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