Tuesday, February 20, 2018

IT CAME FROM JERSEY!!!

Saw the incomparable Willie Nile last Saturday night...


...playing at a club in my hometown of Teaneck N.J....


...that is literally a block away from the apartment where I spent the first 23 years of my life.


Willie and his great band were characteristically transplendent on Saturday (they did an absolutely killer version of Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream") but the high point for me was a kick-ass version of "Vagabond Moon," the opening track of his very first album. I didn't have the presence of mind to record it, but here's what it sounded like back in 1980 with his original ensemble.



And in case you're wondering what I wore to the gig....


Incidentally, the club has been renamed The Debonair Music Hall since that photo was taken a year or two ago, but it's still a terrific place to hear music and if you're in the neighborhood some evening I highly recommend it.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Boy, I'd hate to meet that old dude in dark alley...but he'd probably be quite nice in a well-lit cafe.

J. Lag


P.S. How many people lived with you in that apartment?

steve simels said...

The bottom floor was my dad the veterinarian's animal hospital. Upstairs, it was mom, dad, me, my brother and a fabulous dog and then a pussycat.

Anonymous said...

So that was where you were when you didn't get to see the BEATLES' earth-shaking appearance on the ED SULLIVAN show because you were in bed with a fever and your parents wouldn't let you watch the TV.

J. Lag

steve simels said...

Yep.😀

Anonymous said...

Being out in CA, we don't get Willie out here. Flew to NYC in October where not only did I have front and center seats at the City Winery but was able to meet him. Willie burned the place to the ground, with that Petty cover, his lp of Dylan covers and his catalogue, from 1980 to today, which all sounded amazing. Check out his cover of the Velvet's "Sweet Jane." It might be my favorite.

paulinca

Mark said...

A great place to see artists. Haven't been there since it came under new owners, but when it was Mexicali Blues, the prices were right, the food was not bad, the atmosphere congenial, and the parking nearby was fantastic! Last time I was there (Jeez ... in 2012)I saw Eric Ambel opening for Elliott Murphy, two artists of the same general vintage as Nile.

Jai Guru Dave said...

This song is what Chuck Berry was talking about when he sung about making the guitars "ring". It is a great song, it is sung great; but OMG, when you listen to those guitars "ring" - to me, that is what rock+roll is all about!

Anonymous said...

Hello all...no, please remain seated,

Teaneck? There’s a pretty good guitar shop in Teaneck, right on the main drag. He did some nice maintenance on my acoustics.

Regards,
RichD

steve simels said...

Lark Street Music, They set up
my guitar.