Alternative Country Nation with a side helping of Maniloonies?

 Greetings! Upon 1993, not a lot was going on.  My records indicate only 2 concerts attended and one of those a last minute fill-in concert.  

In April 1993, the local alternative radio station, KUKQ (on AM no less) was sponsoring a big alternative festival with several artists including X, Robyn Hitchcock and the headliner, Pornos for Pyros (with Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell).  Primarily interested in Robyn Hitchcock and X, I had a friend, Joe, who was willing to take me and his fiancee, Rachel, to the gig at Compton Terrace.  Of course, I can't recall who else was performing as we had to stop off for Rachel to get some Taco Bell.  But I did see Robyn Hitchcock and X.  It is quite a blur and I feel quite embarrassed that I remember the Taco Bell incident more than the performances, but I can say I did see Robyn Hitchcock and X.  Other terrible bands we saw in this group were Best Kissers in the World (lead singer mooned audience) and Phunk Junkees. We walked out proudly during the first song from Porno for Pyros as it was not any of our cups of tea.  I also, remember saying something on the drive home about Bob Dylan (who was not at this festival, obviously) and was lambasted by Rachel for insulting her hero.  (Oops!)

Please see the great ticket below.

In June 1993, my cousin had her tickets ready for her and her mom to go see her favorite singer, Barry Manilow.  My aunt, however, came down with Valley Fever after living in Arizona since the 1970's so she could not go.  I went in my aunt's place to the hottest (in temperature) I had ever gone to up to that point.

Barry Manilow performed in 110 degree heat at, you guess it, Desert Heat (Sky) Pavilion.  The evening also had a touch of humidity as the monsoon season was starting early, but no dust storms or rain.  Just a great evening of entertainment by a consummate showman.  We all know Barry's songs from the 1970's so it was definitely a greatest hits show.  When Barry asked for someone to come up on stage to sing "I Can't Smile Without You" with him, a woman seated near us jumped out into the aisle with arms raised yelling crazily.  We were up in the second tier at the venue, so odds are, she was too far to be Barry's pick.  Please see lovely ticket below:

In 1994, I can recall only one concert which was Elvis Costello at the Mesa Amphitheatre.  By then, I had made an acquaintance of a neat guy named Harold who I met in a Blue Plate special Tuesday night graduate history class at ASU.  We seemed to have similar musical tastes, so we went to see this concert together.

Alternative group the Crash Test Dummies opened for Mr. Costello.  I was impressed by their live performance and later went out and purchased 2 albums.  

Funnily enough, I did see my other friend Joe there and said, "Hi!"  Elvis Costello was amazingly good and he did a lot of the songs that had made him a college radio darling.  Most memorable was a dude in hippie attire dancing with great enthusiasm to "Pump It Up."  I have never seen anyone move like that since, and everytime I hear "Pump It Up" I always remember that guy at the concert.

So as 1994, unfolded, so did my relationship with Harold.  We starting dating in August 1994, and a while after that, we decided to get married in May 1995.  But bigger news than our marriage it seemed was R.E.M. would be touring in support of they 1994 album, Monster.

Harold somehow lucked out calling the ticket line (was it Dillard's or Ticketmaster?) and got us almost front row seats for this band!  When he called me I jumped up and down in my parents' kitchen.  The show was set for May 5, a few weeks before our nuptials.  Wow!  How amazing!

But, Bill Berry, drummer for R.E.M., suffered an aneurysm which ended up postponing our show until November 1995!  We got married, Harold took a job in Utah, and we saw a show up there before we ever saw R.E.M.  (see next blog for the concert review).

We were living in Riverdale, Utah, a town right next to Ogden (home of the Osmonds).  Harold got tickets for us to see Mary Chapin Carpenter in Park City in September.  I have no idea where that ticket stub went to.  I will say that it was a great show and it was an outdoor amphitheatre so that was cool to see the show there.

Stay tuned for the next blog which will include R.E.M. and a few other fun shows from the late 1990's.

Jeff Beck-Always and ever, 1944-2023

I must interrupt the flow of my concert memories to honor the greatest guitar player ever.  Jeff Beck passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023, after contracting bacterial meningitis.  Word was released Wednesday by the family.  I was stunned.  He was doing what he loved to do, playing amazing guitar, until the very end.  Dave Davies of the Kinks had just said in his Instagram that he had just gone to see him recently.  Are you kidding?  How can this life force fueled by the muse be gone?  78 seemed too young although in Pete Townshend's comments he said, "All of us from the first wave of UK rock and pop that followed in the wake of The Beatles back in the early 60's are getting older of course, and when our time comes it comes."  But it seemed so sudden.

I read over many musicians' comments on websites or social media.  Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Van Morrison, Sir Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper, Alice Cooper, Tal Wilkenfeld, and the list goes on and on.  Eric Clapton simply said, "Always and ever, ec."  Felt that was a fitting sentiment and a great title for this blog.

