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The Band Web Site

News and Updates

Dec.31.2006

Dec.30.2006

Dec.26.2006

Dec.25.2006

  • A Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our friends, contributors and visitors, from us at The Band web site!

Dec.24.2006

  • The Chicago rock station WXRT is broadcasting a concert The Band did in 1983 at the University of Chicago tonight. It will be streaming from their website at 8 p.m. U.S. Central Time. (users need to register to listen, look for the "Listen Live Now" link in the left margin). Thanks to "Julie from the GB" and Timothy Schneider for the info.

Dec.23.2006

  • From USA Today, 12.21.2006:

    Robertson pays tribute to Band tribute

    Thirty years after an all-star cast said goodbye to The Band at its final concert, a new group of stars honors the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers with Endless Highway: The Music of The Band.

    "In the past, I've never been that fond of tribute albums," says The Band's guitarist, Robbie Robertson, "but I ended up liking it very much. It's an interesting musical journey that they've put together, with this really diverse selection of artists."

    Endless Highway features new covers of The Band's biggest songs, among them "Up on Cripple Creek" (Gomez), "The Weight" (Lee Ann Womack) and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (the Allman Brothers Band). Other acts include Bruce Hornsby, Jack Johnson, Josh Turner, My Morning Jacket and Death Cab for Cutie.

    Additional tracks by Gov't Mule, John Hiatt, Joe Henry and the Animal Liberation Orchestra will be available as retailer exclusives. All recordings are currently streaming at the 429 Records web site..

    Robertson says he's currently writing songs for a "native North American musical," with director David Leveaux and Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley attached to the project. "I'm trying to do an extraordinary celebration of the original people of this continent," he says.

Dec.21.2006

Dec.20.2006

Dec.19.2006

Dec.17.2006

Dec.14.2006
[photo]
Rick Danko, 1942-1999

Dec.10.2006

  • Today, it is seven years since we received the sad news that Rick Danko had left us. You may want to revisit the old guestbook from that day and the days that followed -- the response from Band fans on the net was overwhelming.

  • From Rick Danko's publicist, Carol Caffin:
    "For the anniversary, which is hitting me (and others, I think, too) extra hard this year, I wanted to write something for him. Then I realized that, when describing Rick, words aren't always necessary. In Rick's case, if a picture's worth a thousand words, then a laugh is worth a million. This sound bite was culled from my personal recordings of Rick, from my first interview with him, and from one or two other recorded interviews. It's less than 10 seconds, but I think it says it all. And this is how I choose to remember him--laughing and HAPPY. By now, he's probably taught all the angels how to sing. And I hope he's singing with them today."

  • Photos from the 12.02.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • From garthandmaud.com:
    "Please visit the family room for an early start on enjoying some Holiday family fun including a musical selection performed by Garth's cousin Keith. Singing Santa says to also be sure to use your mouse to explore a variety of 'kid-friendly' hidden links."

Dec.09.2006

Dec.08.2006

Dec.04.2006

  • From the new "guestbook":
    "I noticed another recently posted [YouTube video] interview with Rick from a Much Music program done here in Canada in 1992 with Colin Linden and Andy Robinson... Rick looks incredible, sings beautifully... such a pretty song. He is such a gentleman and such a Gentle Man... sigh... And I love the way Colin sings harmony and the respect and love of friendship when he looks at Rick... WOW."
    --"Nancy"

Dec.03.2006

Dec.02.2006

  • From levonhelm.com:
    "Greetings from Levon Helm Studios. Great News! Levon decided to do a New Year's Eve Midnight Ramble, Sunday December 31, 2006. C'mon up to the Studio and bring in the New Year with Levon and all of us at LHS! Invitations are $100.00 each, order online from levonhelm.com. Thanks and we hope to see you there."

Dec.01.2006

Nov.30.2006

Nov.28.2006

Nov.27.2006

Nov.26.2006

Nov.24.2006

Nov.23.2006

Nov.20.2006

  • News from garthhudson.com:
    "Garth and Maud are on their way to Hamilton, Ontario today where Garth will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Ronnie Hawkins on Sunday. Then Toronto to guest with Blackie and The Rodeo Kings for a two-night celebration of the 30th Anniversary of The Last Waltz (sorry both Toronto shows are sold out). They decided to go on to Toronto and thought it would be fun to join Colin Linden there. Seven young Canadian singers will be spotlighted during the evening. It is being recorded by the CBC, who are throwing this shindig. Hope Maud can find time for a little travel blogging in Whispers."

  • The new December 23rd Midnight Ramble that was announced 3 days ago at levonhelm.com is already sold out! May this trend continue in 2007...

Nov.19.2006

  • Two new YouTube video links from "Brown Eyed Girl":

  • "Sign Language" -- theband.hiof.no meets expectingrain.com (our current web server can be seen in the stack of machines between the two webmasters).

Nov.17.2006

  • More news from levonhelm.com:
    "Levon has just added another Midnight Ramble for Saturday December 23, 06. We know it's holiday time, but you just might like to spend some time at the studio for Christmas. Follow this direct link to order now! Thanks, from the staff at Levon Helm Studios."

  • From our friend Bob Reichers, host of the Mystery Train show on WJZF radio in Standish, Maine, USA;
    "Its time for another all-Band edition of Mystery Train, would love as many Band fans to tune in as possible. Tuesday night, November 21, from 9:00pm-midnight EST all three hours of Mystery Train will feature music from The Band. Together, solo, with Robertson, without, Levon & the Hawks -- should be a good time! Always is...

    The show will be rebroadcast:

    • Wednesday November 22, 3:00am-6:00am EST.
    • Thursday November 23, (Thanksgiving) 6:00pm-9:00pm EST.
    • Sunday November 26, 9:00am-Noon EST.

    Mystery Train can be heard anywhere in the world by logging on to wjzf.org."

Nov.15.2006

  • News from levonhelm.com

    Important Information about 2007 Ramble Ticket Price Increase

    Well, the time has finally come - we have to raise the 2007 Ramble ticket price. Our overhead costs have increased over time, but our price hasn't. We're also at a crucial point with the bankruptcy and foreclosure and we need to prove to the court that Levon Helm Studios and Levon Helm can service his debt. In order for us to save "the barn" and keep this amazing music alive, we need to do this. We sincerely hope you all understand. This is world-class music by world-class musicians IN THE HOME of a legend. We must keep this going and with your support, we will. We thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to seeing you all in 2007 at "the barn"!

    Today we are posting the first show of the New Year. Saturday, January 20, 2007 will be the kick off date. Use this direct link to order:

    http://levonhelm.com/store/

  • Woodstock Records has just released the CD Holiday Time by Professor "Louie" & the Crowmatix , featuring a nice cover version of The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight." Thanks to Dirk Mell for the update.

  • A new video with Levon Helm, from a benefit concert in Boiceville, NY, 05.06.2006, has been posted at Google. Description:
    "Levon Helm and his band raise money for a local High School to help with the kid's music program. Featuring Amy Helm, Jimmy Vivino, Jerry Vivino Mike Merritt, Brian Mitchel, Little Sammy Davis and some students from Onteora High School. Film by Anthony Sapienza. Brought to you by Seventh Hour Blues magazine."

  • Updated the Band fans photo gallery with pics taken last Saturday (before Levon's Ramble) of "The Pennsylvania Crew" at Big Pink, and photos of Freddie Bateh visiting Ronnie Hawkins.

Nov.14.2006

Nov.13.2006

Nov.12.2006

Nov.11.2006

Nov.10.2006

  • "Born to Sing" -- beautiful article/interview with the lovely Amy Helm, from the Woodstock Times. Thanks to Tim Wood for the link.

Nov.09.2006

Nov.08.2006

Nov.06.2006

Nov.05.2006

  • Songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, who co-wrote the murder ballad "Long Black Veil" (a classic Rick Danko vehicle, first recorded by The Band for Music from Big Pink) and other hits, died at her Nashville on on Saturday, Oct 28, aged 86. See e.g. the NBC obituary for more info. And thanks to Frederick Riess for the news.

Nov.03.2006

  • One of the true web pioneers, Karl Erik Andersen from Mo i Rana in Norway, paid us a nice visit at the office today. Karl Erik is the maintainer of the great, long running (since '94) Bob Dylan site Expecting Rain. Highly recommended.

  • Added a 1976 photo of Ricky with Doug Kershaw. Thanks to "Suz" over in the "guestbook for spotting this one.

Nov.02.2006

Oct.29.2006

  • Added a 1961 photo of The Hawks at a prom in Springdale, AR. Thanks to ol' Jamie Tappenden for pointing us to this one.

Oct.28.2006

Oct.27.2006

Oct.26.2006

Oct.20.2006

  • Photos from the 10.14.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • News from garthhudson.com:

    • "Contrary to most advertising and popular belief, Garth Hudson does not appear on Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Let's Frolic CD released this year." [Note: Garth did participate in the sessions for this album, his work will surface on BARK's follow-up Let's Frolic Again.]

    • "Mark Dann Recording is a great little studio in Woodstock, New York where Garth records from time to time. Mark is developing his website and has added an audio sample page. You can listen to a sample from one of Garth's recent solo piano sessions."

  • A video clip of The Band doing "Cripple Creek" live in Pittsburgh, November 1970 is now available from youtube.com. Thanks to Brad Tucker for the link.

Oct.19.2006

Oct.18.2006

  • On Tuesday November 7th, The Band will be featured in a UK radio special on BBC2 hosted by actor Martin Freeman, star of The Office and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The show is titled Martin Freeman's Great Unknown, see BBC2's web page for more info. Thanks to Debbie from Scotland for posting the link in the "guestbook".

Oct.17.2006

Oct.15.2006

Oct.14.2006

Oct.12.2006

Oct.11.2006

Oct.10.2006

Oct.09.2006

  • The two new November Midnight Ramble dates announced by Levon Helms Studios on Friday were both sold out this morning! Way to go, Levon!!

Oct.08.2006

Oct.07.2006

  • The Gibson Guitars web site's tribute to Chuck Berry includes a video clip with Jim Weider teaching the guitar introduction to "Johnny B. Good", from Jim's Rockabilly Guitar instructional video. Thanks to Ray Gehringer for the link.

