I've never heard piano played like that before. R.I.P. Richard Manuel. He was something else. Every member of this group was an absolute powerhouse of talent.
Great little document of one of the all-time great rock bands in their absolute prime. One could of course write a novella on the massive talent of each and every one of them individually, but together they are pure gold. The Helm/Danko vocal blend is perhaps the very essence of their magic. How wonderful to have this cinematic treasure.
I was there 20 rows back on ground floor. All of my beloved friends were there as well. Words cannot express our appreciation of the musical talents we experienced that night. A small venue. Great accoustics. Great artists. This show went beyond our expectations.
Where was this band concert at. What hall? I saw them backing up dylan in cleveland on November 12, 1965 and in January of 1974 with dylan at the mapel leaf gardens.
@@MrEdkern The Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, PA. It was located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh (Pitt, CMU, and other schools are there). A beautiful, beloved, venue. Torn down in 1991 to build a parking lot.🤦
I think I’m more jazzed about seeing the Mosque again than I am with the performance! I saw so many shows there (including The Band). I really miss that place.
I was there, too, 1st balcony, they sold the place out, my ticket cost $15⁰⁰! We in the audience were wildly enthusiastic and, And, AND, we were listening attentively and quietly to these five quintessential musicians: no whoops and hollering to interrupt them at work. You can tell by listening, now, to the silence in the Hall while re-tuning takes place. I was 20, a native working Pittsburgher, and STAGE FRIGHT, their third album, had just been released. This concert at Syria Mosque was in the autumn of 1970 because l later, that tour, drove out to Cleveland in a crazy blizzard to hear them play. When they started "Look Out, Cleveland", the roof rose off the Cleveland Auditorium. I think the song opened the 2nd set, because Alain Toussaint was there on stage, leading the same New Orleans horn section from the Stage Fright studio recording. What a surprise THAT was for us! Excellant acoustics there, too, just like back in Pittsburgh. I think that the songs-clip, above, is from a film shot by a Danish film crew there on the stage with the guys. Those discerning Danes! For me, it's The Band, The Beatles, Bobby Zimmerman, and The Beach Boys! Memorable music for my old age. Wow! A heads-up to my fellow Portland, Oregonians Band-lovers: it's time again for the 15th annual live rendition of The Band's Thanksgiving concert, The Last Waltz, wonderfully performed by The NoWhere Band of Portland, this Thanksgiving weekend, 2024, at the Alberta Rose. It is always a non-profit fundraiser for local musicians' additional medical & living expenses. Love to Garth and to all still-standing lovers of The Band. Love you ALL! ♡♥︎♡♥︎♡
I hope people can appreciate how darn hard it is to play drums while singing at the same time. There's a reason it isn't done often by too many drummers and when it is, it's a seriously special talent doing it. Levon Helm was such.
+Mic Tod™ Yeah levon was so talented, especially in Don't Do It, but the guy from the Eagles (Glenn Frey..?) was a worthy competitor of talent in singing and drumming
+Mic Tod™ playing drums...you're dealing w rhythm. playing BASS....you're dealing w rhythm, chord changes, and often melody. you think it's hard sing while playing drums??? try it while playing bass! and if that's not hard enough....do it on a FRETLESS like Rick Danko is doing!
I can't get over Danko - I knew he was talented but that's ridiculous. Singing beautifully and playing bass with faultless groove and melody. talk about underrated!
Just discovered this, and I love it. I saw them in the Wollman Rink in Central Park NY in 1970 or ‘71 doing material from the first 3 albums and they were in top form. Garth’s intro to Chest Fever still sticks in my memory. Now he is the sole surviving member, but the rest live on in so many of our memories.
I saw them at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, 3/21/70. I was 11, and it was the first rock concert I ever saw. And like you, his intro to Chest Fever sticks in my memory. (As a matter of fact, it´s the only song that I can say for certain that I remember.)
They were so tight their heartbeats and breaths were in synch. So unique and so loved by fans. Many people recognize their songs and never realized who they were. But their body of work will live on and be appreciated. Thanks for posting.
RIP Richard Manuel, Rick Danko & Levon Helm. Rick Danko is definitely my favourite member . Everything he touched turned to gold . Incredible fretless skills and his harmonies are NEVER off .