Guitar World Jan. 1985

   Jeff Beck was not really on my radar music-wise until the mid-1980's.  I know my brother had some of his albums of rock-jazz fusion and he would play them but otherwise I didn't really pay much attention.  I played guitar and my brother said I needed to learn all about the best guitar players.  I think I knew enough about him to see him in the Rod Stewart's "Infatuation" video on MTV in 1984.  I got his album Flash as well, "People Get Ready" was unbelievable bluesy song on a more 80's-style drum machine album but the video?  Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck? Wow!

In my caretaking days of my brother's record collection (when he was in Europe for 2 years teaching at a university) I got to really delve into Jeff 's music catalog.  The 1968 album Truth from the Jeff Beck Group is one of my Desert Island Discs.  The original JBG had Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Micky Waller on drums.  Oh, yeah, Keith Moon on "Beck's Bolero" and a crazy timpani thing on "Ol' Man River."  What an incredible collection of blues tunes!  But also an acoustic Jeff on "Greensleaves."  This virtuoso could "unplug" and be amazing.

Other albums in my brother's collection were Blow by Blow (1975), Wired (1976), and Rough and Ready (1971, 2nd Jeff Beck Group).  I was amazed at the different styles and was a die-hard fan.

I collected magazines, music books, CD's.  Blockbuster Video had The Secret Policeman's Ball for Prince's Trust and not only did it have Jeff performing "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" he also played a blues song with Eric Clapton: "Farther Up the Road." There has been many a comparison and controversy over whether "Clapton Is God" or if Jeff Beck is the best guitar player in the world.  Watch the performance of "Farther Up" and you'll see Clapton just doing a cool bluesy riff and singing, but then when Jeff takes over for a solo, it is out of this world.  It sounds so different but at the same time fits in to the backing bluesy riff.  Clapton and Beck are like comparing apples and oranges.  Clapton has said, "Jeff can do something nobody else can do, he can take the whammy bar, the volume and the tone, it is almost like he's pulling the sounds from the guitar.  It is very difficult to do."

In the Spring of 1989, I wrote about Jeff Beck for the Nils Lofgren Fan Club in Europe.  I basically wrote Jeff's biography up to that time and provided a "Suggested Discography" as well.  When I met Nils in 1990 we discussed Jeff Beck and I asked Nils if he had seen any of the Fall 1989 Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan shows.  He said he did and I asked him what songs he played.  If you are a guitarist like Nils, you can't help but be influenced by Jeff Beck.

Jeff wasn't really touring much in the 1980's or 1990's.  He did three dates with Rod Stewart in 1984, he would come out and play "Infatuation" then leave the stage.  The Stevie Ray Vaughan shows would have been cool to see.  

Beckology Boxed set

After 1989's Guitar Shop, Jeff released only two albums in the 1990's.  He always chose when to work and he loved his other hobby of restoring vintage race cars.  So Jeff just had that luxury of playing and recording when the mood struck him.  He did a few guest appearances on other artists' albums like an incredible cover of "Manic Depression" with Seal on the Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix album in 1993.  

Jeff was always in demand to be a guest musician in a variety of music genres over the years including:  Donovan, The GTO's, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, Diana Ross, ZZ Top, The Pretenders, Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, Sharon Corr, Roger Waters, Jon Bon Jovi, Morrissey, Paul Rodgers, Van Morrison, and Ozzy Osbourne among many others. 

I did not really hear much of what he was up to until he appeared at the 25th Anniversary for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.  He played "Superstition" with Stevie Wonder (Stevie actually wrote that song for Jeff and it appears on Beck, Bogart, and Appice).  And Jeff filled in for Eric Clapton (who was ill) to perform four songs:  "People Get Ready" (with Sting),  "Let Me Love You" (with Buddy Guy), "Foxey Lady" (with Billy Gibbons), and his amazing cover version of The Beatles "A Day in the Life."

Shortly thereafter, Rolling Stone magazine had Beck and Clapton on the cover.  In that interview, I learned about this epic performance by Jeff Beck at a jazz club in London called Ronnie Scott's in 2007.  I got the DVD in 2010 and I was just blown away.  He just had himself, young bassist, Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and keyboardist, Jason Rebello.  Beck played songs from throughout his career and had artists like Joss Stone, Imogen Heap and Eric Clapton sing on a few songs.  If this was what I had been missing when Beck wasn't touring all those years, this DVD would have to sustain me.  It was worthy.

Jeff seemed to do more touring in the last 18 years of his life.  He played several Crossroads festivals for Eric Clapton, he toured with Brian Wilson, Heart, and others.  He did a show in New York City honoring his guitar hero, Les Paul, called "Jeff Beck Rock'n'Roll Party."  And, he finally came to Arizona in 2018 and 2019 when I finally got a chance to see him.

