Gig review: Crosby, Stills and Nash, Castle Esplanade

Published on Monday 13 July 2009 10:59

While they may have brought peace, love and happiness to many generations during a long, illustrious career, if there is one thing Crosby, Stills and Nash couldn't bring to the capital last Friday night, it was warm, summer sunshine.

The clouds had already gathered by the time these old hippies took to the stage.

"This is why Scotland was never successfully invaded," chuckled David Crosby, wrapped up warmly in a thick jacket, his hands tucked firmly inside its pockets. "They all froze to death on the way."

He wasn't far wrong.

On an unusually chilly Edinburgh evening, it wasn't just Crosby who was feeling the cold, though. Stephen Stills - whom, like Crosby, could have easily been mistaken for a roadie given the big, baggy hoodie he was wearing – found his fingers getting stuck under his guitar strings during the opening half-hour of acoustic numbers.

However, this wasn't the only sticking point during the early part of this reunion concert, as he trio's trademark three-part vocal harmonising appeared to slip in and out of tune with concerning regularity.

A few people in the audience looked on a tad disturbed, as stripped-down versions of James Taylor and Rolling Stones classics struggled slightly, but it was early days, and once the vocal chords had loosened up, Graham Nash (whom, it also must be said, reacts as if someone, somewhere, is pricking his very own voodoo doll each time he goes to sing) led the Esplanade on its first big chorus of the night with a heart-warming version of that old favourite, Our House.

This was more like it, and it was interesting to note the deeply respectful, if slightly tense relationship between the three. As Crosby later attested: "Stephen writes these great rock and roll songs, Graham writes great songs sung all across the world, and me? Well, I write the weird s***."

Crosby's beautifully haunting, medieval ballad, Guinevere, reduced the audience to a hush, before, as promised, the second half brought a more rock edge to proceedings, Stills focusing more on his gutsy, self-indulgent guitar solos than his singing during the Buffalo Springfield numbers. Wooden Ships and the CS&N classic Dj Vu got an airing, too; however, the main bone of contention was the band's not entirely successful ability to pull off the one thing they are renowned for – their collective singing voices.

With two keyboard players helping the trio hit the high notes with some measured backing vocals, the more time the band remained onstage, the less inclined they were to harmonise with one another.

Still, we were in the company of living legends, and to bear witness to their talent was indeed a rare treat.

While there was certainly one or two truly memorable moments, as everyone made for the exits, it was clear to see the band's best days are truly behind them.

YOUR REVIEW

Granville Dayton, 66, retired, Danderhall: "A tremendous performance I thought. I never really liked them all that much back in the Sixties - I was more into The (Rolling) Stones and The Beatles back then - but I've grown to appreciate them for what they are - excellent musicians and performers. "

Marion Dayton, 64, retired, Danderhall: "They were right when they said this is a tremendous place to play, but my back was getting very sore towards the end there. I quite liked the opening part of the evening with the acoustic numbers, but I wasn't too enthralled by the louder, electric guitar stuff. "

Stuart Coyle, 48, butcher, Gilmerton: "I'd gladly sit through all that again, that was one of the best gigs I've ever seen at the Castle, truly impressive. Our House was amazing, I really want them to come back and play that again."