The Smithereens & Willie Nile Band | June 23rd | 8 PM
The Smithereens
A great night of rock n'roll! Best known for writing and playing catchy 1960s-influenced power pop that inspired countless alternative rockers including Kurt Cobain, The Smithereens gained popularity with “11” the album the spawned the hits “A Girl Like You”, “Blood and Roses” & “Blue Period”. “2011”, their first album of new material in 12 years. Produced by Don Dixon (who helmed “Especially For You”, the group’s breakout debut), features 13 new tracks and finds the seminal New Jersey rockers picking up right where they left off: with irresistibly catchy hooks and rapturously fuzzed-out guitars.
Willie Nile
The New York Times called Buffalo, NY born Willie Nile "One of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years." Uncut Magazine called him “A one-man Clah.” His album Streets Of New York was hailed as “A platter for the ages” by UNCUT magazine. Rolling Stone listed The Innocent Ones as one of the “Top Ten Best Under-The-Radar Albums of 2011” and BBC Radio called it “THE rock ‘n’ roll album of the year.” His single from that album, “One Guitar,” was the “Top Pick of the Week” in USA Today. Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises His album, American Ride, won “Best Rock Album of the Year” at the Independent Music Awards. It appeared on dozens of year-end Top Ten lists for 2013 and was voted “Album Of The Year” at Twangville Magazine. Bono called it, “One of the great guides to unraveling the mystery that is the troubled beauty of America. In November 2014 he released a new album of piano-based songs, If I Was A River, to universal critical acclaim. “One of the most brilliant singer-songwriters of the past thirty years” said The New Yorker. Uncut called him “the unofficial poet laureate of New York City.” Willie has toured across the U.S. with The Who and has sung with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. As the induction program from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame says: “His live performances are legendary.”