Oct.06.2006

Sep.30.2006

Sep.28.2006

  • Happy Birthday Maud Hudson! Please visit the Family Room at garthandmaud.com for a musical celebration.

  • Another "revised edition" of Barney Hoskyns' Band bio Across the Great Divide - The Band and America will be available soon. New material: A postscript, Hoskyns' awful obituary of Rick Danko and a 'brand-new' interview with Robertson." How exciting.

  • How nice it is to receive e-mails like this one:
    "Just want to thank you for your site, it is indispensible to me, I love it to bits, I couldnt live without it - its the only place for updates on my favourite band!"
    -- David J.G, 09.27.2006

Sep.27.2006

Sep.23.2006

Sep.22.2006

Sep.20.2006

Sep.17.2006

Sep.15.2006

Sep.12.2006

Sep.10.2006

  • Added photos by Joe Lore from the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, NYC, August 15th 2006.

  • Glen Silverthorn, drummer with Rick Danko's teenage bands before he joined the Hawks, has sent us photos from the Rick Danko tribute concert in Simcoe, Ontario, 08.04.2006.

  • New Jim Weider concert dates.

  • A new The Band bootleg DVD is on its way, according to BigO magazine:
    "Scorpio will release the DVD The Band -- The Lost Waltz, featuring Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton and more, on extended play DVD-9 Disc. If quality's any good, too bad Scorsese didn't upgrade The Last Waltz on DVD."

Sep.09.2006

Sep.08.2006

Sep.07.2006

  • From garthhudson.com, 09.04.2006:
    "Spoke with Richard Bell today, who returned home yesterday after completing a series of chemotherapy. He feels a bit tired, but remains in good spirits and is enthusiastic about his recovery. Richard asked us to tell you, 'The rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I can't afford to die 'cause I owe too much money!' You may contact him at: rbell369@sympatico.ca."

  • Added the Barley Brothers' version of "Up on Cripple Creek" list of covers of Band songs by users of The Band web site.

Sep.04.2006

Sep.03.2006

Aug.31.2006

Aug.30.2006

Aug.29.2006

Aug.28.2006

  • Levon Helm is scheduled to perform with the great Cate Brothers Band at the Green Door club in Fayetteville, AR, on September 27th, 2006!

  • Newsletter from Levon Helm Studios:

    • On Friday August 25, 06, Levon was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine and on their on-line site. They are also featuring a 15 minute video clip from the New Year's Eve 05, Ramble. Don't miss it!!

    • In case you missed the NPR interview with Levon, you can get it here....

    • We have a few Ramble invitations available for September 9, 06 and December 9, 06 .

    • Lots of exciting news coming up soon... Keep checking the site for updates.

Aug.26.2006

  • Yes! "Not so sad news about Richard Bell," from garthhudson.com.

  • "Levon Rambles On " -- article from the recent issue of Rolling Stone. The net version includes a video from the 2005 New Year's Midnight Ramble. A quote from the article:
    "You never asked for my advice, but here it is anyhow. As soon as you can, get to Woodstock, New York, and attend one of Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles. You will have a front-row seat to some of the best music you will ever hear, and that's a promise."
    We've had the pleasure of attending two Rambles ourselves and we can assure you that Rolling Stone know what they're talking about...

  • Are "Levon Helm" and "Robbie Robertson" commonly used search terms on the internet? The new Google Trends service has the answer! Interesting to see that Levon is the most "popular" in NY while Robbie is searched for 2-3 times more often in Toronto and on the West coast.

Aug.25.2006

  • New photo of Levon from the recent Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp in NY.

  • Garth Hudson will sit in with the Sadies at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, tonight. See garthhudson.com for more information.


  • "I've always loved "The Long Black Veil," especially the Band's version. So much so that I wrote a book of poems about it, with the same name, which will come out on September 1st, published by Higganum Hill Books."
    --Bob Cooperman

  • Our house DJ, young turntablist champion Final, was on nationwide TV over here this morning. A video clip is available from nrk.no (DJ Final appears after a little intro and a weather forecast). Interview is in Norwegian, the music should be universal... Decent bandwidth required for viewing.

Aug.24.2006

Aug.23.2006

  • More sad news:


    Sneaky Pete and Garth Hudson with Burrito Deluxe, 2004.
    Update On Americana Music Icon "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow

    "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow - pedal steel guitar wizard, original member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and award-winning animator.

    "I want all the fans, musicians and media to know that my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about a year ago. It hit him so hard and fast that he is now living in a skilled nursing facility. He would enjoy receiving a card, photo or note from you."
    -- Anita Kleinow (daughter)

    Please no phone calls or emails. Sneaky's mailing address is:

    Sneaky Pete Kleinow
    c/o The Oakes
    450 Hayes St.
    Petaluma, CA 94952

  • Updated the pages for Jonas Fjeld.

Aug.22.2006

Aug.20.2006

Aug.19.2006

Aug.18.2006

  • "Rick Danko Gets His Due -- Hometown Concert Memorializes Rock Legend" -- recent article from the Simcoe Reformer. Thanks to Gregg McLachlan for helping us get this one online.

  • Added more details about Ricky's and Garth's contribution to the great Terrance Simien's new album Across The Parish Line. Thanks to Tom Moretti of Woodstock Records for the information.

  • Bruce Hornsby's new box set Intersections includes appearances by Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson... probably not on the same song. Thanks to Harm van Sleen for the link.

  • "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" made it onto pitchforkmedia.com's list of the best songs of the 1960's, at #13. Link provided by Marko Capoferri.

  • Kris Gloer's Last Waltz Ensemble home page on myspace.com has been updated with Tommy Talton's version of "You Ain't Going Nowhere."

  • From Toronto based musician/songwriter Wayne Deadder:
    "I have had the good fortune to work with Richard Bell on many occasions and he has become a great friend. Richard appears on a few songs on my upcoming CD. For any who wish to hear this incredible player's work on my stuff, visit www.myspace.com/beatheathen and listen to his stellar piano work on 'With You' and his equally incredible organ work on 'Winter Blues'. I pray for him daily."

  • Our house DJ, young Final, is now officially Norway's best turntablist! He won the Norwegian DJ Championship (aka DMC Norway 2006) in Oslo late last night, and will represent our country in the DMC World Cup in London next month. And, we hear rumors about contributions from original members of The Band on Final's first full-length album that's in the works...

Aug.15.2006

  • The Sadies' new live album In Concert Volume One, featuring Garth and Maud Hudson, includes cover versions of The Band's "Evangeline" and the Levon and the Hawks/Canadian Squires 1965 single "Leave Me Alone". Thanks to the great Bill Munson for the update.

Aug.14.2006

  • Sad news from the Toronto Blues Society:
    "Richard Bell: Another prominent local musician, Richard Bell, has been hospitalized, gravely ill with cancer. Bell is a producer and keyboardist whose long history includes The Band, and Colin Linden, as well as scores of others. Cards and other tokens of your thoughts can be sent to L.R. Bell, B Wing, 4th Floor, Room 30, Bed 01, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, M4N 3M5. Although heavily medicated, he's reportedly in good spirits - Family are constantly present, including his 91 year-old mother."

  • From garthhudson.com:
    "Garth and Maud just returned from Toronto today where Garth was recording on Daniel Lanois's new album. Brian Blade and Tony Garnier were also recording on the album. More info soon."

  • We just got this from Peter Stekel:
    "A 1998 video from The Charlie Rose show with Robbie Robertson is available from Google. Robbie's interview begins at about the 38 minute mark and ends at around the 50 minute mark with a video from Underground of Red Boy, 'Code of Handsome Lake.' Note on the video that Robbie is fingerpicking his electric guitar [and without fingerpicks]."

Aug.10.2006

  • More links from Brown Eyed Girl, loads of good stuff.

  • On November 22 and 23, 2006, CBC Radio in Canada will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Last Waltz with a two-day concert called "We Shall Be Released." Colin Linden's group Blackie and The Rodeo Kings will be the "house band," joining them on stage will be an all-star cast of Canadian singers. The event takes place at CBCs Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, with tickets available to the public. The concert will also be broadcast as part of the CBC OnStage program series. For more information, see the Glenn Gould Studio ticket office. Thanks to Ron Skinner for updating us on this one.

  • New Jim Weider concert dates.

Aug.08.2006

Aug.07.2006

Aug.06.2006

Aug.04.2006

  • Added a live cover of "Stage Fright" (4.9 MB) with South African musician and producer Nux Schwartz singing lead with his early '90s band Scooters Union.

Aug.03.2006

Aug.02.2006

Aug.01.2006

Jul.31.2006

  • Press release from the Rock Hall of Fame:

    Wednesday, September 6, 7pm

    Hall of Fame Series with Robbie Robertson

    Tickets: $10, on sale Monday, July 31 through Ticketmaster and the Museum box office

    Robbie Robertson is one of the most significant contributors to the American songbook. His eclectic musical sense came through an early introduction to country music and through the influences of his parents, a Mohawk mother and a Jewish father. Robertson's early forays into Native American music happened at his mother's childhood home, Six Nations Reservation. Later, a cousin taught Robertson to play the guitar, and not long after the young Jamie Robbie Robertson began writing his own music. As Robertson's songwriting evolved, he absorbed the sounds of the Native American Indian tradition, rural country music, big band music, and early rock and roll music that would together color his writing style.

    In 1958, Robertson joined the Hawks, the band of rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, and connected with fellow sidemen Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel. The group eventually became the backup band for another rising star, Bob Dylan, and supported the folk singer-songwriter's legendary 1965-1966 tour. Shortly thereafter, they became known simply as "the Band"? Fueled by Robertson's narrative style and a fascination with the American South and its music, the band made a series of now-legendary recordings, including Music From Big Pink and the self-titled masterpiece.

