Review of Nils Lofgren’s Cry Tough Live DVD Set

By: Brad Conroy

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Cry Tough is the latest DVD release by Nils Lofgren and is a collection of performances he did for the famous Rockpalast TV series. This DVD features live full length performances which span three different phases in this illustrious and dynamic career.

Nils Lofgren, an American rock singer, song writer, and guitarist, made a name for himself not only for his 25 year tenure with Bruce Sprinsteen’s E Street Band, but also for his equally impressive career as a solo artist as well. After hearing him play, it’s no wonder why Lofgren has been able to stay in the spotlight as long as he has.

He is easily one of the best rock performers around; the guy has it all, he can sing with a timbre that at times is a little reminiscent of Paul Simon, he writes memorable folk-type rock songs with meaningful and heartfelt lyrics, and his guitar playing is incredible and is very much steeped in the blues rock tradition.

Lofgren has incredible tone on his guitar and he really makes it sing and cry with the best of them, extremely emotional, impeccable timing, slide playing, and he is a great acoustic guitar player too. This guy has it all and he even makes use of some extended techniques as well, such as volume swells and harmonics. When you combine all of this with his ability to sing and stage presence, you have a one of a kind artist that is able to captivate his audience.

Disc 1 of the two-disc set feature’s a mature and very refined Lofgren during this 1991 concert, and it shows how much he has grown and gained from touring with the E Street band. Lofgren is confident, sings and plays with much emotion in this footage. He plays 20 songs, with the band playing great song one after another. It’s as if you can’t tear them away from the stage.

The concert opens with the beautiful acoustic tune “Sticks and Stones,” where Lofgren immediately lets you know he is not just an electric guitarist, but he knows how to play an acoustic guitar too. Lofgren has a unique approach to the instrument that uses personalized harmonies, and his unique way of playing scales and harmonics at the same time. All of this is the icing on the cake, because Lofgren sings and writes song with a deep sense of soul and passion.

Disc 2 features a very young Lofgren way back in 1976, as he’s a newly launched solo artist. This concert has a lot of energy that Lofgren and his band are able to maintain during the course of the 9 tracks, which includes fan favorites like “Cry Tough” and “Keith Don’t Go.” It’s apparent that Lofgren was an incredible and dynamic guitarist and performer even at this early stage in his career.

Disc 2 also features a third concert which was filmed in 1979 when Lofgren was beginning to secure his name as an established performer. Lofgren has retained his energy from his early days, but he has clearly grown in the three years since the last concert.

His voice has a more confident edge to it, the songs are tighter, and his guitar playing flows as he never runs out of perfectly timed blues rock soloing ideas. The 1979 concert includes 13 songs, with a good mix of crowd pleasers and some of his newer tracks at the time.

Nils Lofgren is truly an incredible rock singer, song writer, performer, and guitarist. Cry Tough has an incredible 252 minutes of live concert footage making this the most comprehensive collection of Nils Lofgren concert footage available. Cry Tough spans three distinctive phases in Lofgren’s career with concert footage from 1976, 1979, and from 1991 when he was at the top of his game.

If you like guitar playing that is steeped in the classic rock tradition, then Cry Tough is a must have for the serious rock guitar fan.