CSN 2012 (PBS Exclusive)

View on my player.

A great and powerful concert showcasing a lifetime of brilliance from CSN. Viewed projected in HD on a large wall screen with full surround sound turned up, it's as good as being there, better in some ways. This is a concert that's worth viewing many times over. Bravo!

I loved the recent Nash/Crosby concert DVD but honestly knowingabout the erratic Stills outputs in recent times, I was a bitskeptical about how this new CSN DVD would play out. Having sucha deep love for CSN however there was no way that I wasn't goingto pre-order this one.After watching the entire concert plus the added interviews feature, I haveto say that it exceeded my expectations by a million miles. Themain reason? ... STILLS! The old cliche "so and so is back!" doesn'teven do justice. In my opinion, Stephen has not looked, played or sang thisgood in a very long time. His hoarsely mumbled vocal delivery of recent timesis gone ... suddenly his harmony and lead vocals are clear, clean, accurateand very passionate. His acoustic and electric guitar playing is stellarand as soulfully seasoned as any recent work of Clapton.Both Nash's and Crosby's performances here are off the charts and in step withtheir recent brilliant DVD release. But again I need to re-emphasize that with thisresurgence of Stills, this is maybe the best ever CSN show I have ever seen onvideo.Without paying much attention to the back of the package before watching,I didn't even realize there were two sets in this show. I was very satiatedafter the first set and happily surprised when realizing there was another set.Well the second set is even better than the first with its emphasis on classicacoustic oriented nuggets from each member's catalog and collective catalog.I was totally not expecting to hear Stills perform "And So Begins The Task"or "As I Come Of Age". The final encore in the show is the kicker though andworth the price of admission here. It is an amazing rendition of Suite For JudyBlue Eyes that is not to be believed.The supporting band which appears to be most of the group that backed Nash and Crosbyon their recent DVD is as pro as you will ever find anywhere and their ability toswitch between blues, rock, country and jazz treatments is spectacular. The soundmix on this Blu-Ray is stellar and the camera work is very intimate as well. Evenwith highly anticipated releases, I usually watch them and then don't revisit themfor a while. This one I wanted to watch over again immediately. For the deep or novice CSN fan,this DVD is a treasure and not to be missed.

I've seen CSN often over the past 40-odd years, and I saw this 3+-hour-long tour last June in Providence. It's their best show yet, and this self-recorded DVD captures it splendidly.As always, they've worked up enough clever new changes in the arrangements to keep even the most familiar hits sounding fresh. There's also some relatively UNfamiliar material, all of it great. David and Graham each contribute a terrific new song, evocative of their best work. Their songs are always ABOUT something.Yes, as some out there have whined, Stephen's voice is not quite what it once was--unlike David and Graham, whose voices just keep getting smoother--but the slight damage is only the kind of weathering that makes a voice MORE emotionally appealing, more poignant, like Billie Holiday's on LADY IN SATIN, and Stephen solidly nails every note, at both the high and low ends of his range. "As I Come Of Age" is particularly moving. And dear God, his guitar-playing this tour is superlative, even by his own standards. He's gotten his second wind, and it has fanned him into flame. As Graham says in the interview segment, Stephen always comes to party--but he seems to be having a better than usual time at THIS party.I especially enjoyed the interviews with the band and road crew. I loved, for instance, having a close look at the famous "`Wooden Ships' guitar," and getting to know Rance Caldwell, Jerry Fox, Will Nash, Crook Stewart, Ian Ayler, "Coach" Sexton, Mason Wilkinson, David Wells and the others who make that awesome spectacle look easy. It is obvious that to a man, they don't just respect CS&N, they love them. Well they might. Offhand, I can't think of any other act that has ever thought to give airtime to their road crew and managers on the DVD.And God, it's great to see/hear the three of them romp through the insanely difficult "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" together as effortlessly as if they were still in their twenties! It's worth remembering that two of them are Sixties Survivors twice over, having survived both THE and THEIR sixties. Teach your children well: show them this DVD.

