Graham Nash Delivers Sixty Years Of History At First Australian Show #REVIEW - Noise11.com
Graham Nash at the Palais Theatre Melbourne 7 March 2024 photo by Winston Robinson

Graham Nash at the Palais Theatre Melbourne 7 March 2024 photo by Winston Robinson

Graham Nash Delivers Sixty Years Of History At First Australian Show #REVIEW

by Paul Cashmere on March 8, 2024

in News

At Graham Nash’s first Australian concert in Melbourne for the ‘Sixty Years of Songs & Stories’ tour Graham mentioned how David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Neil Young and himself often spoke to each other song. For us for fans, they were songs we bought, played, heard on the radio, loved, they are our classics, they are our soundtrack. To Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, they were letters between friends.

For ‘Sixty Years of Songs & Stories’ Graham Nash takes us into the holy grail of these historic and classic songs. I had no idea until he told us tonight that ‘I Used to Be a King’ was about his breakup with Joni Mitchell. Graham also mentioned as part of his stories that Neil wrote ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ about his breakup with Joni. I knew the story of ‘Our House’, a literal description of Joni buying a vase, bringing it home and Graham lighting a fire. The opening lyrics “I’ll light the fire/You place the flowers in the vase/That you bought today” are an exact narrative of the moment. ‘Wounded Bird’ is a Graham song written for the Stephen Stills about his relationship with Judy Collins. (Collins was also the ‘Judy’ in CSN’s ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’). Stills was also honored with the set ending with a cover of Stills classic ‘Love The One You’re With’. No doubt we will hear more stories of the era when Judy Collins performs in Melbourne next week.

Some songs were created instantly. ‘Just A Song Before I Go’ was a song Graham wrote on a dare just as he was about to leave a friends house. ‘Cathedral’ was conceived in the back of a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce while on an Acid Trip. ‘Marrakesh Express’ is a literal account of a train trip to Marrakesh in 1968.

The show never strayed far from remembering Graham’s closest friend David Crosby. CSNY broke down to CSN and then to CN before reaching solo status. David Crosby and Graham Nash recorded multiple albums together outside CSNY and CSN with three of those from the 70s represented in the set. One of those, ‘Immigration Man’ from the 1972 ‘Wind on the Water’, is another literal account of Graham being refused entry into Canada.

This was a special show for a number of reasons. 1. Just the history in a bottle here makes the ticket worthwhile 2. This songs a classics and will be around long after you, me and Graham are gone. 3. Graham is 82. Its remarkable the man has the energy he has and he definitively not saying he is about to retire but as life has taught us “enjoy every waking moment”.

Graham Nash setlist 7 March 2024, Palais Theatre Melbourne

Set One
Wasted on the Way (from Crosby, Stills & Nash, Daylight Again, 1982)
Marrakesh Express (from Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969)
Military Madness (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
I Used to Be a King (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
Bus Stop (from The Hollies, Bus Stop, 1966)
Right Between the Eyes (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 4 Way Street, 1971)
To the Last Whale…A. Critical Mass B. Wind on the Water (from Crosby & Nash, Wind on the Water, 1975)
Immigration Man (from Crosby & Nash, Graham Nash David Crosby, 1972)
Better Days (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
Love the One You’re With (from Stephen Stills, 1970)

Set Two
Simple Man (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
4 + 20 (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà vu, 1970)
Wounded Bird (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
Taken at All (from Crosby & Nash, Whistling Down The Wire, 1976)
A Better Life (from Now, 2023)
Cathedral (from Crosby, Stills & Nash, CSN, 1977)
Just a Song Before I Go (from Crosby, Stills & Nash, CSN, 1977)
Our House (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà vu, 1970)

Encore:
Find the Cost of Freedom (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 4 Way Street, 1971)
Teach Your Children (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà vu, 1970)
Chicago (from Song For Beginners, 1971)
Ohio (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 4 Way Street, 1971)

This wasn’t Graham’s first time at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. Crosby, Stills & Nash performed at The Palais in 2007. It was, however, the very first time Graham Nash has performed as a solo artist in Melbourne and that made it special too.

Graham Nash dates are:

Thursday March 7 Melbourne Palais Theatre
Wednesday March 13 Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Saturday March 16 Perth His Majesty’s Theatre
Tuesday March 19 Sydney Sydney Opera House
Wednesday March 20 Newcastle Civic Theatre
Saturday March 23 Wollongong Anita’s Theatre
Tuesday March 26 Brisbane QPAC Concert Hall
Wednesday March 27 Tweed Heads Twin Towns

www.davidroywilliams.com

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Joey Molland Facebook profile photo
Joey Molland, the Last Surviving Member of Badfinger, Has Died At Age 77

Badfinger co-founder and guitarist, the last surviving member of the band, has died at the age of 77.

20 hours ago
Paul McCartney Band On The Run
Paul McCartney Band On The Run Book To Be Published

A landmark account of Paul McCartney’s triumphant musical reinvention in the 1970s and the subsequent rise of one of the decade’s most iconic bands.

5 days ago
Lulu performs at Hamer Hall on Friday 24 June 2016. This is the first time Lulu has toured Australia.
Lulu Launches Lulu’s Mental Health Trust

Lulu has announced she is launching her very own charitable fund - ‘Lulu’s Mental Health Trust’, a restricted fund operating under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund (registered charity number 1099682).

February 25, 2025
The Easybeats
Snowy Fleet of The Easybeats Has Died At Age 79

Snowy Fleet, the drummer for The Easybeats, has died at age 79.

February 20, 2025
Paul McCartney at AAMI Park Melbourne on Tuesday 5 December 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Paul McCartney Plays Third Bowery Show In NYC

Paul McCartney has performed a third intimate show at the 575 capacity The Bowery in New York City.

February 15, 2025
Paul McCartney in Santiago Octover 2024 photo by Karen Freedman
Paul McCartney Throws A Few Rarities into Second Bowery NYC Show

Paul McCartney has performed for a second night at the 575 capacity The Bowery in New York City with a few surprises for night two.

February 13, 2025
Paul McCartney The Bowery
Paul McCartney Plays 575 Capacity The Bowery In New York City

Paul McCartney sprung a sudden gig at the 575 capacity The Bowery in New York City on Tuesday night 11 February 2025.

February 12, 2025