The Stub Project: Neil Young – Chicago and Columbus 10.18.1986 / 10.20.1986
Apparently in 1986, my live show expectations were distorted and defined by the Grateful Dead. As a result, I was under the impression that any band with a prolific and varied songbook from the 60s and 70s would inevitably perform a different set for each concert. After all, why wouldn’t they? It must get boring playing the same show every night. Not so for Neil Young. These two shows were absolutely identical down to the last riff (with the addition of “Road of Plenty” in Columbus, which I can’t say was much of a bonus).
Beyond the head-scratching middle part of the set which included a foray into the vocoder experiments from the much-maligned Trans, I don’t remember any particulars from either of these concerts. However, what I do recall is my disappointment in Neil Young on the second night. Every moment that had seemed so singular and unique in Chicago turned out to just be a rehearsed part of his act. What a rube I was to think it would be any other way.
Obviously, it would be unfair to blame Mr. Young for the repetition and I would eventually get over it in the same way a kid can still enjoy Christmas even when he knows Santa Claus is a just a fat man in a suit. I would go on to see Neil Young™ two or three more times over the years, the last being in 2003 when he was touring “Greendale” – and for that hackneyed atrocity, it is okay to blame Neil, but I will save that unfortunate recollection for another time …
The Setlist: 1.Mr. Soul 2.Cinnamon Girl 3.When You Dance I Can Really Love 4.Touch The Night 5.Down By The River 6.Heart Of Gold 7.Inca Queen 8.After The Gold Rush 9.Too Lonely 10.Opera Star 11.Road Of Plenty (for Buckeyes only)12.Cortez The Killer 13.Sample And Hold 14.Computer Age 15.Violent Side 16.Mideast Vacation 17.Long Walk Home 18.The Needle And The Damage Done 19.Hippie Dream 20.Powderfinger 21.Like A Hurricane 22.Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) 23.Prisoners Of Rock ‘n’ Roll
The video is ‘Like a Hurricane” from “Rust Never Sleeps” (1978 tour). Sadly, I don’t believe we were witness to a reprise of the Star Wars re-enactment.
lonesomebeehive 
I had my groundhog day experience with George Michael. Imagine my 13 year old broken heart. It was just a first in a slew of disappointments in male pop stars that turned me to the dark side of new wave.
Cool to see that set list from Cbus. Thanks for posting. My life can be divided in half with Neil in the middle that night. Almost 25 years ago now, that was my 25th birthday and I went with my then-girlfriend. I lived in a small, southern Ohio town and the next day I interviewed for a job in Cleveland. Got the job and met my wife in the office a few weeks later. Still married, still in Cleveland and still see Neil when he’s in town.