David Crosby, renowned and admired for the timeless songs he created as a member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young), started relatively slowly since 2014, releasing four albums in 43 years. I am also enjoying my solo career making albums. His name has become synonymous with pure, emotional songs full of rich harmonies.
Five critically acclaimed albums were released over the next eight years. At the heart of 2014 Cloz2017 sky trail Last year’s For Free was Crosby and his son James Raymond, and 2016’s For Free was lighthouseand in 2018 Click here to listen Lighthouse, the collective name for his collaborations with singer/songwriters Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis, and multi-instrumentalist bandleader Michael League of the eclectic jazz outfit Snarky Puppy. Made in collaboration with the band.
Recorded in 2018 with The Lighthouse Band, composed of old and new songs, brilliantly delivered and received, Live at the Capitol Theater is Crosby’s first solo live album and DVD. We caught up with the irrepressible Kroz to talk about that and his ongoing musical journey.
Releasing as much music as these days suggests it’s more than a living for you..
It’s not about making a living. I have money I’ve always had a desire to make as much music as I could in this small space where I could still make music. I am a human. We decline somewhere after his 80th and I’m his 81st. That’s the only contribution I can make. The only place I can do anything better is by making all the music I can.
I am really happy with the live album. Because it’s extraordinary chemistry and a very honest record. We didn’t hide or fix any flaws. It’s really us.
Did you not want to dampen something that inspired this creative flow, or was it already happening and you wanted to do it?
The trigger was my resignation from CSN.When I Quit CSN Cloz, that was the point where I hit the real barrage. I had some patience, but I wasn’t happy with my situation, I wasn’t happy with the chemistry, and I didn’t feel like I was doing my best work. I was. i’ve been having a great time.
One of the main reasons for the record flood is that the Lighthouse Band has two bands that are one band. The chemistry between the four of us is explosive and I’ve been nursing it…
we have another [album] With cans waiting to drop. It’s a very honest relationship when you’re on stage. We’re not trying to do showbiz, we’re trying to make the best music we can. And people like it, you can say that. .
What do you think is the secret behind that chemistry?
I don’t understand, man. Of course, it has to do with their vocal and playing proficiency. But there are so many variables in how humans merge to create a rare creative process that I doubt anyone can chart it scientifically. I can’t, and I will. that’s what i do.
I can’t even explain the process, but there is chemistry and it takes place between certain people: Becker and Fagen, Lennon and McCartney. There are people I work with, and it’s a blast.
The song you played that night at the Capitol Theater was 1974, the band’s rework of a demo you made 40 years ago. Why did you sleep for so long?
It’s just one scrap of Harmony’s Fusion… You know, we don’t want to waste stuff, so we save it. Michael stumbled upon it and said: This is a really nice set of changes. ’ And so it did.
After the 4th song, Wanderer of Venice, says to the audience, “This could be a really good night.” What made that night feel so special?
It was the last night of our tour. We were brushing ourselves up pretty well and we were feeling good. It’s always a matter of feeling. As you know, you can do everything exactly by the book, exactly and perfectly, but it just doesn’t work. Sometimes everything is wrong, but it works fine anyway. There’s a feeling there that I can’t describe, but this is one such night. We knew it, we felt it – you can see it in our faces.
The show ended with a spectacular performance of woodstockis a song of hope and possibility and feels like a very auspicious end to the proceedings.
yes. I thought it liberated most of the lessons, most of the usual restrictions on people’s thinking. It was something with This is very nice. The audience was very sophisticated, they were really into it, they weren’t looking for hits. And it was a complete pleasure for us.
‘Hope’ and ‘possibility’ are also two words that come to mind when thinking about recent footage. woodstock‘s writer, your friend Joni Mitchell, was recently able to return to the stage after recovering. What did you think when you saw it?
I think she is wonderful. I think she is the best singer-songwriter of our time. Isn’t it Brandi Carlyle who did it with her? Man, she deserves a lot of credit. She persuaded Joni to do so and she was the mastermind behind it all.
How does it feel when you sing your song in front of people?
I feel complete. I feel like I am doing my life’s work. I feel blessed to have been given the ability to do that, so I feel complete. When I can sing a song well and take people on a little journey somewhere, I feel complete, ‘Let me tell you this story’. i feel good. I feel whole. I feel like I am doing my life’s work.
An album and DVD Live At The Capitol Theater by David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band has been released by BMG..
