Concert Revue and Photography by Alan Duckworth
Crosby Stills and Nash are still selling out venues just as they did back in the ’70s. Last Wednesday night at Wolf Trap was no exception. The trio brought their unmistakable folk rock vocal harmony to a packed Filene Center.
It would have been nice to have Neil Young on the bill, but 3 out of 4 isn’t bad. I’d consider Neil Young a contributor more than ever being an actual band member; the lineup has fluctuated with and without his presence since the beginning. Even when they performed the original Woodstock, Neil Young skipped most of the set. Still, I don’t think anybody would’ve complained if he had been there.
Even without the presence of Neil Young, there’s still plenty of outstanding music. All three members have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – TWICE! Their self-titled album and Déjà Vu still hold up as two of rock and roll’s greatest albums. It has some of the most recognizable tunes for its time past and present: “Marrakesh Express,” “Teach Your Children,” “Our House,” “Carry On,” “Woodstock,” “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” the list goes on.
What has always made Crosby, Still and Nash stand out is their powerful vocal harmony. It was the sound behind compelling Vietnam war protest and the counter culture of the ’70s. During the show, David Crosby made an interesting comment expressing his distaste with Washington, something along the lines of how he can smell a hot stench coming from that direction. I’m sure it was directed more towards the government and not the people. It just goes to show the amount of antipathy still present in regards to the Vietnam War.
There was no opening act, so Crosby, Stills and Nash had the stage for the entire performance. It was over two hours worth of music! They played the majority of their library of favorites. I was a little disappointing they didn’t play “Wooden Ships,” but they all but made up for it with the rest of the set.
Their performance of “Cathedral” had a real storytelling element. Graham Nash explained that the song was based on an experience he had at Stonehenge, tripping on acid. He walked down to the nearby Winchester Cathedral where he found himself staring at a statue of the Virgin Mary. He got a weird sensation in his legs and realized he was standing on the grave of a soldier who died on his birthday. It was eerie, especially if you consider the cultural effect CSN has had with war and protest. To have had an experience like that considering the impact they’ve had on the lives of soldiers in particular is remarkable. It’s certainly enough to inspire a great song.
This was by every means a great concert! The atmosphere, the calm and the harmony were all contributing factors to a peaceful protest, just about as loud as you can make it. It was a great time!
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