@@kathleenogrady8459and Jimi and Brian reliving Monterey but with Buddy Holly too. Lol. Don’t need to buy no ticket don’t need to ride no train y’all get there all the same. ( I know I stole most of that from a couple of old tunes. Not sure which ones. So I can’t take credit for it. Just thought it sounded cool.) cheers from Montreal. 😎
They truly were a marvel - so loose and so tight at the same time. The versions of the songs here are all close to the original recordings but you never get the feeling they're doing it by rote - there's passion and commitment in every note. And this was just a run of the mill gig. Not many bands deliver like that - and not many bands yodel. Wonderful!
One of my all-time magic moments in music came at a Band concert in Berkeley in the early 70s. They launched into "Chest Fever" the big organ intro, went thru the lyrics as on the recording, then everyone but Garth Hudson left the stage and he took all of us on the most amazing trip. We hardly noticed when, 25 minutes later, the rest of The Band eased back onto the stage. But when Garth segued back into those crashing chords, the whole place erupted into a spontaneous standing ovation.
***** He is serious, but mistaken. I saw the same concert opening on the East Coast in late 1970. Garth noodled around for maybe 10 minutes (25 is a way long time), the the others returned to standing applause and The Shape I'm In.
The sklll level of the Band was so high that it took years before they were really appreciated for what great musicians they were and what a great song writer Robbie Robertson was and what a talent Levon Helm was.
They were (sans Helm) the backup band for Dylan. Then rock critics and rock stars were in awe of them from their first album '68. Stop making up things in your head.
Best 5 cylinder engine ever made and firing on all five. With all the shit going down today in the U.S.A. today, good to be reminded that nowhere else could a southerner and four Canadians have come together to create this magical and greatest of all American roots music. I hope we can stop all the fear mongering and other bullshit and get this country back on track -- it is truly a special place.
I always thought it was strange that no one seemed to film The Band after two of the greatest albums ever. The Internet has proven this was a myth - so many great live performances have been captured and Band fans are very grateful to all concerned.
I was immersed in a different kind of music during these guys most prolific years . I discovered them a little late but much to my joy better late than never
Saw them in Hartford CT at Trinity College ........ pretty sure that it was the same year, or perhaps the year before. It still ranks as the best concert I've ever attended. A magical confluence of what we were aching for at the time! There was something undeniably refreshing about these simple guys just up there playing so well, without all of the hyped up mannerisms that other rock musicians cultivated. Not a word spoken between songs. Just perfectly executed music being played by our new heroes! I remember my drummer friend was so impressed that Levon Helm didn't have a belt on his jeans. LOL! We were there for the music, and so were they! I think I was sixteen years old at the time, playing in bands regularly since I was twelve, so we realized what we were seeing. We were rockers who were also turning on to roots blues and folk, and these guys had found a way to merge everything together in such an unaffected, genuine sound! People have to remember that the bands were all so very young and inexperienced then. We had heard that this band had been together for something like 8 years before their first album. Unheard of! They were so well rehearsed and tight, and their loose sounding harmony was so different, the way lines cascaded over one another in such a unique, spontaneous manner! Nobody else did that! The Brown album had just recently come out, and we loved that new sound! Garth's "Chest Fever" organ solo went on for about 15 minutes of eccentric, rambling, stream of consciousness improvisation, with all kinds of panning across the sound system. It was terrific! I later heard a rumor that the concert in Hartford almost didnt happen because the college kids didnt take the staging specifications seriously. Everything was outlined clearly and sent out weeks before ...... to allow for a setup where the sight lines across stage allowed each guy to easily see the others. Everything was directly micd, and I don't remember seeing any bass amp at all. Robbie used a simply micd Fender Twin Reverb. Several times they would quickly change into a sort of acoustic setup similar to the later "Last Waltz", with Garth on accordian and Levon on mandolin. Us electric guys just ate it up! It was such a tribute to the roots of the music we loved, and it didnt seem contrived at all! The lyrics were different too. Songs about family honor and old fashioned love. They rocked tight and hard, but they projected a maturity and earnestness that we been attracted to by their first two albums, with that distinctively simple cover art. Everybody was getting pretty darn sick of the reckless, drugged out party atmosphere of most rock concerts. It was general admission (without assigned seats) so we got there way early, waited in the front of the growing line, and then ran up to sit in the front row. Almost got crushed when the crowd surged forward as the college kids came to open the doors. I actually remember my cheek against the glass, seeing it bend as we were pushed ahead by the crowd behind us.
