Nils Lofgren

Back last November I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Nils Lofgren in concert for the first time. It was an interesting and intimate affair at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. CLICK HERE to read my review of the concert. I described his work that night as "true genius." When I say true genius, I mean something that alters the way you look at things, appreciate life and especially the talents of others.... what a human being is capable of. From Nils Lofgren, this true genius came in the form of music, live music. Well, when I heard he was coming back this year I bought my tickets the first day and I am happy that I did. Last year Nils choreographed a show of contrasts, a mixture of intensities and an interplay between soft harmonic acoustic guitar work and a firestorm of electric fury. The entire show was pure, authentic, flawless entertainment. I remember, throughout the show, I found myself with a constant smile on my face, the kind that hurts because it last so long. Well, this year Nils changed things up but not to far. I again found myself with that smile on my face. He still shared the stage with the incredibly talented Greg Varlotta and he still played many of his classic songs starting off with Too Many Miles" on the Harp and electric guitar. Then he put the electric away and melted into his acoustic set which included many of my favorites: "Rusty Gun," "Goin Back, "I Came to Dance," and "Keith Don't Go." "Shine Silently," "New Holes in Old Shoes," "Black Books," "Girl In Motion" and "You." In it's own way, this mostly acoustic concert was as good as last year's. It's like listening to your best friend play for you in your living room. An extremely talented best friend. Nils Lofgren is a Baby Boomer, just like us, and it s unfortunate that he has been overlooked for the talent and creativity he has brought to the music of our generation. Sure, he rocked us down to our souls with Bruce Springsteen, but it is in his solo work that you find the most incredible songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and musical artist. Even at the age of 64, you could tell that this was the same kid that, on his 19th birthday, opened up for Jimi Hendrix in concert. He has been on the road over 45 years. You would never guess. There's no ego in Nils. There's also no arrogance you would expect from someone who has performed in front of millions of fans. There no pretentiousness and no masquerade. There's just a guy who knows how to play the hell out of a guitar and enjoys every minute of it. In an interview a few years back he stated: "I've just always done what I wanted." Thank Goodness for that !! I hope next year he wants to hit the road again with a full band and strap on his Fender Strats. I, for one, would really like to feel the electric intensity and fire he can generate one more time. Interestingly enough, after this concert I had the chance to meet Nils and chat. He has a huge presence despite his diminutive size. Even without a guitar in his hands you know this man loves music and he understands it in a way that few too performers do. During our conversation I told him that I wished I understood music the way he did. He looked right at me and said: "If you love the music then you understand it."

Nils owned it--from the harp to the Lofgren brothers to tap dance with his one-man band, the show was a tour de music. I loved it.

Nils was rocking the house as usual. He is one of the best guitarists in the world. He played with Greg Varlotta and his three brothers, Tommy, Mike and Mark Lofgren. Good, old school rock and roll. Go see this incredible talent!

Nils put on a fabulous show, clearly having a terrific time playing with his brothers and Bob B. (the Grin drummer-vocalist) and in front of his hometown (from high school days) crowd. Extraordinary guitar on both acoustic and electric, fantastic piano playing, and even opening on the harp. He was in great voice as well, and treated the crowd with several Grin songs which long-time fans enthusiastically appreciated! Introduced a couple of new songs that suggest the CD in the works will be a strong one. Nils was having so much fun and playing with such passion that it was a special gift to be in the audience. He should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, and how Rolling Stone left him off their top 100 guitarists list is incomprehensible. He should have been in the top 5!

The Nils Lofgren Show was predictably awesome. Unbelievable that one person could have so much talent, virtuosity, energy, agiiity and heart. And it is a family affair, too. The Lofgren brothers are all talented.

Nils Lofgren was amazing and unforgettable. What a spectacular guitarist and performer. Better than even the E Street band.

