Crosby, Stills and Nash, sometimes with added Young, remain one of my favourite bands of all time. I’ve never seen them with Young, I’ve seen them once without Stills but mainly as CSN. Always good, sometimes great. For me, they get things exactly right. They do all the old songs I want to hear but they also do new songs. They are still a real life ‘live’ band that still creates. New music, new life. Am I sorry that it is extremely unlikely they will ever play together again? Not a bit of it. Individually, they are more creative than ever.
David Crosby has been writing more songs than ever and next month releases Lighthouse. For all his travails and crises, Crosby is still note perfect and his musical tank is far from empty. Stephen Stills is now part of the Rides and they’re making new music too, some belting blues and rock and his guitar playing remains world class. Graham Nash’s last album This Path Tonight contained some of his best material for decades. And Neil Young? He’s still out there, mixing up his set list with old songs and new, packing the arenas and parks. Long may he run. The four of them are making more music than ever even though, or perhaps because, they are no longer together. As Andrea True once said, more, more, more.
This does not apply to all the bands I follow. Steely Dan, arguably my very favourite band of them all, are touring the USA this summer with no new music to promote. Their entire setlist is pre 1990, much of it pre 1980. As ever, the Dan employ a stellar band including guitar player Jon Herington and drummer Keith Carlock and the tunes stand the test of time. However, they are, I fear, becoming a heritage act, albeit a world class heritage act. The setlist remains the same every single night, I’ll bet the solos are too. They’re going through the motions. Would I still go and see them play live in the UK? Probably, yes, but not for much longer.
The Beach Boys still tour, but without a single Wilson. They’re a Beach Boys jukebox and if that’s your bag, then good luck to you! Brian Wilson tours with a stunning live band but every song emanates from the 1960s. Hearing Pet Sounds and Smile played live were high points in my life but Brian has long ceased to be creative like he was back in the day. And how could he be? He is well into his seventies now. The last show I saw in Bristol, celebrating 50 years since Pet Sounds was released, was very good but not a patch on previous shows. For as much as I love Brian Wilson, it’s time to call it a day. Barring something quite dramatic, like a farewell tour of the surviving members, I’m calling it a day with the boys. Brian is playing Pet Sounds at the Albert Hall for one last time this autumn. With tickets costing up to £150, I’ll give that one a miss.
I don’t want the bands and artists I like to turn into mere heritage acts, on the nostalgia circuit. I know I contradict myself here by attending Brian Wilson shows and, later this year, Bad Company, but I so prefer it if there is something new in the setlist. Even Toto, they of Africa, Rosanna and Hold The Line, include newer songs in their sets, as do the Doobie Brothers and Joe Walsh, other long time favourites.
Nothing wrong with nostalgia or heritage shows and even heritage weekends if you like that kind of thing. If all you want is the hits sung by a Thompson Twin or a quarter of Buck’s Fizz, enjoy yourself.
I suppose if everyone liked the music I like I’d never get a ticket.