"TH-cam Anonymous" may not be so far into the future. Came here to get the lyrics of a song stuck in my head and spent 6hours of "one thing leads to another". Third time this week. Used to be once every month or three. Thinking about a little sign on the lap top says "remember you have a life to live".
I was an usher for this concert at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. I was 14 years old and me and all my friends got the gig to seat people in the first act, get paid in the intermission and then go back and sit in any empty seats, whoo hoo! What a great little job for a high school student and all the great bands we saw there for the next 4 years!!! They were GREAT!
Shawn Margaret Cohen. Those must be awesome memories. I have one question... did you happen to be working when the Allman Brothers played the Mosque when Duane and Berry were still alive?
What a great video.... thanks so much for sharing. The Band was my favorite band at this time and I saw them a number of times in the early 70's - including this show which was my first (I live in Pgh). The Syria Mosque was a super music hall with great acoustics...And while the three singers and Robbies guitar are fabulous,what I remember most was how Garth just filled the place with sound on those organs... It was an amazing experience.....The Band created their own form of Rock and Roll... there will never be another!
What a great video. I had the HONOR of working with Danko at a festival I ran in the 1990's. One of the best experiences of my life. (His solo performances that weekend were a C at best, but I got to know a truly incredible soul.) Loved him and The Band at the time, but wish I had the knowledge and full appreciation I do now. RIP, Rick. Thank you. I hope you knew how important you were to so many people's lives.
Miss them so much. Got to work with them in '96, smoked a j on stage with Rick before encore, one of life's great memories. Sang harmony, too. Rick & Levon were SOOO sweet.
BRILLIANT!!! It is very hard to believe that it was 1 year ago that we lost the wonderfully soulful voice and awesome to watch drumming of Levon Helm, who I was very lucky to meet and speak with. He was such a down to earth person and wonderful man. Rest In Peace Levon along with the rest of the fellas..
Cripple Creek transports this British lady to the South. I was fortunate enough to see The Band at Wembley in '73 along with Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
this is absolutely the best live footage of The Band I have ever seen...they are at the height of their onstage powers here; the material hasn't gotten stale yet...The Last Waltz doesn't count since it's common knowledge that a lot of it was overdubbed in the studio...thanks for this post, it's awesome!
That was phenomenal! The Band, Little Feat and the Grateful Dead, three American bands born in the '60's who valued a band sound and achieved it. Great songs and musicianship. This is some of the best footage anywhere.
@@danmorrison8194 I know, but that's irrelevant. You could have made a better argument by pointing out that The Band didn't call itself The Band until they had moved to Woodstock. But the fact that Danko, Hudson, Manuel and Robertson had played together for years in their native Canada, including a couple of years with Helm pre-Band, undeniably makes them a Canadian band.
The Band were in another league entirely. Not only were they gifted musicians, but they were all magnificent singers. Recently listened to the seminal "Rock Of Ages", what more can I say ? I envy people who had the opportunity to see The Band, at the very peak of their collective powers.
Well, three of them were great singers, Garth never tried, and Robbie, well, in a studio setting, doing the right kind of material, was o.k., but hardly in the same league with Rick, Richard or Levon.
saw the Festival Express movie again last week Danko, Janis & Garcia ripped & singing Cane On The River has a bit of a taste of how double-edged it seemed to be as devotedly JOYful as Danko seemed to me the half dozen times I was close enough to see faces clearly Robbie was a GREAT songwriter, & I loved his unique guitar work also but I'll also say a kind word for the Cate(sp?)Brothers for helping the rest of these guys to get back on it after Robbie decided he'd had enough ... that version of The Band was also prime time dancing fun & often in a downhome neighborhood atmosphere@ small local venues they played the original Band's large venues where they played as superstars they were 6inches tall & faceless silhouettes from the long distance seats all the times I saw them except one, & that one time some jackass (trying to make time w/ a woman I'd picked up hitch-hiking on my 2hr drive to the show who wanted to go along & use an extra ticket I had) shared a supposedly great joint he had that was dusted w/ angel dust. It was the '74 Dylan tour, & I spent the last set stretched out awake on the cement steps of an NBA arena lying across the steps' cement corners & they felt like a feather bed ... not my prefer'd music experience. We drove him home anyway. Some attitudes were especially good then. Some folks not so much. the first time I saw the later version we were close enuf to set our beers on the low stage to dance while Levon+Rick grinned ear to ear right back at us from 15 yards away. Great music either way; proximity is also good. Hope Garth's memories still intact; that's a man earned some good ones.