Yes, Jeff played the Celebrity Theatre and Nils Lofgren opened for him.  This was a chance of a lifetime.  July 21, 2018.  Set list below:

Pull It

Stratus

You Know You Know                                    

Nadia (Highlight)

Morning Dew  (Highlight)

I Have to  Laugh

Star Cycle

Lonnie on the Move

Mná na hÉireann  (Highlight)

Just for Fun

A Change is Gonna Come

Big Block

Cause We've Ended as Lovers

You Never Know

Brush with the Blues (Highlight)

Blue Wind

Superstition

A Day in the Life  (Highlight)

Encore:  Corpus Christi Carol and Going Down

The September 24, 2019 show included the following songs:

Space for Papa

Stratus

Just for Fun

You Know You Know

Nadia

Mná na hÉireann

You Never Know

Caroline, No (Beach Boys cover)

Lonnie on the Move

Cause We've Ended as Lovers

Rumble

Isolation (John Lennon cover)

This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr

Brush with the Blues

Little Wing (Yes! Yes! Yes!)

Superstition

A Day in the Life

Encore:  Hey Mr. Millionaire

What an amazing opportunity to see Jeff Beck two times, two years in a row!  It is not possible to describe the song by song details of the show.  Jeff's concerts are him doing his amazing guitar work, and you are totally immersed in his music (just mindfulness at its best).  I was thrilled to hear these songs live. I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have seen him at all.

I will leave this with words I wrote in 1989:  "Jeff Beck has been known to many guitarists, not to mention many rock and roll enthusiasts, as the best guitar player in the world.  Some might not be familiar with his name, but he has inspired many a struggling young guitarist with his bluesy fills, slashing riffs, and use of feedback.  The most impressive thing people notice about Jeff Beck's talent is that he KNOWS the guitar.  He always manages to get the sound that he wants and it is never a muddy, unpolished sound--the sound is so clean."

Thanks, Jeff.  Rock and Roll Heaven has gotten their Greatest Guitarist Ever.

Take a look at Brush with the Blues from Crossroads 2007:

https://youtu.be/n9SJq4Tz-B8

1992-Wayward hippies, Local heroes, Athens dance party, El Moz and a Beatle?

1992 brought with it an awakening of more alternative music in me.  I was becoming a die-hard R.E.M. fan, but they were not going to tour.  So who else could I go see?  I started listening to Alternative Rock stations to listen to not only R.E.M., but bands like the B-52's, Morrissey, the Smiths, Robyn Hitchcock, Cowboy Junkies, local band Gin Blossoms, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos.

The Cowboy Junkies with lead singer, Margo Timmins, and brothers Michael and Peter Timmins were quiet, ethereal, dreamy Canadian alternative rockers.  Margo was occasionally described as a wayward Hippie farmer's wife.  Their cover of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" was about all I had heard of them from the Trinity Sessions.  But in 1992, they had released Pale Sun, Crescent Moon.  A duet between Margo and folk singer, John Prine, on "If You Were the Woman and I was the Man" was a minor hit on radio and MTV that spring.  The Cowboy Junkies were opening for John Prine at the Celebrity Theatre in May 1992.  I thought, "Aha, a chance to see someone other than Nils, Bruce, Neil!"  So I took a friend from library school, Tracy, and we went to see this amazing show.  Margo and the rest of the Cowboy Junkies and were in fine form.  They played songs from the new album, and had John Prine come out to duet on "If You were the Woman."  It was also the night of Bruce Springsteen (sans E Street) on Saturday Night Live.  Margo asked the crowd when SNL came on in Arizona as she did not want to miss Bruce!  We yelled out 10:30.  We were all thanked.

The crowd was a John Prine crowd.  I only knew "Hello in There" but I was impressed with his song stylings and humor. Margo and John dueted on Angel from Montgomery.  It was an amazing show.

The Gin Blossoms were a local band from Tempe, Arizona.  The lead singer, Robin Wilson, worked at both Tower Records and Zia Records in Tempe and I think I talked with Robin at Tower in 1985 asking if he'd caught the U2 show at Compton Terrace.  Well, I didn't know his name then.  He ended up in my Trig class in Fall of 1986 at Mesa Community College.  I made sure I sat in the same row as him when they passed the sign in attendance sheet around and then I found out his name!  But I did not know he was in a band.  By 1991, the Gin Blossoms had released an EP with Allison Road, Hey Jealousy, Mrs. Rita, South of Nowhere, but the next year they released a full length album, Hey Jealousy. 