Those who only know Nils from the E Street band are missing one of the best guitarists, performers and human beings - put on a show that is unforgettable

Nils still puts on one of the best concerts you will ever see at any venue. Guitar work was amazing, with both Nils and Greg V. on keyboards. The show went on for nearly three hours, with no air conditioning! I hope Nils continues to do the shows once a year. Tom Lofgren was superb as well.

The concert was excellent. Nils three brothers, along with some other people, joined him on stage. Such a talented family. It was fun to see them all play together. The tap dancing was very different but fit in. Awesome job Nils!

Good show, Had its moment. the audience was very respectful. I would have preferred a lot more electric guitar and a lot lees acoustical. For example Keith don't go on acoustical? whats the point?

I cannot claim impartiality because I have followed Nils since he turned pro at 17, but this was in the top three concerts I have seen EVER, and I am a former professional drummer who has been to a TON of shows in my lifetime.

A thoroughly enjoyable and amazing set from Nils. 42 years on the road and here's to 42 more.

my wife and i had a greAT TIME NILS IS A SUPERB GUITARIST AND SINGER SONGWRITER. I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE MY FIRST GRIN ALBUM I WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE GRIN SONGS IE WE ALL SUNG TOGETHER. MY WIFE WHO WAS NEVER A FAN THOUGHT HE WAS GREAT AND WANTS TO GO EVERY TIME HE RETURNS

The only reason I didn't rate this 5 stars is because the sound was almost unbearable at the beginning of the show. I don't know if it was the equipment, the sound operator, a combination of things, or perhaps they just didn't notice. At my table, we had to make ear plugs out of our napkins. Despite this annoyance, the show was incredible and Nils Lofgren and his band (including his guest Mary Ann Redmond) delivered more than anyone could have asked for or expected. It's not too often you find that much talent on one stage!!!

Nils never disappoints. Always takes the best of previous shows and adds something new and equally great. He obviously enjoys performing and that clearly comes across in his performance. He is a masterful guitarist, lyricist and overall performer. He said in his show that he has been "on the road" now for 42 years. I hope he never stops.

Very good performance. Great entertainer with some good anecdotes to back up the good music. World class guitarist.!

And a fun entertainer. We did not know much about this artist and went because we love rock and love the venue. We had a fabulous time and would go see him again anywhere he plays!

nils was great - one of our favorite concerts ever!

Kudos to Danny Zelisko for bringing this incredible talent to The Talking Stick Showroom. Nils Lofgren always puts on an unbelievable show and it was nice to see him locally in a comfortable setting. He told us about his new box set which incorporates 45 years of history. Too bad the initial run has sold out, so we will have to wait. His guitar magic and storytelling was stellar. Greg Varlotta is amazing with his trumpet and is the tap dancing master who taught Nils. Great show all around and I can't wait to see him again.

Great show. Excellent performer and fabulous venue

One of the best shows I have seen in many years. The diversity and quality of his musicianship is unmatched. Two hours of non-stop perfection. T.Curley

I'm an old Nova resident who saw Nils Lofgren over the years from the early 70s and Grin to many concerts with Bruce. This show was simply awesome. It was great seeing him on stage with his brothers and he never sounded better to me, His range is still there and with a nice maturity and his experience with the E Street Band clearly has expanded his writing skills and his delivery. I love his new CD "Old School" Simply a fantastic selection of songs. The old songs sandwiched between the new were also a joy, Like Rain, wow what a joy to hear live again, and the "I came to Dance" withe the fun dancing of his band really embraced the warmth of crowd. I pity anyone who loved R n R who was not there.

Nils is amazing to watch perform his craft. His passion toward music is contagious when he plays and sings. The show was excellent and Nils is at the top of his game\u2026but he always is for that matter. He is well grounded and knows where he comes from showing a true sense of connection to his fans. The performance of his new song Miss You Ray was moving when he included the late, great Clarence Clemons in the lyrics of the performance. Nils weaved a path of new and old music from his musical collection to a perfect blend touching upon different parts of his career. He ended his show by including his three brothers on stage in a handful of closing numbers that again showed the depth of this great musician. To his credit after the show Nils took the time to meet and greet fans in the lobby of the venue (Birchmere) signing autographs, taking photographs with fans, and talking music. Again, this was an excellent performance.

