Neil Young Reunites with Squires Gretsch 6120 for First Time in 60 Years, Debuts New Song “Silver Eagle” in Ohio

Hana Gustafson on August 18, 2025
Neil Young Reunites with Squires Gretsch 6120 for First Time in 60 Years, Debuts New Song “Silver Eagle” in Ohio

On August 15, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts embraced a feature from their 2025 record, Talkin to the Trees, at the open-air Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Friday night’s stop on the Love Earth Tour saw a mid-set placement of “Silver Eagle,” a track originally included on the band’s latest studio effort, and performed for the first time during their Buckeye State gig. Three moves ahead of the song premiere, Young led a tour debut of “Mr. Soul,” while using his original Squires Gretsch 6120 live for the first time since 1965, after reacquiring the instrument this year after a 60-year hiatus. 

In the same arrangement as stops past, 1974’s On The Beach feature, “Ambulance Blues” commenced a roll call that resulted in full-treatments of “Cowgirl in the Sand,” “Be The Rain,” “Cinnamon Girl,” and “Southern Man.” The latter marked a tour debut and subsequent bust out of “Mr. Soul,” last performed on July 24, 2023, at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys in Stateline, Nev. 

Before the first note of Young’s Buffalo Springfield contribution, he picked up his orange Squires Gretsch 6120, playing the instrument live for the first time since 1965. Young first acquired the axe in 1963 and used it while playing with his first band, The Squires. According to www.sugarmtn.org, the guitar was sold or pawned in Toronto in September 1965 and was only recently reacquired by Young in 2025. 

For the band’s next move, they paid homage to the state’s history by way of the Kent State protest anthem in opposition of the Vietnam War via “Ohio,” before proceeding into an aughts feature, “Looking Forward.” On the other side of the Silver & Gold inclusion, the group delved into the first-ever “Silver Eagle,” derived from Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” and originally included on the band’s June 13, 2025, released LP. Listen to the studio recording below. 

Following the mid-set feature, Young and his band kept the tempo steady during their retrieval of “Harvest Moon.” Eventually, their sound went from acoustic to electric by the time they reached the final song and de facto encore, “Hey Hey, My My.” After their time in Ohio, the band packed up their things and moved on to the Budweiser Stage in Young’s native Toronto. During this live appearance, the maestro referred back to his 2014 LP Paradox on album oddity, “Tumbleweed,” which functioned as a tour debut, last played on Sept. 24, 2024, at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., after being shelved for four years prior. 

Following this weekend’s concert for Young & The Chrome Hearts, they will return to the Budweiser Stage in Toronto on Tuesday, August 19. Tickets remain on sale. 

Scroll down to view setlists.

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts 

Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

August 15, 2025

Set: Ambulance Blues, Cowgirl In The Sand, Be The Rain, Cinnamon Girl, Southern Man, Mr. Soul%, Ohio, Looking Forward, Silver Eagle+, Harvest Moon, Daddy Went Walkin’, New Mama, Sun Green, Like A Hurricane, Name Of Love, Old Man

Enc.: Hey Hey, My My

Notes:

+ Song debut 

% Tour debut 

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts 

Budweiser Stage – Toronto

August 17, 2025

Set: Ambulance Blues, Cowgirl In The Sand, Be The Rain, Cinnamon Girl, Southern Man, Mr. Soul, Tumbleweed, Ohio, Looking Forward, Silver Eagle, Harvest Moon, Daddy Went Walkin’, New Mama, Sun Green, Like A Hurricane, Name Of Love, Old Man

Enc.: This Note’s For You&, Rockin’ In The Free World

Notes: 

& Tour debut 
Setlists and notes via www.sugarmtn.org.