CSNY "Freedom Of Speech" Tour 2006...
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:52 pm
War Supporter
Graham Nash is glad to be singing songs from Neil Young's new Living With War album on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's current tour, even if some fans are staying away in protest. "There's no way we would go out there if we didn't completely support what [Young] was saying," says Nash. "Neil has touched a nerve here. He's saying what a lot of people wished they could say."
from SFGate.com--
Sunday, July 16, 2006
POP QUIZ: GRAHAM NASH OF CSNY
by Aidin Vaziri
The worst thing about war is all the old hippies it draws out of the woodwork. But one group most people will actually be happy to see back in action this summer is the original longhair quartet, Crosby, Stills, Nash and sometimes Young. Stepping out behind Neil Young's politically charged new album, "Living With War," the group is pulling out all its classic protest songs and some that are just plain pleasant to hear on a sunny day. But how are the four men who didn't tour between 1974 and 2000 going to get along on their third trek together in six years? We got Graham Nash on the phone from the band's Burbank rehearsal space and asked him. CSNY plays July 25 at Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord.
Q: Before the band got together for its first reunion tour, you broke both your legs in a boating accident. Are you planning on hitting the high seas anytime soon?
A: No, no. I'm not going to do that.
Q: No skydiving?
A: No. Did that, but can't do that before a tour.
Q: What about ultimate fighting?
A: Ah, no. No extreme sports.
Q: Do you think you will just stay in bed until the tour starts?
A: A little bit more than that. There's a lot of work to do.
Q: You somehow managed to avoid the stomach bug that downed David Crosby earlier this week.
A: So far, yes. He was actually quite sick at rehearsal yesterday.
Q: And he showed up anyway. It takes real dedication to vomit on your old bandmates.
A: A true friend will be vomited on.
Q: How are things going otherwise?
A: Remarkably well. We did our fourth day of rehearsals yesterday and we've already got 30 songs down, so things are looking very good.
Q: With all the material among the four of you, how do you possibly settle on a set list without killing each other?
A: Well, we've been doing it for so long, you know, we're past the point of wanting to kill each other. We used to do that in the '60s.
Q: Does everyone have to cater to Neil's crazy whims because he's the moneymaker?
A: It's not a question of catering to Neil. It's a question of balancing everything. I mean, part of the reason I'm sure Neil likes to do CSNY is because he stops being Neil Young for a second and he's one member -- although one very powerful member -- of the four of us. He doesn't step in the shadows, but he's not on harmony every time, he's not singing every single song like he does at a Neil Young concert. I think he enjoys being a member of a band occasionally.
Q: When was the last time you guys had an argument?
A: Monday.
Q: Over what?
A: Well, you'll have to find that out.
Q: I think I already know. Is it because David Crosby wanted a bucket of KFC?
A: No, we have that covered. We have our own catering.
Q: Are there songs you can get away with not playing anymore, like "Our House," or would people riot?
A: We didn't play it for the entire last year, but we're going to do it this time. We're not going to do "Carry On" this year. We just don't want to do it. We come up with a set list of what we all feel like doing, we hammer it together and then it all falls into place.
Q: What do you think of Neil's new songs like "Let's Impeach the President"?
A: There's no way we would go out there if we didn't completely support what he was saying. Neil has touched a nerve here. He's saying what a lot of people wished they could say.
Q: I heard people are already protesting the tour.
A: They are, but I would rather not concentrate on that. We're going to do what we do, and there are going to be people who completely agree with us and are thrilled to be there, and there are people who are not going to be so thrilled. There are people who happen to think Bush is a great president. I happen to think they're out of their minds. But that's my opinion.
Q: At least they're protesting the songs and not the fact that you're back on the road.
A: Right.
Graham Nash is glad to be singing songs from Neil Young's new Living With War album on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's current tour, even if some fans are staying away in protest. "There's no way we would go out there if we didn't completely support what [Young] was saying," says Nash. "Neil has touched a nerve here. He's saying what a lot of people wished they could say."
from SFGate.com--
Sunday, July 16, 2006
POP QUIZ: GRAHAM NASH OF CSNY
by Aidin Vaziri
The worst thing about war is all the old hippies it draws out of the woodwork. But one group most people will actually be happy to see back in action this summer is the original longhair quartet, Crosby, Stills, Nash and sometimes Young. Stepping out behind Neil Young's politically charged new album, "Living With War," the group is pulling out all its classic protest songs and some that are just plain pleasant to hear on a sunny day. But how are the four men who didn't tour between 1974 and 2000 going to get along on their third trek together in six years? We got Graham Nash on the phone from the band's Burbank rehearsal space and asked him. CSNY plays July 25 at Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord.
Q: Before the band got together for its first reunion tour, you broke both your legs in a boating accident. Are you planning on hitting the high seas anytime soon?
A: No, no. I'm not going to do that.
Q: No skydiving?
A: No. Did that, but can't do that before a tour.
Q: What about ultimate fighting?
A: Ah, no. No extreme sports.
Q: Do you think you will just stay in bed until the tour starts?
A: A little bit more than that. There's a lot of work to do.
Q: You somehow managed to avoid the stomach bug that downed David Crosby earlier this week.
A: So far, yes. He was actually quite sick at rehearsal yesterday.
Q: And he showed up anyway. It takes real dedication to vomit on your old bandmates.
A: A true friend will be vomited on.
Q: How are things going otherwise?
A: Remarkably well. We did our fourth day of rehearsals yesterday and we've already got 30 songs down, so things are looking very good.
Q: With all the material among the four of you, how do you possibly settle on a set list without killing each other?
A: Well, we've been doing it for so long, you know, we're past the point of wanting to kill each other. We used to do that in the '60s.
Q: Does everyone have to cater to Neil's crazy whims because he's the moneymaker?
A: It's not a question of catering to Neil. It's a question of balancing everything. I mean, part of the reason I'm sure Neil likes to do CSNY is because he stops being Neil Young for a second and he's one member -- although one very powerful member -- of the four of us. He doesn't step in the shadows, but he's not on harmony every time, he's not singing every single song like he does at a Neil Young concert. I think he enjoys being a member of a band occasionally.
Q: When was the last time you guys had an argument?
A: Monday.
Q: Over what?
A: Well, you'll have to find that out.
Q: I think I already know. Is it because David Crosby wanted a bucket of KFC?
A: No, we have that covered. We have our own catering.
Q: Are there songs you can get away with not playing anymore, like "Our House," or would people riot?
A: We didn't play it for the entire last year, but we're going to do it this time. We're not going to do "Carry On" this year. We just don't want to do it. We come up with a set list of what we all feel like doing, we hammer it together and then it all falls into place.
Q: What do you think of Neil's new songs like "Let's Impeach the President"?
A: There's no way we would go out there if we didn't completely support what he was saying. Neil has touched a nerve here. He's saying what a lot of people wished they could say.
Q: I heard people are already protesting the tour.
A: They are, but I would rather not concentrate on that. We're going to do what we do, and there are going to be people who completely agree with us and are thrilled to be there, and there are people who are not going to be so thrilled. There are people who happen to think Bush is a great president. I happen to think they're out of their minds. But that's my opinion.
Q: At least they're protesting the songs and not the fact that you're back on the road.
A: Right.