Spencer Patterson

Mon, Sep 13, 2004 (8:18 a.m.)

So it was most surprising that the revered folk-rock trio played for 90 minutes Friday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel without a single mention of the election, President Bush or John Kerry.

Aside from a "Rock the Vote" shirt worn by Nash, the three men let their famous protest songs do their talking.

Nash's lyrics to "Military Madness" ("Military madness is killing your country") drew tremendous applause from the sold-out crowd of 1,400.

Stills' Buffalo Springfield classic, "For What It's Worth," inspired the Boomer-dominated audience to sing along with the refrain: "Stop! Hey, what's the sound? Everybody look what's going down."

And Crosby's hippie anthem "Almost Cut My Hair" offered a cautionary tale of individuality, reminding fans to continue letting their "freak flag fly."

When Crosby paused between songs, he spoke not of the election but of an issue of particular local importance: the proposed storage of nuclear waste at nearby Yucca Mountain.

"It's 90 miles from here, and that's where they want to put all the nuclear waste in the U.S.," Crosby said, evoking loud cheers. "The wisdom of that decision we'll discuss at another time."

CSN then performed "Don't Dig Here," a song Crosby said was born when his son, keyboardist James Raymond, read about a Las Vegas design contest for a monument to be placed atop Yucca Mountain.

That track is one of 20 featured on a new self-titled Crosby-Nash double-album, the two men's first release as a duo since 1976.

Recent Crosby, Stills & Nash shows have reportedly been heavy on material from that project, but on Friday only two of those numbers were performed. Stills and most of the five-piece backing left the stage for one, the subdued "Lay Me Down."

The trio also eschewed their usual two-set format, skipping the intermission to stay put for an abbreviated 12-song main set, followed by a three-song encore.

While die-hard fans may have been disappointed with the show's length and the dearth of new tunes, casual devotees seemed pleased enough with the hit-laden concert.

They got to hear many of the group's golden oldies, including "Marrakesh Express," "Deja Vu" and CSN's familiar cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock."

Stills also contributed 1982 single "Southern Cross," along with an updated take on early solo hit "Love the One You're With."

Crosby, Stills & Nash -- now ages 63, 59 and 62, respectively -- sounded a bit ragged early as they worked to fine-tune their trademark vocal harmonies.

They locked in time for their fourth number "Helplessly Hoping," however, demonstrating that even though their voices have changed with age, they remain capable of weaving magnificent three-part tapestries.

Stills and guitarist Jeff Pevar sprinkled in a few solos, trading licks during a long, fiery version of "Wooden Ships," although sometime band member Neil Young likely would have provided a welcome edge to the proceedings.

But overall, Crosby, Stills & Nash provided a night of pleasant nostalgia, filled with lyrical words of wisdom that resonate in politically charged 2004 much the way they did in 1969.