    After the filming of an all-star concert by Martin Scorsese later released as The Last Waltz, the band broke up on Thanksgiving Day 1976. That project, however, solidified Robertson's longstanding creative relationship with Scorsese, which ultimately resulted in his recording a number of soundtracks for Scorsese. In 1980, Robertson composed the score to Scorsese's classic Raging Bull, going on to work with the filmmaker on soundtracks for The King of Comedy and The Color of Money. In 1987, Robertson released his self-titled solo debut, which featured guest appearances from Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, U2, Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois and Gil Evans. Robertson's conceptual piece, Storyville, was released in 1991, followed by the 1994 release of Music for the Native Americans, a collection of tracks inspired by Robertson's Native American Indian roots. Robertson's latest work, Contact From the Underworld of Redboy, was release in 1998.

    Most recently, Robertson executive produced a five CD and DVD box set of the Band, which was released in 2005. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is honored to present a special Hall of Fame Series with Robbie Robertson, during which he will discuss the many layers of his remarkable career.

    Thanks to Todd Richards for the information.

Jul.29.2006

Jul.27.2006

Jul.27.2006

  • "Remembering Rick" -- article from the Brantford Expositor about Rick Danko and the tribute concert in Simcoe, Ontario, next week. Thanks to Carol Caffin for sending us the original newspaper article.

  • Photos from the 07.22.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • Check out this cover of "Look Out Cleveland" (2.8MB) by the Cowbirds! Cowbirds member Eric sez: "We recently recorded our debut CD, and one of the outtakes was a version of "Look Out Cleveland" that we'd very much like to share with your website visitors. The Band is one of our principle influences, and we cover probably half a dozen of their songs at our shows."

  • There's a Richard Manuel tribute page at myspace.com. Thanks to Chris Martin for the link.

Jul.26.2006

Jul.24.2006

Jul.22.2006

  • New concert dates for Professor "Louie" & the Crowmatix at the Woodstock Records web site, including this one:

    RICK DANKO TRIBUTE CONCERT

    Friday, August 4th., 2006 at 8pm
    Friendship Festival Weekend

    THE SHOESHINE BOYS BLUES BAND - BEARFOOT - PROFESSOR LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX

    Location: Simcoe Composite School Auditorium (SCS Aud), Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

    Tickets: $25.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door. Call for tickets, 519-426-6655 at Info Centre, 40 Colborne St., S. Simcoe. Reserved seating, doors open at 7pm.

    Tribute Lounge: Food and beverages available (licensed event lounge). Hosted and sponsored by The Simcoe Lions Club.

    BEARFOOT will include Terry Danko (Rick's younger brother) on bass, Jim Atkinson and Hugh Brockie on guitars, Ray Harrison on keys, Orin Baird (horn), Dean Atkinson (of the Atkinson Brothers Band) on drums.

    A video slide show will be presented by Carol Caffin, Rick Danko's longtime publicist, and Glen Silverthorn of the former Rick Danko Band, the Starlites.

  • News from garthhudson.com:
    "Preorder your copies of THE SADIES new CD, In Concert Volume One from YepRoc Records due out August 8. GARTH performed on a few of these tracks and Maud joins in on the track 'Food, Water, Etc.' Also available on Vinyl."

  • News from levonhelm.com:OPOP

Jul.19.2006

Jul.18.2006

Jul.08.2006

  • Summer holidays are here, we'll spend the next week or so in Copenhagen, Denmark. No site updates for a while then.

  • Garth Hudson plays keyboards on the new album from the Lemonheads. Thanks to Jeff for pointing us to this one.

Jul.07.2006

  • News from levonhelm.com

    Due to the overwhelming response to Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Sessions, we've added more Ramble dates to the existing 2006 "season". There are also a few more reservations available for each of the original 2006 shows (July through December).

    In addition, we'd like to announce the line-up for the July 15th show at the Woodstock Playhouse. Show opens at 7:30 p.m. with local talent - Sarah Kramer-Harrison of Woodstock. She is followed by The Alexis P Suter Band. Willie Nile is next, playing with Jimmy Vivino (of the Conan O'Brien show). The show ends with the legendary Levon Helm and The Levon Helm Band. Tickets are available, but are limited. That show is preceeded by a "meet & greet" and BBQ at Levon's private studio/home in Woodstock from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and those tickets (separate from the Playhouse show tickets) can also be purchased at Levon's web site.

    Levon just got back from Vancouver, working on a film entitled "The Shooter" which also stars Danny Glover and Mark Wahlberg. That project is scheduled for release in March 2007.

    Thanks and hope we see you all soon.

  • Added four short '80s articles/reviews from the Boston Globe:

  • More about the new The Band tribute album from billboard.com: "My Morning Jacket Channels The Band For Tribute CD". This sounds promising...

Jul.06.2006

Jul.05.2006

Jul.04.2006

Jul.03.2006

Jul.02.2006

Jun.30.2006

  • Blondie Chaplin, who played with the Band in the '80s and '90s and is now on tour with the Stones, will be releasing his new album Between Us on July 11, 2006. This is Blondie's first official solo release since 1977. More details available from Big Karma Records and Blondie's new site soon.

Jun.29.2006

  • We made our first Itunes music purchase yesterday, Mercury Rev's brilliant 1998 album Deserter's Songs, featuring Garth and Levon. The purchase was cheap, easy and fast, and you can of course burn CDs after downloading. And it makes so much more sense listening to Jonathan Donahue's magnificent "Opus 40" with Levon on drums after actually having been at Opus 40 this weekend. And, guess what... our house DJ, young Final, is playing the Down on the Farm festival in Norway next month with his side project Solar Plexus Punches :-), where the headliners are -- yes -- Mercury Rev...

  • "Forever Young" -- nice article about The Band and The Last Waltz by Julie Richter, from the movie website Hollywood Elsewhere. Thanks, Julie.

Jun.28.2006

  • News from levonhelm.com:

    • "Levon is off to Vancouver to make a film titled The Shooter. The film also stars Danny Glover, Mark Wahlberg and Wesley Snipes."

    • "Levon has added 5 new Midnight Ramble dates for 2006:
      • August 5
      • September 9
      • October 7
      • November 11
      • December 9
      We also have a few tickets available for the July 15th, Meet and Greet and The Woodstock Playhouse. Thanks and see you at the next Ramble..."

  • "Richard On My Mind" -- poem by Graham Manuel.

  • We returned from New York yesterday after a quick visit to NYC and Woodstock. Had a wonderful time at Levon's studio on Saturday. The Ramble was great, Levon's singing and playing strong and beautiful. Before the party started we got to listen to some of the songs from his childhood that Levon is working on with Amy Helm and Larry Campbell. This stuff is so good I couldn't believe it! Also, we caught Springsteen with the Seeger Band in Madison Square Garden on Thursday (woah!), did a little sightseeing in Ulster County (the Tibetian Temple up in the mountains, Opus 40 -- a must-see) and visited friends of the site and The Band. Thanks to Levon, Barbara, Tony and everyone at Levon Helm Studios for taking good care of us. Also thanks to Joe, Doreen, Stu, Marcia, Butch and y'all for making the trip such a nice experience. And a special thank-you to Kay.

Jun.27.2006

Jun.22.2006

Jun.20.2006

  • Added a page for an Australian limited edition 1973 release of Moondog Matinee. Thanks to Peter Viney and Ian Woodward for pointing us to this one.

  • Created new web server statistics for the last 40 days. For the first time in this web site's history, we have a decrease in traffic (about 10%) since the last time we measured it (in November 2005). The amount of information served to our users is still massive, though, with well over a quarter million file requests per day and nearly 1.4 Terrabytes of data transferred during the period.

Jun.19.2006

  • The Band tribute album in the works? From an article at billboard.com:
    ...the quintet [My Morning Jacket] delivered a more than three-hour set that sported a guest turn from friend and singer Andrew Bird for an epic take on another classic rock moment, "It Makes No Difference" by the Band. MMJ recently recorded the track for an upcoming Band tribute album at singer/drummer Levon Helm's barn studio in Woodstock, N.Y.
    Thanks to Brian Day for the link.

  • New tracks from Amy Helm's band Ollabelle are now available at myspace.com.

Jun.18.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:
    Garth's wife, MAUD has now signed up at myspace.com/maudhudson. She has posted never heard ruff "live" versions of "Don't Do It" from Barrie, Ontario, Canada and "Mambo Daddy" from River-to-River Festival in NYC with Tangoman and their band The Best! All the songs posted are performances with Garth. Please read more detail about the songs in MAUD WHISPERS & WAILS.

  • More video from youtube.com: "The Weight" -- cover by the British group Travis, live on the Jools Holland TV show. Nice version, nice skirt on singer Fran Healy... Thanks to Chris Dekker for the link.

Jun.17.2006

Jun.16.2006

Jun.15.2006

Jun.14.2006

Jun.13.2006

  • Our friend Jeff Alexander, songwriter and producer for the 2002 School for Fools blues project featuring Levon Helm, has sent us a song titled "The Mistaken Blues," heavily inspired by The Band's "The Weight." Read Jeff's comments and listen to the song to find out what really happened to "Jack, my dog"...

  • And here's an update from Jeff Alexander's Cousin Moe Music:
    On June 27th, Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!, the movie about Chuck Berry, will be re-released on DVD. The making of that movie was the beginning of the public's beginning to learn who Johnnie Johnson was. Soon Johnnie's true role in the creation of Rock and Roll, and more specifically, in the creation of the songs that Chuck Berry was known as the songwriter of, began to come to light. It was also the beginning of Johnnie's emergence as a solo artist. To honor Johnnie, on June 27th the Cousin Moe Music website will be offering free downloads of Johnnie Johnson's last solo project, Johnnie be Eighty and still Bad! Before too long, we will be offering the project for digital download on various download sites.

Jun.10.2006

  • A Rick Danko leather jacket and Rick Danko guitar picks are now for sale at e-bay.

  • Added 1993 photos of Rick Danko in session and on stage. Thanks to Rick's publicist Carol Caffin for sending us the scans.

  • Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band have included The Band's "Rag Mama Rag" in the encores of their recent shows. An MPEG-3 file with a recording from Columbus, Ohio, 05.30.2006, is available from savefile.com. Thanks to Adam Sterritt for the link.

Jun.09.2006

  • Kris "Jellyroll" Gloer and his Last Waltz Ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia, are celebrating this year's 30th anniversary of The Last Waltz with a new-look website and more of their well-received concerts. See lastwaltztribute.com for reviews, concert dates and more info.

