Neil just sent me his plan on how to save the world. OK, maybe it was his publicist that sent me this.

November 13, 2008 -

How To Save A Major Automobile Company

Auto manufacturers taking advantage of a government bailout must only sell clean and green vehicles that do not contribute to global warming.

by Neil Young

Find a new ownership group. The culture must change. It is time to turn the page. In the high technology sector there are several candidates for ownership of a major car and truck manufacturer. We need forward looking people who are not restricted by the existing culture in Detroit. We need visionary people now with business sense to create automobiles that do not contribute to global warming.

It is time to change and our problems can facilitate our solutions. We can no longer afford to continue down Detroit’s old road. The people have spoken. They do not want gas guzzlers (although they still like big cars and trucks). It is possible to build large long-range vehicles that are very efficient. People WILL buy those vehicles because they represent REAL change and a solution that we can live with.

The government must take advantage of the powerful position that exists today. The Big 3 are looking for a bailout. They should only get it if they agree to stop building autos that contribute to global warming now. The stress on the auto manufacturers today is gigantic. In order to keep people working in their jobs and keep factories open, this plan is suggested:
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In honor of this election year, I am looking back at the 25 greatest protest songs of all time. I’m starting with No. 25 and working my way up. Note: Each artist was only eligible to have one song make the list. To read past entries on this list, click here.

10, “Ohio,” Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
Horrified by the shootings at Kent State in May 1970, Neil Young quickly wrote a reactionary piece and called up his three pals _ Stills, Graham Nash and David Crosby _ to record it. The resulting anthem was undeniably brave _ since it took the man in the Oval Office, Richard Nixon, to task for the killings _ and it solidified Young’s place next to Bob Dylan as one of the top political troubadours of the generation. The lyrics still carry weight today, and the song has been revisited by such modern acts as the Dandy Warhols and Rise Against.
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By Jim Harrington

It’s hard to be too critical about a seven-hour concert that was filled, from start to finish, with fairly solid performances – especially when the event benefits a worthy cause.

Yet, there was definitely something missing from Saturday’s Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. That something was, for lack of a better term, pizzazz.

There was very little new to see at Neil Young’s 22nd annual acoustic music fundraiser in support of the Hillsborough school for students with severe learning disabilities. The lineup for the two-day affair, which continued on Sunday, consisted mainly of acts that had performed at prior Bridge concerts.
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I’m a big fan of the Bridge School concerts, and I’m sad to say this is a big blow to the event. ZZ Top might not have been the biggest draw (Jack Johnson and Norah Jones, arguably, are bigger to the general public), but they were the biggest curiousity factor in the bunch. People were really interested to see how ZZ would do in the Bridge’s acoustic setting.

Here’s the official word from the Bridge School web site:
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Official press release as follows:

San Francisco, CA (October 14, 2008) – Fresh off their stellar performance at Austin City Limits, Band of Horses has just been added to the Saturday, October 25th lineup for the 22nd annual Bridge School Benefit concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Tickets for both Bridge School Benefit performances are currently on sale now at Livenation.com.

As documented by the Austin Chronicle:

“If Band of Horses can be seen as a reincarnation of The Band, that makes Ben Bridwell Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson rolled into one. Meanwhile, it appears that Bridwell has found his Richard Manuel in the band’s new keyboardist, Ryan Monroe, who contributed plenty of energy to this stellar sunset performance. Relying heavily on tracks from the recent Cease to Begin, the brothers in arms managed to wrap up tight harmonies and kick out a few piano jams, adding color and musical strength to BOH’s standard three-guitar onslaught. The crowd roared along to early hits such as “The Great Salt Lake ” and an astounding version of “The Funeral.” Smelling the barn, apparently, the Horses rode a Pentecostal vibe through Bridwell’s soulful cover of Them Two’s “Am I a Good Man?”
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Cat Power to perform at Bridge School concerts

New on sales from Ticketmaster:

Fresno Falcons
Friday, October 24, 2008 to Saturday, March 28, 2009
Selland Arena at Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center
Fresno , CA

On Sale Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 6:05 PM

Enanitos Verdes
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Club Tropicana
Sacramento , CA
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(Here is the official announement of the lineup. The only thing I missed with my earlier post is that Sarah McLachlan is also on the bill. Her voice is better than chocolate.)

For Immediate Release:

The 22nd Annual Bridge School Benefit Lineup Announced

Saturday, October 25th at 5pm:

Neil Young
Jack Johnson
Norah Jones
ZZ Top
Sarah McLachlan
Death Cab For Cutie
Wilco
Cat Power
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By Jim Harrington

The invites have been sent for the 2008 Bridge School Benefit and the party guests reportedly will include such big-names as ZZ Top, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones and Wilco.

The event, set for Oct. 25-26 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, will also likely feature indie-pop stars Death Cab for Cutie and Cat Power, platinum-selling tenor vocalist Josh Groban, alt-rockers Smashing Pumpkins. Of course, Neil Young, the event’s founder, will also be there.
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How much longer can Neil Young and his crew make us wait to get the lineup for the 2008 Bridge School Benefit? The concerts are basically only a month away. I’d say that the announcement of the featured artists comes soon. Real soon. Like, I’m saying we will get it today. (Please note: I’ve been wrong before.)

While we wait, here are some videos of memorable performances from past Bridge concerts:

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