F-n-A! Awesome to see more footage of "The Band"! Truly transcedental. Across the great divide. These guys gave it all they had, which was alot. Like the first song sings about.
Wow.... very impressive quality for a 40 year old video.... I saw them at this venue. What I remember most is: The Syria Mosque was acoustically perfect. And the BAND just filled the place with music- especially when Richard and Garth were going full blast on organ and piano... Singing-wize, instrumentally... it just doesn't get any better than this! They were and still are my all time favorite band- thanks for the memories.
I wish I could go back to this time and see these guys live! Saw 40th Anniversary in NOLA which was awesome but to see them live would be the ultimate. They are so in sync and talented its sick.
Exactly. No one should forget Richard Manuel. A beautiful soul, voice, and musician. I only wish I could've met my favourite member of THE BAND which is of course, Richard. I wish ol' Richie knew how appreciated and adored he was. Hell he still is with me and many others. I didn't ever meet him, but I feel like I know him through the music.
This has to be the best band footage I've seen other than the woodstock, ny stuff. Sounds very true to the album vibe... which really says a lot about their talent and recording habits. They just naturally sounded good.
Almost no overdubbing on the first two albums. You always hear a full band playing and singing live plus extra horns or percussion. They were THAT GOOD.
RIP Levon. You had a great drum style , old wooden drums made a special sound and your and Rick's singing was great.! Miss you guys , you were one of my favorites back in the day !
The Band was seriously good, individually and collectively. I am no music expert but I cannot fault the way they all played and the way they complimented each other. Vocally I think they are second to none. Harmony wise these guys and The Eagles are the best two I have listened to. Unfortunately I did not get to see The Band live but I love them just just the same.
I had the privilege to see The Band one time in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Must have been around 1970. I was in awe. Thanks very much for this upload.
Thanks so much for posting this amazing footage! I was lucky enough to see them when they played the string of shows at The Academy of Music in NYC which yielded the "Rock of Ages" album. What an incredible night! They played a few songs from "Cahoots", which had been released earlier in the year. It's one of those special musical moments that make me wish I could go back in time and watch it all over again. I really miss these guys.
MORE than correct. They made up one of the BEST rythm sections in Rock and Roll. no QUESTION. and the harmonies that rick managed to weave in and out...were pretty spectacular. bless them.
Rick was an amazing talent from Southern Ontario about an hour from me. That was one ugly fretless bass but man…he played the hell out of it. You're right Jacob…i don't believe he ever played a bad note. Robbie said it himself. I tried to emulate him during my playing days but i was never as smooth as he was. He is terribly missed but fondly remembered. Rock on Ricky !
Glad you mentioned that because I was about to post the same thing. Rick Danko does not get mentioned anywhere near enough, if at all, in discussions about bass playing. Still, for us fans we know there was nothing in The Band that wasn't top drawer. Cool bit of footage by the way.
That was very cool! An nice bit of footage and fine song selections. Love The Band. This vid even ended with a few bars from The Beatles doing Flying. 👍
here I am 62 years old, music lover to the cosmos, and im Justfully getting into the Band. liked some of their stuff and saw the Last Waltz a couple of times. Now, for me, I am reaping the greatness as a whole new revelation. Lucky me. and to all Band fans, read Robbie Robertsons bio "Testimony". Fabulous read and it brought me to this new heightened awareness.......
Levon's book This Wheel's On Fire is also great. Different perspective. Levon never wanted to quit and thought The Last Waltz was crap. He couldn't stand Scorsese 😆 cause he talked so fast.. Especially with that Columbian marching powder!
i dont even know how to express my feelings down in words of how great this is. You'll never see a group of 5 guys like that ever again buddy. Just glad we have records, films, and books to show on going generations this wonderful music.
thanks for sharing this, I wish I was only a few years older to have been able to be around during the Band's heyday. What a show this was, and it was before frictions began to tear at the band's chemistry. I appreciate the respectful audiences back then, people seemed to listen and have respect for fellow concert-goers and for the band onstage too. I miss these amazing musicians,- (except for Robbie who is still around of course)
Life as I knew it changed the very 1st time I "heard" them, and by the time I finally got to see them in concert, I was hooked for LIFE... No sense in even trying to embellish it anymore than that because many others said it better than I.
i was there that night. They just walked out on stage, no introduction. Then that first chord. What joy. Much better than their performance to what was left of the rain-soaked, mud-caked survivors by the time they played at Woodstock. Very beautiful venue. Great sound. So many great shows between 1969 and 1973, The Band, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison,...
