Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts

August 8, 2025

Charlotte, NC

PNC Music Pavilion

Review by Joseph Hett

Neil Young Begins U.S. Tour With Stirring Charlotte Concert

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts kicked off the U.S. leg of the “Love Earth World Tour” in Charlotte on Friday. The PNC Music Pavilion hosted a rocking, no-frills show. With no flashy lights or pyro, Young allowed the music to do the impressing.

Since Young’s last visit to Charlotte in 1997, anticipation for this show had been building for months. The weather was cooler with highs around 80 degrees – considerably cooler than normal – thanks to a week of overcast skies. There were no complaints since this was an outdoor amphitheater.

Young was backed by Spooner Oldham (organ), Micah Nelson (guitar,keyboard), Corey McCormick (bass) and Anthony LoGerfo (drums).

They opened with the acoustic “Ambulance Blues,” drawing applause when Young played his harmonica. Young was wearing his signature flannel shirt and train conductor’s hat. He would soon shed the flannel, revealing a black T-shirt with the word “EARTH” in white lettering.

The jamming electric “Cowgirl in the Sand” really got the crowd going.

During “Be the Rain” and later on “Sun Green,” Young used his megaphone mic to get his message out to the masses.

Young kept talking to a minimum during the show, offering only a quick “thanks” and wave before letting his timeless music do the talking.

After the fan favorite, “When You Dance, I Can Really Love,” it was time to crank it back up again with the riffing “F–kin’ Up.”

The poignant “Southern Man” received a rousing reaction. After “One of These Days,” it was time for the popular “Harvest Moon.” Young went on a string of deeper acoustic cuts with “Daddy Went Walkin’,” “New Mama” and “Looking Forward.”

Things picked back up with “Love and Only Love.” Once the deafening guitar distortion started, everyone knew “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” was next. After band intros, it was time for the encore.

Back out, Young and Nelson kept looking up above the stage. Finally, a keyboard with wings lowered from the heavens – better late than never. Nelson then played that keyboard for “Like a Hurricane.”

Young went to the very back of the stage and had a seat at the organ for “Name of Love.” To end the first encore, Young performed the everlasting “Old Man.”

It was now time for the one and only “Rockin’ in the Free World.” It featured a new chorus line: “Take America back!” Then everyone left the stage for the final time. The house lights stayed dim for a couple minutes – kind of teasing the fans that there would be more. Young could have played all night long and the crowd would have loved every minute of it.

It was inevitable that some beloved songs were left out, given Young’s massive catalog. The 79-year-old sounded as good as ever with the Chrome Hearts. This tour will cross the U.S. before ending in Los Angeles in mid-September. Since Neil Young tours are increasingly rare, this is a chance to see him in truly great form.