I did not see them playing in Arizona until the fall 1992.  They were opening for Del Amitri (remember them?  they are pretty forgettable) at Hayden Square Amphitheatre on October 11, 1992.  Who do I take with me?  My cousin of Monkees, Frank, Liza, Sammy, and Neil Young concerts.  It was the small "stand outside on Bermuda grass and concrete."  We were fourth in line to get in to the square (we heard a short soundcheck while waiting, guitarist Scott Johnson walked past me at some point).  We were let in at 5:30.  Opening opening band was Rain Convention whose songs reminded me of early R.E.M.  As soon as that act was over, people rushed the stage.  We wisely stayed on the elevated step to see over the bopping heads.  The Gin Blossoms opened with a few songs I did not know 2 covers: No. 1 by the Rutles and then "something they didn't know very well 'in the Gin Blossoms tradition' said Robin."  Robin was pretty chatty probably because it was cool to be back home.  He talked between every song.  He said that in 2 months they had traveled 17,000 miles or was it 7,000?  But Tempe had the best Mexican food!  This was the second outdoor venue on the tour, the previous one was in Colorado with a running stream, he said he thought he should have gone fishing. I remember he said how he was obsessed with playing his GameBoy to the point where he would close his eyes and see the Tetris patterns!  

Songs played were Hold Me Down, Mrs. Rita, Allison Road, Just South of Nowhere, Until I Fall Away, Hands are Tied, Cajun Song, and Hey Jealousy.  Robin kept spotlighting the new guitarist, Scott Johnson, he would push him out to the front of the stage and would do the Wayne's World "We're not worthy" bow.  One of the last songs had a guitar duel between Scott and Jesse Valenzuela.  Awesome! It was great to see the home town band return victoriously even if  opening for a two-hit wonder band.

Here are the ticket stub and t-shirt
  

Front (above), back (below)

So I think I listened to about 4 songs from Del Amitri and decided it was time to just head home!  As I was driving my light blue 1969 Volkswagen Bug, the driver's side door it decided to not latch (a problem my dad fixed later), but my cousin sat in the back seat and held the car door closed as we drove back.  It was harder on turns.  Whew.

The Arizona State Fair was coming up in October.  The B-52's would be there on October 20!  The B-52's had a new album Fun Stuff out with Fred, Keith and Kate but no Cindy.  For the tour, they enlisted Twin Peaks chanteuse, Julee Cruise to sing Cindy's parts on the songs.  The fair concerts were general admission only, so we got in for a mere $5 per person. So who was my plus one?  My mom!  Now, this was due to me not wanting to torture (in her unsaid words) my cousin any longer (especially after that crazy car door not latching episode).  Mom was more of a John Denver, Doris Day, old school Hit Parade kind of music fan.  But it didn't seem to be a Dad thing so I drove over and the B's were unbelievable.  They were energetic, and loads of fun!  Song list: Is that you Mo-Dean?, Your Own Private Idaho, Bad Influence, Hot Pants, Revolution Earth, Dreamer, Channel Z, Cosmic Thing, Good Stuff. Roam, Tell It Like it T-I-S.  First encore, Love Shack.  Before this song each person had to share a "Love Story": Julee said "Ferris Wheel at the Fair" Kate said something to do with Bell Road, and Fred said, "Big Cactus makes me think nasty thoughts!"  There were funny introductions too like Kate said of Fred, "Mr. Strange Himself, Fred Schneider." Fred described the others with intros like "Fiction", "Nonfiction" and "Stranger than fiction." They finished with a Second Encore of Planet Claire and then Rock Lobster.  Wow!  What fun!    

The snazzy ticket from the State Fair for the B-52's show, October 20, 1992.

I had been worried my mom would be overwhelmed, but she really was impressed. I had wanted to see Morrissey at the Mesa Amphitheatre in November, but still had no one to go with.  The day after Mom and I went to the concert at the State Fair, she left me a note that said, "I can't wait to see Morrissey."  That is something you don't expect your mom to say.

Ah, Morrissey.  There is no one like him.  He came to fame with the Smiths but had been doing solo stuff since the breakup.  In 1992, his album was Your Arsenal.  Morrissey was known to have rabid fans who loved to cluster in the Mozz pit.  (not Mosh Pit).  I stayed away from the pit and Mom and I sat back on grassy steps on a blanket.  Looking at old notes I don't have songs in order but he did a lot of songs from the new album but did lots of classics like "November Spawned a Monster", "Alsatian Cousin" and "Suedehead."  Most interesting was Morrissey and the Mozz Pit.  At one point he said, "I hope...I hope you're not too squashed and that you have room ... for what you want to do."  The pit was really wild throwing flowers and notes up to the stage.  He  would bend real low and take the crowd's hands.  No one got on stage. (Little did I know I would see him two more times-1997 and 2017).

Now wait a minute, I did see a few people I had already seen before.  Ringo and Nils and Joe Walsh.  Ringo had his Second All Starr Band tour with him in the Summer of 1992.  I believe only Nils Lofgren and Joe Walsh were repeat musicians.  Ringo was joined by Burton Cummings (of the Guess Who), Todd Rundgren, Dave Edmunds, and Timothy B Schmidt.  At the Desert Heat (Sky) Pavilion in August of all things.  Yikes!  My cousin was the brave soul that drove us out there.  It was her opportunity to see a Beatle so that was a reward for her.  

