A new name for a familiar venue. The Sage is now officially relaunched as the Glasshouse International Centre for Music. Apparently the Sage accounting software company will be sponsoring a new arena to be built at the back of the venue; hence the need for a name change. As a supporter of the venue, I was invited to a small drinks get-together prior to the show, which was a lovely touch and a great start to an evening with one of my all-time heroes, Graham Nash. So, mine was a glass of red, carer Jan’s was a glass of white and my friend Norman’s was a cool beer.
We were welcomed to the event by the Director of the Sage/Glasshouse (I will have to get used to this new name) which was a nice touch. I met, John Lyons, a photographer who had travelled from London for the event. He took a lovely photograph of me and we promised to keep in touch. Please do have a look at John’s website.
It was soon 8 PM and Graham was due on stage. This evening he performed two sets, each one comprising a mix of songs from his extensive back catalogue including tracks by the Hollies, Nash solo, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. So he started with one of my favourites “Wasted on the Way”. A great start to a lovely evening. Then Graham explained that his old friend Alan Clarke, of Hollies fame, had recently decided to record a solo album and asked Graham to accompany him on some tracks. This was followed by the Hollies “Bus Stop” (my favourite Hollies song), “for Alan”.
Then another classic: “Marrakesh Express”, followed shortly by one of my favourite songs, this time a Nash solo track “Military Madness”. After a few more songs, Graham closed the first set with a cover of his friend Stephen Stills’ “Love The One You’re With”. Time for a swift whiskey.
Graham Nash sings well, looks sprightly and is still going strong at 81 years old! He is accompanied by a guitarist and pianist, both excellent musicians with great pedigrees. Long may he continue entertaining us. The second set contains more solo songs, the lovely “Cathedral” which he explains was written after a LSD fuelled trip in the back of a Rolls-Royce after travelling to (and into) Winchester Cathedral via Stonehenge (as you do).
Then “Just Before I Go” a song apparently written as part of a wager, which Graham won. His friend bet that he could not write a song before he left and, of course, he did so. He finishes with “Our House” telling the story of how the song was written when he had just returned home to the house which he shared with Joni Mitchell. For the encore the three musicians perform a lovely a cappella version of Buddy Holly’s “Everyday”. The closing number is another classic “Teach Your Children”.
Two omissions which would have made the concert even more perfect: “Chicago” and the Hollies’ “King Midas in Reverse” which he seems to have performed at other shows on the tour. Anyway, you can’t have everything in life these days.
Bought a signed copy of the lyrics to “Teach Your Children”. Wonderful.
On the way out I run into my old friend Pete. We go back a long way. In fact we travelled together to the incredible Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert at Wembley Stadium in 1974. Is it really almost 50 years ago Pete? Where did the time go? Happy days. Many happy memories. Thanks again Graham.
I am planning on attending a marathon of concerts over the next few days, so apologies if my blog entries are not as comprehensive or as speedily produced as normal 🙂
Set list (something like this): Set 1: Wasted on the Way; Bus Stop; Marrakesh Express; Find the Cost of Freedom; Military Madness; A Better Life; Buddy’s Back; Right Between the Eyes; To the Last Whale… Critical Mass/Wind on the Water; Love the One You’re With.
Set 2: Sleep Song; Cold Rain; Long May You Run; Golden Days; 4 + 20; Cathedral; Just a Song Before I Go; Our House.
Encore: Everyday; Teach Your Children
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