Tag: Willie Nile

Willie Nile at Nashville’s City Winery

By Ken Paulson — Willie Nile was clearly battling a respiratory bug, but he soldiered on in his show at the City Winery tonight, delivering an energetic and sometimes inspirational set.
Joined by bassist and vocalist Johnny Pisano and world-class harmonica player Mickey Rafael, Nile drew heavily from his new Positively Bob collection of Bob Dylan covers, including “Subterranean Homesick Blues, “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall,” the latter delivered in part by a three-year-old grandaughter via a phone video.
One of the joys of hearing Willie Nile play is that he has a story for every song he plays, a disappearing art. “Dylan was just 21 whe he wrote this,” he would exclaim.
Some of the most powerful songs of the evening were his anthems “This Is Our Time” (dedicated to Malala, see the video below) and “House of 1,000 Guitars,” with “One Guitar ” closing out the set with a bang.

Review: Willie Nile does Dylan – and very well

By Ken Paulson –
I was sitting with a group of Nashville musicians last Saturday night when the conversation inexplicably led to the flurry of “new Dylans” that emerged in the ’70s, most with real musical merit.
Bruce Springsteen. Steve Forbert. Elliott Murphy. John Prine. Willie Nile.
Nile may carried those Dylan comparisons for the longest time, in part because of a vocal resemblance. It’s not something he shies away from, as evidenced by “Positively Bob – Willie Nile Sings Bob Dylan,” his new covers collection.
Most of the tracks are from Dylan’s first decade as an artist, and classics abound. But the beauty of Nile’s renditions is that they free Dylan’s revered music from the wax museum. This stuff rocks.
When was the last you yelled “Turn it up” when “Blowin’ in the Wind” came on?
I’m sure there are Dylan fans who will be put off by some of this, but the album is undeniably fresh.
Highlights include full-throttle takes on “The Times They Are A-Changin’, “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35” and “I Want You.”

Review: Willie Nile’s “If I Was A River “

Willie Nile riverBy Ken Paulson

Willie Nile’s most recent albums American Ride and The Innocent Ones  were vibrant and energetic collections, full of anthemic songs. These were remarkably fresh recordings by an artist in his fourth decade in music.

But it appears that the key to that creative longevity is not to repeat yourself. The new If I Was A River is distinctly different from its predecessors. These are reflective and intimate songs played on piano. It’s very spare, with Nile’s rough-hewn vocal at the forefront.

The album boasts both a great love song (the title track) and a great break-up song in “I Can’t Do Crazy (Anymore,) written with Danny Kortchmar.

The oddest song is “Lullaby Loon,” a fun and presumably facetious rant against virtually all forms of music. In contrast, the truly affirming  “Let Me Be the River” comes at album’s end.

If I Was A River is quiet and compelling. We may miss the rocker this time out, but we admire the songwriter.

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New releases: Willie Nile, Randall Bramblett, Go Jane Go

nile2By Ken Paulson

We’ll have what Willie Nile is having.

35 years on, Nile is making some of the most ambitious and rewarding music of his career.

American Ride builds on the spirit of his fine 2011 album The Innocent Ones and its anthemic  “One Guitar.” This time around, the rousing  “This is Our Time” is the opening call-to-arms.

There’s a duality evident throughout the album. Tracks like “Sunrise in New York City” and “There’s No Place Like Home” couple reassuring sentiments to sing-along arrangements. But then there’s “God Laughs,” a striking and irreverent song that will provoke reflection, indignation and laughter, but not from the same people. And in the middle of all this is a sterling cover of Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died.”

American Ride is all over the road, but in a very good way.

hot club

Rendezvous in Rhythm –Hot Club of Cowtown – Gold Strike Records

The Hot Club of Cowtown – Elana James, White Smith and Jake Erwin – has delivered a thoroughly charming collection of jazz standards, with a nod to Left Bank influences. It’s just fiddle, bass, guitar and vocals, intimate and energetic at the same time. Favorite tracks: “Avalon” and “The Continental.”

 Go Jane Go – Dead Reckoning Records

Fans of Kieran Kane, the Dead Recknoers and David Francey are in for a treat with the release of Go Jane Go. This collaboration teaming of Kane, Francey and Lucas Kane grew out a tour of Australia. It’s stripped down and as basic as Americana music comes, delivering strong songs in an intimate setting.

bramblettThe Bright Spots – Randall Bramblett  – New West Records

 Here’s an impeccably soulful album by Randall Bramblett, a storied session musician and former member of Sea Level. He’s also a fine writer and vocalist, bringing to mind Bonnie Raitt and late-period Nick Lowe.  Favorite tracks: “Til the Party’s Gone” and “My Darling One.”

 A Date with the Everly Brothers – The Chapin Sisters – Lake Bottom Records

Cribbing the title of this collection from a classic Everly Brothers LP, the Chapin Sisters deliver faithful covers of some of Don and Phil’s best work.  It’s a fun listen that includes some surprising song selections.

More new releases:

Rule the World – Max Gomez – New West Records

Todd May – Rickenbacker Girls – Peloton Records

Jerry Miller – New Road Under My Wheels – Signature Sounds

Bovine Social Club – Eclipso Records

Steven Casper and Cowboy Angst – Trouble – Silent City Records

Sweeter Songs – Craig Jackson Band – Green Records

No Regrets – Juliet and the Lonesome Romeos – Tree O Records

Gold Boots Glitter – Wheeler Brothers – Bismeaux Records

Blanket of Stars – Glen Eric – Dodu Records

 

Willie Nile’s “One Guitar” at center of charity effort

Willie Nile’s anthemic “One Guitar” is at the core of a new charitable initiative. The concept is to encourage hundreds of artists from a wide range of genres to record the song, with all proceeds going to the TJ Martell Foundation and a charity of the artists’ choice.
You’ll find details at the “One Guitar” site.

It’s no surprise that the song, written by Nile and Frankie Lee, would inspire this kind of effort. This song about an individual taking a stand comes from Nile’s most recent album The Innocent Ones, one of our favorite releases of the past year. It’s a bit of a surprise when an artist with more than three decades of recorded music puts out his best album ever, but The Innocent Ones is exactly that, with energy and inspiration in equal measure.