Posted on 08/11/2004 7:39:02 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
A summer night of love for protest songs of the Sixties
They came from the 1960s. Most were in their sixties.
But the crowd listening to Crosby, Stills & Nash in Bethlehem, PA did cross generations, and even the youngsters were singing the tunes that gave a bittersweet taste to those years seemingly long ago.
The band, however, brought them to the stage at MusikFest's RiverPlace Tuesday night.
With a vengeance.
They opened with "Carry On," and on a sour note to boot. Oh lordy, if this was the sound they were going to offer all night long, this was also a good time for them to retire for good.
But they pulled themselves together and, despite their old men bellies -- at least on Stills and Crosby -- and despite more gravel in their throats than they had when they mesmerized the megacrowds at Woodstock in 1969, these guys hadn't lost it.
And they were, after all, playing to an adoring group of fans. Many wore CSN and CSNY T-shirts, for Crosby, Stills & and Nash, with the Y bringing up the rear with Neil Young.
Nash did most of the singing Tuesday night, but Stills and Crosby were no slouches when it came to mixing it up with a pile-on style of harmonies. It was difficult to understand how such musicianship was possible outside of a studio setting.
And Steven Stills must have done a lot of practicing in the last 35 years to be able to whale away on his guitar the way he did. No, make that at least four guitars that he used in just the first set of songs.
The "Carry-on" opener, which most folks the age of these guys would recognize immediately oozed right in to "Questions."
Both songs had more of an edge to them than when originally brought out by the group. In fact, the sweet folksiness CSN was known for had a pounding rock beat that was occasionally distracting. Good stuff, but not what it had been.
Their third song was a new one -- "MILITARY MADNESS." It was a protest song, as many of their songs were. This one stung.
IT RAILED AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ and its chorus went like this:
"MILITARY MADNESS IS KILLING MY COUNTRY. /Solitary sadness creeps over me."
The last chorus ended in a mantra of "NO MORE WAR! NO MORE WAR! NO MORE WAR!" ever louder; ever harsher.
You can easily tell the politics of Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Just go to their official Web site. At the bottom is a banner urging visitors to "VOTE FOR KERRY."
Crosby was the clown of the bunch. He looked out over the extensive crowd and wondered aloud, "Boy that goes back a long way. That's OK, we go back a long way, too."
Crosby sang a solo bashing Enron and corporate executives who steal from the little guy and get away with it.
"Ain't no different than taking your money with a gun," he sang.
Later he said, "In my time, I think I've (angered) every group of people in the U.S. Government, except one. Being the fair and even-handed guy I am, I thought I'd sing one for the CIA."
And he did.
They ended the first set with Steven Stills' "Love the One You're With," and drew the audience into the chorus.
It was a love fest with a group who had been at the center of the love generation.
And the music wasn't bad either. Tony Nauroth is local desk editor for The Express-Times. He can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at tnauroth@express-times.com.
you be correct.
love the whole album.
(for those not in the know) album: a flat black disc made from patrolium products housed in a 12x12 cover usually with some pretty cool artwork. pops skips and crackles providing that warm fuzzy sound that makes it seem oh so homey.
Mr Neil Split from these dopes decades ago and has out shined them all. Neil is pretty liberal too, but he was wise to get away from these goobers
Crosby Steals the Cash. Only time those guys were listenable was when Neil Young played with them. Otherwise, it's one big snoozefest. Worst move Graham Nash ever made was leaving the fabulous Hollies to join up with the other two California burnouts. I'll take "Pay You Back With Interest" or "I'm Alive" over "Suite:Judy Blue Eyes" any day.
I wonder if they are still lip-syncing. I saw them in 1985 and allegedly they were lip-syncing then. Plus, Crosby was stoned out of his mind and was aimlessly wandering the stage. Seeing them was one of the low points in my concert going.
The writer needs to go back to English 101, methinks. Try, wail, moron.
Not true. They stink WITH Young. Their politics aside, CSN are/were great singers. Neil Young is fine as long as he doesn't open his mouth to sing. As soon as he starts up with that nasal, off-key voice, it's all over. Play the guitar and shut up, Neil.
I saw CSN in Connecticut last Friday. It was a good rock show, but Graham Nash was wearing a shirt that said in teeny letters "Somewhere In Texas a Village Is Missing An Idiot." I'd have never noticed it. Of course, David Crosby felt the need to go to the mic and announce the shirt's message to the crowd - half of whom roared in approval, the other half sat in silence.
They did put on a pretty darn good show, music-wise. Stills can still shred, and their backup guitarist is great. Nash and Crosby, as usual, have excellent vocal harmony.
My dad really enjoys CSN and CSNY, and we bought the tickets for him, but I think the lady behind us said it best, "Play the music and keep the damn politics out of it!" Of course some lib next to her screamed right back, telling her to shut up. Many of the musicians I enjoy have leftist political leanings when you do some digging but definitely aren't so open or forward as CSN is!
Bottom line, I like the music, I don't agree with the politics.
The Dead and associated bands (Phil & Friends, Ratdog, etc.) generally attract a liberal kind of fanbase. We never feel uncomfortable, though. I was at a Phil & Friends show last fall where I was afraid I'd hear a political or anti-war statement, but all that was said was "God bless our troops" and "Donate blood and become an organ donor." (no suprise, the usual donor rap from Phil)
My fiance and I love the Dead, the Allman Brothers, Phil & Friends, Gov't Mule, etc. - and they generally keep the music separate from their politics. I know they're libs, but they don't shove it out there like CSN does.
Just askin'.
Did aanyone walk out of the concert?
The writer needs to go back to English 101, methinks. Try, wail, moron.
I don't know, have you seen Steve Stills lately?
LOL! Saw him and Crosby (w/ Nash) last summer in Hershey, PA. What a fattie, the both of them. Too much crack and coke ruins one's system and the weight piles on and up.
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