Bradley Center
Milwaukee
April 17, 2000
Story and Photo by Phil Bonyata
These old and most storied of folk rockers, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tore out all out of their hippie roots and and laid them to bare on the Bradley Center stage Monday night.
Their current reunion tour has revitalized and energized them as only a fresh reconciliation can do. Unfortunately past conflicts usually reemerge as time wears on.
Neil Young came out of the gates spitting vinegar and fire. On "Rockin' in the Free World" the other three stood back as Neil went absolutely berserk. Young is a true heartfelt rocker that is really one with his craft. Still, this was not the Neil Young show.
Crosby, Stills and Nash found their moments in the spotlight also. Stephen Stills and Neil Young played like two stereo speakers anchoring the turntable.
The evening took on a mellower and laid back turn as the band settled in for some softer numbers like "Old Man" and "Guinnevere". Towards the end of the second set the balding David Crosby sang "Almost Cut My Hair" not trying to hide a slight ironic smile. His old song on hippie defiance took on a whole new meaning as he has survived many years of drug abuse.
For more than three and a half hours, these still vital rockers reunion was not merely about making lots of money, but it also was sound therapy to help close many old wounds.
CSN & Y closed with "Long May You Run" in which the band exchanged brief but intense glances with each other. The audience expelled contented sighs as the exiting rock n' rollers' front lit bodies cast long and beautifully eerie shadows that resembled four Davids transforming into one great Goliath.