Willie Nelson and Neil Young Headline a Benefit Concert Against the Keystone XL Pipeline

(Photo courtesy of Bold Nebraska)

On September 27, 2014 I had the privilege to be a part of a small one day benefit concert to raise money for the groups who are currently fighting the Keystone XL pipeline. The concert was held in the middle of a corn field on the Tanderup family farm, eight miles north of Neligh, Nebraska. This particular farm is on the route of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and also crosses the historic Ponca Tribe “Trail of Tears.” The concert was headlined by Willie Nelson, and Neil Young, two powerhouses in the music industry that are no strangers to doing benefits for the family farm. . Both Nelson and Young organized Farm Aid back in 1985 and have been religiously fighting corporations and the government to save family farms ever since. So naturally supporting this cause and doing this show was a no brainer for both of them.

 

Besides Nelson and Young there were three other musical groups that came out to support the cause. The day’s music started at noon with “Stopping the Pipeline Rocks All-Stars,” which was comprised of local Nebraska artists who recorded a benefit album in a solar-powered barn built inside the path of the Keystone XL pipeline last summer. These artists included: The Bottle Tops, Dr. John Walker, Jack Hotel, and McCarthy Trenching.  Unfortunately for me, we were a little late getting there so I did not get to see much of the first act.

As we walked into the concert, I was caught off guard by all the different walks of life that were at this event. Keep in mind that festivals are usually geared towards a certain kind of music scene, so it was strange seeing natives, cowboys, farmers, bikers, hippies, and all kinds of other groups of people in the same venue. What’s even stranger is that they all got along, which can’t be said in other situations. In fact I did not see one altercation the whole day. That just shows the power of music bringing people together, especially when it’s for a great cause such as this. Anyway, back to the music.   

 

 

Photo of a Fancy Dancer during the set of Frank Waln (Photo courtesy of Bold Nebraska)

Next on the bill was Frank Waln, a Native American hip hop artist originally from the Rosebud Reservation, who is currently attending film school in Chicago. His set was like something out of a pow- wow in that he had fancy dancers and hoop dancers up on stage performing alongside him during certain songs. Waln was an integral part of the lineup due to the strong Native American turnout and resistance to the pipeline as its purposed route is through reservation lines. For Waln’s last song he brought his mother on stage and sang to her as a tribute to her strength of raising him as a single parent. It was a fitting ending for his first large show. Here is a link to Waln's performance of AbOriginal.

Following each show during the setup for the next musician, speakers from the two main groups that are fighting the pipeline, Bold Nebraska who organized this event, and the Cowboy and Indian Alliance got up on stage and spoke. They talked about many different subjects ranging from the high crime rate that came along with the work camps they bring in to build these pipelines, to the fact that the proposed route runs directly over the Oglala Reservoir which is the largest fresh water reservoir in North America. If the pipeline ruptured, it could pollute the drinking water of millions of people. Each speaker had a different view of the pipeline, but they all shared the same belief that it was a very bad idea.

Willie Nelson performing at Harvest the Hope benefit concert Neligh, NE. 

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real with special guest Micah Nelson was up next. Yes these two young men are the prodigal sons of Willie. Their music style was something different than what I expected. It was very bluesy and very electric. Lukas and the band did about three or four songs and were then joined by their dad for a combined set. Lukas’ last song before being joined by Willie was Willie’s Bloody Mary Morning. This version of the song ended up being a special treat for me and for every other Deadhead on site. During the extended instrumental portion of the song, they infused music from the two Grateful Dead songs, Cumberland Blues and The Other One. Needless to say I was very impressed. Willie came up on stage next and led the band through ten more songs which included many of his popular songs and he also gave Homage to his longtime friend Waylon Jennings by playing Good Hearted Woman. The set culminated with Willie inviting Neil and all members from the previous groups out on stage to play This Land is your Land with alternate lyrics for the cause.

 

 

Willie Nelson's Setlist

1. Whiskey River
2. Still is Still Moving to Me
3. Beer for My Horses
4. Good Hearted Woman
5. Texas Flood
6. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
7. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
8. On the Road Again
9. Always on My Mind
10. Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die
11. This Land Is Your Land (with Neil Young)

Here is a link for more music from Willie Nelson   

 

Neil Young performing at Harvest the Hope benefit concert Neligh, NE.

Neil Young was last to take the stage, but as always we save the best for last. And Neil never disappoints, and was on fire that day. Neil’s first four songs were acoustic and very heart felt. For his second song he played a very sad version of Mother Earth on an old pump organ, and next went into Heart of Gold. During these two songs the audience seemed to have a very somber feel to it, but it didn’t last for long. Before too long Neil was plugged in and brought Lukas and the band back out on stage for his remaining songs. Neil rounded out the set and the day with five more songs which included Mansion on the Hill and Homegrown and he played them with a fury. After the music ended he left us with a message. He wanted us to stand up to the corporate hijacking of this country, and to stand up to the pipeline because right now we were standing in the middle of a disaster waiting to happen if they succeed with the pipeline. The day was ended by the audience walking up on a hill above the stage where the proposed pipeline is supposed to go through. Everyone stood in lines across the route for photographs and as a last protest for the day.  

    

Neil Young Setlist

1. Comes a Time (Acoustic)
2. Mother Earth (Natural Anthem) (Acoustic)
3. Heart of Gold (Acoustic)
4. Pocahontas (Acoustic)
5. Country Home (with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real)
6. Mansion on the Hill (with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real)
7. Homegrown (with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real)
8. Down by the River (with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real)
9. Who's Gonna Stand Up and Save the Earth (with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real) 

A human blockade across the proposed pipeline route on Tanderup Farm, Neligh, NE (Photo courtesy of Bold Nebraska)  

 

 

The Harvest the Hope benefit might have meant different things to different people, but the event served its purpose well. First of all it raised much needed money for these groups to keep up the fight against corporate greed and big oil. Even if people went there strictly for the music, they were still presented with knowledge and truths about what is happening or what could happen if the pipeline goes through. What it really comes down to is this; it’s all about getting the word out, because knowledge is power.

Photo of the audience at Harvest the Hope (Photo courtesy of Bold Nebraska)