CS&N; ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SUPERGROUPS: CROSBY, STILLS & NASH PLAY SATURDAY

Though Crosby, Stills & Nash are famous for their glorious harmonies, David Crosby says the three voices shouldn't blend as well as they do.

"We have three very odd voices that shouldn't do what they do together," said Crosby, a self-proclaimed "harmony freak."

"Somehow," he said, "we always end up sounding really good."

On Saturday, Cape Girardeau concert-goers will decide for themselves.

Crosby, Stills and Nash, one of the "supergroups" of the sixties who have recently been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Show-Me Center.

Though the group made its musical debut more than 25 years ago with songs like "Our House" and "Love The One You're With," it is still thriving.

Crosby, calling from a tour date in Omaha, Neb., thinks the group's success lies in the quality of the songs.

"We write songs that are actually about something," said Crosby. "We don't just turn up our amplifiers and scream as loud as we can."

The band has been together so long, said Crosby, that they feel like brothers.

"The music is always good enough and we are always doing different songs that it keeps us going strong."

Crosby said he adds the middle harmony and the ideas for some of the band's stranger songs. "I've got to add something," he said, "and it certainly isn't the sex appeal."

For Crosby, performing and singing have been much harder since his liver transplant two years ago. Even now, he isn't as strong as he used to be.

But performing live, for a '60s superstar like Crosby, is still a passion and a release.

"I try not to think when I'm performing," said Crosby. "Music is not a cerebral thing. Music is very visceral and emotional.

"Sure you might think to yourself, `Hey, there's a pretty girl' or something, but if you're thinking while you're performing, you're not doing as good a job as you could be. It is certainly not an intellectual thing."

Recently, CS&N was rewarded for their years of consecutive hits and their obvious passion for music with a nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Though most musicians would be ecstatic and humbled by this honor, a nonchalant Crosby said that the nomination was long overdue.

"It'll be nice if we get in there, but I don't really care. A lot of it is politics... we're one of the best bands that ever was, and if they ignore us, we have defeated their whole pretense."

Regardless of awards or nominations or tours, Crosby said he is just looking forward to playing in front of an audience like the one that awaits in Cape Girardeau.

Though he has never performed in Southeast Missouri, Crosby said that smaller towns have better crowds.

"The audiences in the secondary cities are about twice as good as the ones in the big cities," said Crosby. "People in the big cities are very jaded. They see big stars every day and they've got this `pass me some more wine' attitude."

Crosby said that performing in Cape Girardeau will "rock" because he thinks his band will be appreciated.

"The best shows of the whole tour are ones where the audience appreciates us and appreciates our music."

Discography

Crosby, Stills & Nash

"Crosby, Stills & Nash" May 1969

"CSN" June 1977

"Replay" December 1980

"Daylight Again" June 1982

"Allies" June 1983

"Live It Up" June 1990

"CSN" (boxed set) September 1991

"After the Storm" August 1994

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

"Deja Vu" March 1970

"4 Way Street" April 1971

"So Far" August 1974

"American Dream" November 1988