WILLIE NILE BLAIRSTOWN JUNE 7, 2014 Concert Review. On a gorgeous Saturday evening in this picturesque town the faithful (aka Nileholics) gathered to witness Legendary Willie Nile and his amazing band of Johnny Pisano (bass), Matt Hogan (guitar) & Alex Alexander (drums) transform the Historic Blairstown Theatre into a rock n roll party for the ages. This was no ordinary day, it was also Mr. Niles birthday. While he had no plans other than displaying his rock n roll merit on a live stage, his band and fans had other ideas. Fans came from far and wide carrying balloons, signs and well wishes for their musical hero. First thing I noticed was that the Sold Out theatre removed chairs in the front area to create a large standing pit which the Nileholics made full use of all night long, jumping, dancing and fist pumping like a pack of wild dogs. This was a great idea and should be mandatory at all future Nile concerts. His music is made to get the body moving along with the mind. Crowd was chanting Willie, Willie, Willie getting impatient for the festivities to begin. The excitement was palpable. Lights dimmed and a roar let loose inside the Blairstown Theatre as the man of the hour took the stage. The band kicked into what Willie thought was his setlisted Run but was actually a covert song change orchestrated by his band of an explosive The Beatles BIRTHDAY complete with massive amounts of confetti streaming down upon the stage. Willie himself was literally shocked and awed on his own opening number. He let out the biggest smile and like a true pro he joined on vocals a few seconds later. So this magical night started with a Big Bang, the equivalent of a birthday cake being shot out of a cannon! Then RUN for real this time into the rarely played masterpiece IF I EVER SEE THE LIGHT off his latest release American Ride. It was sung with passion and clarity of purpose, what a powerful moment. A man and his music staring into the Abyss and saying It aint over yet. Goosebump time. Look out world this man is just getting started and standing tall. Band sounded tight and followed up with the wallop of MIDNIGHT ROSE with the Pit area going absolutely berserk. Up next a thrashing CELL PHONES RINGING IN THE POCKETS OF THE DEAD was played with a fiery passion by the band and probably the best version ever - intense! HEAVEN HELP THE LONELY had Johnny Pi leaping off Alexs drum kit while Willie commanded center stage and the whole crowd sang along as one. The sheer humanity and common bond of music was awesome. Matt took them even higher with one of his many otherworldly guitar solos. By this time Willie had already thrown out the setlist and turned back the clock on Father Time. If we were celebrating a birthday, this singer songwriter rock punk poet was maybe turning 19 but with the mindset of a Jedi Knight. Willie was a physical dynamo up there, a real life rock n roll hurricane working the stage with the furious pace of James Brown at the Apollo only strapped to a guitar and with the fire and brimstone of Joe Strummer. The amount of energy this man expended up there could have powered a city, it was insane! Ill have what hes having. Willie reached into his bag of musical tricks and pulled out CANT STAY HOME which sounded sensational with the band revving its engine and Willie & Johnny Pi adding some great vocal work, very nice! Then came the inspiring GIVE ME TOMORROW with many in the crowd having arms around each other and singing along to this hopeful ode to the future. Willie took to the piano for a rollicking SUNRISE IN NEW YORK CITY followed by the bands centerpiece LOVE IS A TRAIN that all you could do was literally watch in awe as the song ebbed and flowed and finally crescendoed with the crowd giving an extended ovation, many with tears in their eyes. A birthday cake was wheeled out to the stage by DJ Mike Watterston & Co. as the band kicked into a reprise of The Beatles BIRTHDAY and more confetti hit the stage. Willie was clearly moved and feeling the love as the crowd serenaded him. AMERICAN RIDE was next with Laura Catalina Johnson joining in on guest vocals. He demonstrated once again why this modern classic will be sung around campfires a thousand years from now. Willie called an audible of SWEET JANE to the crowds delight and this sucker went into overdrive. Oh so glorious was his version of the Lou Reed penned Velvet Underground Song. Everybody sang along on this one. So appropriate with Lou having had a home and recording studio in Blairstown. The one two punch of his latest hits THIS IS OUR TIME & LIFE ON BLEECKER STREET followed with standout bass by Johnny, thrilling guitar work by Matt & sensational drumming by Alex. INNOCENT ONES hit like a ton of bricks against all the injustice around the world. Willie lit a fuse on this powder keg with a frantic version of Jim Carrolls PEOPLE WHO DIED with Pisano pulling a young man out of the crowd wearing a CBGB & OMFUG t-shirt to join in on vocals and the audience members with heads banging and hearts full full of emotion. Willies pièce de résistance ONE GUITAR followed. The band was joined by a couple of guests, Jersey Supergirl Laura Catalina Johnson from Strumberry Pie and Jersey Wonderkid Bobby Mahoney from Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son. Bobby goes for the acoustic but Matt was not having it and get this, he took the electric from his around his neck and placed it around Bobbys and he himself played piano the rest of the show. Just when you thought this sucker could not get any higher, away we went with the whole crowd along for the ride into the stratosphere. Birthday balloons were released to the rafters. So get your tambourines and turn your amps up loud and raise your voices, voices up above this crowd. To quote the man himself Its All Over as the final bows were given, the band left the stage depleted and drained, everything given in service to their musical leader Willie Nile who closed a night for the record books. Not so fast.. Crowd was loud, yelling, screaming and applauding. Chants of Willie, Willie, Willie started raining down and did not let up. Willie, Johnny, Matt & Alex came back to the stage, the reaction from the crowd was deafening. LITTLE LIGHT took us home on this night of nights. Matt Hogan was again on piano with Bobby on lead guitar, the kid let loose with an incredible solo. All I want to see is a little light, not the kind that shines off of diamonds and pearls Willie Nile sang with all the passion in his soul. Indeed. Long may Willies light shine into the darkness and illuminate our hearts. (provided courtesy of Nileholic)
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:45:37 +0000
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