Live Review: Graham Nash – 19th October 2025 – London Palladium, London, UK
3 min read
Sunday evening saw the return of folk legend Graham Nash to the London Palladium for a night of music and stories. The grand stage was set with a bounty of instruments, but little did we know how few musicians there would actually be.
Things kicked off with Graham himself appearing to announce his friend Peter Asher to the stage. “I’ve been friends with this man since 1964,” Graham stated, “longer than some of you have been alive.” A few laughs of agreement told us that a generation-spanning audience was in attendance, something that Peter Asher was prepared for. His tales of meeting musical partner Gordon Waller, as well as his fascinating journey from singer to label head to producer in his own right were elevated with a great collection of songs.
Opening with an Everly Brothers hit, in this instance Crying In The Rain, was a nod to his days as one half of Peter & Gordon. “I see no reason to break tradition,” he said. It was the first introduction to Carol King too, who appeared later in his story alongside James Taylor when Peter produced her song You’ve Got A Friend, after originally introducing the pair. The true highlights were his emotional rendition of Buddy Holly’s True Love Waits with the isolated vocal of his sadly departed friend Gordon, and his surprise bedroom demo from none other than Paul McCartney, who wrote and gave Peter & Gordon their hit song The World Without Love whilst staying at the Asher’s house, and dating Peter’s sister Jane.
When Graham reemerged, harmonica around his neck, he launching into Wasted on the Way without so much as a good evening. Granted, he had been on to harmonise with Peter just a few minutes prior, and everyone was well warmed to his presence. “On December 8th 1968,” he said after the song, “I played my last show here with The Hollies, and took a little trip.” The trip in question resulted in Marrakesh Express, a joyful song that sounded just as joyful now as we’re sure it did sixty years ago. Graham and social politics go hand-in-hand, so it was unsurprising when he brought up his views on the Israel/Palestine conflict. The reaction was overwhelming positive, with some backlash from certain members of the crowd. “You have you opinion, I have mine,” he rightfully stated, going into Military Madness to a round of applause.
He introduced his amazing band, the four members including Graham himself managing to capture every possible sound needed. Swapping between guitars, drums, and even saxophone, it was enough to put any musicians present in their place. Graham told the story of how his manager introduced him to a young Graham Gouldman, the song Bus Stop being the result, and how whilst trying to return to America from Canada, he was stopped at immigration and wrote the tune Immigration Man. Many tales of observation followed, the most poignant being about himself and David Crosby, out on a boat for nine months. A composition by David played before the band expertly flowed in Wind on the Water, acting as a fittingly musical tribute. There were more tributes throughout, one to Stephen Stills in the form of a Love the One You’re With cover, and Woodstock, which Graham began by saying “I must say I’m really glad that Joni Mitchell is still alive.”
Standing ovation after standing ovation concluded the evening, the last song never quite being the last song, as people’s appreciation and appetites brought them to their feet time and time again. The gratitude was apparent on Graham’s face, as well as the band’s, a fitting final night to a wonderful tour.
Set List:
Wasted on the Way
Marrakesh Express
Military Madness
I Used to Be a King
Bus Stop
Immigration Man
Better Days
Love the One You’re With
Love of Mine
Critical Mass/Wind on the Water
Just a Song Before I Go
Our House
Teach Your Children
Find the Cost of Freedom
Woodstock
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