Jun.07.2006

  • amazon.com is running a poll to see which Warner Bros. movies should be released on DVD. One option is Robbie "Patch" Robertson's 1980 flick Carny. Thanks to Chris Reade for the link.

  • Two new drawings by Tim Allard, of Garth and Robbie this time.

Jun.06.2006

Jun.05.2006

  • Desktop "wallpapers" with a photo of Levon are now available for free from levonhelm.com (scroll to the bottom of the web page to find it).

Jun.04.2006

  • New photos from the Levon Helm Day in Woodstock 05.20.2006 at levonhelm.com.

Jun.03.2006

  • "Band Shows" -- assorted '80s Band memorabilia from Tim Wood.

Jun.02.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:
    The Sadies - Vol. 1: This double-live set from Toronto's spaghetti-surf guitar heroes features guests like Neko Case, Garth Hudson, Maud Hudson and Jon Langford. Release date set for August 8, 2006.

  • Covers of "The Weight" and "The Shape I'm In" are available for downloading from the Italian web site for the Hookers Band :-)

  • We received this from Jesse Hochstadt:
    I noticed that though you reference the several covers of Band songs by the Mekons, I didn't find any mention of the Mekons song about the Band - or more specifically about Richard Manuel. Though it never mentions Manuel by name, the song "The Road to Florida," on the 1988 Mekons album So Good It Hurts, is pretty clearly about, or at least inspired by, his suicide while the Robertson-less Band were on tour in Florida. The lyrics are as follows:

    Staying up all night
    In a motel room
    And the alchemy must make sense to me
    Heaped up powders, bottles and tubes
    It's all gone upside down
    It never turns to gold
    I came so close but it slipped away
    (He guards his actions, guards his words)

    It makes no difference
    Now I've come this far
    They send narcotics agents
    To catch a falling star

    It's throbbing so hard
    Like a funeral march
    Twenty years I've been on this road
    Out of control when the hammer comes down

    When the hammer comes down
    Something has to be done
    And this is as good as anything
    (He guards his actions guards his words)

    It makes no difference
    All that work and stuff
    I know that there's a place
    When things start getting rough

    Throbbing so hard
    Like a funeral march
    Kick away the chair

    The repeated use of the phrase, "It makes no difference"; the line "He guards his actions, guards his words," so evocative of "Stage Fright"; the motel room setting; and the final kicking away of the chair (before hanging oneself) - all appear intended to evoke Manuel. Some details seem a little bit wrong - "twenty years ... on this road" is a little too short relative to Manuel's career with the Band, and I don't recall that "narcotics agents" were on this "falling star"'s tail. But the intention seems clear - especially when one considers the Mekons' love for the Band, and their dedication on the 1986 record The Edge of the World: "To Richard Manuel - see you down the road."

    --Jesse

May.31.2006

  • Garth Hudson guests on NYC singer-songwriter Jonah Smith's new album. See the Electronic Press Kit from Relix Records for more about Smith's CD.

  • Photos from the 05.27.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • From the Bruce Springsteen fan site backstreets.com:
    5/30: TURNIN' YOU LOOSE LIKE AN OLD CABOOSE

    A humid night and a sparse crowd in Columbus, and with a tiny G.A. area, the stage seemed almost as crowded as the pit. But as Bruce said while gearing up for the audience participation of "Old Dan Tucker": "We are not great in numbers, but we are mighty!" And it was, by several accounts, a mightier show than DC. "Bring Them Home" moved to the main set for a strong Memorial Day pairing with "Mrs. McGrath," and "My City of Ruins" was back in the opening encore slot. What followed "My City" was the big surprise of the night, as Bruce intro'd a song by J.R. Robertson (why does that name ring a bell?) and said "We ain't never played this one before." Turned out to be a cover of the Robbie Robertson-penned "Rag Mama Rag," from The Band's 1970 self-titled album. From their work with Dylan on The Basement Tapes to their own unique fusion of traditional musical styles, The Band were modern godfathers and propagators of this kind of eclectic Americana, clear forerunners to what Springsteen is bringing to the stage every night. So tonight's world premiere was a very appropriate tip of the hat -- and a rocking one at that, pretty true to The Band's original. After that was a new bit of shtick: earlier on the tour Bruce had laughed that they were playing everything but the kitchen sink on this tour, and one of these nights they'd have to actually bring a kitchen sink. We figured he was kidding. But tonight, that's exactly what they did. Drummer Larry Eagle bashed away on some dishware, and Bruce told him to take it easy: "Patti's gonna kill me if we bust those fucking plates!" Patti herself was absent tonight, and as a result so was the scat portion of "Open All Night." Can't say it didn't work better without it. "Buffalo Gals" didn't come out tonight, and neither did "Ramrod" -- both were listed as possibles after "When the Saints Go Marching In," but a venue curfew cut the night short at 20 songs. But a tremendous show, and a reminder, if anyone needed one, that Springsteen gives it his all no matter how full the house.

    Thanks to Randall Cale for directing us to this one.

  • From sugarmegs.org, a site offering low-quality audio and video streaming of thousands of audience show recordings:

    • 1-hour concert video -- Rick Danko w/Sredni and band, Somers Point, NJ, late '90s.
    • Audio -- Rick Danko & friends, Iron Horse, Northhampton, MA, 01.20.1995.

    Thanks to "Richard" for the links.

May.30.2006

May.29.2006

May.28.2006

May.27.2006
[photo]
Levon Helm

May.26.2006

May.25.2006

  • Two new video clips from the Levon Helm Band's appearance on the Imus in the Morning show on May 22nd are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • Pearl Jam played the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on May 20th -- singer Eddie Vedder performed a wonderful version of The Band's "It Makes No Difference" with opening act My Morning Jacket.

  • Added an early '60s photo of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks and some 1974 photos of Dylan with The Band. Thanks to Curt Copeland for sending the scans.

May.24.2006

May.23.2006

  • Added a video clip (6.5 MB WMV-file) with an interview with Levon from yesterday's Imus in the Morning TV show on MSNBC. Copied from levonhelm.com.

  • A happy birthday to sister Kristin!

May.20.2006

  • "Levon Helm Day" May 20, 2006

    Woodstock, New York, 12498

    On April 18, 2006 the Town of Woodstock Town Board unanimously approved a resolution, declaring Saturday, May 20, 2006 "Levon Helm Day" in Woodstock. The day will begin with government officials presenting Levon with a "key to the village" -- late morning (exact time to be announced on www.levonhelm.com) at the Comeau Property town offices, located in the Village of Woodstock. The celebration will continue throughout the day with local merchants hosting their annual sidewalk sales. There will be live music played on the Village Green throughout the day by The Alexis P. Suter Band and other local musicians, with bands playing a much-deserved tribute to Levon and his songs.

    Levon Helm Studios will host a "meet & greet" at Levon's studio in Woodstock from 4 to 6 p.m (invitations can be obtained through www.levonhelm.com or by calling the studio at 845-679-2744). Invitees will be limited to 100 people and the festivities will include an outdoor BBQ, a tour of the studio and an opportunity to meet Levon and musicians. (Invitations -- $50 per person)

    The festivities will conclude with a concert by The Levon Helm Band, Ollabelle and The Alexis P. Suter Band at the Woodstock Playhouse at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.levonhelm.com or by calling the studio at 845-679-2744. Ticket price is $50 per person.

    This is an opportunity for everyone to come out, enjoy the weather, visit Woodstock, New York -- Levon's adopted hometown AND help us pay tribute to our national treasure, Levon Helm.

  • Photos from the 05.13.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios, with special guest John Sebastian, are now available from levonhelm.com.

May.19.2006

May.17.2006

  • News from levonhelm.com:
    "Levon and The Levon Helm Band will be performing at The Woodstock Playhouse July 15th 20006, at 8pm. Guests to be announced. Also a meet & greet at the studio before the concert, from 4 to 6pm."

  • Levon's young friend Myles Mancuso and his group Mojo Myles and the Blue Ryders will be among the performers on Levon Helm Day in Woodstock this Saturday. They'll play on the Village Green around 2pm.

  • "Beating the Drum for Music " -- article from the Times Herald-Record about the Levon Helm band's performance at Onteora High School in Boiceville, NY, 05.06.2006.

  • A Happy May 17th to all our Norwegian visitors!

May.14.2006

May.13.2006

May.11.2006

May.09.2006

May.02.2006

  • New Levon Helm biography, copied from levonhelm.com. An interesting quote from the bio.: "Levon is currently at work in the studio with Amy Helm, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams on a project close to his heart. The CD will contain music reminiscent of his past and songs handed down from his parents."

May.02.2006

  • Added another live cover of "I Shall Be Released" (5.6 MB MPEG-3 file) by the great Wilco. Excellent quality soundboard recording from the Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL, March 5, 2005. Contributed by Wu Mitchell.

  • According to the newsletter from Carnegie Hall, Amy Helm's band Ollabelle is appearing there along with the Del McCoury Band on May 24th 2006, during "Roots Week", Thanks to Butchie for the info.

  • Photo of Jim Arena at Big Pink added to the Band fans gallery.

May.01.2006

  • The group Ollabelle, featuring Levon's daughter Amy on lead vocal, will release their second album, Riverside Battle Songs, on July 12 on the Verve/Forecast Label. Larry Campbell produced the album with them.

  • New concert dates for Jim Weider's Project Percolator.

  • Added drawings of Levon, Richard and Rick by Tim Allard. Tim is 21, from Burlington, Ontario. He goes to college in Garth's hometown of London, Ontario.

Apr.29.2006

  • News from garthhudson.com:
    "The latest Secret Machines' album, Ten Silver Drops, was released on April 25th and is in stores now. You can hear Garth playing his Black Excelsior Tropicalinnata-120 Bass Piano Accordion and Red Hohner Bravo III-72 Bass Piano Accordion with special effects on "I Want To Know If It's Still Possible". (You can find and listen to track 7 on the very tiny sound menu bar at the bottom of the linked page). "

  • From our friend Rick S. in Suffern, NY:
    "On April 28th Fordham University's Radio Station (The Bronx, New York City), WFUV-90.7, released the results of their Listeners' Poll of the Top 90 "Essential Songs". The Band scored twice: At #9 with 'The Weight' and at #69 with 'It Makes No Difference.' The music lives on in our minds."

