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Willie Nile with Dan Zukergood opening ~ 2023 November 4 ~ The Drake, Amherst, MA, MA

... by Joanne Corsano ... joanne@picturelake.com

Willie Nile band
Willie Nile with his band
click thumbnail to see a photo gallery
of the concert

Willie Nile (vocals, guitar), Johnny Pisano (bass, vocals), Jimi K Bones (guitar, vocals), Jon Weber (drums).

Set List

Career Retrospective set list: Vagabond Moon - Golden Down - Places I Have Never Been - Hard Times In America - Across the River {played on piano} - Cell Phones Ringing In the Pockets Of the Dead - Got To Be a Buddha In a Place Like This - Streets of New York River {played on piano} - House of a Thousand Guitars - One Guitar - American Ride {Willie Nile, Mike Peters} - Forever Wild - Blowin' in the Wind {Dylan} - Children Of Paradise - Run Free - The Day the Earth Stood Still - Heaven Help the Lonely - Hard Day's Night {Beatles}

Scroll to below videos for a review of the show.

Videos ... if a problem with viewing, go to Youtube and search by performer and date; the Youtube account is in the name "nicepace"

Hangin' With Keith Richards (Dan Zukergood)

Places I Have Never Been

One Guitar

Children Of Paradise

Review

Willie Nile and his band put on the second show in two nights at this college town venue. This time Willie decided to do a "career retrospective," playing one song from most of the albums he's released over his long career, and mostly doing them in order. He started with the title track from his debut album, Vagabond Moon, and finished up with the title track from his most recent album, 2021's The Day the Earth Stood Still. Encores of "Heaven Help the Lonely" and the Beatles' "Hard Day's Night" put the exclamation point on this tuneful and high energy evening of music.

Just as it did last night, the unusual format resulted in a bit of chaos, but it was creative and enjoyable chaos. Willie again praised his band to the skies; it's obvious he absolutely loves playing with this cast of characters. I agree with him about this band. Jimi knows just what to play and what not to play on guitar, Jon is just right on the drums for Willie's style, and of course Johnny Pisano has been Willie's right hand man now for so long it would be hard to picture Willie without him.

I got a better seat than the night before so was able to get a few videos, including one of Dan Zukergood's laugh out loud "Hangin' with Keith Richards." He and his band opened the set again with a solid 30 minute set.

Early in the show Willie pulled out his cell phone and tried to call his 105-year-old father. Willie's brother, who's staying with their dad, answered and said it was a bit late to talk to the patriarch. Mr. Noonan's birthday is later in November, and apparently his health is good, he lives at home in Buffalo, and goes to Mass every day. Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to Mr. Noonan!

More Willie Nile

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