So my records indicate I only wrote down the songs Nils did "Shine Silently" and "Just a Little" Beau Brummells rocking cover.  AND that it was the hottest (temperature-wise) concert I had attended to date!  Here are photos from the tour book!  I don't think this was the most attractive group of guys except for Nils, Dave Edmunds, Ringo and Zak!  But the music was good! If I could figure out the side by side photo thing this would be a shorter blog.  As Ringo would say, "Peace Out!"

 

Does this cloud have a Silver Lining? Nils Lofgren at the Roxy, etc.

It was the spring of 1991, Nils Lofgren released an album, Silver Lining, on new record label, Rykodisc.  I had heard he would be touring here and there but not in Arizona.  On Memorial Day weekend, I flew over to Los Angeles to visit friends, Lenore and Mark, and as soon as I sat down in the backseat of the car, Lenore said, "Just so you know, Nils will be performing at the Roxy next weekend."  Augh! I thought silently to myself.  If only I'd known, I would have gotten my flight tickets for the next weekend.  I kept stewing about it while I did truly enjoy my visit with my friends.  Barney's Beanery, Santa Barbara, Solvang.  As Lenore dropped me off at the airport at the end of the weekend, I asked her if she could look into whether tickets were available for the Nils show at the Roxy that Friday, May 31st.  I said she could call me (you know, no texting or much email use in 1991) if she got tickets.  I would, thanks to cheap airfare from Southwest, find a way to get there and work out my work schedule (I was a page at Mesa Public Library).  Lenore called and said she got us tickets and I got things arranged to work an earlier shift at the library that Friday and come back to Arizona in time to work the afternoon shift at the library that Saturday (I also was babysitting later that same evening).  {Remember, I was only 22 years old}

I arrived in LA in the mid-afternoon.  As always, I was too excited to eat much, so Lenore drove us over to the infamous Sunset Boulevard and we waited in a long line outside the Roxy.  I felt like the safe-sex version of Miss Pamela.  All us fans could hear an acoustic set being played by Nils through a side door.  Apparently, it was a closed concert for record company bigwigs and a few lucky KLOS FM winners.  I saw this guy running by the line and noticed it was bass player, Ronnie Newmyer.  Somehow I called out to him and he actually stopped, figuring perhaps who in the world would know him in Los Angeles?  I said he might not remember me but I saw him and Nils the previous year back East--"Remember, Sara from Arizona?"  And Ronnie said, "Oh yeah, you were with Sue and them!"  I introduced Lenore. And then he said he was on his way to pick up Chinese food before the show.  We chatted a little about the special acoustic show and he did say they were doing an Arizona show in Tucson the next night (June 1).  I had no idea.  {Seriously, word did not travel in 1991}.  

It wasn't until 8:45 that we got to go in to the Roxy.  Lenore and I found a great spot right next to the front of the stage right in front of Ronnie's microphone.  The opening band, bluesy Evan Johns and the H-Bombs, played a nice set.

Nils touring band consisted of brother Tom Lofgren and Ronnie Newmyer, Larry Cragg, and former drummer of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek.

Then it was around 9:55 by the time Nils was due to come out.  I was focused looking at Nils off to the side of the stage and some beardless guy came out to the center mike, and I didn't connect who it might be until I heard him say, "What's my name?" and realized I was a few feet away from Ringo Starr!  Ringo then said, "Well, enough about me, this is Nils' night, so would you please welcome, Nils Lofgren!"

Nils proceeded to do some acoustic songs first starting with "Sticks and Stones" off his new album.  For the second song, "Keith Don't Go" Nils switched to a different acoustic guitar and he played an extended guitar solo a few minutes of which Nils played as close to the edge of the stage he could get--right in front of Lenore and I!  During "Keith" he repeated a verse and switched to electric stratocaster guitar with full band.  Wow!

Early on, Nils shared that he was the first guitarist to step foot on the stage at the Roxy in 1973.  He was touring with Neil Young and Crazy Horse in support of the Tonight's the Night album.  (Nils' band, Grin opened for Neil that night).

Here is the complete set list:

Sticks and Stones, Keith Don't Go, Rock and Roll Crook, Cry Tough, Trouble's Back, Delivery Night, Bein' Angry, Moon Tears, Girl in Motion, Valentine, The Sun Hasn't Set, Silver Lining, Gun and Run, Anytime at All (Beatles cover), No Mercy, Back It Up, Shine Silently.

ENCORES:

Walkin' Nerve--Ringo Starr came out and played drums on this tune.

Nils finished the set with I Came to Dance.

A great way to end the show!  On the way out, I said "Hey!" to Tom Lofgren as he was packing up equipment and he said "Great to see you again!" and he lightly tapped my back.

This concert, with friend Lenore's help, is the most spontaneous thing I think I have ever done in my life.  But so much FUN!

