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Home , Neil Young, Nils Lofgren

04 THE ORION ■ FEBRUARY 20, 2002

Street smart Nils paves way JANE DICK may not feel like work, but when he is in the and time to get Staff Writer studio Lofgren gets impatient. involved in other GOBICERTpPBVlBW "Even as a professional musician I tend to projects off stage. Wh0,playjng: America's lyrical legends such as Neil over think and analyze in the studio," Lofgren Lofgren worked on Young and Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen said. "So 90 percent of the guitar playing and "Tuff Stuff," an When: instrumental CD can sing about "" and singing on the new album is live in the studio Friday, Feb. 22 being "Born in the USA" with the help of one with rough edges." ted the musician: Nils Lofgren. The music may have jagged edges but 'Black Lofgren is an accomplished guitarist and Lofgren describes his sound as "jammin,' n hit show "The singer who grew up listening to , reckless, passionate and intimate acoustic The Rolling Stones, , Jimi Hendrix, moments with a raunchy electric four-piece Sopranos." and . band that really hits hard." In order to experience all that life has to After dropping out of high school, Lofgren The solid sounds of the bass drum, key¬ offer and become a figure etched into rock 'n' joined 's band at 18, and never let board and guitars in Lofgren's band interact roll history, Lofgren believes in never sacri¬ go of the music of the -he still carries with the audience, whether it's 20 or 200 ficing one's own beliefs, and to instead be it into his own music today. Lofgren's 33 people in the crowd. patient and stay passionate. "There is a lot of years of musical experience combined with Lofgren recognizes that appreciation for great and average music aggressive rock 'n' roll from his new CD musical talent doesn't fade. being made today," Lofgren said. "Events in "Break Away Angel" can be heard for 2 1/2 "No matter what new and advanced tech¬ history seem to bring people back into focus hours at Win-River Casino on Feb. 22. nology is introduced, people will always to what music is really all about." "I don't care how long you've been playing enjoy watching people sing and play music. Whether music is fresh on the scene, under¬ music, you grow up the most in front of an That will never go out of style. It touches the ground, or classic 'n' roll, one audience," Lofgren said. "I'm more confident heart and spirit to laugh and feel joy." thing is for certain: talent never fades. "If and re-energized about my music. It's thera¬ A self-proclaimed "pirate" who is not cut the music doesn't touch you or move peutic. Once I'm on stage I really shine; it out for the coarse, uncreative political record you, turn the dial when listening to the radio, doesn't feel like work but an adventure that industry "that is filled with a few more liars which isn't that great since it only plays 30 i'm grateful for." and thieves than other industries," Lofgren said songs. Extensive world tours with Neil Young's- he is pleased to be working with his own But if you try hard you'll find something Photo courtesy of Amy Lofgren 'Tonight's the Night" album, 's music. you like. And if you like it you'll seek it out because there is a lot of All Starr Band, and being a proud member of Arranging his own sound gives him the good music, young guitarist Nils Lofgren visits Win River Casino Friday night 's E Street Band since 1984 opportunity to improvise while performing and old," Lofgren said. Lofgren has played with Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Ringo Starr.

HIPS: Shimmy, shake through blizzards to rekindle old flames Continued from \ C1 flat and propelled them through an intersection and ferent than we did three to five years ago. We're get¬ interesting," Bluhm said. . Sure back onto a freeway onramp. They repaired the flat ting better all the time." enough, that bUnllitHipPBVIBW with a reminiscent chuckle. "Tim and I were writ¬ and made it to the show on time. Bluhm thinks that part of the reason has night toward the end of who's playing: evolved and the show a large group ing sensitive folk songs and getting mocked. So, we "It was gnarly," Loiacono said. "It was one of gotten stronger is simple: practice, of The Mother Hips Santa Claus' visited the When: stole the rhythm section from the those days where you say to yourself 'Why am I practice, practice. "We've never been a cover band, and it worked. We started getting chicks doing this?' Then we did a rock show that night, and hard-practicing band and Hips and started stage Thursday, Feb. 21 and beer." we remembered exactly why we do it." the last year we've started practicing more, and I Senator Theater think it's done a lot of for the band. Heading out on tour and visiting several different Although there are hard times touring, the band good," Bluhm said. Worth the dough? Practice for the Mother "I'm states is enough to make anybody nervous, but for still loves to play live shows, and coming to Chicons Hips includes lots of live pretty sure they were under the influence the Mother Hips, there is good reason: band mem¬ also a good way to bring back memories of years past. shows, and in the past, that is mostly what its prac¬ tice consisted of. of bers don't entirely trust their van. "It's cool to be able to play at the Senator," said something," Bluhm recalled with a laugh. A band that has Whether it's "The last time we were in Tahoe there was a bliz¬ singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm. "In college, we'd go grown quite a following in Salt rocking shows with 30 Santas or Lake zard. We were just trying to make it over Donner see a movie there and fantasize about playing a rock City, it visits there often. playing in old movie theaters, It was on one such visit a The Mother Pass," Loiacono said. "One of our chains came show. Now we get'to." couple of years ago Hips just wants to keep touring, loose and hit the coolant line to the back of the van, Part of the reason that the Mother Hips returns to that Bluhm ran into approximately 30 men playing music and gaining new fans. to dressed as Santa Claus on his walk from his hotel "I we can to Spilling coolant all over the road." Chico is bring in new fans, and rekindle the hope keep playing people that have never heard us before and After getting the coolant line and chains fixed, flames of the old ones. to the venue where the Mother Hips was perform¬ keep turning new people on to tour we the band headed down the mountain to a gig in "We've been a band for over 10 years but we've ing that night. us," Bluhm said. "On just need to "I invited them to the show. I Sacramento. Before it could get there, the van got a always evolved," Bluhm said. "We sound a lot dif¬ thought it could be keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down."

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