The Alternative Is Not an Option

z z u b WILLIE NILE The Alternative Is Not An Option

by Katherine Yeske Taylor thriving as he approaches his 102nd York Times [in 1978, when rock critic Then Nile did what few musicians in on their shoulder, and I didn’t want that Willie Nile seems completely at home birthday, remains supportive to this Robert Palmer pronounced Nile to be his position would likely do: he walked to happen to me, and it didn’t. A lot of as he settles in for a leisurely lunch at day. “My father’s comment was, ‘Go for “the most gifted songwriter to emerge away. “I had kids, there was a new baby people tried for me.” Jane, one of his favorite New York City it—you don’t want to be regretting it from the New York folk scene in some coming, and I said to my wife, ‘Let’s get Things finally turned around in 1987, restaurants. This place is something years from now, living the end of your while.”]. And after that came out, the out of here. I didn’t come here to get when Nile was invited to play a charity of a Greenwich Village institution, just life thinking, “I wish I would’ve tried next [show] was packed to the rafters, into business hassles, I came here to show in Oslo, Norway. A video of that as Nile himself has become during his that.” there were 10 record companies in the try to make music, something positive performance convinced Columbia lengthy and legendary career. He jokes At first, Nile thought he’d become place, and people I knew looked at me and joyful and passionate.’ So we moved Records execs to sign him early the with the wait staff as he enjoys deviled a classical pianist, but then he got the differently. It was fascinating to see. I back to Buffalo and raised kids there. next year. But soon another hurdle eggs, steak salad, and glasses of rock ‘n’ roll bug (though he says he still was happy about it, but it didn’t spin “But I was always writing. [If I were] presented itself, as studio recording Sancerre, and talks about how fortunate appreciates all kinds of music). He my head around at all. living in Alaska working as a plumber, sessions had to be postponed he feels about his music career. repeatedly due to his producer’s “Working musicians, it’s such a long scheduling conflicts. In the end, another shot,” he says with a shake of his head. producer came in to do the job. The “It’s a real risk to take: ‘Well, I’m not “But I was always writing. [If I were] living in Alaska resulting album, 1991’s Places I Have gonna get a regular job that pays, with Never Been , again earned him rave benefits and room for growth. I’m gonna working as a plumber, I would still come home and write reviews. take these songs that I wrote in the Since then, he’s released a string of quiet of my living room and see if I can songs; it’s what I do. I left the business end of things, but albums (twelve so far – the latest, get people to come and hear them.’” Children of Paradise , was released last Nile himself has no trouble drawing I didn’t leave songwriting. So after a few years, I had a year). He’s become one of the most audiences, thanks to his reputation celebrated songwriters among his (earned through near-constant touring batch of songs, and I thought, ‘These are pretty good.’” peers, with everyone from Bruce around the U.S. and abroad) for putting Springsteen to Lucinda Williams to on one of the most exhilarating and Bono singing his praises. He says this energetic shows around. New York City celebrity factor doesn’t turn his head audiences will soon have two chances started writing songs in high school, “I signed with Arista Records, and I would still come home and write songs; in the slightest: “There’s no pressure. to catch his show: November 22 at but then opted to study philosophy and I made a record [1980’s Willie Nile ] and it’s what I do. I left the business end of I don’t have to go, ‘I hope Bono or The Mercury Lounge, and November 23 at English at the University of Buffalo. it made a lot of noise critically. I got the things, but I didn’t leave songwriting. Who like this album.’ That’s the last The Cutting Room. After he got his degree, his thoughts tour with The Who across the U.S. So after a few years, I had a batch of thing that’s on my mind. I’m not here Being a musician is in Nile’s blood. turned toward making his musical because of that record. I made a second songs, and I thought, ‘These are pretty to prove anything. I make a record when One of eight children growing up in dreams a reality. “I thought I’d go to record [1981’s Golden Down ]. And good.’ I tried to get back into the I feel I’ve got a collection of songs that Buffalo, New York, Nile’s family was a New York and try my luck playing in because I looked like a payday for a lot business and I couldn’t. It was like, might fit together and be inspiring and musical one: his grandfather was a clubs. I thought the songs I had might of people, they were coming out of the ‘You’re yesterday’s news.’” A decade- full of passion and life. Otherwise I don’t well-known vaudeville pianist and be good, and it was something I wanted woodwork. I had nobody to advise me— long gap followed in which Nile didn’t go in. If the songs mean something to orchestra leader. When it became clear to pursue.” the people that I had, I had lost faith release any music at all. However, me, hopefully they’ll mean something that Nile wanted to follow in these It seemed like a fortuitous move. “I in. I just thought, ‘You know what? I despite such setbacks, Nile says he’s to somebody else. But it’s most footsteps, his parents encouraged him was playing in the seventies on Bleecker don’t want this business to kill my buzz not bitter. “When I first moved to New important that they mean something whole-heartedly. His father, who is still Street and I got a write up in The New about music.’” York, I saw a lot of musicians with chips to me first.”

WILLIE NILE WILL PLAY NOVEMBER 22 AT MERCURY LOUNGE AND NOVEMBER 23 AT THE CUTTING ROOM IN NYC.

