Sierra Mountain Times

Ironstone’s Concert Series Amazes, Sets Records!  Left to Right: Stephen Stills, Grahm Nash, and David Crosby This is a lovely place to play! We’re coming back!” Graham Nash shouted into the vast sea of fans, as he and his cohorts David Crosby and Stephen Stills put on a magical performance September 19th, at Ironstone Amphitheatre. The 2009 Concert Series set attendance records for Ironstone including two SOLD OUT performances: Alan Jackson, August 7th, and then Crosby, Stills & Nash! “Finale Weekend” commenced with a performance, Friday, the 18th, by Los Lonely Boys, a Tex/Mex power trio, “opening” for Lynyrd Skynyrd; though LLB, are headline material themselves! Brothers Garza, Ringo (drums), JoJo (bass) and Henry (guitar) harmonize sweetly, which, in a sense kind of tempers Henry’s absolutely scorching guitar work (he’s clearly influenced by Santana, Malo and Stevie Ray Vaughn – yet has its own unique musical style). LLB ripped through lots of red-hot guitar blues that night!

Lynyrd Skynyrd was top-notch, too!  With sheer energy and their trademark sound, (thanks, in part, to founding guitarist Gary Rossington), Skynyrd rocked through their classics: “That Smell” and “Gimme Back My Bullets”. “We’re real big supporters of our troops and their families,” lead singer Johnny Van Zant proclaimed. “And some of our folks are in harm’s way, so we’d like to dedicate this next song to our troops,” as they started “Simple Kind of Man.” Everyone was soon enthralled by “The Needle and the Spoon”, “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Still Unbroken” – from their new CD, “God & Guns” (out September 29th!). Van Zant dedicated the latter to founding member/keyboardist Billy Powell and longtime bassist Ean Evans who died this year. Notwithstanding their losses, Lynyrd sounded like vintage Skynyrd, especially during their fiery four-guitar attacks! (Sound was impeccable! Even those sitting way back enjoyed stellar sound, with two brand new, state-of-the-art “delay sound” speakers set up for the near-capacity crowd – which also rocked to “Give Me Three Steps”, “They Call Me the Breeze”, and “Sweet Home Alabama”! Skynyrd’s encore, “Freebird” sent their fans flying high!

On Saturday, Crosby, Stills & Nash successfully took people back to ‘60s with their classics – AND cover songs like the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday”! “Well, now, you shouldn’t encourage this (playing covers),” Crosby shouted. “Actually, we’re going to do several of these, ’cause we’re thinking of doing a record of them,” he revealed, as they broke into James Taylor’s “(You Can) Close Your Eyes”, Dylan’s “She Once Was a True Love of Mine”, Gregg Allman’s “Midnight Rider” and Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band”! CS&Ns’ harmonies and Still’s lead guitar sounded absolutely incredible! Then, Crosby said, “Putting this guitar on and trying this (next) song is an act of sheer madness…I have a very sore throat, VERY. But, what the hell; what have we got to lose. I’ll try!” And with the first strains and strums of “Guinevere”, it felt like it was 1969 again! Crosby was awesome!  Concertgoers grooved and sang along to “Our House”…After a short break, CS&N resumed; Nash grabbed morracas as they started “Love the One You’re With”. Next, Nash picked up acoustic guitar and joined in on “Marrakesh Express”. They sang Buffalo Springfield’s “Rock and Roll Woman”. (Stills was with the Springfiled from 1966 to 1968) and he got all fired up with his electric guitar solo on this one! CS&N amazed with “Long Time Running”, Springfield’s “Bluebird”, “Wooden Ships”, and their encore songs, the Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” (which developed into a sing along/clap along!) and “Teach Your Children”! As they bowed, Nash held up a glass of wine and shouted, “We wish you peace!” Thank you CS&N! You’re legends, and you’re truly awesome!