Crosby Stills & Nash played 71 shows in 1997 and crisscrossed the country in four separate legs. These six shows at the revived Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco started the third group of shows. CSN had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in May of 1997; Interestingly, the CSN logo that Crosby, Stills and Nash used from the mid-1970s onward was designed by actor and comedian Phil Hartman during his first career as a graphic designer.
Here are excerpts of the review of the trio’s show in Los Angles at the end of September.
“A decade ago the trio seemed ready for the scrap heap--or worse, given David Crosby’s well-chronicled bouts with substance abuse and his consequent liver transplant. But from Sunday’s opener, “Love the One You’re With,” to the closing “Carry On” three hours later, Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash rocked harder and more joyously than ever.
CS&N's obvious love of performing transcended both the inherent nostalgia of a show dominated by music nearly 30 years old. Stills in particular has been the revelation of the group in recent years, adding fire and grit to both his vocals and guitar playing. Trim and spry, he performed with childlike enthusiasm, hopping with glee as he ripped out a stinging solo on “Wooden Ships.”
Crosby looks healthier than he did even in his Byrds youth. His spirit, too, has never been stronger in his role as the group’s resident wit--his between-song zingers consistently cracked up both his bandmates and the enthusiastic fans. Nash has always been in good shape, but Sunday he seemed looser than usual, even managing to one-up Crosby on a few barbed one-liners.
But it was the chemistry of their teaming that really came through--something evident from the fact that the weakest parts of the show were the solo spots, where most of the new material was unveiled.”