Willie Nile has earned a reputation from critics and fans alike as one of the most talented and respected rock n’ roll songwriters of the last thirty years. Hailing from Buffalo, N.Y., Nile has been wowing crowds with his sublime songwriting abilities and charismatic stage presence since he taught himself his first rock n’ roll song as a teenager.
Nile’s eponymous debut in 1980 was met with immense critical acclaim. Praised as one of the greatest singer-songwriters to emerge from the N.Y. scene in years, he was immediately compared to a broad spectrum of legendary musicians, from Bob Dylan to The Clash. Critics weren’t the only ones to take notice. Soon after the release of his debut album, Pete Townshend asked Nile and his band to support The Who on their 1980 summer tour.
After increased exposure and success from opening for The Who, Nile released yet another critically acclaimed album, “Golden Down,” the following year. Just as his star was rising, however, Nile’s career came to a screeching halt because of legal problems in the early 1980s.
Despite this, Nile regained his footing in the late 1980s, and reemerged with his first studio album in a decade with “Places I Have Never Been” in 1991. Following this release, Nile released the EP “Hard Times in America” in 1992, which garnered the artist some recognition in Europe.
Since his rise from the ashes with “Places I Have Never Been,” Nile has released three more studio albums, as well as three live albums, along with a 2008 performance DVD, “Live from the Streets of New York.” Nile is currently touring in support of his most recent studio album, “House of a Thousand Guitars.” Released in April of 2009, the album is a mix of Nile’s grittier, guitar-based classic rock material and his softer, more subdued balladry.
Since his ascendance as a bona fide rock singer-songwriter, Nile has performed and recorded with a plethora of musicians from a myriad of genres, including the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Tori Amos and Elvis Costello.
Nile is perhaps best known and most critically lauded for his passionate and energetic live shows. Nile’s concerts are typically a mixture of raucous, crowd-pleasing rock n’ roll moving, room-filled-with-lighters, ballads and lighthearted conversation between Nile and the audience. To describe his live shows as intimate would be a vast understatement; Nile makes every member in attendance feel like he is playing especially for him or her.
Nile’s live accompaniment is usually sparse, making for a minimalistic yet raw sound. Frankie Lee, Nile’s longtime friend and songwriting partner, joins Nile on two-piece drum kit and background vocals. Johnny Pisano, on electric bass guitar, rounds out a live power trio with low-end duties. During the show, Nile sporadically switches between guitar and piano depending on the song at hand.
Nile will be performing on Saturday, March 27 at the Iron Horse in Northampton. Nile will be supported by fellow blue-collar rock-and-roller Ray Mason. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $16 in advance, $19 at the door. Tickets are still available at the Iron Horse Entertainment Group website, iheg.com.
Dave Coffey can be reached at [email protected].