Nils Lofgren put on an incredible 2 1/2 hour show at the Birchmere on Sunday February 19. His guitar playing was amazing, both on the electric and acoustic guitars. And his voice was clear and powerful. The dude still rocks better and harder than kids 35 years younger than him. The highlight was the 6 or so songs when he had his 3 brothers on stage with him, all playing guitars.

The show was titled "Nils Lofgren and Friends". The friends included Nils's brothers (esp Tom) and Greg Varlotta. Good music, good musicianship, and a good show. Lofgren really does put on a good show - highly recommended.

I have followed Nils since his teen days in Montgomery County, and he just is one of greatest guitarists who ever lived.

Nils did his usual great job of playing songs from his four decade career and showed again why he is one of the best guitarists out there. The show started slowly, with a harp (!) number, but he did get rockin' after a while. He was accompanied by his brother, Tom Lofgren, and a keyboardist (who also played guitar, trumpet and tap-danced for percussion). There was no drummer, which skewed the show toward his softer numbers. His other brothers joined for a few songs as well, adding depth to the vocals and guitars. He did everything from the jingle for a karate school that he wrote during the 1970s and some old Grin numbers, to multiple songs from his new LP, Old School. In between he hit high points from his solo albums, and did a very nice cover of his boss, Bruce's, "Because the Night" (co-written by Patti Smith). Great show!

Excellent show. Especially with all the brothers on stage. Very kind of Nils to share the spot light with them. Thought the electric guitar portions were too loud. Prefer his show only acoustic.better to show his real talent when playing his music and voice.

Re-connected with a very dear friend after 25yrs thru Facebook.We had seen Nils with his band,"Grin" in the early 70's.To be with her and our husbands at the Birchmere,to see Nils together, was pure Joy! He has gotten better with age,his new music is fantastic and to incorporate tap dancing thru-out the show was genius! He is always so gracious with his fan base ,signing our albums and a leather coat,as well as having our pic taken with him.Made for a very memorable nite,we love him!

Nils Lofgren and friends. Awesome show, His three brothers were there joining him at the end of the show. The Birchmere was a great venue, small and accessible. Nils stayed around after the show and signed cd's,posters and tee shirts.

This show was even better than last year's show at the Birchmere and that was a great show. As an added bonus, Nils signed tee shirts and cds after the show. He could not have been more gracious.

Another fabulous Nils acoustic event (very loose interpretation of acoustic as Nils had the Strat out repeatedly!) - Nils continues to overwhelm with his virtuosity - and his love of the performance - his regular back ups - Greg Varlotta (just a tap-dancing fool!) as well as brothers Tom, Mike and Mark. The energy was awesome - the Birchmere was as friendly as ever - a good time had by all!

Loved the unexpected "tapped" percussion. Nils is an amazing guitarist and that was on full display.

This is my third time seeing Nils Lofgren this year and all his performances are truly Entertaining, Engrossing and Showmanship Extraordinaire!! Bravo Nils!!

Nils and Greg tore the Roof off of Ram`s Head as always. He showed once again why I think he in a class by himself in the world of Rock gitarists. I have followed him since the early days of Grin thru shows @ The Stone Pony, The Birchmere and Strathmore and Nils plays his heart. out. The show Saturday was no execption. From a hot version of Mud in your eye to a Blistering version of Because the Night he gave you what you came to see. Can`t wait to see him in Feb @ The Birchmere in Alexandria.

I have known and seen Nils for 40 years from his days with Grin and Nils Lofgren Band as well as Bruce Springsteen's band and I have always thought that he was a very skilled guitarist. This acoustic duo show is one that you need to see live. He played harp, acoustic guitars, electric guitar and tap danced also! I was impressed by his creativity and his show was more of a vaudeville cross-section of styles and genres. My wife and I really enjoyed the show and also enjoyed his interesting stories.

