Nils Lofgren.....Incidently, He Kicks Ass

[jimfog]

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=-_n_D5An2Gg&feature=related

For some unknown reason, I always tend to forget Nils when thinking about my favorite players and influences.

Then I see something like the video above.

Damn.

What a wonderful talent......that even after all these years is STILL woefully under-appreciated.

Check out how he and Tom bring new meaning to the term " Brother Harmonies"...............lol

Excuse me, I have to go whip out "Night After Night"........

[Tricks]

Good call. I've been meaning to "go back there" lately, but forget to. Discovered him in the mid seventies, loved it - the tapes are worn out and long gone. Still play a little acoustic tune of his to my wife.

[mc5nrg]

Nils was the man to folks of a certain age who grew up in MD/DC. He just released an acoustic record of Neal Young material recorded with a D18 that Young gave him back in the day. I was listening to a Sony?Legacy best of Grin compilation a few days ago and wishing all the cool electric stuff that was buried in the mix was way louder.

There was a free tribute to Nils outdoor show at Strathmore Hall a few years back including a Grin reunion and various guests including Skunk Baxter and Tommy Keene. Lots of video from that event on Youtube. There is an Old Grey Whistle Test video from an English tour that is a highlight. The famous Roy Buchanan PBS show from circa 1970 has some pretty funny footage of Lofgren jamming with Buchanan rather extensively on Shotgun.

[johntoste]

I've seen Nils three times leading his own band; great shows all. Strong songs, excellent singing and pin-your-ears-back guitar strangulation. His formidable technique always serves the song. And he's no slouch on the piano. The one time I saw him with Springsteen was at the acoustically challenged Boston Garden and I couldn't even hear him. Damn shame since, for my ears, he was the best player on the stage.

[jpastras]

If you don't have it, get a hold of the "Back it Up! Authorized Bootleg". It's just great. Authoritative live versions of the earliest solo material, and some extended jamming. I also like his singing live more than on record from this period.

[sugarlou]

Search ot the tune "walking nerve"

I got it on some compilation "steal this disc" thing.
The playing and the tone kill me every time!!! NILS

[GuitarsFromMars]

I have a very cool friend in Nashville,who toured and recorded with Nils a few years back,both solo and with the electric band...he enjoyed the work.

[jpastras]

"Walking Nerve" is from the album "Silver Lining". Killer playing, and a couple of really great songs (the last track is beautiful). About that tone...

How the heck does he get his overdriven sound? Especially in the early years, when he was playing a Super Reverb. I'm obsessed with that real thick overdrive sound he gets, that sounds a little like a "lite fuzz". It's all over all of the early records and live stuff. By "Silver Lining", I think he's using Mesas, and maybe getting the sound from those? It can't just be those Lawrence pickups, can it?

I don't know pedals very well - I've always played old SF & tweed Fenders and some older boogies for more overdriven tones.

Anyway, I'd love know if there's some old vintage fuzz that is that "under control" but also providing that bigness for him.

Anybody have any idea?

[gennation]

Thanks for that, it's been a long time since I've heard him tear it up. One of the greats.

[NyteOwl]

Not as big a fan as others, but this is my favorite by him. (http://www.nyteowl.com/Tunz/See%20What%20Love%20Can%20Do.mp3)

[shallbe]

Great guitar player, and I like his writing as well. I remember really listening to Cry Tough a lot when I was a kid.