Nils Lofgren returns to The Stables later this month, as part of his Autumn tour of the UK, and he has a new live album to promote too.
Face The Music (released on October 16) was recorded at several UK venues during his visit to these shores at the start of the year: "In January, after a three year break from our traditional acoustic UK tours, we headed back in the dead of winter, excited for another run of shows, town to town, on the bus, sharing music that hopefully spreads some good will and hope to linger with the wonderful audiences we've had, decade after decade," Nils explained.
"Accompanied by Greg Varlotte, our friend and amazing, multi-instrumentalist, and our stellar crew, we all set out to do special, inspired shows everywhere.
"We were all thrilled with the audience response and it was (Nils' wife) Amy who insisted we record the last half of the tour, optimistic it could lead to an album of live tracks to commemorate this wonderful UK run."
"She was right and here it is. We hope you all enjoy it," Nils said.
"It really is the audience that breaths the life, fire and inspiration into every performance. God bless you all and thanks again for your presence and magical energy, night after night, town after town, note after note. Peace and believe."
Nils was gracious enough to go On Track with Total MK too.
Read on to find out about the Bob Dylan song that he wishes he had penned, and about a particularly traumatic gig in Rhode Island...
The song that first awakened your musical senses?
As a young teenager, it was The Beatles and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" that inspired me toward all Rock n Roll, Motown, Blues and R&B.
Way back as a young child, my folks danced as a hobby and played big band music in the house.
Couldn't pick the first, but songs like "In the Mood" or favorites of my Sicilian grandmother like "Santa Lucia", "Come Back to Sorrento" and the "Tarantella" struck an early chord in me.
This led to 10 years of accordion lessons. Thanks Mom and Dad!Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
Music has always been my Sacred Weapon. Thus, access is the priority.
At home, Amy got me a beautiful hi-if system with a great turntable and vinyl is great to get back to.
Mostly though, on the road, access in all these bars and theaters I perform in, is simplest by plugging my phone playlists into a small speaker. I can't cart around a turntable and hundreds of albums.
The sound suffers with digital but not the emotional content. Used to carry small cassette players, then CD players. Amy and I invested in Neil Young's fabulous PONO system which solves this problem beautifully.
The first time you thought, 'Music, this is the job for me'
At 16, in 1967, I saw the Who and later the same night, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, in Wash. D.C.
Rock guitar had just been a passionate hobby until that night, after which I was possessed, a bit uncomfortably, with the notion I needed to try being a rock musician for a career.
That was not considered a job option in middle America in the '60s, but I was compelled to go for it after that inspirational night.
Your best on stage memory...
Way too many to pick one. Lucky I am.
Some that come to mind. Recently did 2 acoustic shows in Virginia at the Birchmere with Greg Varlotta. All three Lofgren brothers, Tom, Mike and Mark played with us with our Mother Jo and my wife Amy in the audience, along with many nieces and nephews.
So great to sing with my brothers. Beautiful.
In 1985, on the Fourth of July, played in front of 100,000 people at Wembley Stadium in London with Bruce and E Street Band. Powerful night.
We opened with "Born In the USA". In 1989, in Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band, we performed "The Weight" nightly, with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Dr John, Billy Preston, Joe Walsh, Clarence Clemons, Jim Keltner and the magnificent Ringo Starr. What a Band! A great, inspired honor for me.
And your worst gig ...
My solo band was playing two shows at a mob owned, seaside nightclub in Misquamicut, Rhode Island. In between shows our crew had some heated disagreement with the bouncers that got ugly and dangerous.
We were going to pack up and leave but the police came, promising protection for the remainder of the night and encouraged us to finish the second show for a full house of a rowdy beach crowd.
We did and at nights end, the police disappeared (they were on the club payroll) and during load out a nasty fight broke out.
We were heavily out-numbered and it was bad.
I kept yelling and got things to stop. We planned to go to the hospital to get one of our crew patched up, file charges at a police station, then get out of town.
The club owners lawyer, a smooth talking "man of reason" assured me filing charges was a bad idea as his client was already under serious felony charges and couldn't afford another one.
The lawyer said if I did that, the club owner would send a gang to MD and kill my family so please reconsider!! Wow!!
Anyway, we got patched up at the local hospital and went to the police station, just filing a report, not charges, in hopes it might help put this club owner away later.
The police captain was a pal of the club owner and dangerously adversarial with us. Fortunately, a kind policeman that had my Cry Tough album, escorted us to the State line and got us out of there safely. Rough night!
What made you take up the guitar?
It was initially the Beatles and Stones that inspired me to try guitar, starting to move me away from classical accordion.
My brother Tom was already playing an old, beat up acoustic my Dad had in the house and Tom taught me my first chords and got me going.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you'd written?
"Blowing In the Wind" by Bob Dylan, is still the greatest commentary on man and woman's tormented relationship with their own souls and this magnificent earth.
Wish I'd written it, of course. But only Bob Dylan could've done that.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
"Like Rain" is still a favorite song of mine and I'm still singing it almost every performance.
At 17 years old, I got lucky and tapped into some fairly mature themes about a mystery of life; how precious relationships can inexplicably come and go on their own mysterious accord, without our consent and against our wills.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Very uncomfortable question I'd usually pass on, but since it's fantasy anyway, if I had to; I'd pick Jimi Hendrix, my favorite guitarist and performer.
And in this fantasy, as Jimi, he'd stay alive, knock off the drugs and alcohol, and explore and share his amazing gifts with the planet through a long, healthy, inspired life.
Are there any current musical influences you might look to?
Best inspiration still comes from going out to live performances.
Some 'must see' acts Amy and I wouldn't miss are; Alabama Shakes, Macy Gray, Martin Sexton, Sting, Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Chrissie Hynde, Bruno Mars, Jonny Lang, to name a few that always inspire.
Any genres of music you simply can't stand?
None that come to mind. I'd like to think that any genre done really well by inspired performers would strike a chord of inspiration in me.
Finally, tell us what to expect at your Stables return
We're certainly excited to return to The Stables, where we've always found welcoming, appreciative audiences.
We plan to add some different song choices from the 10 disc, Face the Music box set, a 45 year retrospective, (available at nilslofgren.com) and keep a fair amount of inspired improv in the playing and singing.
Lot's of guitars, singing, keyboards, trumpet, tap dance percussion, a colorful, inspired show, always thanks to the loyal crowd that keeps showing up.
> All seating tickets have been snapped up for the Wavendon date on October 28, but limited standing is available. Call 01908 280800, but hurry to avoid disappointment.
