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The Band

19
The Band

The Band
First known as the Hawks, the Band got their initial fame as Bob Dylan’s backing band. Remember when Bob Dylan sold out and went electric, angering fans so much that they called him “Judas”? Well, you can thank all of that to the Band. For a band that sounds so fucking American (seriously- no band has done the whole Americana roots music better than the Band) it’s pretty funny most of them were Canadian. After finally branching out on their own in 1968, the Band would release some of the best music ever recorded… and if you thought the Beatles had a hell of a run- check out the Band’s discography: 1968’s Music From Big Pink, 1969’s self-titled The Band, 1970’s Stage Fright, 1971’s Cahoots, 1972’s live-album Rock of Ages, 1973’s Moondog Matinee, 1975’s Northern Lights -Southern Cross, and 1977’s Islands. Lynard Skynard may have taken the crown for greatest southern rock band, but for a band full of Canadians and Americans, the Band really embraces and sells the American-South like no other. That being said, there is no way to really categorize this band. Sure, I could tell you to go listen to “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, but then you’d miss out on rockers like “Ophelia”. This is a band on par with Aretha Franklin, in the sense that I am getting overwhelmed just trying to talk about their majestic harmonies and musicianship. Obviously a blog post won’t do them justice either. This band is all organic. They started from the bottom- or rather- the basement up, literally. The Basement Tapes, which they recorded with Bob Dylan, is often regarded as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s crowning achievements and greatest accomplishments. It’s hard to be known as the backing band for Bob Dylan, his 1966 tour where he “sold out” and still get out of his shadow and make a name for yourself. But when you have musicianship like this… I mean- come on. They could have backed up Adele, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey rolled into one and still have made a name for themselves. Each member brings something special. Robbie Roberston is an amazing guitarist. Richard Manuel has a falsetto so high no one in their right mind would attempt to try and replicate his sound. And every famous rock keyboardist (I’m lookin’ at you Page McConnel) follow in the footsteps of Garth Hudson. And I would like to write about Levon Helm’s amazing drumming and singing but I’m afraid that could be its own blog-post in its own right. I love Levon like a fat kid loves cake… he means so much to me. He gave me the courage and realization that a drummer could be taken seriously as a singer. Not many drummers get a tribute album from amazing musicians when they pass. Check out the song “It Makes No Difference.”  I feel like that sums up The Band the best. Besides just finding their fanbase and own groove, The Band would leave us to early, with so much more to give. But, boy, did they leave us. They left us us with The Last Waltz. Again, a whole blog-post could be written about The Last Waltz. But let’s just say this: The Band put on their final concert on Thanksgiving 1976. Martin Scorsese was there to direct it. Neil Young was there to perform and do cocaine. Van Morrison was their to do air kicks and attempt scat singing. It is truly one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest captured concerts. Top Ten no doubt. And that’s that… that’s…

The Band

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