Graham Nash continues to live a life of harmony
Brilliant solo effort has singer songwriter out on the road again
Few people on this planet have contributed to as many stirring harmonies as Graham Nash. But Nash has certainly endured his share of disharmony as well. The clashes within Crosby, Stills, Nash, and sometimes Young, have been epic. And the recent demise of Nash’s long marriage sent the singer-songwriter in new directions.
Now in a new relationship, reenergized, he’s touring behind a brilliant solo album, “This Path Tonight.” The Graham Nash Trio performs at Redwood City’s Fox Theatre on March 31. And after declaring months ago that he would never work with David Crosby again, Nash now hints that a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young reunion is not beyond the realm of possibility.
“We all get angry and say things that we don’t mean,” Nash says of the supergroup. “I’m not talking to Crosby. Crosby’s not talking to Neil. But the truth is — what does that really mean? I mean, look at what’s going on that we could be talking about up there. And I really do believe that the silly things that are keeping us apart pale in comparison with the work that should be done.”
Nash and the band have always been active in peace and human rights movements. Our current political climate makes him uneasy.
“It’s very difficult to be optimistic right now, although it’s the only weapon we have, in many cases,” Nash says. “It’s a scary time. I don’t believe that Donald Trump is bright enough to run this country. I don’t like him as a human being. I don’t like the things he says. I don’t like the things he stands for. And I have never, in 50 years of being in this country, seen this kind of political rhetoric. It’s stunning to me. What happened to manners?”
Originally from Blackpool, England, Nash contends music can be a positive force. “Don’t forget — even if you change one mind, you’re ahead of the game. And music still is a powerful medium to communicate ideas to people.”
The bitter conflicts within CSNY have been well documented, including in Nash’s 2013 memoir, “Wild Tales.” But the sum of these four talented parts can have more of an impact than solo efforts.
Nash says, “It’s like Neil’s album ‘Living With War’ (2006). Everything he spoke about — impeaching the president, the lying, the troops coming home in coffins — all those songs that we did on that tour, Neil knew that he could go out on his own and do that. But he also knew that if CSNY were to do that, it would be possible to get a much bigger audience. He’s a smart man. And that’s what happened.”
According to Nash, the tensions that repeatedly splintered the band also helped spark creativity. And unforgettable music resulted.
“It’s incredible to be in a band with four strong writers, four strong singers, four strong instrumentalists,” Nash says. “I’ve stood on stage so many times and marveled at how Neil and Stephen are playing together and conversing together on their guitars. It’s been an amazing musical journey, I must say.
“If it is over — and you never know with this band — we made some music that made people able to shake their asses and think.”
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with both The Hollies and CSNY, Nash has made some of his finest music in “This Path Tonight.” Songs such as “Myself at Last,” “Golden Days,” “Back Home,” “Encore” and “Another Broken Heart” are moving meditations on life, love, relationships and mortality.
“The album is a reflection of the journey that I had to take to make me feel reasonably alive and happy,” the folk-rock artist says. “I divorced my wife after 38 years and fell in love with this beautiful New York artist. She and I now live in New York City, after 40 years in Hawaii.
“So ‘This Path Tonight’ is my emotional response to what was happening in my life. Frankly, I’m sure it’s happening in a lot of people’s lives. You have to keep love alive. You’ve got to leave that note on the fridge. You’ve got to leave a flower by the pillow occasionally. You’ve got to keep love alive. If you don’t, it dies.”
Nash has long channeled his joy and pain into songwriting. With such lovely and personal songs as these, he is establishing close connections with live audiences.
“That’s one of the reasons that I want to play intimate theaters. I want to see people’s eyes. I want to know that I’m communicating. I want to give them value for their money. I want them to feel that they’ve experienced something, that they thought about love and thought about despondency and anger in things like ‘Military Madness’ and ‘Chicago,’ ‘Immigration Man.’ My show is everything since 1962, when I formed The Hollies and started recording all those many years ago.”
And Nash is not done yet. He’s writing songs for the next album.
“I’ve got so much to do before I die. I’m 75 years old. So what are the odds? Look how many people we lost in 2016 alone. We have to use every second that we have, the best way we can use it, because we don’t have many left.
“I’m trying my best to be the best I can be. I’m trying to be the best friend, the best husband, the best artist, the best everything. I’ll never make it. Nobody ever makes 100 percent. But I’m trying constantly. And I feel more alive now than I have in the last 20 years.”
Contact Paul Freeman at paul@popcultureclassics.com.