Watch: Neil Young Performs “Long Walk Home” for First Time Since 1989, Concludes 12-Year Lapse in “Singer Without a Song” Plays at Jones Beach

Photo: Bill Kelly

On Saturday, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts arrived at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, N.Y., for the latest appearance on the Love Earth Tour. During the second half of the single set performance, Young entered a sonic time machine and transported the crowd to the late ‘80s, where he revived the Life track, “Long Walk Home,” for the first time in 36 years. On the way back to the present day, the bandleader paused in 2013, picking up “Singer Without a Song,” and effectively ending a 12-year lapse in plays. 

In the same arrangement as performances past, Young used “Ambulance Blues” as the opener, before carefully placing follow-ups that touched on a range of material, from the late-60s classic,  “Cowgirl In The Sand,” to his ‘90s live ether via grunge-tinged “F*!#in’ Up,” in addition to protest anthems like the Kent State Massacre thought-piece, “Ohio.” On the back of the Midwest memorial tune, Young queued up “Long Walk Home.” The track initially appeared on his 1987 released LP with Crazy Horse, Life, and debuted the year prior during a concert in Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 15, 1986.  

Since its debut, “Long Walk Home” has been played 90 times total. Before last night’s return, the track had been collecting dust since April 30, 1989, during Young’s co-bill with The Lost Dogs in Tokyo, Japan. The aforementioned track found Young on piano, and issued a change in pace, coming off a heavy-hitting “Ohio,” that continued with an onslaught of softer, harmonica-enriched tracks, “Looking Forward,” “One of These Days,” and “Harvest Moon.” 

From the fall classic, Young and the band initiated the first “Singer Without a Song” since Oct. 30, 2013. They treated the audience to the rarity, which has only been played on 56 total occasions, and never featured on a major studio set. Both of the night’s bust-outs also represented debuts for Young and The Chrome Hearts Band members, Spooner Oldham (organ), Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), Corey McCormick (bass, vocals), and Anthony Logerfo (drums). 

Before turning in their 16-song main frame, the band performed “Old Man,” and returned to the stage for a “Rockin’ In The Free World” encore. Following last night’s performance, the ensemble will take the Love Earth Tour to the historic Bethel, N.Y., concert grounds, where they will perform at the former Woodstock location, and the modern Bethel Woods Center for the Arts venue on Monday, August 25. Tickets remain on sale. 

Young’s bandmates, Nelson, Logerfo, and Pearl Jam’s Jack Irons, known as Barking Dog, released their debut EP, Elements. Read and listen here.  

Watch fan-shot videos of Saturday night’s bust-out below.

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts 

Northwell at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, N.Y.

August 23, 2025

Set: 1. Ambulance Blues 2. Cowgirl In The Sand 3. F*!#in’ Up 4. When You Dance, I Can Really Love 5. Southern Man 6. Mr. Soul 7. Ohio 8. Long Walk Home+ 9. Looking Forward 10. One Of These Days 11. Harvest Moon 12. Singer Without A Song& 13. Sun Green 14. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) 15. Name Of Love 16. Old Man

Notes: 

+ Tour debut/bust out last played on April 30, 1989 

& Tour debut/ bust out last played on October 30, 2013 

Setlist and notes via sugarmtn.org.

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts 

Northwell at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, N.Y.

August 23, 2025

Set: 1. Ambulance Blues 2. Cowgirl In The Sand 3. F*!#in’ Up 4. When You Dance, I Can Really Love 5. Southern Man 6. Mr. Soul 7. Ohio 8. Long Walk Home+ 9. Looking Forward 10. One Of These Days 11. Harvest Moon 12. Singer Without A Song& 13. Sun Green 14. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) 15. Name Of Love 16. Old Man

Notes: 

+ Tour debut/bust out , last played on April 30, 1989 

& Tour debut/ bust out, last played on October 30, 2013 

Setlist and notes via sugarmtn.org.