A most political concert
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed in Hershey Stadium last night and showed that rock's older generation still has a thing or two to teach Gen Y about political commitment, protesting the policies of George W. Bush--and singing in harmony.
This was probably the most political concert I have ever attended. Neil Young, the most artistically active of the four men, was in charge of song selection and the general tone of things, I'm told. If so, he plucked many of their most political songs from the last 40 years to round out "Our House," "Teach Your Children," and their other radio hits. From Graham Nash--no political slouch he--came "Chicago," about the political turmoil there in 1968, including the Chicago 7 conspiracy trial of anti-Vietnam War leaders, and "Immigration Man," as timely as ever.
David Crosby sang "Almost Cut My Hair," about the pressure to conform, which any male from that era can still appreciate, from the band's second album. "Ohio," about the Kent State Massacre in 1970, and "Find the Cost of Freedom" (Ohio's flip side in its 45 rpm release in 1970), backed by photos of American War dead in Iraq, were timely as well.
Neil Young and the band (the other three make a find back-up band for Neil) sang many of the songs on his latest "Living with War" album, capped by 'Let's Impeach the President,' which the band did as a singalong with the audience. I wasn't sure how well this would go over with a central Pennsylvania audience, but many people sang along with vigor. I think a few may have walked out, but maybe they were just going for beer.
All four were in fine voice, especially David Crosby, who seems to have come through his liver transplant and drug bust jailing in Texas a few years back in relatively good shape. I had forgotten what a bluesy voice Stephen Stills has. I last saw him in concert as a solo artist around 1973, so perhaps that's why! When Graham Nash sings 'Our House,' his love song to then-girlfriend Joni Mitchell, you wonder how they ever could have broken up.
Attendance at the concert was not that good, especially compared to the Rolling Stones last October. The Stones filled the Stadium, but CSN&Y filled about a third of it. I blame the high ticket prices for this. Top tickets were nearly $200 with service charge, and low-end ones close to $50. With the price of gas being what it is, people just don't have as much disposable income to drop on a rock concert, however pleasant it may be.