An Evening With Graham Nash
London The Bridge Theatre
A magical night of beloved classics and the stories behind them.
The stage is draped in bohemian furnishings, dotted with candles, and features a Persian rug that Graham Nash pads across barefoot. This charmingly nostalgic setting, together with stories behind the songs, gives the night a delightfully intimate feel. From Nash revealing that
Just A Song Before I Go was written in response to his “low level drug dealer” friend challenging him to write a song on the spot, to remembering “smoking big ones” while sailing with David Crosby, and the blue whale he saw that inspired
it’s a true treat for fans.
Wind On The Water, Bus Stop;
The set-list goes back to The Hollies’ “This song is over fifty years old,” Nash notes, to which an audience member quips: “So are we!”. CSN favourites like Marrakesh
Express get a fervent response, and guitarist Shane
Fontayne and organist Todd Caldwell deliver exquisite harmonies, especially on Buddy Holly’s Everyday.
Nash sounds as sprightly and passionate as ever, especially when things get political, as he seethes: “Trump has given a voice to all the racists in the world,” before the stirring Mississippi Burning. He expresses concern for his voice’s capabilities, but it only gets stronger as the night continues.
The emotional climax comes with Our House, which Nash asks the audience to sing “for Joni”. It’s a beautiful moment in a magical evening celebrating the work of a talented musician, and of music that helped define a generation.