Posted on 08/11/2004 7:39:02 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
A summer night of love for protest songs of the Sixties
They came from the 1960s. Most were in their sixties.
But the crowd listening to Crosby, Stills & Nash in Bethlehem, PA did cross generations, and even the youngsters were singing the tunes that gave a bittersweet taste to those years seemingly long ago.
The band, however, brought them to the stage at MusikFest's RiverPlace Tuesday night.
With a vengeance.
They opened with "Carry On," and on a sour note to boot. Oh lordy, if this was the sound they were going to offer all night long, this was also a good time for them to retire for good.
But they pulled themselves together and, despite their old men bellies -- at least on Stills and Crosby -- and despite more gravel in their throats than they had when they mesmerized the megacrowds at Woodstock in 1969, these guys hadn't lost it.
And they were, after all, playing to an adoring group of fans. Many wore CSN and CSNY T-shirts, for Crosby, Stills & and Nash, with the Y bringing up the rear with Neil Young.
Nash did most of the singing Tuesday night, but Stills and Crosby were no slouches when it came to mixing it up with a pile-on style of harmonies. It was difficult to understand how such musicianship was possible outside of a studio setting.
And Steven Stills must have done a lot of practicing in the last 35 years to be able to whale away on his guitar the way he did. No, make that at least four guitars that he used in just the first set of songs.
The "Carry-on" opener, which most folks the age of these guys would recognize immediately oozed right in to "Questions."
Both songs had more of an edge to them than when originally brought out by the group. In fact, the sweet folksiness CSN was known for had a pounding rock beat that was occasionally distracting. Good stuff, but not what it had been.
Their third song was a new one -- "MILITARY MADNESS." It was a protest song, as many of their songs were. This one stung.
IT RAILED AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ and its chorus went like this:
"MILITARY MADNESS IS KILLING MY COUNTRY. /Solitary sadness creeps over me."
The last chorus ended in a mantra of "NO MORE WAR! NO MORE WAR! NO MORE WAR!" ever louder; ever harsher.
You can easily tell the politics of Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Just go to their official Web site. At the bottom is a banner urging visitors to "VOTE FOR KERRY."
Crosby was the clown of the bunch. He looked out over the extensive crowd and wondered aloud, "Boy that goes back a long way. That's OK, we go back a long way, too."
Crosby sang a solo bashing Enron and corporate executives who steal from the little guy and get away with it.
"Ain't no different than taking your money with a gun," he sang.
Later he said, "In my time, I think I've (angered) every group of people in the U.S. Government, except one. Being the fair and even-handed guy I am, I thought I'd sing one for the CIA."
And he did.
They ended the first set with Steven Stills' "Love the One You're With," and drew the audience into the chorus.
It was a love fest with a group who had been at the center of the love generation.
And the music wasn't bad either. Tony Nauroth is local desk editor for The Express-Times. He can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at tnauroth@express-times.com.
And in other news, David Crosby's liver protested David Crosby at the same concert.
Dolphy,
Pardon my ignorance, but is Support Swiftvets.com a real website?
I tried to enter it into my browser, and got an error message.
I would love to find a site to support them, do you have any ideas?
Thanks!
That group Neil Young used to be with.
How was the concert?
Nah, their "freak flags" are still flyin'.
Who's filling Garcia's shoes?
Ben and Jerry?
No One
Clemenza's nephews, of course, ask "what's Pearl Jam?"
Yep, it's an unwritten law that nostalgic 60's burnouts only protest Republican administrations. Clinton could've nuked the Serb Christians and these guys would've either been silent or cheered.
and come back...
and fade away...
and come back, etc.
Uh...Dave, babe? It's been thirty years since anyone cared what you thought, and back then, it was 'cause they were stoned.
The correct website is www.swiftvets.com. Some variations of this URL are run by leftist Kerry shills that trash the swift boat vets.
I was also at MusikFest last night but chose NOT to see Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Instead we enjoyed seeing the Shirelles singing "Soldier Boy" and other oldies.
I don't think this concert is important in the grand scheme of things, but if the fight should expand, I'm ready. Veitnam's protests and such will NOT happen again on my watch. Spit on a soldier, experience the wrath of Meyer!!! :)
Thank you VERY MUCH for the site address!
My husband just retired from the USAF (23+yrs.) I was in the USAF as well. Most my family is current or retired Military.
I can't believe what they are being put through for bringing the truth to light, so I'd like to sent them my support.
a bunch of old, washed-up, has-been hippies ... apparently.. ;-)
As usual, faulty reporting. Military Madness was on a Nash album from the late 70's I believe.
Thank you as well.
Very much appreciated!
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