Written by Michael Pittman
I can’t remember NOT being a Stephen Stills fan. I guess it goes all the way back to that original Buffalo Springfield album with For What it’s Worth and Sit Down I Think I Love You. Then again..with Rock and Roll Woman, Mr. Soul and Bluebird.
I remember sitting down with my dearly departed friend Pat Kavanagh and learning Helplessly Hoping from the 1st CSN record. A song I still play to this day. On the side, it wasn’t too long ago we had the chance to have a mini reunion and see CSN in Dallas. Pat was there, so was Alexis, Jack and myself. Remember that? Second row was it? Did we rush the stage like teenagers? So Stephen Stills has been a part of my musical life for as long as I can remember and probably yours too.
In this incarnation at a late stage in his career we find Stills connecting with his blues roots. It was Neil Young who described Stills as one of the best bluesmen around. Add to Stills’ legend the likes of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg and you have a force to be reckoned with. CSN’s longtime bassist Kevin McCormick and Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton rounded out the band.
Forming as a trio in 2013 they quickly released Can’t Get Enough. Then they followed up 3 years later with Pierced Arrow. The Rides have established themselves as a solid blues-rock phenomenon.
So against this backdrop The Rides blew the doors off of HOB. For guitar players especially, but for everyone there it was a massive guitar shoot like no other.
Shepherd and Stills took turns soloing seemingly having the times of their lives without tripping all over each other. The two giants tuned into each other more than once and took guitar harmonies to a new level.
Stills was Stills was Stills and in good vocal form when he wasn’t burning through some of those patented guitar licks he is so famous for. His guitar of choice seemed to be the 50’s era Fender Strat, but he played several guitars, even getting out the Gretsch White Falcon for a while.
Many don’t realize that Stills has suffered from hearing loss since age 9. In an interview I read he talks of coming to terms with it and now wears two hearing aids. Pretty amazing for someone who has built a reputation not only for songwriting, but with his vocal performances as a member of the vocally intensive CSN.
The set tonight was a blazing mix of the 1st and the 2nd records mostly, but it was the encore that captured the evening best. How do you top For What It’s Worth? You can’t..period. So in every measure, this evening’s performance was one not to be forgotten for everyone there.
Before I go, I want to give a special tip of the hat to my son Jon. Jon runs sound at HOB and got me the set list.
Kick Out of It
Riva Diva
Roadhouse
Talk to Me Baby
By My Side
Virtual World
Can’t Get Enough
…Use My Imagination
Game On
Blue On Black
Love The One You’re With
For What It’s Worth