On Monday, September 28, Graham Nash returned to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for a nearly sold-out performance, 57 years after his first appearance at the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Nash’s career hardly needs an introduction. His story stretches back to his early days with The Hollies before taking a dramatic turn when he joined David Crosby and Stephen Stills to form Crosby, Stills & Nash. From there came some of the most recognizable harmonies and songwriting in rock history, along with a catalog that has continued to resonate across generations. There could hardly have been a more fitting place for Nash to revisit that catalog than Bethel Woods.

This was one of very few returns to the venue for Nash since the original festival, making the intimate Event Gallery performance all the more special. It may not have been the half-million people who gathered there 57 years ago, but the intimate setting only enhanced the experience.

Remarkably, Nash’s voice remains in incredible shape. At 84, the unmistakable character of his voice is still there. His voice now sits comfortably at the center of those familiar three-part harmonies, providing the foundation around which the arrangements are built rather than the higher harmony part he once sang in the original CSN lineup.

The other members of his band did an exceptional job filling in the surrounding parts, keeping those legendary harmonies a defining feature of the music without simply trying to recreate the past. Adam Minkoff, Todd Caldwell and Zach Djanikian handled backing vocals, drums, bass, guitar and keys, and they were far more than hired musicians accompanying a legendary artist. They were extraordinarily versatile players, seemingly equally comfortable with virtually any instrument placed in front of them. Throughout the evening, they moved effortlessly from one instrument to another, each sounding as though it had always been their primary instrument. At one point, while still drumming, Adam Minkoff even took on bass duties simultaneously. Moments like that made clear just how deep the talent onstage really was.

As for the setlist, Nash reached into virtually every corner of his career, moving through songs that defined his work with The Hollies, his years with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and his extensive solo career. There was something for longtime fans who had followed Nash for decades, as well as for audience members who may have simply grown up with these songs as part of the soundtrack of their lives. By the end of the night, it felt as though everyone in the room had heard something they came for.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the evening, however, came between the songs. Nash’s stories were fascinating, funny and, at times, deeply revealing. Before many of the songs, he offered glimpses into the circumstances that inspired them, as well as the people and experiences behind them. Those stories gave the audience a different way into songs they may have heard hundreds of times before. A familiar lyric could suddenly take on an entirely new meaning.

It was also wonderful to see how deeply immersed Nash remained in the music itself. At times, he would close his eyes and simply listen to the other musicians onstage, appearing completely absorbed in the moment. Watching an artist enjoy the music as much as the people listening to it creates a deeper connection between performer and audience.

Fifty-seven years after Woodstock, Graham Nash returned to Bethel Woods and reminded everyone that while the songs and the people who created them may age, great music has a remarkable way of remaining timeless.

Graham Nash – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Monday, September 28

Setlist: Chicago, Marrakesh Express, I Used to Be a King, Military Madness, Southbound Train, Bus Stop, Fieldworker, Immigration Man, Better Days, Love the One You’re With, Love of Mine, Simple Man, Cathedral, Just a Song Before I Go, Our House, Teach Your Children.

Encore: Woodstock, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.