On the opening night of his solo tour last May, Neil Young quipped: Its the same song over and over again. Young is currently road-testing a batch of new material, all of it bearing his trademark elementsacoustic isolation, crunching chords, and swirling angst. They also wrangle with vintage Young themes: Peaceful Valley is another look at Mother Nature on the run; You Never Call is about the loss of a dear friend; Walk With Me is about strength of faith. So whats changed? Young himself. At 64, hes staring his later years in the face with the same burning defiance that informs all his best workat first blush, these songs split the difference between the middle-aged nostalgia of Silver & Gold and the brooding darkness of Sleeps With Angels. Diehard fans take note: rumor has it the BP oil spill inspired Young to dust off “Vampire Blues” for this leg of the tour. BRIAN BARR
Tue., July 20, 8 p.m., 2010