Nils put on good show. A must see for any guitarist or connoisseur. Tremendous sound for just guitars and a keyboard. He integrated tap dancing to provide percussion (I know it sound goofy), but it worked really well. Small, campus venue made for a great place to see him. Enjoy!

The show was excellent - Nils is soooo talented and can play amazing. The harp in the beginning was beautiful, the guitar was out of this world. I love the song Wonderland and a nice memoriam to Ray Charles and Clarence Clemons. The tap dancing by Nils and is cohort were unexpected and fun! Enjoyed the show.

If you haver never seen Nils, you are missing out on one of the most amazing musicians of our era!

The night was unforgettable. The song mix of some familiar plus new songs from his just released album kept the enthusiastic audience enthralled. There were several standing ovations after some absolutely brilliant guitar work and the entire audience was on its feet after the "Because the Night" guitar solo. Some great interplay with his sidekick Greg Varlotta(?). The tap dance routine was fun too. We were privileged to see a display of so much musical talent. The song selection was solid with a good mix of very thoughtful songs and some upbeat tunes as well. Thanks for a great night Nils - especially for Black Book.

Amazing show. Billed as acoustic duo which I would have been perfectly happy with. Ended up being anything but just acoustic. Nils on the harp? Amazing. Had his strat playing overtime along with his 3 acoustics. Ripping up the fret board and then bringing it down to the gentler side. The new "C" tribute song is awesome Nils remains one of the best all around performers I've seen. His partner on the keyboards, acoustic guitar and tap dance board rounded out the evening. Really, if you had shut your eyes, you would have said there was a full band on the stage.

This guy is a nut! Really great songwriter, tons of energy, great sense of humor. Show was a lot of fun.

Your are brilliant Nils......................the older you get the better you get.......don't stop we all look forward to your special rhythm at the Rhythm Room.............

Great show. Intimate venue. Great value for money.

I've only known him from his work with Bruce Springsteen and that in it's own right is amazing! To actually see him perform his own work and showcase his skills on all instruments was mind blowing! In today's music scene to see an artist alone with no special effects was absolutely incredible! It was a dream come true to see such a talented performer!

Nils Lofgren once again delighted his audience with his amazing guitar and vocals and his ability to make you feel that you are sitting in your livingroom watching with a small group of family and friends. He certainly did not disappoint as he played a nice long set filled with surprises; tap dancing and great stories. He is a truly fine musician who had had a brilliant career spanning over 45 years. The show was great!!!!

Nils Lofgren came onstage and played a harp--not a harmonica--but a real harp. He proceeded to play several acoustic guitars, his Fender Stratocaster, and keyboards, and even tap danced. His accompanist also played keyboards, guitar, trumpet, and tap danced. The highlight was dueling tap dancing, and Nils doing spins. What great musicianship from the both of them. Nils came out after the concert and signed autographs and posed for photos with audience members. What a great guy.

What an amazing musician... Great night, thanks Nils!

Bruce Springsteen once introduced Nils as the world's most overqualified second guitarist. That was an understatement. Nils makes a terrific contribution to the E Street Band, but if you've never seen him perform one of his own shows, you will never know how good he really is.

Nils was thrilling to hear. His guitar riffs were terrific and his singing very musical. I wanted to get up and dance. He is a fabulous musician. He even plays the harp!

One of the best shows I've seen!!! See Nils if you can- you will be so glad you did!

Nils presented music in an unadulterated way. Music, his music, was the focus and it never waivered. No attitude of not wanting to be there but true showman who gave the audience simply what they came for. Good music, good entertainment, old school in the very best sense of small venues.

Nils was awesome.... he has great stories and plays with a lot of energy. Would definitely attend again. The facilities were great.

