It had been a long time coming. Graham Nash and Neil Young came out to
Auckland in 1985 for the Rainbow Warrior Benefit concert and Neil
performed three New Zealand shows around the same time. In 1991 shows
were announced for Australia and New Zealand but CSN eventually only
played in the former country. Now, almost forty years after they formed,
the trio played their first New Zealand shows in Christchurch and
Auckland on the 27 and 29 November.
It was not quite a full house, probably around 4,000. The group has a
small loyal following but not touring here before has not helped their
popularity. Their releases don’t often feature – Still’s 2005 CD ‘Man
Alive’, for example, has never been available here. There is some
nervousness amongst the fans. Are these guys past their prime?
Shortly after 8pm the trio wander out on stage and they look – well old!
Crosby looks happy but tired. Stills is walking awkwardly, like his hips
are giving him trouble. And then they kick off the night with Carry
On/Questions and you know that they are up for it. Nash bounces
bare-footed around the stage and seems like he is twenty years younger
than the other two. Stills appears energised by performing. His
movements coming and going from the stage are almost painful to watch.
Guitar in hand he wanders out to the front soloing and seems to find a
new lease of life.
At times his guitar work sounds a little muddied – probably poor sound
desk mixing - but he stakes out his claim on Long Time Gone with some
great licks. Crosby and Nash have the vocals and for the most part are
on key and there are some magic moments on their duets. Stephen’s voice
sounds ragged, especially on harmonies when he is often carried or
substituted by vocals from the backing band. (Surprisingly the band is
never introduced, apart from Crosby’s son James Raymond. Joe Vitale is
on drums but the bass player and other keyboardist remain unknown to the
audience.) Generally Still’s voice holds up when doing lead vocals for
his songs but he comes into his own with his guitar work providing a
rockier edge to the music.
What stands out are the song arrangements. Several of the numbers have a
complexity and richness to them that adds to the original album
versions. 49 Bye Byes is a far more guitar-orientated arrangement than
the original version with some tasteful changes of tempo. Military
Madness is introduced by Nash as being just as relevant as when he wrote
it almost 40 years ago – a fact that he says pisses him off. Throughout
the show there is an easy banter between the trio but their political
and social views are very much in evidence. Déjà Vu gives everyone a
chance to solo and the first set is closed out with Southern Cross – a
real crowd pleaser down here in the southern hemisphere.
The second set kicks off in more laid back fashion with Helplessly
Hoping and then Stephen exits to leave Graham and David to sing
Guinnevere. At times it seems like the Crosby-Nash band with Stills
guesting on guitar but at other moments the group sound is very much in
evidence. Nash introduces a new song that he describes as a small prayer
titled "In Your Name." It has a country feel to it and Stills does some
tasteful work on his Gretsch White Falcon guitar. The lyrics, as close
as I could make out, are:
Lord can you help me
Help me deal with the pain
Can you stop all this killing
In your name
Lord if you’re out there
You know the whole world is going insane
So can you stop all of the killing
In your name
Chorus
Down through the ages
We’ve all come to learn
If we’re leading the way
So read all the pages
In the books from above
But don’t you get led astray
Lord are you listening
To a prayer from a simple man
Can you stop all the sadness
Can you stop all of the madness
Can you stop all of the killing
In your name
By the middle of the second set people were gathering at the front of
the stage singing along and dancing. After an audience inclusive version
of Our House the tempo shifted up some gears with Stephen’s guitar
playing lighting up renditions of For What it’s Worth, Dark Star and
Almost Cut My Hair. All too soon it was over. They came back for a
couple of encores and left the audience calling for more.
Crosby left soon after the show. The faithful waited at the rear and
eventually Stills came out, waved and was gone. Nash stopped, talked and
signed autographs. When one guy asked him to sign his “To Gabrielle”,
Nash quipped, “What’s this about, you trying to get laid?” “No, it’s for
my daughter” was the reply. “Sorry man” said Graham but no offence was
taken. It had been a good night. Personal quibbles – some of their newer
material would have been nice and Stills never did any acoustic guitar
work. But all in all Crosby, Stills and Nash delivered on their first
tour to New Zealand. Don’t wait so long before coming again guys!
On the drive home my wife said “Now I know what all the fuss is about!”
And that pretty much summed it up.
Mark Row
Hamilton, New Zealand
First Set:
Carry On/Questions
Marrakesh Express
Long Time Gone
49 Bye Byes
Just A Song Before I Go
Cathedral
Lay Me Down
Military Madness
Deja Vu
Southern Cross
Interval
Second Set:
Helplessly Hoping
Guinnevere
In Your Name
Jesus of Rio
Our House
For What It’s Worth
Dark Star
Almost Cut My Hair
Wooden Ships
Encore:
Woodstock
Teach Your Children
