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!