Photos and Review by Max Stewart
Graham Nash is a bonafide music legend. It is rare for an artist to have not one but TWO Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, but Nash does for both Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies. The vocal harmonies and complex melodies from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the spin-off groups Crosby, Stills and Nash and Crosby & Nash were so impactful and their influence is still felt in modern music. Nash also cofounded one of the most successful UK pop groups (The Hollies) and still maintains a prolific solo career (see his strong 2023 release, Now). So the premise of the live show as ’60 Years of Songs & Stories’ at Atlanta‘s Variety Playhouse was perfect for a satisfying night of varied musical flavors.
Nash played a couple of songs from The Hollies, including the songs that really catapulted him into new realms (“King Midas in Reverse”), as well as a fantastic mix of songs from CSN&Y, CS&N, and C&N. Seeing “Teach Your Children” and “Marrakesh Express” alongside his fantastic band were no doubt highlights. His debut solo album in 1971, Songs for Beginners, is a fantastic display of some of his best material and was well-represented throughout the night with songs that included “Better Days”, “Military Madness” (which he noted felt more relevant now due to the ongoing global military conflicts), “Chicago” and “Wounded Bird”. There were multiple times throughout the night that there were teary eyes in the audience, one of which was “I Used to Be a King”, which Nash noted he wrote after Nash and Joni Mitchell broke up.
The songs themselves would have been worth the price of admission, but Nash’s anecdotes between the tunes added vibrant color to the catalog. From tributes to former bandmates Stephen Stills and David Crosby to Joni Mitchell, the night really felt like sitting round the campfire and taking a trip down memory lane. Nash also has a very warm and welcoming demeanor that just draws audiences in. To top it all off, Nash sounds superb with his signature tenor vocal style, which is mighty impressive for 81.
It was truly inspiring to see Nash still thriving and presenting his songs to old and new fans alike. Do not miss your opportunity to see this legend on tour!
Setlist on 10.28.23 at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA:
Wasted on the Way (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills & Nash song)
I Used to Be a King
Military Madness
Bus Stop (Graham Gouldman cover, notable song by The Hollies)
King Midas in Reverse (The Hollies song)
To the Last Whale…A. Critical Mass B. Wind on the Water (Crosby & Nash song)
Fieldworker (Crosby & Nash song)
Love of Mine
Better Days
Love the One You’re With (Stephen Stills cover)
Set 2:
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Oh! Camil (The Winter Soldier)
Wounded Bird
Find the Cost of Freedom (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Taken at All (Crosby & Nash song)
Southbound Train (Crosby & Nash song)
A Better Life
Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Encore:
Chicago
Teach Your Children (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song)
