Live from Laurel Canyon Presents: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Carpenter Performing Arts Center6200 Atherton St., Los Angeles 90815
Live from Laurel Canyon Presents: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young brings an acoustic tribute to the music of CSNY. The show recreates seminal songs from the group’s catalog alongside material from its members’ solo work, with personal stories and context on the inspiration behind the songs. Expect selections associated with the band, including “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Helplessly Hoping.”
The original Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young formed in Los Angeles in 1968: David Crosby had been with the Byrds, Stephen Stills and Neil Young with Buffalo Springfield, and Graham Nash with the Hollies. They became known for intricate vocal harmonies, influential songwriting, and a blend of folk, rock, and country rock that helped define American folk rock. Their work was also bound up with the political activism and counterculture of the 1970s. Press has described CSNY as a “legendary supergroup” with a “tumultuous but creatively rich history,” whose harmonies, songs, and influence remain central to American music history.
Named for pop duo and alumni Karen and Richard Carpenter, this 1,054-seat concert hall pairs the acoustics and sightlines of a premier civic theater with the welcoming ease of a campus arts hub. Visitors arrive early through a curved glass facade to browse a permanent lobby showcase of original instruments, gold records, and memorabilia before taking reserved tiered seats. The stage accommodates everything from touring jazz ensembles and symphonies to Broadway musicals by resident company Musical Theatre West, along with an occasional cabaret setup where small tables and chairs move directly onto the stage floor behind the main curtain. Light refreshments and beverages are available in the lobby to enjoy before showtime, and while the focused, listening-room atmosphere commands rapt attention throughout performances, the surrounding East Long Beach neighborhood offers plenty of casual dining just off the freeway.