This captivating concert was filmed on April 22nd,2012, in intimate surroundings in front of a receptive audience. They had every reason to be so as on stage were the legendary Crosby, Stills and Nash. The saying goes that you're only as good as your last performance, and on this evidence they are very, very good. Their interaction with the audience confirmed the mutual repartee.The two sets contain staple numbers from their evergreen repertoire including the standards 'Marrakesh Express', 'Long Time Gone', 'Our House', 'Love the One you're With', 'Guinevere' and 'Wooden Ships'. Songs performed infrequently such as the delightful 'As I Come of Age' and the strikingly wondrous Stills's number 'Helplessly Hoping' are added. These may all be old hat but are performed with a polished enthusiasm and clarity that breathes new life into them. We may have heard 'Deja Vu' many times but the version presented at this concert is delicate and touching with solo contributions from the backing group (and a touch of the harp from Nash) Two new songs are aired: 'Almost Gone', a poignant tribute to Bradley Manning who blew the whistle on U.S. Intelligence and suffered the consequences (written by Nash and keyboard player James Raymond) and Crosby's 'Radio' where he expresses his desire to 'spread the word' to more people.The majority of the concert is taken at a temperate pace allowing for the superb two piece harmonies of Crosby and Nash expanded to three part when Stills joins in. A lot has been said of Stills's vocal capability. Certainly it is more throaty and huskier, but I found he could handle lead vocals especially on 'Learn to Live (So Begins the Task)', clearly enjoying himself, and on 'For What It's Worth'. His lead guitar playing remains impressive. Crosby and Nash's vocals and understanding are second to none (on 'Guinevere' in particular).I slightly preferred Set 2 when Stills really comes into his own and the acoustically played encore 'Suite:Judy Blue Eyes' is magnificent. Stills takes the lead vocal, surprisingly powerful and confidently hitting the high notes. All three members are having a ball. The affection, friendliness and respect amongst CS&N shines through clearly and is confirmed in the bonus conversation with the trio. Despite Nash appearing to orchestrate on stage, he and Stills are adamant that it is Crosby who is 'the glue' that keeps them together. Their energy is remarkable for their age. This isn't pure nostalgia. I genuinely believe their motivation is in their music and the messages it conveys.Finally, the backing musicians play sympathetically and in an unobtrusive way. James Raymond (keyboard), Steve Distanislao (drums), Kevin McCormick (bass),Todd Caldwell (organ) and the tastefully accomplished Shayne Fontaine on guitar.A wonderful, memorable concert begging repeat viewings. Dedicated to Mama Cass Elliot who was instrumental in taking Nash, who was touring with the Hollies, to meet David Crosby in1966. 2 CD's of the sets also included in the package. Visually and sound-wise stunning.

Lucky enough to have seen them lately and this is a great momento of the occasion(s). Crosby Stills & Nash (two Yanks and a Brit) fast approaching the age when most people, escape away to warm climbs and easy chairs, to count their pension funds. They are collectively, a fantastic example of how reaching 70 is not the end. They perform with an energy and enthusiasm which would put bands half their age to shame.With age brings experience and maturity and these guys are on the top of their collective form. Stills, is an incredible and criminally underrated guitarist, Crosby's incredible voice shines through the weird sh*t and Nash still manages to look and sound good.All the favourites are here, but performed with enthusiasm and possibly at the peak of their careers. A quick mention for the support team, which includes David Crosby's son, they are an amazing collection of great support players, numbering, Sting, Springsteen and Jackson Browne amongst their impressive collective cv's. A real treat, I wouldn't hesitate

This is a truly remarkable DVD/CD combination. It covers a concert played in a relatively small auditorium at San Luis Obispo in California in April 2012. All the well known standards are there; many performed in a way I've never heard before - and also some new songs as well ! They may be getting on in years now, but, they are still the first and greatest "supergroup" ever. So maybe their voices are a little weaker than they once were, but believe me, the beauty and power of the music and their sheer enthusiasm is undimmed, Steve Stills is on especially fine form. I have been a fan of C.S.N. since the 70's and was fortunate enough to see them at the Royal Albert Hall a couple of years ago - this DVD brought back memories of that magical night !If you live in europe, don't worry that the DVD is recorded on the US NTSC system, it plays perfectly on PAL equipment. You actually get not just the DVD of the concert but an audio record on 2 CD's. This is an absolute must for every fan of messers Crosby, Stills and Nash. PhillC.

CS&N at their very best (though they do show the signs of the time passed). They got old, yet they are even better than at their beginning. God bless them: that means they did well in their lives. This concert is an uplifting, very pleasent experience. Thank you very much for allowing me to have this dvd (at a much lower cost than the one sold by Amazon.it!).

Unlike most other DVD packages of rock concerts this one also supplies 2 audio cds of the same concert. Stephen Stills' guitar playing is still brilliant and the harmonies from Crosby/Nash will never be bettered by anyone. The encore version of Suite Judy Blue Eyes is one of the outstanding performances of the last 20 years.