Crosby & Nash: Live at Occupy Wall Street

Countdown with Keith Olbermann (Current TV's news hour) hosts David Crosby and Graham Nash hours after their inspiring Occupy appearance and sing-a-long in Manhattan.



From Rolling Stone Video:

"I don't think we have performed without microphones for a long time," Graham Nash said with a laugh this afternoon as a van carried him and David Crosby down to the Occupy Wall Street protests where amplified sound is infamously prohibited. "It's going to be fun, though."

Upon arriving at lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park, Crosby and Nash walked into the busy tent city and climbed atop an embankment to widespread cheers. "Everybody calm down! It's very crowded!" someone shouted, as the densely packed masses (including lots of professional photographers) pressed in on all sides.When the audience had settled down, Crosby and Nash launched into a powerful five-song acoustic set. Someone in the crowd held up an old vinyl copy of Crosby, Stills and Nash's 1969 debut LP as they opened with that album's "Long Time Gone"; by the second chorus, a healthy contingent was singing along. The duo continued with a stirring rendition of Nash's "Military Madness," an even more moving a cappella turn on Crosby's "What Are Their Names" - whose haunting, accusatory lyrics made it feel like an unofficial Occupy anthem - and a slow-burning tear through Crosby and Nash's more recent anti-corporate indictment "They Want It All."

"You know this song," Nash said finally. "So help us sing it, all right?" It was their classic "Teach Your Children," and sure enough, what seemed like hundreds of voices joined in. After the final number, Crosby and Nash led the crowd in a series of chants: "KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING!" followed by "STAY HERE! STAY HERE! STAY HERE!" "We will," a protester shouted in response.Crosby and Nash took note of the growing Occupy movement while they were touring Europe this fall, and as soon as they got back to the States they knew they had to head down to the demonstrations and show their support.

"Everybody is realizing that they're getting screwed," Crosby tells Rolling Stone.

"People are recognizing the basic truth that the system is loaded against them, and they're looking for equality," says Nash. "It's a simple thing." Adds Nash, "It's the people waking up. That's what we do as musicians. We want to wake people up.

I don't want to talk to sheep - I want people that are alive and thinking and trying to do something positively to change their situation. That's what we've always been about."With the Occupy movement approaching its second month, the singers believe it's only going to get bigger.

"Something's happening here," says Nash. "Hey," Crosby deadpans, "that's a great line." Nash grins. "I'll tell Stephen."

From David Crosby & Graham Nash Play Liberty Square (VIDEO) | The Dissenter by Kevin Gosztola:

Musicians David Crosby & Graham Nash, who both have been playing music for over forty years and are best known for their work as members of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, visited Occupy Wall Street in the afternoon on November 8. They played a set for occupiers in Liberty Square that was about 20 minutes long.

Songs they performed included “They Want It All” off of their double album Crosby & Nash, which was released in 2004; “Military Madness,” a song Graham Nash recorded for his solo album Songs for Beginners, which was released in 1971; “Long Time Gone,” a song written by David Crosby for the album Crosby, Stills & Nash, which was released in 1969 and was performed at Woodstock; and “Teach Your Children,” a song written by Graham Nash that first appeared on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album Deja Vu in 1970.

Thanks, kramtv63, for posting these clips of their performance.

“They Want It All”

“Military Madness”

“Long Time Gone”

“Teach Your Children”

---