Apr.28.2006

  • The Hal Willner-produced Basement Tapes concert in Hollywood, CA, on May 25th, featuring Garth and Maud Hudson, has been postponed. Bummer.

Apr.27.2006

  • Photos from the 04.22.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios, with Rickie Lee Jones, are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • A nice Earth Day pop-up window with the song "Beyond the Breakers" from Garth and Maud Hudson's wonderful live album LIVE at the WOLF as background music, is now available from garthhudson.com.
    [photo]

    [photo]

  • From Kris "Jelly" Gloer, leader of the Last Waltz Ensemble:
    We will be performing 2 shows this weekend. Here are a couple of photos of Tommy Talton and myself at the 4-7-2006 Last Waltz Ensemble Show in Athens. The show was a run-away sell out. Tommy was a friend to the boys and wrote songs for Levon's first solo record. He was a member of Cowboy in the late 60's and played with the Allman Brothers Band and Greg Allman Band.

    "The infectious mood and music of the Last Waltz Ensemble spilled over into a crowd of 400 last month at the Georgia Theatre in Athens. I have never seen a group playing for the first time in Athens, make such a connection with the audience" declared Georgia Theatre manager Will Greene after the show. "This music is timeless and this group is boundless."

    • The Last Waltz Ensemble at The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh NC April 27- Captain Soularcat opens.

    • The Last Waltz Ensemble at The Charleston Pour House in Charleston SC April 29 - Polytoxic opens.

  • "'Last Waltz' Musician's First Tribute" -- news story about the Last Waltz tribute concert in Charleston, SC, this weekend. Thanks to Joan McKibbin for sending us the link.

Apr.22.2006

Apr.21.2006

  • The Band album came in 24 of the 100 greatest albums of all time, as voted by Irish musicians in Hot Press magazine. "Should be no. 1 with Big Pink not far behind, but it is nice that it is still up there almost 40 years later," says Eugene O'Callaghan who sent us this link.

Apr.20.2006

  • News from garthhudson.com:

    • Garth was reunited with Norah Jones in the studio a few days ago... recorded Hammond B3 Organ and a Black Excelsior Tropicalinnata-120 Bass Piano Accordion and a Red Hohner Bravo III-72 Bass Piano Accordion. Lovely songs for her newest album. The sweetness of her voice is sincere. Can't wait to hear the entire CD when it's done.

    • Garth joined Jeff Wasserman at Mark Dann Recording studio in Woodstock last weekend. Jeff was visiting from Norway. After 25 years of writing songs for other people and with coaxing from his friends, Jeff is finally recording an album of his own. We're glad he is. Garth recorded on a Yanagisawa Soprano Saxophone and Hammond B3 Organ. In 1994, Jeff worked as tour manager for The Band in Scandinavia for what Garth dubbed The Band's "Wheelchairs on Fire" tour (Norway, Denmark).

  • New tour dates for Professor Louie & The Crowmatix.

Apr.19.2006

  • Free MPEG-3 download from Levon's January 14 2006 Midnight Ramble:

  • News from levonhelm.com:

    • On April 18, 2006 the Town of Woodstock Town Board unanimously approved a resolution, declaring Saturday, May 20, 2006 "Levon Helm Day" in Woodstock. The day will begin with government officials presenting Levon with a "key to the village" -- late morning (exact time to be announced on www.levonhelm.com) at the Comeau Property town offices, located in the Village of Woodstock. The celebration will continue throughout the day with local merchants hosting their annual sidewalk sales. There will be live music played on the Village Green throughout the day, with bands playing a much-deserved tribute to Levon and his songs.

      Levon Helm Studios will host a "meet & greet" at Levon's studio in Woodstock from 4 to 6 p.m (invitations can be obtained through www.levonhelm.com or by calling the studio at 845-679-2744). Invitees will be limited to 100 people and the festivities will include an outdoor BBQ, a tour of the studio and an opportunity to meet Levon. (Invitations $50 per person)

      The festivities will conclude with a concert by The Levon Helm Band at the Woodstock Playhouse at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.levonhelm.com or by calling the studio at 845-679-2744. Ticket price is $50 per person.

      This is an opportunity for everyone to come out, enjoy the weather, visit Woodstock, New York -- Levon's adopted hometown AND help us pay tribute to our national treasure, Levon Helm.

    • In cooperation and partnership with the Onteora High School (Boiceville, NY), Levon Helm will perform at a fund raiser on Saturday, May 6, 2006, beginning at 8:00 p.m. An electric string band -- Mango -- will open for The Levon Helm Band (Levon Helm, Little Sammy Davis, Jimmy Vivino (of the Conan O'Brien Show), Amy Helm, Mike Merritt (of the Conan O'Brien Show), Erik Lawrence, Brian Mitchell). Mango is a highly acclaimed Onteora Student Band, led by faculty member, Winnie Paetow.

      The event will be held at the Onteora High School, in the auditorium. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Levon's site at www.levonhelm.com OR by calling Levon Helm Studios at 845-679-2744. After-cost proceeds will be donated to the school district's music program and Levon hopes that this event will encourage other area musicians to reach out to their respective school districts to do the same thing. School districts across the State are suffering from budget cut-backs. Those cut-backs often severely impact non-mandated programs such as music and sports and in many cases, much-needed equipment and supplies for these programs is also eliminated. Music is a fundamental part of our lives and our children should not suffer the loss of such enrichment. In his never-ending desire to help our youth, Levon urges everyone to come out and support this fund raiser.

      Raffles will include the following: Yamaha snare drum, donated by Woostock Music Shop, autographed by all musicians playing that evening. An autographed CD by top performing artist, James Blunt of Atlantic Records. Autographed Levon Helm CD/DVDs. Other items are being donated by other local merchants and artisans and those items will be listed as they're received. All raffle proceeds will go to the school's program.

      Ticket prices: $50 for adults, $25 for Onteora students. Date: May 6, 2006 Time: 8:00 p.m.

      Place: Onteora High School Auditorium. Onteora High School, Route 28 West, Boiceville, NY (About 10 miles west of Woodstock, right off Route 28).

Apr.15.2006

Apr.14.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:

    • Evan Dando of the Lemonheads invited Garth to record organ and play some synth for their newest album. A bit of Rock 'n' Roll energy going on at Allaire Studios over the weekend! We will let you know when the CD release date is known.

    • Hammond Heroes, A History of the Hammond Organ and its evolving role in the shaping of popular music. If you think that sounds like a great project, you are right! Garth was filmed in interview and playing for the Hammond documentary last week at the Clubhouse studio.

  • An announcement from our friend, radio host Bob Reichers at WJZF-FM in Maine:
    Next Tuesday, April 18, "Mystery Train" will be doing part 2 of our tribute to The Band. The entire 3 hour program will once again feature the Band (with and without Robbie), lots of solo material, The Hawks, etc.  Mystery Train can be heard world wide at wjzf.org. The show will broadcast Tuesday April 18, 6:00-9:00pm EST, with rebroadcasts Thursday April 20, 6:00-9:00pm  EST and Sunday April 23, 9:00-noon  EST. Great response from many listeners around the world last time -- this next broadcast should be just as much fun !

Apr.13.2006

  • From the April 2006 issue of Uncut:

    • "The Band's second LP saw the full flowering of all their influences. Blending ragtime, roots, country and Dixie soul into an elgiac paean to the American South -- mostly by Robbie Robertson, but with Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko swapping vocals -- charged Vietnam-era rock'n'roll with the frontiere spirit of the past." [The Band is #4 in Uncut's list of the "50 Greatest Cosmic American Albums," behind Smile at #3, The Byrds' Fifth Dimension at #2 and the winner, Workingman's Dead from The Grateful Dead.]

    • "Regular collaborators... are joined by The Band's mercurial keyboard player Garth Hudson (to glorious effect on "Maybe Sparrow") -- and it's the example of The Basement Tapes, or Big Pink, that seems to fire the record's strange brew of myth, dream and dread." [Review of Neko Case's new album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, with a stunning photo of Case.]

    • "Purr-fection -- Steely Dan dude's third solo album in as many decades is a true classic." [5-star (out of 5) review of Donald Fagen's Morph the Cat -- did we mention that we e-mailed with Mr.Fagen earlier this year?]

Apr.11.2006

  • Added a few notes by Harm Van Sleen to Peter Viney's recent article "Band Demos".

  • Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, the Chuck Berry movie masterminded by the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, will be re-released on DVD on June 27th by Image Entertainment. Originally released in 1987, the film chronicles Berry's 60th birthday concert the previous year in St. Louis. Hail! Hail! will be issued as a two-disc "Special Edition" and a four-disc "Ultimate Edition." Both include 54 minutes of previously unreleased Berry rehearsals, encompassing performances with Richards, Eric Clapton, Johnnie Johnson and Etta James. The one-hour documentary "The Reluctant Movie Star" is also included on both versions, detailing the film's genesis. The four-disc set is bolstered with "Witness to History," an hour-plus roundtable with Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley discussing their shared experiences for the first time. Other featurettes include "The Burnt Scrapbook," with Berry and the Band's Robbie Robertson sifting through Berry's personal memorabilia, and "Chuckisms," a roundup of classic Berry sayings.

Apr.09.2006

Apr.07.2006

  • Luigi Cesari has done loads of updates of his Band session discography.

  • Added a high-quality MPEG-3 file (4.6MB) with Scott McClatchy's version of "The Weight," from his 2002 CD Redemption, featuring Willie Nile, Scott Kempner and the legendary Dion. Published with permission from Scott McClatchy. Thank to Bob Wigo for sending us the audio file.

  • News from Jim Weider:
    "Mitch Stein & Ron Jenkins join "ProJECT PERCoLAToR" Band. Mitch "Moose" Stein is a world class guitarist capable of infusing all modern styles together with a rare and organic ease. Mitch has toured as a member of the Steve Kimock Band for the past five years, also with Dave Sanborn, Tania Maria, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans and his group The Hermanators. Ron Jenkins has been a major touring and session musician playing bass with some of the greatest artists of our times! And has a world wide reputation for his bass playing with Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Gato Barbieri, Bill Evans, Jeff Golub and many others."

