The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Graham Nash to walk Akron audience down musical Memory Lane
Even though Graham Nash is a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee — with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash — the iconic singer still loves to tour the Cleveland museum.
“I plan on going back to see the Eddie Cochran guitar,” said Nash, calling from New York City. “I love looking at guitars. I’ve been to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame many times. I really truly enjoyed going to see some of those instruments that influenced my life in terms of music.
“I think the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a wonderful organization. I know there are a lot of people who don’t agree with it, but, holy Toledo, look at the people that are in there: The Beatles, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and Elvis.”
That visit presumably will take place when the Grammy Award-winning artist brings his “An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories with Graham Nash Tour” to Northeast Ohio March 16 for a performance at the Akron Civic Theatre.
The singer-songwriter is supporting his recently released double-disc, 30-track box set, “Over the Years...,” which is divided between Crosby, Stills & Nash greatest hits and gems, as well as early demos to some of his biggest songs.
After spending so much time delving into his vast catalog, Nash said he learned something.
“I decided I’m actually worth a (expletive),” he laughed. “That’s what I got from all of that. I’ve written all of those songs many years ago, and it was fun to hear my original demo of ‘Teach Your Children’ and ‘Marrakesh Express.’
‘People that don’t write music but enjoy music are often fascinated by the songwriting process: How does it happen? Where does it come from? Where do songs come from? Where was your head at when you wrote ‘Our House?’ All of those kinds of things. Frankly, in my shows, I talk about some of that.”
One of Nash’s biggest hits is, of course, “Our House,” which was written a half century ago and appeared a year later on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s 1970 album “Déjà Vu.” The song continues to be a centerpiece of his show.
“I didn’t realize it would last this long, quite frankly, but it’s a song about ordinary moments,” Nash said. “It’s an ordinary moment between me and my girlfriend, who at the time happened to be Joni Mitchell. It was a rainy, miserable, cold day in Los Angeles.
“I had taken Joni to breakfast. Going back to her car we passed an antique store. Joni saw a vase in there she wanted to buy. When we got back to the house in Laurel Canyon, I said, ‘Hey Joni, why don’t I light a fire and you put some flowers in that vase you bought today.’ That’s the opening of ‘Our House.’”
Nash’s other memory of “Our House” is the fact the band decided to cut the song’s rise on the pop charts short to put out the politically charged “Ohio” — about the Kent State University shootings.
“We did because we thought it was more important that people realize we’re killing our children for their God-given right to protest what their government was doing in their name than us having another hit single,” Nash said. “I mean, at that point I had 15 to 18 top 20 hits with The Hollies before I ever met David (Crosby) and Stephen (Stills).”
Nash will also will perform a few of those Hollies tunes in Akron, including “Bus Stop” and “Carrie Anne.”
“The setlist is an interesting dance that changes every night,” Nash said. “We have a certain skeleton because we know people want to hear (songs) such as ‘Teach Your Children,’ ‘Military Madness’ and ‘Immigration Man.’ These are songs that were written 50 years (ago) and are still incredibly relevant today. I mean, ‘Immigration Man,’ come on.”
In addition to being responsible for some of classic’s rock’s most tuneful songs, the other thing Nash and company are known for is being socially conscious and not afraid to speak their minds. Despite being 75, he still feels a responsibility to speak out.
“And the reason why (you) don’t hear (those songs) on the radio much anymore is because the people who own the most media you can count on two hands,” Nash said. “They don’t want anybody rocking the boat. They want you to lie down, shut up, be sheep and (be sold products). That’s what’s going on here.”
Dovetailing back to his upcoming Rock Hall visit, does Nash being a two-time inductee mean he gets special privileges such as getting to hold and maybe even play the Eddie Cochran guitar?
“Oh, no, I haven’t been that courageous yet to ask,” Nash said. “But who knows, maybe this time I will.”