Nils Lofgren is still the best. He can really play guitar, great acoustic and electric stuff. Talked to audience sharing song insights and background. Spent time afterward giving pictures and autographs. Truly a class act in rock and roll. Well worth the money.

The most talented guitarist I have seen since SRV. I won't get into technical details, but he did things I have never seen before. Also has a very enjoyable voice and is a great story teller. He obviously was enjoying himself up there. Nils Lofgren is one of the most talented performers I have ever seen. Too bad the place was only half-full for a RRHOFer.

I was hoping Nils would play with a band but found out he didn't need one. Only did about 3 or 4 electric guitar songs but a lot of the acoustic guitar songs were "electric"! Didn't realize he was such a great keyboard player too. Saw Bruce do his one man band show and Nils was equal to the task. Told a lot of stories, talked to the audience (almost too much) but it gave the show a personal feel. Would have given it four and a half stars if I could. Didn't look up the set list but he wrote a song for Clarence, did Neil Young's Long May You Run, If I Should Fall Behind, about 6 or 7 songs from greatest hits album, including Keith Don't Go, Girl in Motion, etc. Played almost 2 hours and signed memorabilia after the concert. Fantastic show! Glad I went.

Nils played the harp on his 1st song. He switched to electric guitar on the second song, and played to a backing track with drums and bass. No other band members played with him. He switched to acoustic guitar on the third song. About halfway through the song he started fiddling with a foot pedal, and then stopped playing his guitar to reach down and fix whatever was wrong. Magically, his guitar kept playing when his hands were off of it. By about the 6th song, he wasn't even putting much effort into faking playing the guitar. Took his hands off several times, and the chords and notes magically played by themselves. The most pathetic show I have ever seen. Makes me wonder if he's really playing live when he plays with Bruce.

I never thought I'd hear the words I'm about to speak , but the show was less than stellar. And I know because I've seen him sense the Grin days . His brothers seemed to have a much better time playing than he did and he got a little serliey when someone asked for a song, and told them if they wanted to hear it go buy his new box set. I thought it was uncalled for and so did others around me . Again the music was ok but not up to his 30 or more other shows I've seen . I guess anyone can have a bad day and I hope that's all it is.

What a great show. Nils played electric and acoustic guitar, harp, keyboards and even tap danced! He wa accompanied by Greg Valotta, a tremendous musician who played keyboards, guitar and even the trumpet. Songs from the early Grin albums, his first solo record and a great sampling of everything since. Fantastic night, with Nils sharing stories between most of the songs, I've seen him 30-40 times over the years and hadn't heard many of these, which made the evening especially enjoyable. Seemed like a sort of homecoming for Nils, and he was joined by his three brothers for several songs. What a great night! Nils is better than ever....go check him out!

I love Nils. I've been going to hear him play since the beginning, when we all were a lot younger. Lol, The smaller venues are my favorite and Birchmere for the venue is good but their food is WAY overpriced. They are ridiculous. They should definitely have some less expensive alternatives. If I had to pick between Rams Head in Annapolis or the Birchmere, I'd pick Rams Head, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Rams Head is a GREAT place and you don't feel like you're having to spend the price of two more tickets to eat there. Birchmere is great, but if you plan to go, EAT before you go and bring a snack with you. Prepare to pay a LOT to have even chips and salsa.

The venue was awesome , I love love loved Nils. He opened with a song he played on the harp which was beautiful and it only got better from there.

Nils' concert at the Armory on 5-6-15 was a unique and incredible experience. Nils displayed natural charm, charisma and a social grace that we've never before seen in a "musician/celebrity". His pre-song anecdotes were eloquent and sincere to his audience and gave us a glimpse of his personal journey. Nils made his instruments (and such a variety) come alive; his music is on a level rarely heard today. He stands in no one's shadow and is as humble as it gets. After the show, he came back out to meet with the fans, take pictures and sign merchandise. And he stayed until the very last fan left, all the while with a smile of appreciation. I am forever a fan of this unique iconic musician. This is a DO NOT MISS SHOW.

