Neil Young Delivers “Ohio” Tour Debut and First “The Loner” Since 2019 at Pine Knob
Photo: Marc Millman
On Wednesday, August 13, Neil Young and his Chrome Hearts Band turned in their latest live appearance while performing at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Mich. During the midweek concert, Young committed to continuing the placements of previous tour debuts, “Southern Man,” “Daddy Went Walkin’” and “New Mama,” and added Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Vietnam protest anthem “Ohio” to the fold. Two moves ahead of the Kent State memorial track, Young pulled out “The Loner” for the first time since 2019.
In the same arrangement as past US stops on the Love Earth Tour, Young unlocked 1974’s On The Beach feature, “Ambulance Blues,” offering it up as the night’s opener before going back in time to 1969 and cozying up to “Cowgirl in the Sand.” Next, Young led the band, Micah Nelson, Spooner Oldham, Corey McCormick, and Anthony LoGerfo, into a piece of his early aughts output with Crazy Horse, on “Be The Rain.” The fiery power chords cemented follow-up “Cinnamon Girl” and fed into “Cortez the Killer.”
Taking the concert’s sixth slot was “The Loner.” Wednesday night’s performance marked the end of a six-year gap in plays, following the track’s prior placement on their July 19, 2019, setlist, during Neil Young and Promise of the Real’s concert in Belgium. “The Loner” was an initial feature of Young’s 1968 self-titled debut LP, and has long been a staple of the artist’s live repertoire.
After unleashing “The Loner,” Young and company followed up with some Antebellum-fledged criticism by way of “Southern Man,” and remained vigilant with another note on history via “Ohio.” The track’s arrival signaled a tour debut, last played on Young and Crazy Horse’s 2024 Jazz Festival appearance, on May 4, 2024.
The tempo shifted on “One of These Days,” with Young’s croon of “and it won’t be long,” carrying through the outdoor amphitheater and into the lawn, and carried over a sentimental softness with “Harvest Moon.” Previous tour debuts, “Daddy Went Walkin’” and “New Mama,” came before the Greendale feature, “Sun Green,” and the Ragged Glory cut, “Love and Only Love.”
“Hey Hey, My My” and “Like a Hurricane” coupled two of the night’s best jam vehicles side by side. For the final offering of the main frame, the group conjured “Name of Love” and fan favorite “Old Man,” before applause brought them back for an encore of “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Following Wednesday’s appearance in Michigan, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts will arrive at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Tickets remain on sale.
Scroll down to view the August 15, 2025, setlist via sugarmtn.org.
Photo: Marc Millman
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts
Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, Mich.
August 15, 2025
Set: Ambulance Blues, Cowgirl In The Sand, Be The Rain, Cinnamon Girl, Cortez The Killer, The Loner%, Southern Man, Ohio+, One Of These Days, Harvest Moon, Daddy Went Walkin’, New Mama, Looking Forward, Sun Green, Love And Only Love, Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black), Like A Hurricane, Name Of Love, Old Man
Enc.: Rockin’ in the Free World
Notes:
% Bust out, last played on July 9, 2019, with Promise of the Real
+ Tour Debut
