Neil Young overcomes loneliness at the United Palace

In his song "A Man Needs a Maid," Neil Young sings from the perspective of a man who has been hurt and confused by human relationships and would rather have something that he can "understand." I was thinking that maybe I'd get a maid Find a place nearby for her to stay. Just somene to keep my house clean Fix my meals and go away. During his lively performance at New York City's United Palace Theater in Washington Heights last night, it was clear most of the audience knew the feeling. The crowd was so engaged and shouted between songs, getting into philosophical arguments about their duties and Neil's. The typical exchange went something like this: "Play 'Cinnamon Girl'!" "Let him play what he wants!" "Shut up!" "Leave him alone!" "We love you, Neil." "'Old Man'!" To which Neil Young smiled and replied, "Watch it, now." If the crowd was engaged, it was becase Neil Young never seems to be going through the motions. A crowd does not need a rock star. They wanted Mr. Young, who did an acoustic set alone, surrounded by seven guitars, a banjo, a grand piano, his grandmother's upright piano, and a synthesizer, before...