Willie Nile and band ~ 2025 February 7 ~ The Rex Theatre, Manchester, NH Willie Nile (vocals, guitar), Johnny Pisano (bass, vocals), Peter Hoffman (guitar, vocals), Benny Landa (guitar, vocals), Jon Weber (drums). Set List Forever Wild - Run - Life On Bleecker Street - Innocent Ones - We Are, We Are - Lost and Lonely World - An Irish Goodbye - on piano: What Commoners Love - Peter joins for one song: Across the River - Willie back to guitar for the rest of the show: American Ride - New York At Night - Children Of Paradise - Peter returns for the rest of the show: Hard Times In America - House of 1000 Guitars - Vagabond Moon - One Guitar - Hard Day's Night {The 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" Lost and Lonely World American Ride
Hard Times In America Vagabond Moon
Review First thing Willie said was the obvious. Guitarist Jimi K. Bones was not here tonight; his place was taken by Benny Landa. It became immediately obvious that Benny's played with Willie often enough to be the perfect substitute. Best wishes to Jimi in his recovery from recent surgery. Later in the show local favorite Peter Hoffman, who played on Willie's first two albums and toured with him in those early days, played on a half dozen songs, including the single most rockin' song I've seen Willie & Co. do in my fifteen years of following this supercharged musical dynamo, "Hard Times in America" (video above). Willie's mostly a rocker these days. He pulls out the occasional piano ballad such as the new song tonight, "What Commoners Love," from the new album that he is currently fan funding, expected in June. Those new songs also include a vigorous audience singalong, "Irish Goodbye," a song that cries out to be sung in an Irish pub. Willie hasn't lost a bit of the vim and vigor that music bestows on the true believer. He gyrates around the stage, points his guitar at the sky, kicks his legs in all sorts of directions, and I can tell you, he and the band are having a heck of a good time doing this music thing. Most of the 1 hr 50 min on stage were spent playing the songs with the backing of this incredibly really good band, but there's the occasional few minutes' pause for a very sincere ("Innocent Ones") or pretty damn funny ("New York At Night") intro.
The rest of the band were the usual Johnny Pisano on bass and exceptionally good backing vocals (Willie's right hand man), who was obviously enjoying playing with Peter, and the completely reliable in every way Jon Weber on drums. The last few songs of this show were just so good. That amazing jam "Hard Times In America," followed by Willie's tribute to the guitar as the symbol of rock music, "House of 1000 Guitars," then the very first track from his first album, "Vagabond Moon," then that song that got him christened the anthem-meister, "One Guitar," (he reached his guitar forward to me and let me strum it!), and the last track was an invigorated, punked up, double speed version of "Hard Day's Night." Whew! Concert Going Partner and I have been to The Center for Arts In Natick a handful of times, including once to see Willie before, in 2014. It's relatively easy to find and there's a good deal of free street parking in the neighborhood. The sound and lighting are good, and I think the place was sold out. It's a half block from the route of the Boston Marathon; I think Willie ought to mention this if he plays this venue again, if he plays the song "Run"! More Willie Nile Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website with content relating to Willie Nile.
Willie Nile and Johnny Pisano
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of the concert