Later in the summer of 1991, I was in New Jersey visiting my brother, before I started grad school in Maryland (short lived unfortunately-long story I care not to go into at this time), BUT my friend Sue told me Nils would be playing the New Jersey State Fair which was held in Cherry Hill near where she lived in south Jersey.  So I got a lift down to her house and Sue's parents and us went to the fair!

So the show wasn't going to start right away.  So we did fair-like things.  This was August.  It had rained in the afternoon, so you had that cooler overcast skies.  We walked around looking at livestock and rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.  These fairgrounds had a racetrack.  But there were elephants on the other side of the racetrack fencing.  Kinda sad to think of them chained up, but a small guitarist was seen leaning on the fence and just taking in the beauty of the elephants.  Later on on Nils show, he mentioned it was amazing to just see those elephants (perhaps he used the word, breathtaking).  I remember talking with Ronnie Newmyer a bit before the show.  Have no recollection of any opening act, but perhaps there was one?  Similar song list to the Roxy show.  It was the first open air performance I had attended with Nils.  I do remember Sue's mom going on after the show how Nils could better promote himself--Sue's mom was a die-hard Aerosmith fan (my condolences, always).

Finally, I saw one more show of the Silver Lining tour.  Another penpal friend in Sea Bright, New Jersey, let me know that Nils would be playing the Tradewind.  The only Nils show I ever walked to.  Maybe two blocks away.

Notice these ticket prices!  I do not remember opening band Outcry.  It was another great show in a small club.  A Sunday night so it was a smaller crowd.  After the show, my friend got her ticket signed.  It was the last I would see of Nils solo until 1997.  Stay tuned for 1992 in next post!

Ragged Glory--Neil Young and Crazy Horse 1991

 An ever prolific songwriter, Neil Young had a resurgence in popularity in the late 1980's and early 1990's with his two albums, Freedom (1989) and Ragged Glory (1990).  I stumbled in to Neil Young admiration backwards via Nils Lofgren.  Nils had met Neil backstage at the Cellar Door in Washington, DC in the late 60's.  Neil was so impressed, he invited Nils to come out to California to play on After the Goldrush (1969).  So in 1985, I had bought that album and Tonight's the Night which had Nils as one of the musicians.  Of course, Neil was such an excellent songwriter and musician, I became a Neil Young fan.

What fun it was to find out Neil would be performing at the Desert Sky Pavilion in March of 1991.  Always finding it hard to find a companion, especially someone bold enough to drive from Mesa to the west side of Phoenix, I had some great luck.  My brother, Steve, would be visiting mainly to take the Professional Engineer's exam, but he would be there in time to see the show!

BUT the day before the show, I found out it had been postponed.  Something to do with an ear infection of Mr. Young.  It would be rescheduled for April 21, a Sunday.

Who would I go with now?  I had worked something out with a friend to go, but he cancelled at the last minute.  I had to call my cousin of Monkees, John Denver, and Frank, Liza and Sammy concerts, who agreed to go.  Whew.

 

When we got to the show, I heard Nils Lofgren's new album, Silver Lining, playing over the loud speaker.  Neil always likes to support his fellow musician friends.

Opening acts were the Buck Pets (not Sonic Youth) and Social Distortion.  

At 9:26, the Pavilion darkened and I heard the first guitar notes of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Hendrix style) being played as a spotlight shone on "Farmer John" (aka roadie Larry Cragg) who dragged out this gigantic microphone and then he tied a yellow ribbon on it. (Remember, the Gulf War was still ongoing).

The spotlight dimmed and in the shadows I could see the figures of drummer Ralph Molina, bassist Billy Talbot, guitarist Frank Sampedro and finally Neil Young appearing on stage and starting the great opening chords to "Hey Hey My My."  Neil was clad in a black t-shirt which had a gold silhouette of Elvis on it, plus a black long-sleeved shirt over that, jeans with holes at the knees and back Nike's with a white streak.  His outfit was very appropriate for the rough and heavy guitar performance he and Crazy Horse displayed throughout the show.  Definitely defining his place as the "Grandfather of Grunge."

Here are the rest of the songs from that evening:

Crime in the City

Blowin' in the Wind (Bob Dylan cover)--one of my favorites of the evening

Love to Burn

Cinnamon Girl

Mansion on the Hill

F#&kin' Up

Cortez the Killer

Powderfinger

Love and Only Love

Rockin' in the Free World

The audience was thankfully blessed with two encores.  The first was "Like a Hurricane."  A personal favorite of mine, I would have been satisfied with the excellent guitar playing and poetic lyrics, but Neil threw in some theatrics which were a humorous plus.  It was either Frank or Billy who was pushing around this little blowing cloud prop which was hanging from the ceiling.  Another unplanned theatric were the 12+ people who got up on stage during Neil's fabulous solo.  All of the 12+ were chased off by the roadies.  All Neil did was turn away from the crowd more and face Ralph's drums, but that was only a minor disappointment.  As "Hurricane" neared its conclusion, Neil pretended to fight the wind (and the cloud prop) but was getting blown away to the point where his strings popped off his guitar one by one.  He even tried to shield his face from the storm with his guitar.  In the end, Neil just slid the guitar off and set it on the ground and walked off.

