Crosby Stills & Nash in the DC Suburbs
So the Crosby Stills & Nash tour rolled into Wolf Trap last night. Perfect weather, white wine kiosks, seats under the canopy – a perfect night. Gentle times, listening to legends (this is their 40th year playing together) and grooving to nostalgia.
Until Graham Nash decided to play Joel Rafael’s “This is My Country.” Seems talk of jackasses in public office and lyrics that include “And I know when I say these words that I am not alone/It’s time to stop them in their tracks/it’s time to take our country back” were not expected by this boomer crowd who seems to have forgotten the muddy field in New York where the boys got their big break.
Cries of “music not politics” and “nobody cares” came from some (a minority) in the audience, prompting Nash to point an accusing finger and yell “we care!” Crosby came over to rest a hand on his shoulder, and Nash sat at the keyboard, with some energy lost.
Crosby walked to the microphone to begin telling a story, obviously trying to regain the audience, but a few jeers continued. ”Well, ok. I was going to tell a joke, but you wouldn’t get it anyway. We’ll just sing, that’s all you want.”
Most of the audience was either thrilled with their political statements, or just respectful of them. If you go to hear CSN, you may hear anti-war politics. During a war, count on it. I am curious about the people who were offended, but more sad that the legends realized some considered them curios. Pleasant aging museum pieces, who shouldn’t upset anyone anymore. Their audience has jobs, 401ks (many appeared to be drawing rather than depositing into these retirement accounts), and in the case of this audience – government positions and security clearances.
Amidst the pinot grigio, the single defiant whiff of herb outside the men’s room, and the shuffling of former revolutionaries – Crosby Stills & Nash have not changed. Everyone should be ok with that.
Years from now, I hope to play their songs for my grandchildren and tell them of the one night I was finally able to see them live. I won’t leave anything out.
3 Comments
One of my wife’s colleagues, at one of the government organizations not-so-subtly addressed by CSN’s political statements, apparently actually walked out on the performance as a result. Wife, who admirably balances her personal politics with the exigencies of supporting national security, was dumbfounded. Who did this woman think she was coming to see — the Jonas Brothers?
Political songs are fine and with CSN expected. If the content is not in a song then it is out of place. While I might agree with CSN’s politics, the music is the reason for attending. I saw Ted Nugent a few years ago and was equally offended by his right wing comments. I did not buy a ticket to hear Ted’s thoughts on politics. I bought it to hear the music. Play the music.
I’m not really sure how I ended up here but I’m an ethnomusicology geek and I think when it comes to CSN the two things are inseperable. It’s unfortunate that the way we consume music now removed that, that people in that audience felt like they were getting something they didn’t normally get from the music even if it was extra-musical commentary. The two, music and politics by ways of the performers should be, and in this case are, in my opinion as one.
And when it comes down to the music of these men I’d listen to them read off their grocery list to hear those harmonies live. Lucky.