Music aficionados would undoubtedly agree: If you had to name three groups that were most influential in shaping the modern era of American rock ‘n’ roll, it would be, in no particular order, The Grateful Dead, The Band and The Allman Brothers. This premise is symbolically validated by the three being chosen as the only groups to perform at Watkins Glen’s Summer Jam, an event that continues to hold the distinction of generating the largest paid attendance of any concert in the entire history of the Western hemisphere, surpassing even Woodstock.
Relevant to the music that served to catapult each group to an elite rock super-star status, it was the music of The Band that was most embraced by FM rock radio — the predominant media force of the day. Mega radio hits such as “The Weight,” “Ophelia,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” “Arcadian Driftwood,” “Makes No Difference,” “Rag Mama Rag,” “Chest Fever,” “King Harvest,” “The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down,” “Get Up Jake,” “Shape I’m In,” “Stage Fright,” “Don’t Do It,” “Tears of Rage”, “Time To Kill,” “Life Is A Carnival,” “Across The Great Divide” . . . honestly, we could go on and on but you get the picture, right ? Due to unparalleled air play, The Band’s music ultimately became an indelible thread, deeply woven into the fabric of the evolving American culture.
Today, The Band’s music continues to mark time in the lives of millions of baby boomers around the world, and is being rediscovered by today’s youth. The impact has been astonishingly positive as this increasing audience becomes exposed to these same timeless songs through alternative networks, classic rock radio and the internet’s various music delivery systems.
At the core of The Band’s existence stood Levon Helm, and his recent passing came with a wish that the resurgence of the group’s music continue its upward evolution and remain a vibrant force in the concert world. To that end, two members of The Band, guitarist Jim Weider and dual drummer Randy Ciarlante, soulfully chose to heed the call. Logical recruits, bassist Byron Isaacs and keyboardist Brian Mitchell (both members of Levon’s side project, The Midnight Ramble Band), eagerly climbed aboard. Marty Grebb, who often jammed with members of The Band and wrote for their critically acclaimed Jericho album, also joined the cause.
So there you have it. Five musical brothers, all with legitimate “Band” heritage, locked at the hip and passionate about the mission of performing songs of The Band live and in concert. Quite frankly, these guys had consistently been doing just that for many years anyway, so their shows are truly as close to the real deal as the world is ever gonna get . . . and that’s heavy statement for sure. Thus the new group’s name: THE WEIGHT.
On December 5 at 8 PM, The Weight takes the stage at The Colonial to revisit the radio hits and deep tracks of The Band — one of America’s most loved and revered musical institutions. Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, The Band’s additional accolades include their position at No. 50 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004. Musically, The Band was lauded for its fusion of many different genres, including most notably old country music and early rock ‘n’ roll, although their sound was often reminiscent of Motown-style rhythm and blues.