Capturing a performance given at the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut just three days after the celebrated concert documented on
Live at Massey Hall 1971 -- a show popular for years among bootleggers but released officially as part of
Neil Young's Archives Performance Series in March 2007 --
Young Shakespeare is very similar in tone and feel to its cousin. The set list is similar, too. All but one of the songs -- the closing "Sugar Mountain" -- also appears on
Live at Massey Hall 1971 and, collectively, these compositions effectively add up to a greatest-hits of
Neil Young circa 1971, as they feature the staples from
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,
After the Gold Rush, and the yet-to-be-recorded
Harvest. The vibe is intimate, even sweet, with
Neil joking with the crowd during the elongated "Sugar Mountain," an emotion that is present on
Live at Massey Hall but is more intensely felt here. The subtle distinction gives
Young Shakespeare its own character, one that's charming in its casual friendliness. This is more modest than monumental, and that small scale is appealing in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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