A long time comin': Crosby, Stills, and Nash make Ravinia debut

Crosby, Stills & Nash will bring their trademark harmonies and iconic music to the Ravinia Festival for a 7 p.m. show Sunday. What makes it a unique event is that CSN, during their 41 years of existence, were never hosted previously at the century-old outdoor venue.

"Everyone seemed to be surprised that this is the legendary group's Ravinia debut (and) they seem like such a perfect fit for us that they would have been coming all along," said Nick Pullia, Ravinia's director of communications. "Now that we finally got them, we're looking forward to a concert that ensures we'll never forget them."

As singer-songwriters in other bands, the legacy of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash together was galvanized by their legendary "second gig" at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Gentle classics like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Teach Your Children" and "Deja Vu," along with politically-charged anthems like "Ohio" from their collaborations with Neil Young, have become radio staples.

Nash - the life-affirming Englishman, co-founder of The Hollies in the 1960s and an outspoken political advocate - spoke by phone about the upcoming show.

"At my age (68), I'm excited to be playing anywhere," he said. "I'm still very passionate about what I do. We still have something to say."

CSN's 24-song setlist includes five cover songs by other artists (including "Ruby Tuesday," "Norwegian Wood" and "Midnight Rider") that lend themselves to the group's harmony style.

"We're road-testing these songs in the set, and experimenting with them, and it's going phenomenally well," Nash said. "We're also working with producer Rick Rubin on a CD of cover songs that will be released later this year."

Their backlog of unreleased archives has also set the rumor mill buzzing recently with word of a box set culled from the infamous 1974 CSNY tour, which yielded some exceptional music despite logistics problems and allegedly deteriorating relationships. A DVD has been mentioned for inclusion with the set, however the only known video to surface came from London's Wembley Stadium at the tour's final stop, filmed by the BBC and circulating in collector circles.

Nash, however, dismisses the Wembley footage.

"The sound is just horrible, there were more than 100,000 people, it was stifling hot ... We have one (video) from the Capital Centre near Washington D.C. that is excellent, and that's what we'll use," he said. "It will be 3 CDs, with the DVD, and will be put out in March 2011."

Nash also partially dispelled a long-standing rumor about the 1958 Buddy Holly and the Crickets tour of England. The story goes that after a show he waited in the rain with other fans for an autograph. Holly and his entourage simply breezed by, without a word, and Nash later vowed to take time for his fans and sign autographs.

"Well, I started that, and it was actually the Everly Brothers in 1966. I never got to see Buddy Holly, and I'm kicking myself to this day ... I love Buddy Holly (The Hollies' band name was a homage), I'm a big fan, and he died on my birthday (Feb. 3) ... I've played at the Clear Lake (Iowa) Surf Ballroom too, where he last played.

"You know that acoustic Gibson guitar, with his name stenciled in leather on it? Two years ago, as part of the Experience Music Project in Seattle, the present owner brought it and I got to play 'Peggy Sue' on that very guitar," he said.

And finally, once the musical questions were asked and answered, Nash was up for a few lighter ones.

"If I could be any tree," he said, "I would be a weeping willow because I love long hair."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Crosby, Stills, And Nash</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park </p>

<p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $27-$80. Call (847) 266-5100 or go to www.ravinia,org.</p>