NILS LOFGREN BAND
''LIVE, DISC ONE''
MARCH 18 2003
127:10
1. Puttin' Out Fires/7:57
2. Daddy Dream/8:18
3. Too Many Miles/6:19
4. Driftin' Man/Nils Lofgren, Lou Reed/5:02
5. Damaged Goods/5:57
6. Two By Two/3:11
7. White Lies/3:58
8. Band Introduction/1:17
9. Shot At You/8:16
10. Tears Ain't Enough/4:25
11. I'm Buyin'/2:58
DISC TWO
1. I Don't Wanna Talk About It/Danny Whitten/3:58
2. Like Rain/4:52
3. I Found You/4:59
4. Can't Get Closer/4:36
5. Lost A Number/5:12
6. Slippery Fingers/4:22
7. Message/12:14
8. Girl In Motion/11:09
9. Bass & Drum Intro/3:29
10. Gun And Run/5:06
11. The Star Spangled Banner/Francis Scott Key, John Stafford Smith/2:53
12. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face/Ewan MacColl/6:41
Tracks By Lofgren, Except As Indicated
Paul Bell /Guitar
Timm Biery /Drums, Percussion
Michael Lofgren /Guitar
Nils Lofgren /Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Tom Lofgren /Synthesizer
Wade Matthews /Bass, Vocals
REVIEW
by Greg Prato
Although he'll be forever best known as Bruce Springsteen's go-to guitar player post-Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren is an accomplished solo artist in his own right, having issued numerous critically acclaimed (yet often commercially overlooked) solo albums. He's also issued countless live albums over the years, and 2003 saw the latest entry, Live. As with most double-disc live sets from veteran rockers, various entries from Lofgren's career are touched upon -- including a wink to his early band, Grin (which is represented by "White Lies" and "Lost a Number"), plus a classic track from his brief affiliation with Crazy Horse (the Danny Whitten-penned "I Don't Wanna Talk About It"). Also included are newer solo tracks, such as the hop-a-long album opener, "Puttin' Out Fires," as well as a rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" -- which is not the expected instrumental Hendrix-esque guitar showcase (but rather focuses on Lofgren singing the lyrics). As fans have known for decades, Lofgren is one heck of a multi-talented gentleman, and Live offers further evidence.
BIOGRAPHY
by Steve Huey
While singer/guitarist Nils Lofgren is better known for his work with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, his own solo career has produced a worthwhile, if inconsistent, body of work. Lofgren learned to play the accordion at age five and studied jazz and classical music as a child. He switched to rock guitar at 15 and formed the band Grin in 1969 with bassist Bob Gordon, drummer Bob Berberich, and later his brother Tom Lofgren on guitar. Grin quickly built a reputation around Washington, D.C., and Neil Young and Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten caught wind of them while touring in the area. Young invited Lofgren to play piano and sing on 1970's After the Gold Rush, and he also played on and wrote two songs for Crazy Horse's debut album the following year.
Instead of remaining with Young, Lofgren used the resulting exposure to get Grin a record contract. The group recorded three albums from 1971 to 1972, garnering critical praise but no sales. A move to A&M produced the lackluster Gone Crazy, which proved to be Grin's swan song; Lofgren accepted an invitation from Young to tour in 1973 and play on his Tonight's the Night album. Grin officially disbanded in mid-1974 owing to a lack of success and financial problems. Lofgren was rumored to be under consideration as a replacement for Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones; instead, he signed to A&M as a solo artist. His first two solo efforts, Nils Lofgren and Cry Tough, were all-around successes, and Lofgren made a name for himself on supporting tours through stunts such as performing while jumping on a trampoline.
Subsequent releases failed to develop Lofgren's sound any further, and he became more viable as a sideman than a solo performer. Following 1983's Trans tour with Young, Lofgren joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, replacing Little Stevie Van Zandt in 1984, remaining there until the unit was dissolved in 1991. Lofgren returned to solo recording that year with Silver Lining, which featured guest appearances from Springsteen and members of Ringo Starr's band. Acoustic Live followed in 1997. Lofgren resurfaced in 2002 with the Vision Music release Breakaway Angel, his first studio effort in six years (and also notable for his emphasis on classical harp in addition to guitar). Shine Silently, on the Spectrum label, arrived in 2004. A year later, Favorites 1990-2005, pulled mostly from Lofgren's 1991 and 1992 Rykodisc records, was released, followed by 2006's Sacred Weapon, which featured appearances from Willie Nelson, Graham Nash, and David Crosby. Lofgren's next album, 2008's The Loner: Nils Sings Neil, with Lofgren interpreting various Neil Young songs, was a wonderfully perfect idea, a way of closing the circle. Lofgren's first album of new material (he wrote 11 of the 12 tracks) in six years, Old School, appeared late in 2011, and featured guest appearances by Sam Moore, Paul Rodgers, and Lou Gramm.