Omg. Thanks for the upload brother. Really needed the good vibes great music pick up. Its a sad state of affairs in music today and to hear some amazing stuff from the heyday of what gets me there is priceless. So again THANK YOU
No matter the size of his ego or the fact he broke up one of the greatest musical units of all time - to diss Robbie as a guitarist is sheer ignorance! Clapton or Page could never have contributed such powerful or sensitive playing as this man did to the Band's incredible music. But to single out any of them is to miss the fact that each one of them was indispensable! 3 incomparable voices in Levon, Richard & Rick & 5 musicians at the top of their game. Music of this calibre & quality may never be heard again. Yeah 68 idiots are just showing their total lack of taste or recognition of true art. Pearls before swine...!
John Simon their producer was asked on television about the songwriting . His response was " well if you are talking about the chords and the words then that would be Robbie". ok so words and music by Robbie.
forget all the bullshit, negative comments about the business side of The Band...this is awesome footage of one of the truly great ensembles to ever make music together as a like-minded team; and this, at the height of their powers...this is what a band should be all about and it seems to be a lost art form in this era of computer-generated music (they weren't called THE Band for nothin') not only is the film really cool but this is a great audio recording of classic performances...all 5 are firing on all pistons; Richard Manuel's vocals strong & intact; the mix is near-perfect...I can't compliment this film enough...thanks for the post!
The only fault I ever had with the move was that after the early scenes, there was not nearly enough Richard. Truly one of the best voices I have ever heard. The range was what allowed songs like "Rocking Chair" to work so well. Manuel sang the lead and then switched to the high harmony on the chorus. Apparently Richard was a bit shakey going into the Last Waltz, so his performances (awesome) ended up being early.
i have been around for 70+ yrs. from a family of great musicians, my daughter is a great organ teacher and am sad to see the person write about Rick, Richard and Levon-all so multi talented and diverse. Don't hear that anymore. Robbie was a great player but not unusual, Richards voice was beyond compare, listen to an early tape, Robbie, another great natural talent and Levon-well not enough words for him. Listen again my friend-it is all there. NDM
Thanks for posting this. I had the extreme pleasure of spending a day and a half with Garth Hudson programming DX7 sounds for him. It was a time I will never forget.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
I've never heard piano played like that before. R.I.P. Richard Manuel. He was something else. Every member of this group was an absolute powerhouse of talent.
If you're talking about the first two songs, Garth is on piano, Richard is playing organ.
It's just good American honky-tonk done quite well.
Sounds like Garth to me. And yes, RIP Richard, the only Band member I ever met. ❤
Danko was exceptional as well, Mr. Bass and Vocal ❤️🎸🎶🎸❤️
R.I.P. Robbie, sad to hear of your passing last week...
Only Garth is still standing now. RIP to all the others. Won't be another band like this again.
sitting mostly
Who would have thought Garth, would be the last man standing... He's like Kieth Richards , indestructible.....
Absolutely right.
The Beatles and The Band, the best two bands ever. No one touches them. Thanx
Yes, My 2 Favourite groups as well. The Band #1, The Beatles #2
Ringo states in an interview that Levon was one of his favorites as well..
@@victorvicenaAfter Chico Hamilton.
Grateful Dead
What about the Who?
Great little document of one of the all-time great rock bands in their absolute prime. One could of course write a novella on the massive talent of each and every one of them individually, but together they are pure gold. The Helm/Danko vocal blend is perhaps the very essence of their magic. How wonderful to have this cinematic treasure.
I was there 20 rows back on ground floor. All of my beloved friends were there as well. Words cannot express our appreciation of the musical talents we experienced that night.
A small venue. Great accoustics. Great artists. This show went beyond our expectations.
Where was this band concert at. What hall? I saw them backing up dylan in cleveland on November 12, 1965 and in January of 1974 with dylan at the mapel leaf gardens.
