Stephen Stills, Neil Young Lead Rockin’ ‘Light Up the Blues’ 2025
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Stephen Stills and Neil Young performing “Rockin’ in the Free World” at the Greek Theatre, April 26, 2025
Stephen Stills was joined by his three-time former bandmate, Neil Young, on Saturday night (April 26, 2025), for a rockin’ Autism Speaks Light Up the Blues 7 Concert. The star-studded event, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted once again by Stills and his wife, Kristen, was promoted by Nederlander Concerts. Billy Idol, Cat Power, the Heartbreakers’ keyboardist Benmont Tench and Nathaniel Rateliff were joined by Chris Stills, Oliver Stills and others for the event, which also featured performances by autistic musical artists. Comic actor Ken Jeong served as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Light Up the Blues Concert returned for its seventh year to celebrate Autism Speaks’ 20th anniversary and the autism community, while helping to fuel Autism Speaks’ work to provide resources and services for all autistic individuals, across the spectrum and throughout their lifespan.
Stills was joined by Tench for his set. Rateliff shared vocals on “Colorado.”
Stills’ set included an electrifying version of one of his solo favorites, “Turn Back the Pages.”
Young joined Stills to close Stills’ set for the classic Buffalo Springfield song, “For What It’s Worth.”
Billy Idol and his guitarist Steve Stevens closed their brief set with a classic rock favorite.
Young led a rousing version of “Rockin’ in the Free World” to conclude his set, exhorting the crowd to “take America back.”
Thanks to mano1971music and csilver522 for the videos.
Proceeds from the concert will support Autism Speaks’ efforts, which include funding life-enhancing research, increasing early childhood screening and interventions, and improving the transition to adulthood for people with autism. Some of the instruments used in the performance, including several provided by Martin Guitars, were autographed and will be auctioned by Julien’s Auctions to raise funds. “I understand it’s more valuable if I’ve played it,” joked Stills, before strumming one while singing an impromptu verse of “This Land is Your Land.”
“I understand it’s more valuable if I’ve played it,” joked Stills about one of the guitars to be auctioned.
In a statement announcing the concert, Kristen and Stephen Stills said, “We are once again feeling grateful that we can play a part in helping Autism Speaks to fulfill their mission of creating such meaningful progress for autistic people and their families. There are a multitude of existing challenges and now, here in Los Angeles, we face a new reality of added need for our autism community. The trajectory of getting back to a sense of normalcy is very complex. We know that our support of Autism Speaks will help to ensure that the path will be smoother and approached with sensitivity and care.”
Related: During Young’s 11-song set at the 2023 Light Up the Blues concert, he and Stills were joined by Joe Walsh for a sparkling version of Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul”
Young has announced a 2025 tour. Details are here. An archival 1971 live album from Stills was released in 2023. It’s available on CD and as a 2-LP set. And a great CSN&Y album, recorded at the Fillmore East in 1969, was released in 2024. It’s available on 2-LPs or 2-CDs in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationIt was the best of concerts, it was the coldest of concerts. At about 50 degrees, I was under dressed for a 4 hour telethon for Autism Speaks. The music spanned a huge array of genres and raised awareness and money for Autism Speaks.
I’ve written a fair number of music and concert reviews and I don’t think I could have added anything of value. Plus the video and audio really brought it all back. Great Job to the musicians, organizers and all those who made it happen.