30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com FILM Neil Young always keeps it real. His latest venture is Coastal, a limited release film directed by his spouse, Daryl Hannah, that documents his 2023 journey up and down the California coast on a biofueled tour bus, marking his postCovid return to performances. “This’ll be the first time I’ve played in front of anybody in almost four years,” he allows as they hit the road. The quirky affair, airing for one night only on April 17, is being released in tandem with Coastal: The Soundtrack, a collection recorded live on the tour that opens with “Vampire Blues,” a searing attack on Big Oil that first appeared on Young’s 1974 album On The Beach. “I’m a vampire, baby, suckin’ blood from the earth/Well, I’m a vampire, baby, sell you 20 barrels north,” he sings. The movie, shot in cinéma vérité black and white, is a far cry from a conventional biopic. Known for protest songs like “Ohio” and “Southern Man,” Young’s in a mellow mood here, shooting the breeze with his driver and greeting event staffers with smiles and hugs. The loosey-goosey feel is mirrored in the material. Young stays away from fan favorites like “Heart of Gold.” (After its surprise success, he told an interviewer that the tune “put me in the middle of the road,” adding: “Traveling there soon became a bore, so I headed for the ditch. A rough ride, but I saw more interesting people.”) He jokes with fans, saying: “This is a hidden hits tour—all the songs you never wanted to hear cause you didn’t hear them before. It’s a sad story. Somebody’s got to tell it. That’s why I’m here.” Musing that he might try to get audiences to sing along to the two-word chorus of “Love Earth,” his environmental cry, he notes laconically, “it’s a subtle message.” He reprises the beautiful ballad “Comes A Time,” first recorded with the late Nicolette Larson. “People my age, they don’t do the things I do,” the resilient 79-year-old offers in “I’m the Ocean,” first recorded with Pearl Jam. And he revisits the Buffalo Springfield tunes “Expecting to Fly” and “Mr. Soul” in arrangements that combine past passions with newfound wisdom. As the tour wraps up, the bus heads home and the road warrior rests—for the time being. The former Woodside resident, who used to play the Catalyst with Crazy Horse, heads back out on the road in June. Coastal screens at 7pm Thursday, April 17 at Cinemark Century Monterey 13, 1700 Del Monte Center, Monterey. $17. Coastal: The Soundtrack will be released April 18. DARYL HANNAH True Confessions A new one-night-only Neil Young documentary finds the bard in fine form. By Paul Wilner Neil Young practices the harmonica behind a stage in a scene from Coastal, which presents a tour as is. Grove Market proudly carries only the freshest meats and produce. Order your Easter Ham and other traditional favorites today! 242 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove (831) 375-9581 Mon-Sat 8am-7pm • Sun 9am-6pm Voted BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET and BEST BUTCHER SHOP WOODYSMONTEREYAIRPORT.COM MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT 200 FRED KANE DRIVE, MONTEREY 831-373-1232 OPEN 9AM-9PM EVERY DAY DEL MESA CARMEL 500 DEL MESA CARMEL, CARMEL VALLEY 831-624-1854 OPEN WED-SUN LUNCH AND DINNER WOODY DON’T KNOW THE EASTER BUNNY, WOODY KNOWS LEG OF LAMB & EASTER HAM DON’T MISS OUR SUNDAY PRIME RIB! FRESH. LOCAL. TASTY. Fisherman’s Wharf FRESHEST SEAFOOD with PANORAMIC VIEWS Open Daily at 11:30am • At the end of Fisherman’s Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375
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