@@MrEdkern The Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, PA. It was located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh (Pitt, CMU, and other schools are there). A beautiful, beloved, venue. Torn down in 1991 to build a parking lot.🤦
I think I’m more jazzed about seeing the Mosque again than I am with the performance! I saw so many shows there (including The Band). I really miss that place.
@carlkelly7885
I've heard alot about this place over the years.
Sad they did away with it. Many memories
I was there, too, 1st balcony, they sold the place out, my ticket cost $15⁰⁰!
We in the audience were wildly enthusiastic and, And, AND, we were listening attentively and quietly to these five quintessential musicians: no whoops and hollering to interrupt them at work. You can tell by listening, now, to the silence in the Hall while re-tuning takes place.
I was 20, a native working Pittsburgher, and STAGE FRIGHT, their third album, had just been released. This concert at Syria Mosque was in the autumn of 1970 because l later, that tour, drove out to Cleveland in a crazy blizzard to hear them play. When they started "Look Out, Cleveland", the roof rose off the Cleveland Auditorium. I think the song opened the 2nd set, because Alain Toussaint was there on stage, leading the same New Orleans horn section from the Stage Fright studio recording. What a surprise THAT was for us! Excellant acoustics there, too, just like back in Pittsburgh. I think that the songs-clip, above, is from a film shot by a Danish film crew there on the stage with the guys. Those discerning Danes!
For me, it's The Band, The Beatles, Bobby Zimmerman, and The Beach Boys! Memorable music for my old age. Wow!
A heads-up to my fellow Portland, Oregonians Band-lovers: it's time again for the 15th annual live rendition of The Band's Thanksgiving concert, The Last Waltz, wonderfully performed by The NoWhere Band of Portland, this Thanksgiving weekend, 2024, at the Alberta Rose. It is always a non-profit fundraiser for local musicians' additional medical & living expenses.
Love to Garth and to all still-standing lovers of The Band. Love you ALL! ♡♥︎♡♥︎♡
I hope people can appreciate how darn hard it is to play drums while singing at the same time. There's a reason it isn't done often by too many drummers and when it is, it's a seriously special talent doing it. Levon Helm was such.
I'm not a musician, but I've always thought that it was damned difficult to play drums and sing (lead). I don't how anyone would think it's easy.
+Mic Tod™ Yeah levon was so talented, especially in Don't Do It, but the guy from the Eagles (Glenn Frey..?) was a worthy competitor of talent in singing and drumming
+Quin Wise Don Henley
+Quin Wise
Certainly. And now he's gone from us as well - how sad.
+Mic Tod™ playing drums...you're dealing w rhythm. playing BASS....you're dealing w rhythm, chord changes, and often melody. you think it's hard sing while playing drums??? try it while playing bass! and if that's not hard enough....do it on a FRETLESS like Rick Danko is doing!
I can't get over Danko - I knew he was talented but that's ridiculous. Singing beautifully and playing bass with faultless groove and melody. talk about underrated!
I could not agree more. They were 5 phenomenal pieces
and it looks like a fretless bass !!
@@Guitarsrollin Danko's killer bass lines + fretless + beautiful singing + not looking at fingerboard = impossible to re-create! Incredible!
@@Guitarsrollin it is
Don’t Do It was the one that completely bowled me over. That baseline is massive, and then he just rips you apart with his voice.
Just discovered this, and I love it. I saw them in the Wollman Rink in Central Park NY in 1970 or ‘71 doing material from the first 3 albums and they were in top form. Garth’s intro to Chest Fever still sticks in my memory. Now he is the sole surviving member, but the rest live on in so many of our memories.
I saw them at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, 3/21/70. I was 11, and it was the first rock concert I ever saw. And like you, his intro to Chest Fever sticks in my memory.
(As a matter of fact, it´s the only song that I can say for certain that I remember.)
They were so tight their heartbeats and breaths were in synch. So unique and so loved by fans. Many people recognize their songs and never realized who they were. But their body of work will live on and be appreciated. Thanks for posting.
Because of their name. Try to find a 'The Band' t shirt. You get all bands but them.
Levon on Cripple Creek is the perfect lesson of rock and roll drumming and singing!
Rock on Levon Helm.
No other band sounds like The Band. They were UNIQUE and breathtakingly good.
