Crosby, Stills and Nash at Humphreys by the Bay: 2010

The harmonies that defined the '60s counterculture and folk-rock movement, live at Humphreys by the Bay. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash have a notoriously complicated relationship - they've feuded, broken up, reunited, and feuded again. But when they're on stage together, making music, that's when it all makes sense.

"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is one of the great achievements in folk-rock - a multi-part suite that's intricate, beautiful, and emotionally resonant. Hearing those three voices blend together on that song live was powerful. These are voices that have been harmonizing together for over 40 years, and you can hear the muscle memory, the instinctive understanding of each other's parts.

"Wooden Ships" brought that dystopian hippie vision - escaping to the ocean after everything falls apart. The song still resonates, maybe even more now than when it was written.

"Teach Your Children" is Graham Nash's gentle masterpiece, and hearing it at Humphreys with sailboats drifting by felt appropriate. The message of generational understanding and wisdom feels even more relevant decades later.

David Crosby's voice has changed over the years, but it still has that distinctive quality. Stephen Stills' guitar playing remains excellent - his solos were fluid and emotional. Graham Nash's melodies and harmonies tied everything together.

What's remarkable is that despite all their personal conflicts, they still brought their A-game. These aren't guys phoning it in for a paycheck - they were genuinely engaged with the music and each other. You could see moments of connection, of joy in making music together.

Humphreys was the perfect size for CSN. Intimate enough to really hear the harmonies and see the interaction, but big enough to feel like an event. Their music works in arenas, but it shines in rooms like this.

The setlist drew from their entire career - Crosby Stills & Nash, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and their solo work. "Our House" reminded everyone of Nash's gift for finding the profound in domestic simplicity. "Southern Cross" showcased their ability to write songs that work as both sailing metaphors and life advice.

This show was a reminder of why they matter. CSN (and sometimes Y) helped define what rock music could be in the late '60s and early '70s - politically conscious, harmonically sophisticated, lyrically literate. They proved that rock could be beautiful and complex, not just loud and simple.

At Humphreys in 2010, decades into their career, they proved that great songwriting and great harmonies don't age. The songs still work, the voices still blend, and the magic is still there when they choose to make it happen.