Photo from 2001 Tour |
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, highly motivated by the events of September 11th, 2001, are embarking on an exhaustive tour of the United States. I was lucky enough to see them in Columbus, Ohio at what was the second show of the tour, and boy was it a doozy. Before I actually discuss the music I’d like to digress with some commentary about the production itself.
The social consciousness of CSNY, individually and collectively, is a highly marketable, American quality during this time of war. Their marketability was evidenced by the packed house at the Nationwide Arena. I say this more in regard to the exorbitant ticket prices which range from $40-$230 than in the fact that the show was well attended. As far as ticket prices go, don’t be scared away by the price, if you get to the venue early you will find plenty of extras are available. I purchased a pair of tickets originally priced at $174 for the pair, for just $79. At that price the show is definitely worth while, running a little over 3 hours. The ticket prices just further accentuate the patriotic feelings the band evokes, I mean what is more American than a bunch of foreigners (melting pot) hooking up with an American (Crosby) and carpetbagging their way through the states to profit off of the current political environment. Other things of note before I get to the music itself, the stage is virtually the same as the last tour with the cigar shop Indian and fake plants. The old stage in conjunction with the stagnant setlist gives the show a feel of something that was brought together very quickly by some harmonizing profiteers.
Let’s start with the setlist. It wasn’t that stagnant, I am being overly harsh in that regard, but there are some songs that act as anchors in the set. Considering the amount of songs all of these prolific men have written more variation would be nice. Inversely, I fully realize a need to play most of their hits so as to not disappoint fans in any one city. Just like Bob Dylan, CSNY has so many loved songs that they are limited by their own success as fans want to hear their radio songs. Meanwhile, a band like Phish has much more leeway thanks to not having achieved their success through the media.
The show began with “Carry On,” the sound was a bit muddy as the music just overpowered the vocals. The idea that they would even accidentally overpower their vocals seems comical to me in light of the fact that their reputation was built upon their elegant harmonies. Luckily the sound was cleaned up for the remainder of the show. The first set contained two unreleased Neil Young tunes, the first “Going Home” painted images of Custer and was tight musically while the second song “You’re My Girl,” was the hokiest song I’ve heard in a while. Other highlights from the first set were an electrifying, set closing “Cinnamon Girl” and David Crosby’s anthemic “Almost Cut My Hair.”
After a slightly uneven first set, the band came out for an acoustic set and Graham Nash took the spotlight delivering beautiful renditions of “Helplessly Hoping” and “Our House.” Any doubts that I had about the show disappeared with the lush vocals as they led us into a state of aural whimsy. The backing band, Steve Parks on drums, along with Booker T. Jones on keys and fellow MG Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass got to play one of Jones’ own tunes “Old Man Trouble” with Stephen Stills providing some powerful vocals. David Crosby contributed “Dream For Him,” with thoughtful lyrics about a father wondering about his son’s future in a world so rife with malaise. Young didn’t allow the crowd a chance to fall into melancholy though as he got couples up and dancing to his beautiful “Harvest Moon.” The set closed with an amazing, breathtaking version of “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” Stills and Crosby magically blended their vocals and Still’s guitar work was equally impressive as he drove the crowd into a frenzy.
The 7th inning stretch followed, complete with a videotape of Harry Caray singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” again very Americana, as was the next song. “Let’s Roll,” a song in which Young recites the words spoken by victims on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, sounded better live, but unfortunately Neil’s guitar went out during his solo and the crowd was left watching but not hearing the solo. As the show drew to an end we were treated to two more classic Crosby songs in the Byrd’s “Eight Miles High” and the soulful “Long Time Gone.” “Rockin’ In The Free World” closed the show, as always it was energetic and rocking but no different than usual. The lone encore was the old Buffalo Springfield tune, “For What It’s Worth.” I’ve never been comfortable with the way they have slowed it down and while I love the original this seemed like a poor way to close the show. I’d like to add that everyone should see Neil Young live at least once, just to see a man who plays with unbelievable passion, energy and reckless abandon.
peace,
mir ali
JamBase Ohio Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
Set I: Carry On/Questions, Military Madness, Goin' Home, Deja Vu, 49 Bye-Byes, Feed The People, I Used To Be A King, You're My Girl, Dark Star, Almost Cut My Hair, Cinnamon Girl
Set II: Helplessly Hoping, Our House, Old Man, Carry Me, Dream For Him, Harvest Moon, Old Man Trouble, Half Your Angels, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
[7th Inning Stretch]
Let's Roll, Long Time Gone, Two Old Friends, Eight Miles High, Rockin' In The Free World
Encore: For What It's Worth
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