the sidewalks” instead of “on” them. I must have been thinking about carving my initials. I sure love this song.

After Thrasher, Dad left the stage and Sarah Harmer stepped onto it. Sarah has been a friend for a long time and I’d know her striking voice anywhere. We sang Look Out for My Love together. Thanks to Alex Johnson for taking the video of these performances on my mobile.

It was a full tilt shindig and there were many people on and backstage that I never got to meet or say hello to. I’ve tried to mention and link to as many folks as I can in this post but if someone reading this sees that I’ve forgotten or mis-credited anyone please let me know in the comments.

I had a great time taking photographs. Thanks to Devin at Friend of a Friend Film lab for the developing and great scans. On a technical note, I’m still learning how to use my camera and the flash was set too hot for most of the backstage photos. The 21mm Super Angulon wide angle shots from the encore are scrappy as I couldn’t frame them properly through the camera’s 50mm viewfinder and I was trying to sing along to Cinnamon Girl at the same time. Nonetheless, upon closer inspection they reveal some fun moments and give a sense of the jam packed stage.

I dig this one…

… that upon zooming in highlights a Riser Party in full swing with Densil McFarlane and Colanthony Humphrey from The OGBMS, Shamus Currie, Sate, Jim Cuddy, Charlotte Cornfield, Peter Dremainis, Serena Ryder and Carleigh Aikins.

Below is Aaron leading the band from center stage with his flying V. Brian Kobayakawa is in the foreground on bass and right above his head tucked in there on piano is Thomas Hammerton. Anna Ruddick (also on bass) has her back turned and is facing Doug McBrien who is way back there smiling on the guitar. Luke Bentham from The Dirty Nil is facing the audience on the right…

When you zoom in on that one you find Pete from July Talk grinning ear to ear because Dani Nash is laying it down while planning her memoir, Even Cowgirls (in the Sand) Get the Vampire Blues…

Here the encore is about to get rolling…

… so Anna calls for world peace and/or two songs.

That full head of hair belongs to Glenn Milchem (of Blue Rodeo fame) holding down the other trap kit on the “Horse” side of the stage. That’s Skye Wallace & Matt Soliveri behind him.

Mighty Ian Blurton could start a tribute band to himself and Neil called Change of Heart of Gold.

Luke Doucet, Aaron, Tim Allard and Chelsea McWilliams of The Red Hill Valleys getting ready for the country.

Luke showing the audience how to play guitar. That’s my pal, Stephen in the bright white shirt up front.

The back row in the side stage shadows reveals the supergroup “W4” (Webb, Wilson, William & Woods), whose songs double as investigative reporting. Produced by Cripps & Milchem. I’ll play drums so Glenn can focus on the horn arrangements.

I was going to wear my Harris tweed that night but Matt Mays beat me to it. I’m calling it now for our Shore Club gigs next summer.

Julian Taylor and Dad show the audience the size of the fish they caught Down by the River.

Tim, Julian, Ian, Sate, Massey Hall… Everybody’s Rockin’

Side stage with the supergroup Cornfield, Edwards & Ryder. I’ll play drums.

Dallas Green and Sarah. Only hugs can break your heart.

Gordie Johnson and Ian making a lifetime in rock & roll look easy.

Charlotte smilin’ because she knows how cool her sweater looks.

Kathleen and Colin - properly plaid. Colin is holding that Firebird tightly because he knows my guitar envy is real.

To all the naysayers telling me I had to provide proof that the amazing Rose Cousins was in fact at Massey Hall that night, read the tub and weep.

Loel Campbell and Joel Carriere hangin’ ten.

My finest photo of the back of folks heads as they congregated in the green room to sing Happy Birthday to Sarah Harmer. Sarah has the same birthday as Neil Young. I share mine with Conan O’Brien.

Getting ready to sing, “Look out, Mama, there’s a white boat comin’ up the river!”

Serena and Jem Roberts in the hallway of fame.

This shot of Ruby Waters was taken at quite a distance with no flash. Thanks to the magic of Ilford HP-5, the zoom-in gets so grainy it starts looking a little like the cover of Tonight’s the Night.

Dad, Peter, Julian and Leah Fay looking my way because I asked them to.

Luke standing tall and handsome like he is about to get married.

“Dallas sang bass, Willam sang tenor…” wait, I got that backwards.

Glenn, Ian and Anna (whose outfit was only upstaged by her bass playing). Shamus sheepdoggin’ from ‘round the corner.

I really like this shot of Toronto record & music man, David “Click” Cox. Shadow making a Golden Glow that brings one back to the Truro NSLC in the 90s.

Colin, Dad, Gordie and Dallas talking in the free world.

Missed the beginning but caught much of Gordie’s ripping version of When You Dance (I Can Really Love) on my mobile. That guitar was LOUD.

For the first song of the encore, Gordie and Matt played a triple neck “Crosby, Stills & Nash” model Gibson SG .

After that Gordie switched to his double neck. The top neck is named Hey Hey, the bottom is My My.

Moments after I snapped that picture, photographer Lindsay Duncan caught this one of me trying to get in on the action. I quickly jumped ship and went back to taking photos when I realized Hey Hey was in a drop tuning.

Lindsay was one of several excellent photographers there that night who took my picture. I had to reciprocate!

Liv Sacco took this fun photograph of me tempting fate as I think there was still a little red wine in that cup.

Moments later I took this one of her.

Here are Denise Kamp and photographer, Vanessa Heins making that stairwell light up.

Vanessa’s a pro and took these three nice photos:

Dad and I backstage

Gordie, Dallas Green & I - a future press shot for “321” (I know it sounds like a boy band). I’ll play drums.

Having a nightcap while contemplating the first 321 single, Last Call at the Imperial. A legendary pub and two days later it closed its doors for good as developers get ready to tear it down. I bought their t-shirt. Cue Brand New & Brokenhearted.

Speaking of night’s end, here are a handful of fun ones from the post show backstage and after party - not long before we hit the Imperial Pub.

Tom Wilson and Margot Burnell looking d-a-p-p-e-r.

Here they are with Thompson and Sinead.

You know it’s been an epic night when your longtime songwriting friend, Al Tuck, magically takes the Cripple Creek Ferry straight to the after party.

Alex Johnson, Al, Dad and Gordie getting lit via flash and/or whiskey.

The legendary Dave Hodge with the legendary Dad.

Aaron - After the Goldstein Rush…

… remembering his Journey Through the Past…

Matt Mays and El Daddio.

Dad with Tom Power wondering why the flash is so damn bright.

Dallas and Vanessa as the Massey bar shut down and the dudes in the back pondered stuffing their pockets with the last of the catering.

Anna and Gordie singing “I was talking with a ghost”.

That’s a wrap.

Dad is 80. So is Neil Young. Long may they run.

xx JP