Yesterday’s post doesn’t mark the first time musicians took a political stand and performed a benefit concert for a presidential hopeful. Not by a long shot. Back on the 2004 campaign trail there were a gaggle of musicians playing in key states before big votes, all supporting John Kerry. While the Vote for Change tour may not have resulted in a win for the democratic candidate, it did produce some really outstanding collaborations.

Just a month before election day, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at Minnesota’s Excel Energy Center on October 5th. The stars aligned that night as legendary rocker Neil Young made a guest appearance for two songs during the set (“Souls of the Departed” and “All Along the Watchtower”) and a “Rockin’ in the Free World” encore. Despite his Canadian citizenship, Young is an activist first and foremost.

While it may have been a Bruce Springsteen concert, Neil took center stage during his collaborations. On “All Along the Watchtower” Young takes on lead guitar, vocals and the Bush administration. It’s really quite a site to see the Boss and Young marching down the stage together, screaming into the microphone, ripping a rocking version of the Dylan classic.

Young made guest appearances in previous months with Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor and the Dixie Chicks.