4 ARTS WEEKLY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 www.theaquarian.com “Life is real, and I want to be here to live and LIVE NATATION NYCYC breathe it, and to feel it and to touch it. I try GRAMERCY THEATATRE THEGRAMERCYTHEATRE.COM to write about things that are real, whether JuJusustst AnAnnnnonouoununceceded!d! it’s something humorous or something poignant. At the end of the day, though, I On Sale Now! BOSTON MANOR want it to be optimistic and pick people up.” MICROWAVE ' HEART ATTACK MAN ' SELFISH THINGS SURFACES SoSololdld OuOutut!t! NOVEMBER 21 PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMUTE DECEMBER 14 COUNTERPARTS STRAY FROM THE PATH % VARIALS % CHAMBER % END VAVA NOVEMBER 22 DECEMBER 16 His heartfelt approach has earned him a alternative sucks. The alternative is not an option.” WATCH WHAT CRAPPENS DIZZ THE SEASON: A TATANA MONGEAU LIVE NOVEMBER 23 & 7PM Sold Out! & 10PM staunchly loyal fan following who adore his music’s Fortunately for his fans, Nile is already working HOLIDAY SHOW CIMORELLI DECEMBER 17 uplifting vibe, even when his lyrics address serious on his next album. He lights up as he talks about LION IN THE MANE NOVEMBER 24 MARKY RAMONE’S HOLIDAYAY BLITZKRIEG WITH subject matters. He knows this is the case and these new songs. “Wait [until] you hear this new GREG HETSON DINAH JANE DECEMBER 20 embraces it. “Life is tough—for everybody. Nobody one,” he says. “I’m really excited about how it’s TONE STITH NOVEMBER 25 CEG PRESENTS gets out of this without hard times, suffering, coming out. I spent the last two days around the PINK TALKING FISH: PHISH AFTER$PARTRTY STEEL PANTHER DECEMBER 28 % PERFORMS DARK SIDE OF THE MOON heartbreak. Show me somebody who doesn’t deal clock in the studio and I’ve got a batch of songs STITCHED UP HEART DECEMBER 29 % PINK TALKING FISH ARE BEASTIE BOYS NOVEMBER 26 ' NOVEMBER 27 with any of that, you know? Life is real, and I want that thrill my soul. I’m thinking March for the release. CEG PRESENTS OURS THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS to be here to live and breathe it, and to feel it and I’m having a ball right now. It seems as good as CHRIS SHINN % THE REVEL DECEMBER 31 & 9PM: RING IN THTHE NEW YEYEAEAR! NOVEMBER 29 DECEMBER 31 & 10:30PM: PHISH AFTETER%PAPARTY! to touch it. I try to write about things that are real, I’ve done. I’m still learning, still growing. It makes CEG PRESENTS THE GUILTLTY FEMINIST whether it’s something humorous or something me high to hear the guitars buzzing, the drums ZEBRA WITH DEBORAH FRANCES$WHITE NOVEMBER 30 JANUARY 4 % JANUARY 5 poignant. At the end of the day, though, I want it pounding, the bass thumping, the voices soaring, DOUG LOVES MOVIES: THE 12 GUESTS OF XMAS DECEMBER 1 SMIF N WESSUN to be optimistic and pick people up. the lyrics being curiously interesting.” He declines BLACK MOON MICHAEL RAY JAJANUAUARY 9 JIMMIE ALLEN % WALKER COUNTY DECEMBER 5 ALIA JAJANUAUARY 10 THE NOISE PRESENTS ISSUES THE NAKED MAGICIANS POLYPHIA % LIL AARON % SLEEP TOKEN % JANUARY 11 & 7PM ANOTHER DAY DAWNS #12/6$ % JYNX #12/9$ DECEMBER 6 % DECEMBER 9 BE OUR GUEST: THE DISNEY DJ NIGHT JAJANUAUARY 11 & 11PM NEW YORK’S COUNTRY 94.7 PRESENTS RILEY GREEN THE ALMOST TRAVIS DENNING ALL GET OUT % GHOST ATATLAS % ROWDY DECEMBER 11 JAJANUAUARY 15 DIR EN GREY BYSTS THE ADICTS DECEMBER 13 JAJANUAUARY 16 WAWARSAWAW WARSAWAWCONCERTS.COM JuJusustst AnAnnnnonouoununceceded!d!

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST OnOn SaSalalele NoNowow! “These are seriously dark times. What’s the to reveal too much about this album, saying only matter with the human race? It has a hard time that “a number of the songs are New York-based.” getting its shit together. But I believe in people. I As he nears the 40th anniversary since his debut MORE UPCOMING SHOWS think most people are good, and most people, album, Nile sees no reason to stop doing what IN NEW YORK CITY! given the same real facts, would make similar he’s doing, even if the touring in particular can be decisions, but people disagree about what the exhausting. “It’s an adventure,” he says. “I wouldn’t facts are. I refuse to embrace the bitterness, walk on stage if I didn’t think it was going to be the misery. I refuse to go, ‘Life’s terrible, people special. But I’m really fortunate to have this great suck.’ Yeah, some people aren’t great, no doubt band, we have a ball when we play, and I still love about it. But there are a lot of people who do a lot it. When that stops, or when I don’t think the shows of good in this world, who will give to help their are a good enough quality, I won’t do it. But right fellow man. I love that. That makes me want to now, we’re still rockin’. live and pick up my guitar and go sing about it all. “I feel the same as when I first came here to New Our job is to pick each other up. I write songs, I York in the early days. I still feel passionate about make records, I go onstage, I try to pick people’s the music. The songs still mean the world to me. spirits up. Let’s celebrate being alive. Let’s help I’m able to make a living at doing something I love. each other. Call me ignorant, call me naïve, I’m I’m a lucky cat. Every day I’m grateful I took that both of those. But it makes me feel good. The risk.”