The Willie Nile Band ~ 2018 December 29 ~ City Winery ~ Boston, MA
Band Personnel: Willie Nile, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano; Peter Hoffman, lead guitar; Matt Hogan, lead guitar, vocals; Johnny Pisano, bass, vocals; Jon Weber, drums.
Set List
Seeds of a Revolution - This Is Our Time - All Dressed Up & Nowhere To Go - Don't - Earth Blues - Life on Bleecker Street - Secret Weapon - Children of Paradise - Heaven Help the Lonely - Edge of the Earth {on piano} - Sunrise in New York City {on piano} - Shoulder - Vagabond Moon - Golden Down - House of a Thousand Guitars - Sweet Jane {Lou Reed} - Blowin' in the Wind {Dylan} - One Guitar ... encore ... Hear You Breathe - Auld Lang Syne {traditional}
Setlist also available at https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/willie-nile/2018/city-winery-boston-ma-73940a0d.html
Videos
Don't
Golden Down
Auld Lang Syne
Review
If you see "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Auld Lang Syne" on this setlist, you might think Willie is letting his folkie side loose. Well, no, he isn't. He and the band played the most rocked up versions of these two folk chestnuts that you will ever hear. And man, were they good. Do yourself a favor and watch the above video of "Auld Lang Syne."
There's not a lot of the folk-rock, thoughtful singer-songwriter in a Willie Nile show these days. It's guitar-hammering rock 'n' roll for the whole show. One quiet piano song ("Edge of the Earth") was the only exception. At age 70 and fit as a fiddle, Willie loves playing rock 'n' roll. Did you hear me? He LOVES PLAYING ROCK 'N' ROLL, and he has assembled a band that blisters through songs in full-on rock fashion, even songs that were originally recorded in a quieter New York songwriter style.
The audience loved every minute. The band was the same as at last February's show at the same venue, with original Nile Band guitarist Peter Hoffman (who lives nearby) playing on a handful of numbers. I enjoyed this show more than the February show when they played too much Dylan for my personal taste. This time there were only three covers, the two mentioned above and a fab version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane."
More Willie Nile
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Click for 2018 Concert Page with links to all 2018 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years