"Crosby,
Stills, Nash & Young still have fire"
By Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 22, 2000
Photograph: Dave Cruz, the Arizona republic
Looking like four grizzled troubadours, but sounding like they've still got lots of
music left to give, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young covered old and new ground Monday
night in Phoenix.
Although the near-sellout America West Arena crowd no doubt came to hear the classics
that put this quartet into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, a generous dose of the group's
new "Looking Forward" album was well received.
"It's not that we don't love the old songs -- it's just that the new ones keep us
alive" a grinning David Crosby said after a touching version of the new song,
"Slowpoke."
They all may be well into their 50s, but David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and
Neil Young showed plenty of energy as they sampled every phase of their legendary careers,
both as a group and solo artists, in a three-hour set.
Though Crosby, Stills and Nash have performed in the '80s and '90s, it's been 25 years
since they've shared the stage with Young, who adds a welcome edge and strong song
catalog.
Young's aggressive guitar playing and blaring vocals seemed to push his three comrades
Monday, as the foursome showed they can still largely deliver the tapestry of harmonies
that made them superstars in the days of Richard Nixon and Vietnam.
Opening with a grungy version of "Carry On," both the performers and crowd
seemed excited to be blasting off on a well-oiled time machine that spans three decades of
songs.
The opening half of the show featured electric instruments and was powered by leads by
Stills and Young on "Southern Man," "Cinnamon Girl" and the new rocker
"Stand and Be Counted."
Crosby, who has been in the news for fathering the two children of fellow rocker
Melissa Etheridge and her partner through artificial insemination, sent chills down the
spine as he testified about the time he Almost Cut My Hair. With the exception of a
totally gray Nash, the rest of the group now must worry more about keeping their hair
rather than cutting it.
After an intermission, the group served up acoustic chestnuts such as "Helplessly
Hoping," "Guinnevere," "Teach Your Children" and "Our
House," which spotlighted Nash.
The million-dollar harmonies were still there for these classics, as well as the new
"Someday Soon" and "Looking Forward." The veteran performers
saved the heavy artillery for a final electric set. Stills and his guitar took center
stage for a roaring version of Woodstock.
Crosby, the crowd favorite for the evening, sang an emotional "Long Time
Gone."
Young, who also received several ovations, put the group through its paces with
"Rockin' in the Free World."
The group performed on a sparse stage set. Their attire casual and the between-song
banter good-humored.
But there was nothing casual about the evening's music. The performance served as a
reminder that these four who probably would be the first to admit they're getting a bit
over the hill recorded some of the best music during one of America's most turbulent
times.
