Review: Nils Lofgren, Chatham's Central Theatre, Saturday, June 11

by Paul Wickens

Nils Lofgren graced the stage with his significant musical abilities some forty four years after one of his heroes, Jimi Hendrix, performed at the same venue.

Lofgren, who turns sixty today (June 21), opened for Hendrix in California in the early seventies, and has long been known as one of the most respected guitarists in the world.

His musical skills are not restricted to the one instrument though and over the course of a two hour show, Nils played keyboards, harp and percussion, as well as his trademark Fender Stratocaster and a range of Takomine acoustic guitars.

Whilst performing in his 'other job' in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Nils plays a range of other instruments, such as accordion, dobro and pedal steel guitar, highlighting his very obvious talents.

On Saturday night in Chatham, however, his 'band' was Greg Varlotta from Arizona, Lofgren's home state, another multi-talented musician, who played guitars, keys and percussion in the form of tap dancing on an amplified board.

Nils started the evening on the harp with Too Many Miles, a blues tune he wrote for Bonnie Bramlett.

Over the course of the evening, he played tunes spanning his 40 year career, including material with Grin, his first recording band.

A highlight of the two hour, 20 plus song set were Black Books, a dark country tune, that Lofgren donned his sunglasses to "get into the mood".

You, a track from his Acoustic Live album from the nineties, featured some rapid acoustic guitar finger picking.

Among his four songs from the keyboard was Irish Angel, a beautiful ballad written by Bruce McCabe, that Nils said he fell in love with as soon as he heard it.

Girl in Motion, a request for his wife Amy, featured an extended solo on his acoustic guitar, played over a recorded loop, while Rusty Gun showed off Greg Varlotta's trumpet playing.

Following a soaring solo, Lofgren returned for his two song encore, finishing the concert with his famed hit Shine Silently.

After the last chord died down, Nils was at the merchandise table, patiently signing autographs, posing for pictures, and generally chatting to every member of the audience.

His next plan is to release his new CD via his website nilslofgren.com in October, and he has more plans to tour the UK following stints on the east and west coasts of the US.

In the music world, it has always been clear that Nils Lofgren was a highly respected musician, whether from his solo work, his career as a sideman to Neil Young, Ringo Starr or his 26 year career with Bruce Springsteen.

For the uninitiated, those that were present at the Central Theatre would agree they witnessed a rock legend, a class musical act, and a down to earth pleasant guy.