''LIVE, DISC ONE''
MARCH 18 2003
127:10
1. Puttin' Out Fires/7:57
2. Daddy Dream/8:18
3. Too Many Miles/6:19
4. Driftin' Man/Nils Lofgren, Lou Reed/5:02
5. Damaged Goods/5:57
6. Two By Two/3:11
7. White Lies/3:58
8. Band Introduction/1:17
9. Shot At You/8:16
10. Tears Ain't Enough/4:25
11. I'm Buyin'/2:58
DISC TWO
1. I Don't Wanna Talk About It/Danny Whitten/3:58
2. Like Rain/4:52
3. I Found You/4:59
4. Can't Get Closer/4:36
5. Lost A Number/5:12
6. Slippery Fingers/4:22
7. Message/12:14
8. Girl In Motion/11:09
9. Bass & Drum Intro/3:29
10. Gun And Run/5:06
11. The Star Spangled Banner/Francis Scott Key, John Stafford Smith/2:53
12. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face/Ewan MacColl/6:41
Tracks By Lofgren, Except As Indicated
Paul Bell /Guitar
Timm Biery /Drums, Percussion
Michael Lofgren /Guitar
Nils Lofgren /Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Tom Lofgren /Synthesizer
Wade Matthews /Bass, Vocals
REVIEW
by Greg Prato
Although he'll be forever best known as Bruce Springsteen's go-to guitar player post-Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren is an accomplished solo artist in his own right, having issued numerous critically acclaimed (yet often commercially overlooked) solo albums. He's also issued countless live albums over the years, and 2003 saw the latest entry, Live. As with most double-disc live sets from veteran rockers, various entries from Lofgren's career are touched upon -- including a wink to his early band, Grin (which is represented by "White Lies" and "Lost a Number"), plus a classic track from his brief affiliation with Crazy Horse (the Danny Whitten-penned "I Don't Wanna Talk About It"). Also included are newer solo tracks, such as the hop-a-long album opener, "Puttin' Out Fires," as well as a rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" -- which is not the expected instrumental Hendrix-esque guitar showcase (but rather focuses on Lofgren singing the lyrics). As fans have known for decades, Lofgren is one heck of a multi-talented gentleman, and Live offers further evidence.
BIOGRAPHY
by Steve Huey
While singer/guitarist Nils Lofgren is better known for his work with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, his own solo career has produced a worthwhile, if inconsistent, body of work. Lofgren learned to play the accordion at age five and studied jazz and classical music as a child. He switched to rock guitar at 15 and formed the band Grin in 1969 with bassist Bob Gordon, drummer Bob Berberich, and later his brother Tom Lofgren on guitar. Grin quickly built a reputation around Washington, D.C., and Neil Young and Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten caught wind of them while touring in the area. Young invited Lofgren to play piano and sing on 1970's After the Gold Rush, and he also played on and wrote two songs for Crazy Horse's debut album the following year.
Instead of remaining with Young, Lofgren used the resulting exposure to get Grin a record contract. The group recorded three albums from 1971 to 1972, garnering critical praise but no sales. A move to A&M produced the lackluster Gone Crazy, which proved to be Grin's swan song; Lofgren accepted an invitation from Young to tour in 1973 and play on his Tonight's the Night album. Grin officially disbanded in mid-1974 owing to a lack of success and financial problems. Lofgren was rumored to be under consideration as a replacement for Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones; instead, he signed to A&M as a solo artist. His first two solo efforts, Nils Lofgren and Cry Tough, were all-around successes, and Lofgren made a name for himself on supporting tours through stunts such as performing while jumping on a trampoline.
Subsequent releases failed to develop Lofgren's sound any further, and he became more viable as a sideman than a solo performer. Following 1983's Trans tour with Young, Lofgren joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, replacing Little Stevie Van Zandt in 1984, remaining there until the unit was dissolved in 1991. Lofgren returned to solo recording that year with Silver Lining, which featured guest appearances from Springsteen and members of Ringo Starr's band. Acoustic Live followed in 1997. Lofgren resurfaced in 2002 with the Vision Music release Breakaway Angel, his first studio effort in six years (and also notable for his emphasis on classical harp in addition to guitar). Shine Silently, on the Spectrum label, arrived in 2004. A year later, Favorites 1990-2005, pulled mostly from Lofgren's 1991 and 1992 Rykodisc records, was released, followed by 2006's Sacred Weapon, which featured appearances from Willie Nelson, Graham Nash, and David Crosby. Lofgren's next album, 2008's The Loner: Nils Sings Neil, with Lofgren interpreting various Neil Young songs, was a wonderfully perfect idea, a way of closing the circle. Lofgren's first album of new material (he wrote 11 of the 12 tracks) in six years, Old School, appeared late in 2011, and featured guest appearances by Sam Moore, Paul Rodgers, and Lou Gramm.
