NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - Crosby, Stills and Nash made a brief Canadian detour on Tuesday night at Fallsview Casino Resort on their way to getting inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame next week in New York City.

The harmony-heavy, late '60s, folk-rock trio of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, who sometimes include Canadian Neil Young in their ranks (he's on tour in Europe for the fan who shouted out: "Where's Neil?"), are on the road in support of the upcoming Demos collection, some forty years after making their debut at Woodstock.

They are also apparently working on an album of cover songs with Rick Rubin (Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash), which would explain the inclusion of The Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday, James Taylor's Close Your Eyes and The Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band in their 90-minute set.

Now all in their mid to late '60s, the three musicians are clearly not what they once were in terms of vocal strength - the husky-sounding Stills is the weakest while the sweet-voiced Nash is the strongest - but they'll always have those classic songs not to mention Stills' searing psychedelic rock guitar sound that took centre stage on Long Time Gone, Buffalo Springfield's Rock and Roll Woman, a marathon version of Deja Vu, that featured solos by all of the musicians, and Southern Cross (during which he finally found his voice).

After a creaky, croaky start with Helplessly Hoping, the trio, backed by a four piece band that included Crosby's son, James Raymond on piano, warmed up the time they covered the Stones' Ruby Tuesday and finally fully hit their stride on fifth song of the night, their own gentle and pretty Guinnevere.

Those two standout tunes were followed by other highlights such as Our House (which Nash dedicated to Joni Mitchell, calling her "a beautiful Canadian blonde lady"), Teach Your Children, the Moroccan-inspired Marrakesh Express, and rockers Southern Cross and Wooden Ships.

Sadly missing from the set were Almost Cut My Hair, Woodstock and Suite:Judy Blue Eyes.

The trio, originally culled from the groups The Byrds (Crosby), Buffalo Springfield (Stills) and The Hollies (Nash), all played both acoustic and electric guitars but it was Stills' playing that really stood out as he lumbered around the stage, rocking back and forth, looking like he might fall over at any point.

Nash, meanwhile, was the most animated singer as he often picked up maracas or a cowbell and Crosby, with his long white hair and moustache looked like Santa Claus if he lived on a commune in California.

All three had an easy, relaxed way with each other on stage, gently chiding each other or cracking jokes at other groups expense, like The Eagles.

But when Nash went a little too far after a male fan shouted out "I love you!"' to Crosby, - "It reminds David of prison," he joked - he got the finger from his bandmate who was still smiling.

Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997, CSN were in Canada the same week as Young was being recognized with an all-star recreation of his seminal 1971 album, Live At Massey Hall, on Wednesday night as part of Luminato festivities.

There was also a failed attempt last Saturday to break the existing world record for largest guitar ensemble by playing Young's Helpless in unison at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square, another Luminato event.

SET LIST:

Helplessly Hoping

You Don't Have To Cry

Ruby Tuesday

Close Your Eyes

Guinnevere

Marrakesh Express

Uncle John's Band

Long Time Gone

Rock And Roll Woman

Deja Vu

Bluebird

Just A Song Before I Go

Our House

Southern Cross

Wooden Ships

ENCORE:

Teach Your Children