Neil came back for his second encore, a little known gem from the album "Tonight's the Night" called "Roll Another Number."  It was a fun song and very special because it was so unexpected.

Speaking of unexpected, I found that with Neil Young, I have to expect the unexpected whether it is dealing with the postponement of shows or the selection of songs.  I definitely experienced by fair share of Ragged Glory with Neil Young and Crazy Horse--and it was fantastic!

The Hearth (acoustic) and Birch Hill (electric): aka "Play White Lies" and "You're Such a Radical" Part 3

After the Lone Star Roadhouse show, what could be better?  Really?  But the last two Nils Lofgren shows I saw back in 1990 (now 30 years ago) had some special moments and surprises.

About a week before we were set to go to The Hearth in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, my friend Sue Hill called the place to get tickets and directions.  I remember the guy on the phone kept her for quite awhile as his family was from around where she lived in South Jersey.  I remember Sue writing on a white board by the phone all the cryptic directions, hoping we'd make it there and not get lost the next week.

The Hearth in Pipersville, Pennsylvania was a small place with long tables set up in long rows like a dinner theatre type place.  Nils was going to do two acoustic shows one at 9 and one at 11.  So he just had himself, his brother Tom and Tom's bandmate, Paul Bell.

Since Nils was such a consummate musician, I was looking forward to an all acoustic show.  Interestingly, Nils did bring his electric Fender Stratocaster for a few songs.  Kind of a way to embellish his amazing songs.  

As usual, we got there early and we could see Nils coming out of the kitchen, then checking on equipment.  A little later, Tom and Paul set up some more guitars.

I went up to Paul Bell to say "Hi!" as he was setting up.  He was tuning his guitar.  We talked small talk but I did ask him about this amazing acoustic guitar solo he plays on the song "Some Must Dream."  He said, it was all Nils as Nils wrote the part and he just practiced and played it.

Before the show started, Nils was playing pool by himself while Bruce Springsteen's "Brilliant Disguise" played on the juke box.

Here are the songs for each set:

Early show
Everybody Wants, Dreams Die Hard, Day by Day (new), Keith Don't Go, Wonderland, Some Must Dream, Delivery Night, Moon Tears, I Came to Dance, Can't Get Closer, The Sun Hasn't Set on This Boy Yet, Goin' Back, Back It Up, Cry Tough, Just a Little, Shine Silently

Late show
Everybody Wants, Dreams Die Hard, Girl In Motion, Keith Don't Go, Wonderland, Across the Tracks, Delivery Night, I Came to Dance, I'll Arise, The Sun Hasn't Set, New Holes in Old Shoes, Take You to the Movies Tonight into Back it Up (just like on the record), Lesson to Learn, Mud in Your Eye, Just a Little (Beau Brummels cover), No Mercy, Man at the Top (Bruce Springsteen cover), Shine Silently, Cry Tough.

Throughout the second set, this guy stood really close to the stage, drink in his hand and repeatedly said, "Nils, play 'White Lies'."  They kept telling him to come to the next night's show as that was where they would play it with the full band.  It was funny to see, but you felt sorry for the guy as he seemed to be in some form of heartache or just drunk.  It was too close to call.  Sigh.

The next night, Nils Lofgren and the New Keys were set to play up closer to New Brunswick in a town called Old Bridge Township off of the infamous Route 9 (sung about in Bruce's "Born to Run").  The place was called Birch Hill.

Apparently, it was some sort of old swim club from the 1920's but had been converted into a club for live music, with a dance club next door and, of course, a bar.  I saw no sign of a pool on my visit.  And who would want a pool as it was pouring rain (which I loved coming from a dry desert!!)???

When we got in, the band was setting up.  I talked to Ronnie Newmyer (bassist), Chuck Sullivan (drummer) and Paul Bell (guitarist).  The New Keys were opening for Nils again and I let them all know it would be my last show to see them.

Everything was running late.  There were equipment problems too.  The opening act, the Billy Joel tribute band Turnstyles didn't come on until 10:30 or so.

The New Keys had a shortened set due to the equipment problems and the overall lateness of the evening.  However, when they did the song "You're Such a Radical" Tom Lofgren started to talk about dedicating this song to a certain someone who came "all the way from Arizona" leaving the "Sun Belt" to come to all of this rain in dreary New Jersey.  They dedicated the song to me!  How cool!  A guy who we met at the show was taping the show (you know, with a cassette player) and he sent me a copy.  I have it somewhere in all of our tapes.  That was so cool!