  • New April tour dates for Jim Weider's Project Percolator.

Apr.04.2006

  • "Heart & Soul: The Band" -- 1994 bio by Barney Hoskyns, from Mojo magazine. Thanks to Dror Warschawski for contributing the text.

Apr.04.2006

  • Levon Helm will perform with Amy Helm and Ollabelle at a free concert in Thomas Bull Memorial Park, Orange County, New York, on June 3rd 2006, at 4:00 p.m. This is the 9th Annual Community in Concert, sponsored by the Joint Membership of Health & Community Agencies (JMHCA), to promote awareness of mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability needs and services.

Apr.03.2006

    [photo]

  • 63 years ago, on April 3rd, 1943, Richard Manuel was born. Too soon gone.

Apr.02.2006

  • "Band Demos" -- new article by Peter Viney.

  • News from Levon Helm Studios:

    • We now have the new Levon Helm and The RCO All Stars CD in stock and Geanine is shipping out orders daily.

    • Readin', Writin' & Rhythmatic with Levon Helm & The Levon Helm Band. An S.O.S. Project (Save Our School) Fund raiser for the Onteora School District's Music Program. Saturday, May 6, 2006 Onteora High School, Route 28 West, Boiceville, New York (10 miles west of Levon Helm Studios, right off Route 28). 8:00 p.m. ticket prices: Adults $50, Students (with ID) $25. Advance ticket sales only through levonhelm.com and available at Onteora High School (845-657-2373). Raffle includes Ramble Tickets and an autographed Yamaha snare drum (autographed by musicians playing that night), donated by Woodstock Music Shop.

    • Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada starring Tommy Lee Jones is now playing at most movie theaters in the USA. L.A. Times says "Levon Helm delivers an unforgettable performance".

    • Levon and the studio crew would like to thank you all for your support and hope to see you at the upcoming Midnight Rambles.

Apr.01.2006

  • Very interesting article in the West Saugerties Journal today.

  • From garthhudson.com:
    Tune in Sunday morning 9:00am-noon to www.wjzf.org for one last chance to listen to the 3-hour webcast of all The Band music and selections from individual solo projects. Many thanks to Bob Reichers at WJZF-FM in Maine for his tremendous support! You may remember Mr. Reichers from his "Nighthawks" show at WOMR-FM in Cape Cod where he began his special programs highlighting music of The Band and it's members from time to time.

Mar.30.2006

Mar.29.2006

Mar.27.2006

  • "Robbie Robertson's magnificent Storyville" -- review by Paul Blake of the two-fer reissue of Robertson's first two solo albums, Robbie Robertson and Storyville.

  • Added a photo of Robbie Robertson and Elvis Costello performing together at the 2006 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. A month before this performance, Costello played with Levon Helm at a Midnight Ramble...

  • Robbie Robertson performed at the 21st annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on March 13th. Robbie participated in a show-closing salute to New Orleans, together with Elvis Costello and Crescent City legends Allen Toussaint, Buckwheat Zydeco, and the Wild Magnolias. The songs played were Toussaint's "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" and Fats Domino's "Walking To New Orleans."

  • Levon Helm is participating in the Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp in NYC in August this year. Thanks to Tim Wood for sending us the link.

Mar.26.2006

  • Photos from the 03.18.2006 Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm Studios are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • From garthhudson.com:
    "Garth and Maud Hudson will participate in The Basement Tapes concert to benefit the national YMCA. The date is confirmed for May 25th, 2006 at the Avalon in Hollywood, California. This is another outstanding Hal Willner production. Anyone familiar with Hal Willner knows that there will be many performers who can be relied on to present their own creative versions of the songs. The lineup will be announced at a later date here, as well as further information when it becomes available."

Mar.25.2006

  • Rest in peace, Buck Owens.

  • Here's another photo of Levon from the last Midnight Ramble. Thanks to Tony at Levon Helm Studios for sending us this one.

  • From the "Band guestbook":
    My copy of Levon Helm & the RCO All Stars Live at the Palladium just arrived. I took the opportunity to run a boring errand so I could listen really LOUD in the car. This is a must-have album, superb performances with the drums loud and to the fore, wonderful horn arrangements, a great "Ophelia" and the opening track "Ain't That A Lot of Love" is way better than the rather weak rendition by The Band on Islands. It's also a very crisp, clear mix, suggesting that this was always seen as a possible release. New tracks (i.e. not on the original RCO All Stars album) include "Ain't That A Lot Of Love," "Goin' Back to Memphis," "Born in Chicago," "Got My Mojo Working" and "Goodnight Irene." With a band comprising Duck Dunn, Dr John, Steve Cropper, Paul Butterfield, Fred Carter Jnr and the TLW horn section, you can't go wrong. You're mad if you don't order it today!
    --Peter Viney

  • Added a recent photo of Levon.

  • "Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble is part party, part concert" -- March 2006 article/review from the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Thanks to Tim Linehan for sending us the link.

Mar.21.2006

  • On St.Patrick's Day, Garth and Maud Hudson posted a beautiful Irish graphic at their web site, with the entire song "Tura-Lura-Lural (Thats' an Irish Lullabye)" as background music -- the live version from The Last Waltz with Richard Manuel and Van Morrison. The song starts after a while when the MP3-file has been downloaded. Nice one, Maud! You may also want to check out what the mischeivious Leprechaun did to the Hudsons' family room :-)

Mar.20.2006

  • "The Last Waltz Tribute Ensemble At The Georgia Theatre 3/3/2006" -- review by Harry McNeil.

  • A happy 60th to our friend and long-time contributor Paul Godfrey. Shine on, Paul!

  • Our old friend Bob Reichers will be doing a special 3 hour program on the Band called "Mystery Train" on WJZF-fm. WJFZ is located in Standish, Maine USA and broadcast worldwide on the internet at wjzf.org. The program will feature tracks by the original line up, the line up without Robertson, solo material by each member and Levon & the Hawks. "Mystery Train" will broadcast next Tuesday night, March 28, 2006, 6:00pm-9:00pm EST, and will be re-broadcast Thursday March 30, 2006, 6:00pm-9:00pm EST and Sunday April 2, 2006, 9:00am-noon.
    [cover]

  • The current issue of record collectors' magazine Goldmine has The Band on the cover. Inside, there's an interview with Robbie Robertson about "the development of The Band's sound, arranging classic tunes such as 'Up On Cripple Creek' and 'The Weight,' the celebrated music film The Last Waltz and compiling music for the box set A Musical History." In addition, the magazine has a two-page discography presenting the U.S. releases by The Band and its members.

  • Levon Helm & The Levon Helm Band are playing a fund raiser for the Onteora School District's Music Program, on Saturday, May 6, 2006, in Boiceville, NY. Tickets and more information available from levonhelm.com.

  • Sound samples from the new Levon Helm & the RCO All Stars live album are now available from levonhelm.com.

  • The Black Crowes' new DVD Freak'n'Roll into the Fog contains a live cover of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

Mar.15.2006

Mar.14.2006

Mar.12.2006

  • John Niven's novella Music from Big Pink gets a very positive review in today's New York Times Book Review. The book was recently 'recommended book of the month' in The Observer and gets a five-star review from Andrew Male in the current issue of UK music magazine Mojo.

Mar.11.2006

Mar.09.2006

Mar.08.2006

Mar.06.2006

Mar.05.2006

  • From garthandmaud.com, yesterday:
    Richard Manuel (1943-1986), always with us... in our hearts and minds. A beautiful voice, great pianist, and wonderful friend. R.I.P. At this time of year we look forward to next month with glee... for he was born in April and brought much happiness. Memories shared in Garth's Rotlings and in Maud's Whispers and Wails.
[photo]
Richard Manuel, 1974

Mar.04.2006

Mar.02.2006

Mar.01.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:
    Yesterday's News were at Levon Helm's Studio last weekend finishing up their newest album. Garth stopped by Saturday evening to say hello and contributed accordion. Let's hope it is released soon so we can all hear it. You can read about the first trip Yesterday's News took to Woodstock, New York at Jan Høiberg's The Band website [here].

Feb.26.2006

Feb.25.2006

  • "Dylan Goes Electric" -- 2004 video interview with Robbie Robertson. Thanks to Ian Woodward for directing us to this one.

Feb.22.2006

Feb.19.2006

Feb.16.2006

Feb.15.2006

  • The web site Wolfgang's Vault, dedicated to presenting and selling items from the archives of legendary manager/promoter Bill Graham (whose given first name was Wolfgang), is now broadcasting live performances recorded at Graham's Fillmore Auditorium and elsewhere, on their internet Vault Radio (click "Play Now!"). Among the recordings in rotation on Vault Radio are previously unreleased performances by Bob Dylan and The Band from Tour '74. Thanks to Timothy Wood for the update.

  • On Friday Feb 17, at 9AM EST, CHEZ 106 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is having a competition for votes between "Up on Cripple Creek" and Queen's "Another one bites the dust" (yeck). This is the first round of the "Rock and Roll Olympics". The Band needs votes to proceed to round 2...
[graphics]

Feb.14.2006

  • From garthandmaud.com:
    HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Music in the family room. Click on the icons (please wait for songs to download, art by, © 2006, Dave Zuck).
    --Garth and Maud Hudson

Feb.13.2006

Feb.12.2006

  • The new album Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars Live at the Palladium is now available for pre-order from levonhelm.com.

  • Elvis Costello(!) and Allen Toussaint(!!) showed up for Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble yesterday. Here's an audience review posted at the Dylan pool:

    It was a beautiful night, and everyone should make an effort to get to at least one of these things. You pretty much sit in what one of the performers called "Levon's living room" (actually a modified barn)and spend 5 or 6 hours with Levon and his guests, in an informal and easy atmosphere of joyful music-making. Of all stripes. There was a jazz band, a rhythm 'n blues lady, Levon doing "rootsy" stuff, Levon doing rock 'n roll, Allen Toussaint doing his piano rolls, Elvis Costello doing new songs he's working on with Toussaint - the whole cast of bands and characters reconfigures for each set, with a lot of seeming spontaneity. Levon's the master chef for his set - calling out the menu and ingredients as the spirit moves him - and, man, does the spirit move him! His presence was the key-note of the evening - he just radiated pleasure and happiness in what was happening and swept everyone up in a kind of collective merriment.

