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37_Everyone_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Back on a Sunday night in September, seemingly most of the musical talent that happened to be in New York that weekend converged to Bowery Ballroom for the first night of Neilfest, a tribute to the great Neil Young put on by The Best Fest. Not only was it a grand old celebration of a musical genius, but it served as a benefit to the Sweet Relief charity. So not only did you get some amazing artists, old and new, covering Neil Young, but it was all for a good cause. What’s not to love?

Cabin Down Below Band served as the backing house band for all the guests, and these guys are veterans of these sort of things by now, also serving as the backing band for the previously held Dylan Fest, Petty Fest and Stones Fest. They kicked things off with “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown,” and then handed the torch to a different band or artist to take over the song, and then pass the torch down the respective line.

There were too many highlights to mention each one individually, and quite honestly, everyone offered something uniquely enjoyable and memorable in their own right. But particular highlights came from Elvis Perkins’ “Tonight’s The Night,” getting to see Danny Masterson (Hyde from That 70s show) and Adam Busch deliver “Thrown Your Hatred Down,” Nicole Atkins on “Harvest Moon,” Charles Bradley’s performance of “Heart Of Gold,” Jakob Dylan, Pat Carney, Brian Fallon and Butch Walker coming together for a hard hitting cover of “Ohio,” and finally, the magical cover of “Old Man” handled by the dream tandem of Ryan Adams (who seems to be the cover master these days) and Norah Jones.

It was a magical night, one that was repeated the next day with mostly the same crew, plus a special guest or two. This was shamefully my first “Fest” experience, but I will make sure to find my way to the next one, because it’s simply an essential event, all for a great cause.

Find a large gallery of photos of each of the performers posted below.

Cabin Down Below House Band:

1_Cabin Down Below House Band_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

2_Cabin Down Below House Band_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

3_Cabin Down Below House Band_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

4_Cabin Down Below House Band_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Steve Schiltz:

5_Steve Schiltz_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Chase Cohl:

6_Chase Cohl_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Caveman:

7_Caveman_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Streets Of Laredo:

8_Streets Of Laredo_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Elvis Perkins:

9_Elvis Perkins_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Ryan Miller (of Guster):

10_Ryan Miller_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Adam Busch:

11_Adam Busch_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Danny Masterson:

12_Danny Masterson_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Nicole Atkins (w/ Danny Clnch):

13_Nicole Atkins and Danny Clinch_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Summer Moon:

14_Summer Moon_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

15_Summer Moon_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

16_Summer Moon_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Michelle Branch:

17_Michelle Branch_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Adam Green:

18_Adam Green_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Sammy James Jr.:

19_Sammy James Jr_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Donald Cumming (of The Virgins) and Nick Zinner (of Yeah Yeah Yeahs):

20_Donald Cumming and Nick Zinner_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Nick Zinner:

21_Nick Zinner_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Valerie June:

22_Valerie June_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Matt Hitt (of Drowners):

23_Matt Hitt_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Kim Gordon (of Body/Head and formerly of Sonic Youth):

24_Kim Gordon_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Norah Jones:

25_Norah Jones_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Sasha Dobson and Jillette Johnson:

26_Sasha Dobson and Jillette Johnson_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Ruby Amanfu:

27_Ruby Amanfu_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Charles Bradley:

28_Charles Bradley_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Brian Fallon (w/ Danny Clinch):

29_Brian Fallon_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Jade Castrinos:

30_Jade Castrinos_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Jakob Dylan:

31_Jakob Dylan_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Patrick Carney (of The Black Keys):

32_Patrick Carney_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Jakob Dylan, Patrick Carney, Brian Fallon and Butch Walker:

33_Jakob Dylan, Patrick Carney, Brian Fallon, Butch Walker_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Ryan Adams:

34_Ryan Adams_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Ryan Adams and Norah Jones:

35_Ryan Adams and Norah Jones_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom

Butch Walker:

36_Butch Walker_Neil Fest_Bowery Ballroom


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