This is so wonderful! Thank you! 🙌
RIP🕯Robbie - sad for us you are gone but now you’re reunited with most of the Angel Band! 🤍🕊
RIP Richard Manuel, Rick Danko & Levon Helm.
Rick Danko is definitely my favourite member . Everything he touched turned to gold . Incredible fretless skills and his harmonies are NEVER off .
And now Robbie. Soon...the rest of us. We'll be in great company.
There’ll be some great music in the far beyond.
@@imaseeker100 It's the Big Gig in the Sky.
@@kathleenogrady8459and Jimi and Brian reliving Monterey but with Buddy Holly too. Lol. Don’t need to buy no ticket don’t need to ride no train y’all get there all the same. ( I know I stole most of that from a couple of old tunes. Not sure which ones. So I can’t take credit for it. Just thought it sounded cool.) cheers from Montreal. 😎
Always love to listen to Rick sing; his voice was so soulful
Those triplet notes Levon hits on the snare during his vocals on The Weight!!! GENIUS... And just funky as hell....
They truly were a marvel - so loose and so tight at the same time. The versions of the songs here are all close to the original recordings but you never get the feeling they're doing it by rote - there's passion and commitment in every note. And this was just a run of the mill gig. Not many bands deliver like that - and not many bands yodel.
Wonderful!
Yeh 10000 hrs of playing makes a musician ready for nearly anyhing!
Agree 💯 ❤❤
10000 hours is a myth. It takes talent and hard work to develope that. There is no time limit.
So loose and so tight, good description!!
One of my all-time magic moments in music came at a Band concert in Berkeley in the early 70s. They launched into "Chest Fever" the big organ intro, went thru the lyrics as on the recording, then everyone but Garth Hudson left the stage and he took all of us on the most amazing trip. We hardly noticed when, 25 minutes later, the rest of The Band eased back onto the stage. But when Garth segued back into those crashing chords, the whole place erupted into a spontaneous standing ovation.
I hope you know how lucky you were/are. I want a time machine!
***** He is serious, but mistaken. I saw the same concert opening on the East Coast in late 1970. Garth noodled around for maybe 10 minutes (25 is a way long time), the the others returned to standing applause and The Shape I'm In.
Edward Syrett the boys were likely taking a "smoke" break.
Garth, regardless of the length of the solo, was THE most influential keyboardist ever.
@@epicbattle7 Yeah, you and me both, Epic!!
the best lineup right here. Robbie is definitely an artist that made an impact on me and my understanding of music
The sklll level of the Band was so high that it took years before they were really appreciated for what great musicians they were and what a great song writer Robbie Robertson was and what a talent Levon Helm was.
They were (sans Helm) the backup band for Dylan. Then rock critics and rock stars were in awe of them from their first album '68. Stop making up things in your head.
They were The Hawks, chosen very carefully for their skills by Ronnie Hawkins in 1960 or so.
Best 5 cylinder engine ever made and firing on all five. With all the shit going down today in the U.S.A. today, good to be reminded that nowhere else could a southerner and four Canadians have come together to create this magical and greatest of all American roots music. I hope we can stop all the fear mongering and other bullshit and get this country back on track -- it is truly a special place.
I always thought it was strange that no one seemed to film The Band after two of the greatest albums ever. The Internet has proven this was a myth - so many great live performances have been captured and Band fans are very grateful to all concerned.
They were an amazing collection of musicians who gave us some of the greatest songs that will touch your soul like no other band can.....
cool, i am stopping by to make sure Levon and RIck's plots are ok in the snow today in Woodstock and try to generate some love and warmth
Good on you,Peter...
A good hearted person checking the plots of Levon& Rick. During the punishingweather of western New York which is etched in the memory bank
Nice! Say hello from me! I was there in September 18, an Irishman in Toronto. I'm closer to Richard!
