Graham Nash is the picture of health at 83, bringing ‘An Evening of Songs & Songs’ to Glasgow.
He arrives on stage first to introduce Peter Asher, who tells entertaining tales of a legendary past, including the period where Paul McCartney stayed at his family home writing songs while a member of The Beatles. At the time, he was dating Asher’s sister Jane and working on the track World Without Love. It was donated to Peter and Gordon and the song, credited to Lennon and McCartney, became a global smash.
Nash joins him on a version before returning with his own band featuring Todd Caldwell (keyboards and vocals), Adam Minkoff (bass, drums, guitars, and vocals), and Zach Djanikian (guitars, mandolin, drums, and vocals). They open with Pre-Road Downs followed by Marrakesh Express.
Nash’s very literal song about a Moroccan train journey was one track that pulled him towards working David Crosby and Stephen Stills after leaving The Hollies.
During a moving moment, he spoke about praying for the late Crosby, who died in 2023, every day. It’s clear just how much he misses his old sparring partner. The wealth of the songwriting talent between Crosby, Stills and Nash, with the later addition of Neil Young, was for many the soundtrack to the early 1970s. Each of them also made iconic solo albums, including Nash’s own Songs For Beginners.
Tonight, he plays Military Madness from the album, which sounds just as relevant and fitting for these times. A rousing version of Love the One You’re With is delivered as a tribute to Stephen Stills. Later in the set, juke-box classics such as Our House, written about his relationship with Joni Mitchell, and Teach Your Children have Scottish voices singing along; the sound is fantastic.
He closes with a blistering Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, the band deliver throughout, but really let go during this final encore. For 83, there’s a lot of life and talent left in Graham Nash, who has curated a stunning set and reminded us through story and song why he is up there with the greatest.
At Glasgow Concert Hall
photo Richard Purden