Nils didn't come out until 12:35.  Yikes!  Officially May 27!  This club was huge and had picnic-like tables at the back of the room.  Lots of space open by the front of the stage.  We eventually snuck up there and sat down (except for the encores).  My friend Sue Hill got a lot of great pictures that night.  The place had a lot of red light on the stage but some of the in between lighted shots came out really good.  I am pictured in several of the pictures.  Here are a handful of them.

Nils playing acoustic guitar

Nils and New Keys:  from left, Spencer Hoopes on keyboards; Tom Lofgren on guitar; Nils Lofgren; Chuck Sullivan on drums; Ronnie Newmyer on bass; and Paul Bell on guitar.  Can you find me?  I am sitting on the floor off to the right in this photo (nearest Ronnie).

Moon Tears:  The Brothers Lofgren Circus Act

It was a fun show and we met some neat fans who sent us pictures and a tape of the show.

It was a great way to end a series of shows.  I certainly would be looking forward to future shows.  More to come...

Lone Star Roadhouse, NYC--"Can't Buy Me Branford"--May 18, 1990

A week had passed since I saw my first Nils' solo show in Baltimore.  On Friday May 18, Sue and Pilar picked me up at my brother's place in New Brunswick and we headed up the turnpike to New York City.  Nils and the New Keys would be playing at the Lone Star Roadhouse.

We showed up really early.  The venue let us walk right in and setup at a table nearest the stage.  Nils and the guys in the New Keys were setting up equipment.  I was sitting by myself at this big table and there was a legal size pad of paper that Nils shyly came over and took off the table.  I think we were both too shy to say hello so I'm thinking we said, "Hi" with our eyes.

Since the New Keys would be opening the show again for Nils and I had their new CD, I thought I'd get their autographs on the CD.  I had a 4-color pen that was temperamental for autographs.  (See below)  After signing my CD, bassist Ronnie Newmyer helped me get Spencer Hoopes' autograph, then Tom Lofgren's, drummer Chuck Sullivan's and finally guitarist Paul Bell's.  They were so nice to me and honored to be asked for autographs.

Another amazing thing about coming so early was the band (Nils included) did a sound check and didn't kick us out while they were rehearsing (!).  We were treated to "Across the Tracks," "Lesson," "Silver Lining," "People Will Come," and "Empty Heart."  Wow!

The New Keys came out around 10 PM for a 9 song set.  A mixture of songs from their 2 albums closing the set with a fun "You're Such a Radical."  The band was received extremely well by the crowd.

More tension and anxiety arose from the crowd awaiting Nils' presence on stage.  Not long after that, Nils appeared on stage with just an acoustic guitar and proceeded to open the show with "Everybody Wants."  Then "Dreams Die Hard" and "Wonderland."  Nils did his song "The Sun Hasn't Set (on This Boy Yet)" and then Carole King's "Goin' Back" on keyboards.  Nils switched back to acoustic guitar for a great version of the Beau Brummells' "Just a Little."  Nils then did "Keith Don't Go" first starting out on acoustic but then switching to his trusty Fender Stratocaster joined by the New Keys to rock out the end of that song. 

Nils (right) and Tom Lofgren--Lone Star Roadhouse May 18, 1990

More of the set list followed:

Rock and Roll Crook
Silver Lining 
People Will Come
Delivery Night
Empty Heart
New Holes in Old Shoes

Then the band broke into "Moon Tears" a classic Grin song.  Usually during the solo part Nils and Tom do the "circus act" where they play each other's guitars.  However, right before that part in the song, Tom took off his guitar and walked over to Nils and said something to him.  Nils nodded and carried on with the solo, solo.

After the end of the song, Nils told the audience that Tom had blown an amp and they were going to try to get it fixed.  In the interim, Nils started to instrumentally play on his guitar a Chet Atkins-type version of the Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love."  Ronnie and Paul played along quietly.  All of a sudden, in the back of the bar you could hear a group of people singing and soon the rest of the crowd, including me,  started singing along.  Nils smiled and went over to his mike and said, "Yeah" and we helped him finish the song.  Nils went over to the mike and said, "I didn't know it was singer's night at the Roadhouse."  He used this to introduce one of this favorite Beatles' songs, "Anytime At All."

More songs in the set:
White Lies
No Mercy
Back It Up
See What a Love Can Do 


There was a rumor that Branford Marsalis might "jam" with Nils in the encores but we kept looking for him beforehand and the place being so packed we were not seeing the saxophonist anywhere.  Sitting behind us in the audience, however, was session and occasionally touring drummer for Nils, Andy Newmark.

After Nils' first encore of "Lean on Me,"  Nils invited Andy to come up and play drums on "Code of the Road," "Shine Silently" and "I Came to Dance."

Nils Lofgren and special guest Andy Newmark

So no Branford (he didn't know what a good show he missed), but Nils had a great night without him.  It was a wonderful night and Nils really enjoyed playing for the Friday night NYC crowd.

More adventures in my next installment.