    He came out and did a set on guitar, with his daughter Amy playing and singing with him. Elvis was on rhythm guitar, very unassuming, and just followed along. Diana Krall came out and did assorted syllables with Amy on some of the songs. He did "Atlantic City" and "Man of Common Sorrow" and an awesome "Don't Ya Tell Henry." He's in fine vocal form - there's no holding back, it's full throttle. His voice is a national treasure - "he should leave it to the Smithsonian" (as Bob said of Brian Wilson's ear). When he switched to the drums the set became more rock 'n roll; listening to disc 1 of the Band box today, it makes me realize how full circle he went - back to the Ronnie Hawkins and the Levon & the Hawks recordings. It's like he's gathering up every type of music he's ever made and loved and letting it tumble out with a generous prodigality. A harp player joined him and did the blues equivalent of "1000 Views of Mt. Fuji" - about 10 versions of your basic blues vamp - Levon kept yelling out "Do one more!"

    At some point, Allen Toussaint came out and led the band for a bit, then Elvis took center stage and did his new songs ("Ascension Day's" a ... ummm... gem!). Then everyone came back out for a grand finale - which went on and on. "Rock and Roll will never die" was the presiding deity of the finale.

    Just recounting sets and set-lists doesn't really do justice to the evening though - it's shot through with a certain luminosity of spirit that has to be experienced - sorry, all you "had-to- be-there"-agnostics - but in this case it's true, it was a musical warts-and-all (false starts, mis-steps, "what the hell is he playing now?," bemused musicians looking at each other in grinning bemusement) thing, which will not sound on tape anything like it felt in person.

    Two little moments that stood out: Levon had a piano/accordion man who ceded his seat at the piano to Allen Toussaint and stood behind him on accordion while Toussaint was playing. At one point, I guess Toussaint was trying to figure out where Levon was going and he leaned back to follow what the accordian was doing - after a moment, a exceedingly bright grin of appreciation and pleasure broke out on his face at what Mr. Accordion Man was playing - he looked back at him with this big smile of approbation on his face and then turned back to his keyboard and picked up the riff from the accordion. That kind of encapsulated the tenor of the proceedings - these guys taking pleasure in the collective art of music-making and sharing it in an unabashed way in this mercifully "unprofessional" setting.

    The other was watching Levon's daughter give the unfailingly right type and degree of support to her Dad in every moment of the evening - handing him the guitar or mandolin he needed, lending her voice, signalling the other musicians; at the heart, this was a family affair - and it was great to be able to share in this family's bounty for a few hours, on a winter's evening. We left the barn at around 1 am - to a gathering snowfall...

Feb.09.2006

Feb.08.2006

  • Neko Case's new album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, featuring Garth Hudson, will be released on March 7, 2006.

  • More notes by Maud from the Hudson's current trip to Canada posted at garthandmaud.com.

  • New concert dates for Jim Weider's ProJECT PERCoLAToR.

  • And the playlist for The Band segment on last Friday's Norwegian radio show Cowboy & Indianer, featuring yours truly, was: "The Weight" (The Band w/the Staple Singers), "The Stones I Throw Will Free All Men" (Levon & the Hawks), "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" (Bob Dylan and the Hawks), "Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos" and "Acadian Driftwood."

Feb.07.2006

Feb.05.2006

  • Robbie Robertson's first two solo albums, Robbie Robertson and Storyville, were re-released on the Hip-O label on January 6th, 2006, as a 2-CD set with 4 bonus tracks. Only 5000 (non-numbered) limited edition copies of the set will be produced, at a price of $40.

Feb.04.2006

  • The Chuck Berry movie Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll will be released on DVD in June as a four-disc set, with more than seven hours of new material. According to an article at billboard.com, the DVDs will include a conversation between Berry and The Band's Robbie Robertson in which Berry talks about his prison experiences for the first time.

  • Garth and Maud Hudson have extended their stay in Canada: They joined the Sadies on stage in Toronto on Friday, and will appear with them again tonight! The shows are being recorded. See garthhudson.com for more.

  • Our Italian friends The Beards are playing a series of "Tribute to Richard Manuel" concerts in February and March. See their web site for more information (and while you're there, check out the concert poster and the live sound clips).

  • Photo of "Still Phil" at Big Pink added to the Band fans gallery.

  • Yesterday's radio special on NRK P1 in Norway, featuring yours truly commenting on and selecting tracks from the new Band box set, is now available on the net (scroll down to the green header labeled "Nettradio" and click the link marked "Cowboy og Indianer 03.02.06 23:03"). The Band kicks in about 10 minutes into the show. Enjoy the music and the Norwegian language :-)

Feb.02.2006

  • We recorded a 40-minute radio interview about The Band and the new box set today, for the nationwide Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's channel NRK P1. It will air tomorrow, at 11pm GMT+1, as part of a roots/country music program called Cowboy & Indianer (all programs are archived and made available on the internet), hosted by legendary music writer/ promoter/ manager Tom Skjeklesæther. It's all in Norwegian, I'm afraid -- the talking, anyway. The music played includes 5 tracks from the box set, picked by yours truly (any GB'ers wanna guess what tracks?).

Feb.01.2006

  • From Maud Hudson's current travel report from the Hudsons' trip to Canada:
    Sunday, January 29, 2006 4:00 AM (EST)
    The evening was spent in our suite with Garth being interviewed on camera for the DVD to accompany the Levon and The Hawks box set, From Bacon Fat to Judgment Day.
    Read more at garthandmaud.com.

Jan.31.2006

  • On Saturday February 25th, 2006, Levon Helm will be appearing with The Howlin' Wolf All-Star Tribute Band, featuring Hubert Sumlin, David Johansen, Levon and Jimmy Vivino, at B.B. King's Blues Club, 237 W. 42nd St., NYC. 1 Show at 8PM.

  • New concert dates for the Jim Weider Band.

Jan.30.2006

Jan.28.2006

  • A one-hour program titled "The Band, A Music History" will be broadcast on WCBE in Columbus, Ohio, today, Saturday January 28, from 8 pm to 9 pm EST. The program will also be available on the internet. Thanks to Dave Besterman for the info.

  • He-hey, we e-mailed with the legendary Donald Fagen from Steely Dan today! Fagen's new album Morph The Cat will be released in March. Tour dates and more info. available from donaldfagen.com.

Jan.27.2006

  • Added a video clip (33 megabyte MPEG-1 video file) with Levon Helm, from ABC's Nightline, December 30, 2005.

  • From a film review of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada in the LA Weekly:
    "There are many who make brief appearances in this rich and strange US-to-Mexico odyssey from director/star Tommy Lee Jones. But it's the veteran rock musician Helm, as a blind, friendly loner with a plainspoken request, who touches most deeply on the film's themes of borders both physical and mental, and what it takes to cross them."

Jan.26.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:

    • "BLOG ALERT!!! Garth and Maud Hudson will be reporting in LIVE from Toronto and Stratford via their GARTH ROTLINGS and MAUD WHISPERS & WAILS pages. And it all starts right --- now!"

    • "Garth and Maud will be attending a launch party in Toronto on January 26th for Shakin' All Over -- Canadian Pop Music in the 1960s, an upcoming CBC-TV special celebrating Canadian music in the 1960s. The two-hour documentary will air as a CBC "Big Ticket" event on Monday, January 30th, 2006 at 8 p.m. EST. This documentary is inspired by the book Before The Gold Rush: Flashbacks to the Dawn of the Canadian Sound by Nicholas Jennings. Great archival footage and recent interviews that include Garth, Robbie, Ronnie, Duff Roman, Colin Linden and the late Domenic Troiano among many others that you will like to hear and see. Be sure to check it out."

Jan.25.2006

  • Some news from down under:
    LAST DRINKS WALTZ TO MELBOURNE
    Australian rock band, Jason Walker and the Last Drinks, who hosted a very successful Last Waltz tribute show in Sydney last November are taking the show to Melbourne. The group will be reprising their tribute to the Last Waltz at Melbourne's Corner Hotel on Sunday February 12th. Tickets are $18+bf and can be purchased in person from the venue or at the venue's website, or it's $20 if you turn up on the night. As with the Sydney show, The Last Drinks will be playing a nearly complete Last Waltz set, with some surprise additions. Expect to hear all your Band favourites, a horn section, the famous guest spots including members of You Am I, Ice Cream Hands, the Vandas plus many more to be confirmed. Hope to see you there.

  • Last Waltz tribute gigs seem to be in fashion in 2006:
    LAST WALTZ TRIBUTE RETURNS TO SMITH'S OLDE BAR
    The Last Waltz Tribute will return to Smith's Olde Bar on Friday April 7, 2006 to perform songs from the film The Last Waltz by The Band. Showtime is 10:00 pm. This act was a runaway sellout and crowd pleaser at Smiths last November. Atlanta's Kris "Jelly Roll" Gloer is founder and promoter of the Tribute, which features Houndog (in which Gloer plays along with Mark Kramer, Eric Reed and Kevin Rutschman). Special performing guests will include Donna Hopkins, Oliver Wood, Rick Richards, Brad Thomas formerly of Bluestring, David Fisch and Kevin Thomas from Fish Mouth Fools, and special guests fro Big City Sunrise. The ensemble will perform more than 20 songs from the concert film. "You've got to respect your roots, and The Last Waltz is classic rock history," said Gloer. "This act is striking a very responsive chord with audiences and selling out great music rooms. 2006 is the 30th anniversary if the film, and we've got some serious karma flowing. Come see us!" Tickets: Etix.com.

Jan.23.2006

Jan.22.2006

  • From garthhudson.com:
    "Garth was in the studio with Colin Linden on January 11th. He played accordion and Hammond B3. Colin was recording his new album at Bearsville Studios at Turtle Creek. It was a Blackie and the Rodeo Kings project that became quite a reunion with Garth, Richard Bell and Jimmie Weider. Hope it will be available soon."

Jan.21.2006

  • Rest in peace, Wilson Pickett.

