It’s hard to believe that it’s been forty-five years since Crosby Stills & Nash released their first album and in some ways it’s equally hard to believe that they are still performing and recording new material. I’ve seen CS&N a number of times, always in massive arenas or stadiums and really never thought they quite captured or really recreated  their distinctive harmonic sound as well as on record in those types of settings. That all changed when CS&N visited Bayou Music Center the other night. Finally getting to hear voices of this caliber in a venue designed for musical performances rather than Basketball games was the way a CS&N concert was meant to be.

Starting off with an all electric version of “Carry On”, CS&N grabbed the audiences’ attention and didn’t let go for almost three hours counting a short intermission about half way through the set.

As one would expect, CS&N featured most of their better known songs such as “Marrakesh Express”, “Long Time Gone”,” Southern Cross” and “Just a Song Before I Go” to mention a few, but they also stretched things out a bit by adding newer numbers as well as individual solos.

It’s not unusual for a CS&N concert to turn political and this show was no different as the band spoke their minds mostly through their music but David Crosby’s remark that “all politicians are pond scum” seem to get the only negative response from someone in the back announcing “Obama Sucks”. Crosby’s bristling response amounted to “Hey Dipshit, I have the microphone….you can’t win this one”. With that Crosby introduced a song that he said has never made any difference but Nash and he liked to sing it anyway. “What Are Their Names” a short but poignant song aimed directly at our country’s leadership.

Graham Nash’s “Watch Out for the Wind” was only penned four days earlier in response to the recent incidents in Ferguson, Missouri.

A new number “Burning for the Buddha”, was CS&N’s ode to Tibet’s desire and fight for freedom from Chinese suppression and to the extreme lengths some Tibetan monks have gone to garner world attention to their plight.

David Crosby in particular was outstanding this evening. His voice sounded as good and in some cases better than ever. His vocals on “Almost Cut My Hair” just before intermission, was for me the best example of Crosby’s range.

Not one to be outdone, Graham Nash’s vocals were hitting on all cylinders as well. He still quivers the high notes like he always has and still harmonizes exquisitely with his band mates, especially Crosby.

Steven Stills took his turn at solo with a song he introduced as an early weird Bob number. Weird Bob as in Bob Dylan and the number was “Girl from the North Country”. Stills’ maturing voice blended well with his precise guitar accompaniment to this Dylan standard and was one of many songs featuring Stills singing. Other Stills numbers offered this evening included Buffalo Springfield’s “For What it’s Worth” and “Bluebird” along with “Love the One Your With” closing out the show.

This was one of those shows that you had to hear to believe. The Bayou Music Center’s world class sound system and relative up close seating is definitely the way to experience a CS&N concert, especially when these musical icons are vocally tuned in as well as they were this evening.

Set List

Carry On
Marrakesh Express
Long Time Gone
Southern Cross
Just a Song Before I Go
Delta
Don’t Want Lies
Back Home
Cathedral
Our House
Déjà vu
Bluebird
Almost Cut My Hair

Intermission

Helplessly Hoping
Girl from the North Country
Watch Out For the Wind
How Could There Be Only One Way?
What Are Their Names?
Guinnevere
Burning for the Buddha
49 Bye-Byes
Wooden Ships
For What It’s Worth
Love the One You’re With

Encore

Teach Your Children