- “Anyone see Neil?”
Stephen Stills stole the show from David Crosby and Graham Nash last night at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater. The trio has played together in various forms for tmore than 40 years now, but Stills is the one who plays with the heart of a much younger musician.
When Crosby, Stills & Nash performed “Bluebird,” one of the many songs Stills wrote for Buffalo Springfield about Judy Collins, Stills’ guitar solo was a passionate and soulful highlight.
The three members still care about world affairs. Both “In Your Name” and “What Are Their Names” resonated, as they sang about how unhappy they are with the government and a call for “peace for mankind.” The audience, filled with older fans who had followed them from their 1969 debut album, showed they agreed with peace signs and ear-piercing screams.
But the enthusiasm died down after Nash told the audience, “We’re playing in Miami soon … we’ll be sure to send your love to LeBron.”
But they redeemed themselves during the introduction of their band, which includes a Cleveland bassist and drummer Joe Vitale, a Canton native “who’s been kicking us in the ass for 40 years.” —Crystal Pirri; photo by Mark Pirri
Did you go to the show? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments.
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This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2010.
It was a great a concert on a beautiful Cleveland evening.
We really, really enjoyed the show. The crowd was really into it and showed their appreciation with many standing ovations. My only disappointment was that they didn’t sing Marrakesh Express or Ohio 🙁
It was a nice show but you could sure see the difference from a tom petty show as far as the audience being more active and involved in the show. The final song “Teach” was sang by almost everyone but most of the time the crowd was happy to be sitting down and clapping.
huge disappointment was Stills’ voice was gone, or they were saving him for Baltimore today? Crosby carried most of the vocals and was an absolute joy! Some fans gasped at a few of the high notes he hit!
Understand where Stephen is at this point in his career. He is truly wicked on the guitar, never better. He can sing in the low mid-range and his gruffness bodes very well on songs such as For What It’s Worth, Midnight Rider (cover), Love the One You’re With, Treetop Flyer, etc. He has good intensity in that range which is the best place for him. He has not been as lucky as Graham and David who are better vocalists now than ever. It is just a fact and it is good to accept it for what it is – else you will always be thinking about where he was in 1969 and be disappointed.
We were not disappointed at all with “the Boys”.
It was perhaps the best concert we have seen of theirs …and have followed them for years and years.
David…..stood proudly with a smile most of the night….truly glad to be there and be with friends and fans (written all across his face!). Graham was very “into it”…. and Stephen….love his tush! He seemed to be almost “spotlighted”…played some great guitar and raspy voice?….I have heard him worse. I just think this is Stephen…Today.
Great music, great guys, great night in Cleveland.
Great show!! My wife and I sat in the front row center stage. Sure, they’re voices are paying the price of time, but to see them together and be taken thru the time machine which is their music was a real treat. One bright spot was after Steven Stills jammed on “Bluebird” he threw his pick into the audience and I was lucky enough to catch it and give it to my wife.