  • Short review of Rick Danko's Cryin' Heart Blues, published in the Rockland Journal News (Gannett Newspapers) in their weekend section "The Line":
    "Cryin' Heart Blues"- Rick Danko, Other Peoples Music
    "Cryin' Heart Blues," the posthumous deep-throat CD from former Band bassist and singer Rick Danko ties together any remaining loose ends for a great, but underused voice. "Cryin' Heart Blues" works like the brilliant "Hoy Hoy," Little Feat's 1981 epitaph to Lowell George -- a patchwork of live cuts and studio recordings in what amounts to a final goodbye. It's the sort of record that demands repeated listening, though some of the 17 tracks aren't much more than half-baked sticks and stones from aborted late 1970s projects. It's the mid-'80's studio segments with collaborator Blondie Chapman that truly bring this project to life. Cuts include the husky whine of "Twilight" and a first-rate overhaul of the Motown classic: "I'll Turn to Stone."
    --Paul Fastiggi, Hartford Courant

  • Loads of photos and info. on Jim Weider available from analogman.com.

Jan.19.2006

  • New photo story from the December 31, 2005, Midnight Ramble now available from levonhelm.com. The photos are presented as a 1.6 MB Windows Media Video file that may require downloading the WMV 9 VCM codec from Micro$oft for viewing -- at least I had to do that.

  • Jerry Lee Lewis' new album The Pilgrim, featuring Robbie Robertson and many other famous guest musicians, will be released in March 2006. Thanks to Brown Eyed Girl for the update.

  • New concert dates for Jim Weider's ProJECT PERCoLAToR.

Jan.16.2006

Jan.15.2006

  • The program Shakin' All Over -- Canadian Pop Music in the 1960s will air on CBC TV in Canada on Monday, January 30th, at 8pm, featuring interviews with Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson, and The Band performance footage of "The Weight" as well as "Who Do You Love" with Ronnie Hawkins and "Helpless" with Neil Young. Thanks to Nicholas Jennings for the info.

  • 10 new links from Brown Eyed Girl.

  • New concert dates for the Jim Weider Band.

Jan.11.2006

  • From today's news at the music industry web site MusicTAP:
    "Fans of The Band will be happy to know that out of print albums by the group AFTER the classic lineup that featured Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel, will be reissued featuring 24-bit remastering. The titles impacted will be Jericho, and High on the Hog, which itself will feature 2 bonus tracks as well the aforementioned 24-bit remastering. These albums wern't bad albums but, again, did not feature the classic lineup. Both discs will release from Fontana's Titan/Pyramid Records on February 21. I'm getting them!! "
    Thanks to David P. for updating us on this in the new "guestbook".

  • "New liver provides new life" -- new article about former The Band manager Butch Dener, from the Times Herald-Record.

Jan.10.2006

  • From Garth and Maud Hudson:
    "THANK YOU for all the good wishes over the holidays and our anniversary. The year ahead looks promising. We are considering tours with our new band, The Best! We are working with OPM Inc in Toronto for more archival releases, and continue plans for The GARTH HUDSON Institute."
    Read more at garthhudson.com.

  • New links from Brown Eyed Girl.

Jan.07.2006

  • From Uncut magazine, January 2006:

    Rick Danko: Cryin' Heart Blues
    Richard Manuel: Whispering Pines
    Garth Hudson: Music For Our Lady Queen Of The Angels
    Garth and Maud Hudson: LIVE at the WOLF

    OPM MUSIC

    A generous batch of rare post-Band solo recordings

    Contrary to popular opinion, most of The Band did not retire from recording or stage performance after the 'apparent' denouement that was The Last Waltz. Mssrs. Helm, Danko, Manuel, and Hudson carried the legacy forward through various incarnations and solo projects for another 20-plus years. In fact, 1998's Jubilation, the final chapter under the Band's moniker, remains a virtually unknown masterpiece.

    Rick Danko released arguably the best post-Band recording, an eponymous platter, in 1977. His affable spirit and musical Catholicism characterize Cryin' Heart Blues as well, a collection centered around late-'70s sessions for his aborted second Arista album. Here, Danko teams with one-time Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin on tracks ranging from stark country balladry (the title cut) to mutant rustic soul. Danko's angelic falsetto on "Cry Another Tear" rivals Marvin Gaye. It also includes three '80s/'90s-era studio cuts and four fiercely rocking live 1979 numbers featuring Chaplin and Paul Butterfield.

    Probably the most tragic aspect of the entire Band/Hawks saga is that Richard Manuel, a singer of unfathomable depth and lump-in-throat vulnerability, never regained his studio footing. Whispering Pines, a live 1985 performance, represents the sum total of his official solo legacy. And it is magnificent. Manuel's voice is a bit off-the-cuff, gruff in spots, and lyrics are occasionally flubbed, but "Chest Fever" is shockingly intense, Manuel leaning into the lyric with palpable desperation. "Whispering Pines", meanwhile, is unbearably haunting, an existential hymn.

    A more curious item in the collective's back-catalogue is Hudson's keyboard opus for Music for Our Lady Queen of the Angels. Originally composed to accompany sculptor Tony Duquette's 1980 exhibit in honour of Los Angeles' 200th birthday, Hudson's expansive and elegiac score is a marvel, weaving otherworldly textures, ambient bits, and even Ray Bradbury poems (read by Charlton Heston) through the vastness of fevered imagination.

    LIVE at the WOLF is a slightly more grounded affair, a stellar, mostly improvised show by Garth and his wife Maud. Once again, Hudson's virtuoso keyboards are front and centre, embellishing the songs with playful, imaginative fills, while Maud handles the vocals on both standards and a few old Band nuggets with the rarefied delivery of a soul/blues diva. (www.opm66.com)
    --Luke Torn

    Q&A Garth Hudson Uncut

    1. UNCUT:Is LIVE at the WOLF similar to your current shows?

      GARTH HUDSON: No, this was a premier performance. A lot of it is improvised, solo sections would be introduced. We were experimenting -- it was the first time we did a full concert together as a duo. We debuted our 12-piece band named The Best! in NYC, June 2005.

    2. UNCUT: Did Richard Manuel do any more recordings over the years?

      GARTH: There's a piano interlude that he did, no voice -- it was very short, and when I heard it, I thought maybe you could give it to some young fella who does looping, or samples -- kids love to do those kinds of things.

    3. UNCUT: OPM is promising a Hawks boxed set soon. What kinds of songs were the Hawks attracted to?

      GARTH: The big event was when I changed the chords in "Georgia," that's one of the first 'uptown' songs we worked on -- making subtle changes here and there. By then I already understood conventional jazz harmony very well.

Jan.05.2006

  • A Tribute to The Last Waltz will be held this Saturday, 01.07.2006, at The Cabooze in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The musicians appearing as The Band and the Last Waltz guest artists are among the best from Minneapolis and St. Paul. For tickets and details, see The Cabooze Online Box Office.

  • 10 new links from Brown Eyed Girl.

  • The new issue of Uncut magazine ("1966 40 Years On" themed) has reviews of the 2005 Other Peoples Music releases and LIVE at the WOLF, plus a little three question interview with Garth Hudson. Very good reviews by Luke Torn, especially considering the space. Cryin' Heart Blues (Rick Danko) gets 4 stars, Whispering Pines (Richard Manuel) 5 stars and Music for Our Lady Queen of The Angels (Garth Hudson) and LIVE at the WOLF (Garth and Maud Hudson) both get 3 stars.

    A couple of quotes from the reviews:

    "Jubilation, the final chapter under The Band's moniker, remains a virtually unknown masterpiece"

    (Cryin' Heart Blues) "tracks range from stark country balladry (the title cut) to mutant rustic soul (Danko's angelic falsetto on 'Cry Another Tear' rivals Marvin Gaye)."

    (Whispering Pines): "The title track is unbearably haunting; an existential hymn."

    (Music for Our Lady Queen of The Angels): "Hudson's expansive and elegiac score is a marvel, weaving otherworldy textures, ambient bits and even Ray Bradbury poems read by Charlton Heston."

    (LIVE at the WOLF): "Hudson's virtuoso keyboards are front and centre, embellishing the songs with playful imaginative fills, while Maud handles the vocals on both standards and a few old Band songs with the rarified delivery of a soul / blues diva."

    Thanks to Peter Viney for posting the review info. and quotes in the new "guestbook".

  • Added the albums It Ain't Necessarily So, But It Is... Normie Rowe (Normie Rowe & the Playboys, 1965) and But It's All Right (J.J. Jackson, 1967) to the list of covers of Band songs, both with an early cover of Levon & the Hawks' "The Stones I Throw."

  • New concert dates for Jim Weider's ProJECT PERCoLAToR and the Jim Weider Band.

  • The Band's A Musical History is featured as #2 in the 2005 Top Ten Musical Reissues/Box Sets in the current edition of Rolling Stone magazine.

Jan.04.2006

  • A transcript from Levon's appearance at ABC's Nightline show on December 30, 2005, has been posted at levonhelm.com.

  • From a recent Q&A session posted at folkrock/guitar legend Richard Thompson's web site:
    Q: Your albums (and those of the Band) have been largely responsible for my interest in instruments like accordion and mandolin and their use in rock settings. You have played with Garth Hudson on at least one occasion and I see Garth is on Teddy's upcoming CD. Can you tell us a bit about playing with Garth? Did you work together on Teddy's latest? Any chance of you two doing more work together?

    A: My encounters with Garth are a bit few and far between. I first met him at festivals in the '80s, and was probably speechless with admiration, having loved his contribution to The Band - Albert Hall 1970 was a bit special. Most recently, I played with him at the Harry Smith tribute at Royce Hall in LA. We have appeared on the same records, but as far as I know, never at the same time. Garth is a monster musician, who also has the fascinating, and disconcerting, ability to continue the last conversation you happened to be having with him, even after a gap of years.

  • The Chicago octet Head of Femur have a song entitled "Song for Richard Manuel" on their most recent album Hysterical Stars. They also cover The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" on a new iTunes exclusive EP.

  • 10 new links from Brown Eyed Girl.

Jan.03.2006

Jan.02.2006

Jan.01.2006


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