Crosby, Pevar & Raymond
15 June 2001
Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR
I once again hooked up with relatives for a concert. Despite our general admission tickets, my cousin was able to park all four of us in the third row. I was quite impressed. It must be genetics--he also owns two Chrysler products.
After an opening act, David Crosby, Jeff Pevar, and James Raymond, and Andrew Ford and Steve DiStanislao (CPRFD ?) performed a very loose, somewhat improvised version of Crosby's 1971 song, "Music Is Love". But, the majority of the evening was devoted to showcasing songs from their hot-off-the-press, steam-still-rising-from-it, new CD, called Just Like Gravity. Most notable was the sprightly, jazzy, funky "Map To Buried Treasure".
In truth, CPR performed almost every song off the new disk. Included were the rockin' "Katie Did", James Raymond's song about Jerusalem Syndrome ("Jerusalem"), featuring a brief twin-lead-guitar interlude by Jeff and David, and "Gone Forever", which features James singing, "(.....why) anyone should have to take another's life.....any father should find his children and his wife." "Climber", musically, sounds a lot like Crosby's "Somehow She Knew". Crosby played and sang the title track during the encore. I thought CPR's first CD was great. This new CD is even more consistent, more solid, and, I think, better produced than the first. I especially like the reverb effects on the vocals. I would even go so far as to say that the band chose from a better selection of songs on this new CD.
CPR did perform a few from that first CD. Expectedly, these included "One For Every Moment", "Morrison", and "Somebody Else's Town". The non-CPR songs performed included "Long Time Gone", "Song Without Words", and a very spacey "Deja Vu", which permitted Jeff Pever to show off one incredible, unique, emotional guitar solo. Pevar definitely stole the show at various moments, with, at any given time, one of his 7-8 guitars he brought along for the tour.
Their encore included a version of "Eight Miles High" that didn't sound remotely like the 1966 Byrds version.
During the show, somebody yelled out "Happy Father's Day David!!!" Hey David, take it in good spirit.
After the show, CPR walked out to sign autographs. I have their signatures on a copy of their new CD which I bought at the show, four days before the official store release date. Most humorous about the autograph session was Crosby bitching out people whom he, right or wrong, suspected of scheming to sell their autographed possessions. He actually pissed several people off, questioning their loyalty as fans.
He told one audience member, "Eat my shorts, pal!", and mockingly asked another fan, "Who wrote Wooden Ships?!?" I wish he would have asked me that. I would have said, "David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and (though not officially credited) Paul Kantner (of Jefferson Airplane), in 1968, in Florida." Though he might have firmly believed that I was a devoted fan, he might also have called security to escort a suspected stalker out of the theatre.
Instead, he and I exchanged some [granted] smalltalk about how he seemed to be enjoying himself onstage.
My thanks to my cousin for limosining us to the gig in a nice, brand new Chrysler 300M, and to my uncle and aunt for letting me crash at their place that night. And, thanks to all three for the fanTAStic weather!!!!
[****] - Steven T.
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