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 Graham Nash |
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Review and photos by Frances Sealy Graham Nash's status as a music legend endures with a career that has spanned over the last 56 years. Looking and listening to Nash's musical journey closely mirrors the history of rock music.Nash's two-hour 'An intimate Evening of Songs and Stories 2018' concert was an amazing experience. Nash performed songs going back to the days of the Hollies through until his newest 2018 album release, This Path Tonight. Nash was a founding member of the English band The Hollies. The band pioneered the three-part harmony style of vocals. Their greatest popularity spanned from 1962 through the mid 1970s. Their hit records in the US included "Bus Stop," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress." The band rejected Nash's song "Marrakesh Express." That and other factors led to Nash relocating to LA and starting his association with Stephen Stills and David Crosby. 1969 was a really big year for CSN. In May, they released their eponymous album, Crosby, Stills, & Nash that rendered two 'Top 40' hits, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Marrakesh Express." Neil Young joined the band in time for their second album, Déjá Vu. The album remained on the charts for 97 weeks in the United States and generated three hit singles, including Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" and both of Nash's songs "Teach Your Children" and "Our House," Certified septuplet platinum by RIAA, the album's domestic sales currently sit at over 8 million copies. It's easy to forget the incredible catalogue of songs Nash has written and performed over the years. The concert renews the relevance of the music from the past and today. Nash called "Bus Stop" from his time with The Hollies "a memory test" as he started the song. Remarkably, Nash's voice is remains virtually the same after 50 years. Protest songs during the set included "Immigration Man," "Wind on the Water," and "Military Madness." The two cover songs of the night included a brilliant version of the Beatles' "A Day in the Life." Buddy Holly was given tribute with a performance of "Everyday." Songs from the new album included "Myself at Last" and "Golden Days." It's always a pleasure to hear how songs came about. "Immigration Man" was written as a protest when CSNY were entering the country and Nash quipped, "They let Crosby in, but didn't let me in unfortunately. There seemed to be something wrong with my visa at the time so they didn't let me in- It really pissed me off. So much so that when I got to my home in San Francisco, I had already written "Immigration Man." I live in two extremes. Either I'm in love or I'm totally pissed off. That is not a love song." Nash spoke of a meeting with a young man earlier in the day who was carrying Nash's autobiography. The fan made the trip from El Paso especially for the show. "The young man mentioned a story from the book about how meeting the Everly Brothers changed my life. I said indeed it did. I have some pictures in the back (of the book). '(The fan) said, this is my moment now.' He requested that I play "Simple Man" during the show. Nash then remarked, "This is a song I wrote when Joni and I broke up." Later in the show Nash said that he will be performing at two concerts held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in honor of Joni Mitchell's 75th birthday in two weeks. "We are incredibly lucky to still have her. Joni is getting better and better every single day. Folks, she's on her way back. Let me tell you." When he introduced "Golden Days," Nash spoke about how crazy it is out there. "I'm a news junkie and I am a net junkie. I love the news and I have never in my 50 years being here seen it so crazy. I know it's just the business of physics really. The pendulum will swing back." Shane Fontayne and Todd Caldwell may not be Crosby or Stills, but they harmonized just as well. No one in the crowd missed the original singers. Lush harmonies were provided on "Taken at All" and "Orleans." Nash acknowledges that the world hasn't really changed that much and he hasn't lost optimism for the future. |
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1. Wasted on the Way
(Crosby, Stills & Nash song) 2. Bus Stop (The Hollies song) 3. I Used to Be a King 4. Immigration Man (Crosby & Nash song) 5. Sleep Song 6. Myself at Last 7. Military Madness 8. Wind on the Water (Crosby & Nash song) 9. A Day in the Life (The Beatles cover) 10. Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills & Nash song) 11. Simple Man |
12. Right Between the Eyes
(Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) 13. 4 + 20 (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) 14. Taken at All (Crosby & Nash song) 15. Golden Days 16. Just a Song Before I Go (Crosby, Stills & Nash song) 17. Orleans / Cathedral 18. Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) Encore: 19. Chicago (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) 20. Everyday (Buddy Holly cover) 21. Teach Your Children (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) |
 Graham Nash |
 Graham Nash |
 Graham Nash |
 Shane Fontayne |
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