David Crosby’s Triumphant San Francisco Return

An Evening with David Crosby: Great American Music Hall, April 21, 2014

David Crosby survived a liver transplant, kicked hard drugs, and has outlived most of his rock and roll friends. But his luck was a bit thin back in February when he postponed all his California tour dates, including two shows at the Great American Music Hall, after undergoing emergency heart surgery. Without the surgery, a heart attack was imminent. The 72-year-old rock legend dodged that bullet and came roaring back with two sold-out shows a GAMH, April 20 and 21.

Dressed entirely in black, with his long, wavy white hair backlit by stage lights, he appeared like a celestial figure. He also looked happy and fit and immediately launched into the entire 11-song Croz album (Blue Castle), his first solo effort in 21 years. The record was released in January, and while it may have been new territory for some, those in the front row knew all the lyrics, including a man in a wheelchair who happily spun around to several tunes.

Feeling jovial with the crowd, Crosby joked that he didn’t know whose hairs were on his jacket. “See, that’s the problem. When a girl yells, ‘I Love you, Dave!’ it’s one thing, but when a young girl says it, I go right back to prison.” The crowd called out for their favorites between songs, but Crosby admitted that requests are usually garbled by the time they reach him on stage, and he probably would play most of them anyway.

After a brief break, David came back for a second set of tunes that covered his fifty-year career. “Eight Miles High” was the signal for many to light up joints. Later, looking up at someone in the balcony, Crosby asked, “Are you the one who lit it? I can smell it. It’s the day after 4/20. God bless the little teeny green ones.”

The ‘60s groove persisted with another Byrds hit, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” Croz then switched to electric guitar for a hard-rocking version of Crosby, Stills, & Nash’s “Long Time Gone.” His vocals were powerful, and his playing was strong.

Crosby’s backup band included James Raymond on keyboards, a son he gave up for adoption when Crosby turned 20, with whom he finally reunited in 1995. Crosby reminded the crowd about CPR (Crosby, Pevar, and Raymond) before starting “That House,” mentioning that Jeff Pevar was in the audience. Also present was Jan Crosby, his wife of 37 years, to whom he lovingly dedicated the tender “Guinevere.”

 Shane Fontayne and Marcus Eaton (guitars), Kevin McCormick (bass), and Steve DiStanislao (drums) completed the group, each delivering impressive solos during the set closer “Déjà vu.” San Francisco demanded an encore, and Crosby happily obliged with “Cowboy Movie,” dedicating it to the Bay Area’s patron saint, Jerry Garcia.

 Crosby is taking a break until July, when he reunites with CSN for a multi-city U.S. tour. Fans in the area can look forward to seeing them at the San Jose Civic Auditorium on September 19th. 

Setlist

Set I: What's Broken, Time I Have, Holding on to Nothing, The Clearing, Radio, Slice of Time, Set That Baggage Down, If She Called, Dangerous Night, Morning Falling, Find a Heart.

 Set II: Eight Miles High, Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season), Long Time Gone, Dream for Him, Where Will I Be?, Page 43, That House, How Do They Know?, Homeward Through the Haze, Tamalpais High (at About 3 a.m.), Guinevere, Déjà Vu,

Encore: Cowboy Movie.

Photo: Steve Roby