Graham Nash is coming to Oak Bluffs.
Mr. Nash will be peforming at the Tabernacle on July 21 as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series. The concert will include songs that span his time with The Hollies, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young and his solo career.
“The truth is, some of the songs that I wrote over 50 years ago, like Military Madness and Immigration Man...are still incredibly relevant,” he said in a recent phone interview with the Gazette. “One of the things that I’m realizing is that we don’t seem to be learning much from history, and if we don’t, we’re going to have to repeat it, which is exactly what’s going on today.”
Mr. Nash continues to write political music. His most recent album, Now, which came out in 2023, includes Golden Idols and Stars and Stripes, two songs about how he views President Trump and his supporters.
Mr. Nash said he still finds hope despite the political climate, which is reflected in his music. A Better Life, another track from Now, is a positive call to action to leave the world a better place for the next generation.
“It’s a question of balance,” Mr. Nash said. “[A Better Life] was really an extension of my feelings when I wrote Teach Your Children...as parents, we really do need to lead this planet in a better place than we found it.”
Over the years, Mr. Nash said it has become more difficult for artists who write political music to be heard.
“I think that the people that rule the world’s media don’t want protest songs on their radio or their television. They want us to be sheep. They want us to just lie down, shut up. Don’t say anything, don’t rock the boat, buy another soft drink and buy another pair of sneakers,” he said. “They don’t want protest songs.”
Decades into Mr. Nash’s career, he said he continues to draw inspiration from the same two places: the political and the personal.
“I’m singing about the same stuff, stuff that happens to me because I’m an ordinary person,” he said. “I know that if something that I feel deeply enough to write about it touches me, it’s probably going to touch you, too.”
Mr. Nash pointed to Our House as a song that resulted from a personal moment. He and Joni Mitchell were returning from having breakfast when Ms. Mitchell saw a vase in an antique store. She purchased it and when they arrived back home, Mr. Nash lit a fire while she placed flowers in the vase.
“You can write interesting songs from incredibly ordinary moments,” Mr. Nash said. “I’m a musician. I was off and running right there.”
Mr. Nash said he is looking forward to playing songs that remain meaningful for his fans.
“I want to rekindle their memories,” he said. “I want to rekindle their investment in the music, particularly when they sing back to me. I love it when they sing back.”
For tickets, visit mvconcertseries.com.
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