Review: Crosby/Nash (& Obama)

Whenever the alumni from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young get together, there is usually something extra in the air, and it usually carries a familiar aroma. Thursday night, David Crosby and Graham Nash came to the Uptown Theater with a four-piece band, and this time the air crackled with something tangible but it was not the fragrance of smoked weed.

"Welcome to a different world," David Crosby said to a congregation of about 1,400 fans, most of them children of the 1960s. Later, he would remind them of the task at hand. "They've handed this guy a bucket of shit and said 'Go make biscuits.' ... But he's a good biscuit-maker." Crosby also mourned the loss of great comic material: When your guy's in the White House, one-liners are harder to come by; and your freak flag is no longer so freaky.

"This guy" was the president-elect, and his election fused many of these old songs with new meaning. None was more electric than "Chicago." Nash started that one, banging the first three or four chords on his keyboards and then stopping, looking quizzically at his mates and, as the crowd cheered, continuing. Funny how contexts change, how a song written as an anti-violence and anti-establishment call-to-arms felt so redemptive: "We can change the world rearrange the world / It's dying to get better." The crowd would roar euphorically several times this evening, but never louder than it did during and after that one.

The setlist bounced around the Crosby/Nash catalog, from latter-day solo material to early CS&N and CSN&Y numbers. The two chatted with their audience and each other all night. After someone's repeated calls for "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," Crosby reminded the fan that Stephen Stills was not on stage so they wouldn't be doing any of his numbers. At times, the casual dialogue between the two recalled their back-and-forth on their "Four Way Street" live album. ("You don't wanna play mumblety-peg with him ...")

Crosby toyed with his audience a little, too. Twice he said bassist Andrew Ford was a Kansas City native -- big cheer both times -- but last week he told a crowd in Wisconsin that Ford was born in Green Bay. Har-har. The rest of their backup band included Crosby's son James Raymond on keyboards and backing vocals, session maestro Dean Parks (lots of Steely Dan on his resume) on guitar and pedal steel and Stevie DiStanislao on drums and vocals.

The show lasted about two and a half hours, including a 20-minute intermission. As usual, the newer material got loud but polite responses; the older stuff ignited thunderous cheers, sing-alongs and, now and then, some dancing in the aisles. And all night the sound was good and clean, even during the quiet and more intimate moments.

The second half was better than the first, but only because it was heavier with the older material, starting with the opener: an acoustic version of "Guinnevere." Neither man sings like he did 40 years ago, but both can still carry a pretty tune a long way. And their harmonies were lush and crisp throughout the show. It's a shame how that classic and signature folk/rock trait -- two- and three-part harmonies -- has disappeared from pop music. Where have all the duos gone?

After "Guinnevere," Crosby introduced Nash's classic pop-ditty, "Our House," as the soundtrack to lost-virginity in the Vietnam era. The singalong to that one was cathartic, too.

The show ended with more fireworks. After "Chicago" and then a rousing jam-session version of "Cathedral," Crosby lit into "Almost Cut My Hair." Then the encore. First, a drawn-out, soul-blues rendition of "Wooden Ships." Then, after Crosby said he'd like to march to Washington and advise politicians to double teachers' salaries, a countrified version of "Teach Your Children." They completely turned that one over to the crowd several times, and the sing-along was loud and bright and emphatic and jubilant, like everyone was high on something. Whatever it was, it left behind an aura but no aroma.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Wasted on the Way, Long Time Gone, I Used to Be a King, Lay Me Down, Dream for Him, Live On, Just a Song Before I Go, Carry Me, Critical Mass/Wind on the Water, Puppeteer, Deja Vu. Intermission. Guinnevere, Our House, In Your Name, In My Dreams, Chicago, Orleans/Cathedral, Military Madness, What Are Their Names, Almost Cut My Hair. Encore: Wooden Ships, Teach Your Children.

Comments

[what up]

kewl:) totally kewl:):)

[Penny]

Sounds like a great show. Those guys can sound awesome, but I have heard them on an off night when they sounded awful. Really considered going, but the older I get the less I want to venture out on cold nights. Saving it up for the Eagles Sunday night.

[Tim Finn]

They were definitely jacked-up. There were a few wobbly vocal moments, but not many. Nash said the last two shows (Tuesday and Thursday) were the best of the tour.

[Gary Dean]

It was a fun show even in the back row where I was,

What was also very cool was they sold the show we just heard on a MP3 USB drive

I wish all bands would do this
I know our Kansas City Band Shooting Star does this.
if you go to http://www.shootingstarmaniacs.com
you will see the live shows for sell, good price too $10.00

Gary
KC

[Gary Dean]

It was cool that that they played the song Chicago, even though it was not on the setlist, Nash palyed the opening notes on the keyboard as if to tease the audience, then after a pause Crosby said GO AHEAD...
What a Treat

Gary
KC

[Gary Dean]

Tim did you notice Grahm Nash introduce the band in the 1st half of the show as well as the 2nd half

[Tim Finn]

Yep I did; not that unusual -- respectful to the band.

[Gary Dean]

Did anyone take pictures at the show?

Gary

[Steve D]

I don't go to many shows anymore......but....I had to goto this!!

Really god show. I got what I wanted....Crosby sing...."Almost Cut My hair".....what a clasic!!

[Tim Finn]

My camera crapped out on me (batteries).