Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young Live!
Ever since Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young delivered a politically charged set at the very first Woodstock, the foursome has been branded as one of the most opinionated and outspoken units of the past four decades. Those suggesting age has toned down the foursome’s unabashed viewpoints would’ve been mistaken because the spirit of protest resounded equally as loud as it did during the late 1960s, thanks in part to Young’s latest solo CD, Living With War. Though Neil Young has enjoyed the most successful solo career and the remaining three have spent time together and apart ever since, this summer’s full-fledged reunion (the first since 2002) picks right up from where that historic day left off. The highly publicized project doesn’t only cover Bush-bashing basics by the songwriter (who’s Canadian) but also his distrust of the current administration. While the collaborative spirit was absent in the studio on those recordings, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash stood behind Young in the quest and used the material as a cornerstone to the aptly titled “Freedom Of Speech†tour.
The night unveiled that theme from the onset as all four musicians, guitars in hand, plucked their way through “Flags Of Freedom,†during which the stage backdrop started out as the American flag and rotated through a series of other countries as a symbol of peace. From there, the core four (backed by a four piece band) took attendees on a two-act, three-hour, 34-song trip that mixed past and present with proactive attitudes and generally appealing harmonies. Diehards looking for the golden oldies in part one were mostly subjected to Young’s current rally cries (“Shock And Awe,†“Families†), which, despite falling within the quartet’s stylistic framework, seemed more like a solo segment with Crosby, Stills, and Nash serving as background vocalists. Of course with a set so lengthy, duty was split a bit more effectively as the evening wore on (also allowing the others a handful of solo selections) though for those unfamiliar with Living With War, the tracks blurred together and the theme proved incredibly redundant. Thankfully, radio relief came right around the corner with a few Déjà Vu delights including “Almost Cut My Hair†and the title cut, hinting at what was to come in act two.
Following intermission, seat-finding patrons were greeted by the comforting acoustic sounds and united vocals of “Helplessly Hoping,†which segued perfectly with the folk favorite “Our House†led by defiant Nash. Time didn’t serve Stills nearly as well visually and vocally, who croaked his way through “Treetop Flyer†and often stumbled throughout several of the second half’s harmony parts. Crosby may have looked especially weathered, though he didn’t have any trouble hitting the high notes, impressively taking the spotlight for “Carry Me.†Yet the real momentum started with a nod to Stills and Young’s days in Buffalo Springfield for the chilling “For What It’s Worth,†followed by the socially conscious city odes “Chicago (We Can Change The World)†and “Ohio†– Nash and Young staples respectively).
Regardless of where one stood on the political spectrum, the performers rarely spoke of the topic outside a song lyric while making sure to show off their patriotic side and pay tribute to the troops. The most obvious example came during a taped rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner,†which featured a family who lost a loved one in war draping a yellow ribbon around an oversized microphone. On a similar plane, the marathon capped off with “Rockin’ In The Free World,†which again reminded all that Americans have the right to speak their minds, an opportunity the entire audience could get behind no matter what constituency they supported.
Even in the instance a tune appeared more like an endless diatribe (most overtly “Let’s Impeach The Presidentâ€) over entertainment, there was still no room for complaining about bang for the high-priced buck. Topical repetition, pacing fumbles and vocal missteps aside, the reunited rockers offered a slice of something for everyone in their multiple generation legion, while shedding all the dinosaur skin for renewed relevance.
– Andy Argyrakis
Category: Live Reviews, Weekly
