The Crosby Stills & Nash concert in Denver last night was terrific. More on that later, but first, two C,S & N songs relevant to today's unity announcement:
If you can't be with the one you love
love the one you're with
More...
On trains, all aboard the Marrakesh Express:
Hope the days that lie ahead
Bring us back to where they've led
Listen not to what's been said to you
Would you know we're riding
on the Marrakesh Express
Would you know we're riding
on the Marrakesh Express
All on board that train
About last night's concert: Graham Nash was having the best time, he's clearly the personality of the group these days. Stephen Stills' guitar just rocked the house. He brought his guitar right up to the audience every time he did a solo. Sitting in the 4th row I could see his veins pulsating with energy. At the end of each one, the audience cheered and he would throw his guitar pics into the crowd.
The group is as political as ever. More surprising to me was how strong their voices are after all these decades. They did three sets, two electric and one acoustic (with a half hour intermission) and had new songs mixed in with the oldies. The new ones were all political -- anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-military recruiters on campus. They mentioned Obama only once and said "Let's get Obama elected to the White House. Yes indeed-y." Since this was a non-political concert (it was a high-end benefit for an organ transplant foundation, coincidentally founded by Denver lawyer Steve Farber, himself the recipient of a kidney transplant, who also serves as a co-chair of the Denver Host Committee in charge of raising money for the Denver Convention) there was polite clapping and some cheers but not like you'd get at an Obama rally. Another one of their new songs was faith-based, a song to G-d asking him to stop the killing in his name.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter was in the audience, second row, with his kids. C,S & N were clearly delighted and dedicated the song in the clip below to him -- changing the words "Won't you please come to Chicago" to "Won't you please come to Denver" ("we can change the world, re-arrange the world.") Graham Nash has granted a license to the protest group ComeOnUpToDenver to use the song, so here's their version:
Open up the door
Somehow people must be free
I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to Denver
Show your face
From the bottom to the ocean
To the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to Denver
No one else can take your place
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world.
They played for 3 hours (less the half hour intermission) and did two encores. The first encore was the old Buffalo Springfield song, "For What It's Worth" which they had the audience sing along with them, and the final one was "Teach Your Children Well." During the encores they repeatedly and enthusiastically referenced the Democratic convention being held in Denver, which really got the crowd psyched.
While I'm thinking about Stephen Stills, I can't help but remember one of my favorite songs ever back in the old days -- from the Supersession album with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield -- Season of the Witch.
When I look over my shoulder what do you think I see
Someone looking over their shoulder at me
It's so very very strange
You've got to pick up every stitch right now
Must be the season of the witch.
