A perfect night shines at the Sydney Opera House, as a patient crowd waits.
Graham Nash enters right on time. "Let's have a few hours of relative peace," he sets the mood, starting 'Wasted On The Way'. Time seems not to have aged his voice, and he employs his harmonica with slick skill. Tonight is already beautiful (19 March)."Let the waters come and carry us away," he sings, as lights shining on the Opera House roof take us far away from our worries, into arms strong and warm. The crowd erupts in support at the end of the song.
Nash tells the story of taking a train down to Marrakesh. "I saw some American women with blue hair. I looked in the mirror this morning and thought 'hmm blue'." The crowd laughs. "I went to one compartment where Willie Nelson was having a smoking sesh. That's where 'Marrakesh Express' was born."
The band is tight and the sound surrounds you like a warm hug. It's a beautiful thing to still experience a piece of the '60s like this. Harmonies ring out as we float away.
"Here's a song I wrote for Joni," Nash shares to applause, "after we broke up." The audience laughs. "It's called 'I Used To Be A King'." The stage floods purple, the band golden. The lyrics ring true and sentimental in the way Nash does so well. The first impressive guitar solo of the night ensues.
"I wrote this next song about my father going off to World War II. We don't learn much from history do we?" Nash asks. "With what's going on in Ukraine and Gaza and this guy Trump." The stage swirls orange in the fog for 'Military Madness', as Nash changes the lyrics. "I hope that Putin discovers what's driving the people wild. . . Sing if you want to," he implores the crowd as he yells, "no more war."
"Here's a song from '4 Way Street'," he says as the audience excites. "Wait, wait, wait. You can't be that bloody old!" 'Right Between The Eyes' plays with perfectly moving organ, mandolin and bass solos contained.
Nash gets emotional as he introduces his band, who are also friends. He then tells the story of meeting Graham Gouldman and the songs he wrote for The Hollies. 'Bus Stop' ensues.
Candidly honest, Nash addresses David Crosby's death. "It was a big shock for everyone. Truth is, Crosby thought he was going to die decades ago." The audience appreciates the lightness.
The stage plunges into complete darkness for 'To The Last Whale'. Only the band's vocal harmonies ring out. Adam Minkoff's electric guitar sends out whale calls, as Nash takes to the piano. The song is an incredible, indescribable, once in a lifetime experience.
They move into 'Better Days', a standout of the night. "Don't cry because she's gone, she is only moving on chasing mirrors in her haze," are perfect lyrics. Then possibly the most aptly placed saxophone solo rings out to rapturous applause.
'Love The One You're With' is a perfect sing-along, before Graham announces the band will take a 20-minute break so he 'can pee'. "You try doing this in your 60s," he jests. The crowd laughs.
You could be forgiven for thinking Nash and, in particular, his voice aren't a day past 60. "Thank you for staying," he says upon return. "It would be really awkward if I came out and no one was there."
He tells the story of Stills writing '4+20'. "I went to his room with my heart in one piece. It wasn't by the time I left." Nash plays the song solo, before the band join for 'Wounded Bird', written for Stills and then girlfriend Judy Collins.
He prefaces 'Cathedral' by recounting a story of taking acid, ending up at Stonehenge and then dropping into the grounds of Winchester Cathedral, finding himself standing on the grave of a soldier who died centuries before on Nash's own birthday.
"If I knew it would be so popular, I would have written a better song," Nash jokes about 'Just A Song Before I Go'. He then recounts living with Joni Mitchell and writing 'Our House' – the crowd singing the last chorus alone is a life moment I'll never forget.
The guitarists duet for 'Find The Cost Of Freedom' in a powerful display, before 'Ohio' brings the show to a forceful end.
With brilliant storytelling and wonderful songwriting, Nash stands as one of the living legends of an era we all yearn for. His candidness and humility in still allowing us into his life after all these years is a true treasure and an experience that should not be missed.