Nils Lofgren never disappoints ! He has such a musical history, having played on Neil Young's After the Gold Rush album and a member of Bruce Springsteen and the E street Band. His solo music is great. He played old favorites such as Keith Don't go, Blackbooks, No Mercy and Shine Silently. His guitar playing is unbelievable. He played Because the Night as a tribute to his great career with the E St Band. He has a very talent musician with him' Greg Varlotta, and the two of them were great. If you get a chance to see him, you won't be disappointed! Nils, come back to Boston soon!

Anytime you get to see a talented musician like Nils , you go! - Nils did not disappoint either, playing a span of his hits including times with Keith Richards, Neil Young and of course his E-Street material. It was an awesome night and I can't wait for him to come back again!

I seen him 4 years ago and was totally blown away. He lost some of his story telling that made him more interesting last time. But over all he put on a good show. We are all getting older an I know I couldn't do any better than he did. Keep on rocking Nills.......

Saw Nils Lofgren at BB King Blues Club in NYC - what a GREAT show! If you have a chance to see him, especially in such an intimate setting - don't miss it!

I must say this concert was so good - this man is so talented and happy we got to see him at Talking Stick - you feel like you are up close and personnel with the performers.

Great show. Great storyteller. Nils is a captivating performer. 45 years of touring and he absolutely loves it. As a Scottsdale resident he should come back to Talking Stick yearly. We wouldn't miss it.

Lofgren had a variety of instruments - from harps to keyboards to tap dancing - and apparently a large selection of songs of his own to sample but the overall show, and quality of the music, wasn't anything special. And for anyone expecting some of the Springsteen magic to appear, while Lofgren did play one such song, he isn't a fraction of the live performer or song writer that Bruce is. Nils is far better off just sticking to being a sideman for the E-Street band.

When you go to see a performer that has been cranking out music for over 40 years at a small venue, you don't know what kind of performance you are going to get. You may get a performance that is "mailed in" and somewhat mediocre in order for the performer to cash a check or the performer can take advantage of the intimate setting and give his fans a night to remember. We saw the latter from the great Nils Lofgren in Scottsdale. Nils voice and guitar playing were top notch. The song selection encompassing his entire career was well thought out. (Nils and his friend Bruce Springsteen both know how to arrange their shows with precise pacing, evolving emotions, and just great rock & roll music). An important element of the success of the show was tour mate Greg Varlotta who accompanied Nils most of the show on either keyboards, guitar or a pair of tap shoes. Greg was wonderful and I wished I would have had a chance to congratulate him after the show for his performance. After the show, Nils met fans in the lobby for over an hour signing memorabilia and posing for pictures. I watched Nils as he greeted each fan with a smile, warm handshake and compassion like he was seeing a long-time friend. What a terrific human being. If you have the chance to see him in the UK this January, you must check him out. A true legend.

Nils played songs from different eras. His stories explaining how a song came to be or the collaboration with other such artists: Neil Young and Lou Reed in particular, enhanced the play list. He had to give up playing pick-up games of basketball. He took up tap dancing as a hobby. During 3 songs, he used his tap skills to punctuate the rhythms in the music.

Great Performance. first time seeing him live. Wished the performance was longer

This was a great concert and the location was good. The seats were a bit clumsy, but they were comfortable. Nils was brilliant, especially as we had last seen him in 1975 in England when he used to do the somersaults on a trampete on stage! He hasn't lost his touch on the guitar and his voice is still extremely melodious. Great show.

I left that concert w a big smile on my face. Nils is a talented musician and entertainer. Unbelievable. Also he created a warm environment w his stories behind his songs. Thank you, Nil. It was an amazing concert.

I have seen Nils many times and the other evening I saw a different man,.. I love Nils but this was hard to witness, he seemed tired and not really intuit with lots of playing performance issues,.. I have seen him at large shows and at small very intimate shows,.. they all were amazing but this one,.. the crowd was not the best and the perfumer sans either.