David Crosby and The Lighthouse Band – Live at the Capitol Theatre

What a sincere treat it must be to hear David Crosby live. Even better when The Lighthouse Band are there too. For many, the closest way to get to that is the live album treats and pieces that Crosby has to offer. Live at Capitol Theatre showcases some real and genuine brilliance from Crosby and company – a setlist of great tracks, intimate acoustics and bombastic performances that do well to send off some of the best and brightest lyrics. This recording, taken from a performance way back in 2018, does well to capture the intimacy of a live show, the strength of Crosby’s voice decades on from his heyday, and the qualities that touch him and the artists that piece together his music for those lucky enough to head to Capitol Theatre.

Opener The Us Below is beautiful. No way around it, just an incredible track that utilises the playing ability on show more so than the solid lyrics that flow through. Crosby kicks through with Things We Do For Love to follow that up, a track that does not quite seem like a show opening pair. Even Crosby says so, although his back-and-forth with the crowd throughout this live record is brief. Good, in a way, as there is more time for tracks. The latter stages of Carry Me and Déjà Vu are as brilliant as expected. Those live album, conversational charms are brief, but they have no effect whatsoever on the quality of the playing here. Becca Stevens and Michael League’s supporting vocals and acoustic works are, frankly, incredible. They complement the main man Crosby, and he compliments their talents right back. It is a quality mixture of strong singers, stronger instrumentals and live stage presence.

With a setlist packed full of tracks new and old, Crosby gives the necessary range of a live set. Laughing is likely as strong as it gets. Powerful, provocative and attention-grabbing in all the right ways. But that introduction to such a great song gives way to the slower, ballad-like charms of Crosby’s vocal range, which has changed and refined with age. Taking that If I Could Only Remember My Name track and planting it in the middle of the show is beautiful. It pairs well with What Are Their Names, a brief interlude-like moment that leads into a roaringly good performance of By The Light of Common Day.

As a smorgasbord of quality for Crosby, Live at Capitol Theatre may serve well as a release that prompts listeners to go ahead and grab those late-career records. Definitely a must-have for the hardcore Crosby fans, but even then, it will work for those that have not yet gotten to grips with what they like and dislike about his discography. A quality live set that reveals the ballads and charms of Crosby’s later works, those pieces he has released in more recent times. They are worth seeking out, if Live at Capitol Theatre is anything to go by. Stick toward the end for a beautiful double of Guinnevere and Janet, which alone is worth the listen-through of a very solid, well-engaged live set from a legend of music and three contemporary artists adding some brilliant flourishes throughout.