Neil Young returned to the stage on Saturday night (April 26) for a special cause, delivering a rare live performance at the Autism Speaks Light Up The Blues 7 concert at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.
In a set packed with surprises, Young debuted a new song titled “Let’s Roll Again” and performed the 18-minute deep cut “Ordinary People” for the first time in 36 years. Originally recorded during the sessions for 1989’s Freedom album, “Ordinary People” was left off the final tracklist and remained unreleased until its inclusion on Chrome Dreams II in 2007.
Young’s appearance comes as he gears up for a major world tour with Chrome Hearts, his recently formed band. While further details of the group’s debut project remain under wraps, “Let’s Roll Again” marks the first new material to surface from the sessions.
During Saturday’s concert, Young also reunited with longtime collaborator Stephen Stills. The duo performed Buffalo Springfield’s era-defining protest anthem “For What It’s Worth,” as well as “Human Highway” and “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Stills was joined by Nathaniel Rateliff for a performance of “Colorado,” originally released by Stills’ band Manassas in 1972.
The return of “Ordinary People” follows Young’s recent habit of dusting off rare material during live appearances. Earlier this month, Young, Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers shared the stage at a Bernie Sanders’ Fighting Oligarchy rally, delivering a performance of Young’s protest anthem “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
The moment took place on Saturday (April 12) at the political rally hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Los Angeles’ Grand Park. The event, which centered on anti-corporate messaging and grassroots political reform, also featured solo sets from all three artists. Young, who closed out the rally, began his brief performance with “Rainbow of Colors,” a song from his 2019 album Colorado, before launching into “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Midway through the song, Baez and Rogers walked onstage to join him, taking turns on vocals and leading chants of “Power to the people” and “Take America back” between verses.