Peace from Long Island 9 years later after you wrote this
I was immersed in a different kind of music during these guys most prolific years . I discovered them a little late but much to my joy better late than never
An abundance of talent for one group. I really miss them. ♥️
Saw them in Hartford CT at Trinity College ........ pretty sure that it was the same year, or perhaps the year before. It still ranks as the best concert I've ever attended. A magical confluence of what we were aching for at the time! There was something undeniably refreshing about these simple guys just up there playing so well, without all of the hyped up mannerisms that other rock musicians cultivated. Not a word spoken between songs. Just perfectly executed music being played by our new heroes! I remember my drummer friend was so impressed that Levon Helm didn't have a belt on his jeans. LOL! We were there for the music, and so were they! I think I was sixteen years old at the time, playing in bands regularly since I was twelve, so we realized what we were seeing. We were rockers who were also turning on to roots blues and folk, and these guys had found a way to merge everything together in such an unaffected, genuine sound! People have to remember that the bands were all so very young and inexperienced then. We had heard that this band had been together for something like 8 years before their first album. Unheard of! They were so well rehearsed and tight, and their loose sounding harmony was so different, the way lines cascaded over one another in such a unique, spontaneous manner! Nobody else did that! The Brown album had just recently come out, and we loved that new sound! Garth's "Chest Fever" organ solo went on for about 15 minutes of eccentric, rambling, stream of consciousness improvisation, with all kinds of panning across the sound system. It was terrific!
I later heard a rumor that the concert in Hartford almost didnt happen because the college kids didnt take the staging specifications seriously. Everything was outlined clearly and sent out weeks before ...... to allow for a setup where the sight lines across stage allowed each guy to easily see the others. Everything was directly micd, and I don't remember seeing any bass amp at all. Robbie used a simply micd Fender Twin Reverb. Several times they would quickly change into a sort of acoustic setup similar to the later "Last Waltz", with Garth on accordian and Levon on mandolin. Us electric guys just ate it up! It was such a tribute to the roots of the music we loved, and it didnt seem contrived at all! The lyrics were different too. Songs about family honor and old fashioned love. They rocked tight and hard, but they projected a maturity and earnestness that we been attracted to by their first two albums, with that distinctively simple cover art. Everybody was getting pretty darn sick of the reckless, drugged out party atmosphere of most rock concerts.
It was general admission (without assigned seats) so we got there way early, waited in the front of the growing line, and then ran up to sit in the front row. Almost got crushed when the crowd surged forward as the college kids came to open the doors. I actually remember my cheek against the glass, seeing it bend as we were pushed ahead by the crowd behind us.
Levon’s playing during Robbie’s solos on time to kill is killer, no pun intended. His drums always sounded phenomenal , especially live
TH-cam keeps me awake too late, watching stuff like this. Can't think of many better ways to spend time.
me either
Me neither! LoL truly amazing.. thanks so much for uploading this whoever did! Such great quality sound and vid from that era! They were so great!
"TH-cam Anonymous" may not be so far into the future.
Came here to get the lyrics of a song stuck in my head and spent 6hours of "one thing leads to another". Third time this week. Used to be once every month or three.
Thinking about a little sign on the lap top says "remember you have a life to live".
New riders of the purple sage Panama Red
Alan Stonecipher m
I was an usher for this concert at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. I was 14 years old and me and all my friends got the gig to seat people in the first act, get paid in the intermission and then go back and sit in any empty seats, whoo hoo! What a great little job for a high school student and all the great bands we saw there for the next 4 years!!! They were GREAT!
Wow!!!
That is awesome!!!
I thought of coming from Penn State for the concert, but something got in the way. I don't remember what it was, but am sure it wasn't any studying.
Shawn Margaret Cohen j
Shawn Margaret Cohen. Those must be awesome memories. I have one question... did you happen to be working when the Allman Brothers played the Mosque when Duane and Berry were still alive?
What a great sound for live in 1970. Amazing talent.
Danko does a superb job of singing while playing complex bass lines. It's not as easy as he makes it look.
What a great video.... thanks so much for sharing. The Band was my favorite band at this time and I saw them a number of times in the early 70's - including this show which was my first (I live in Pgh). The Syria Mosque was a super music hall with great acoustics...And while the three singers and Robbies guitar are fabulous,what I remember most was how Garth just filled the place with sound on those organs... It was an amazing experience.....The Band created their own form of Rock and Roll... there will never be another!
The
@karenfarrell8208 Band
This is why TH-cam is the best thing that's happened, if only because I just stumbled backwards into this video.
What a great video. I had the HONOR of working with Danko at a festival I ran in the 1990's. One of the best experiences of my life. (His solo performances that weekend were a C at best, but I got to know a truly incredible soul.) Loved him and The Band at the time, but wish I had the knowledge and full appreciation I do now. RIP, Rick. Thank you. I hope you knew how important you were to so many people's lives.
Beautiful comment. Love love love
These guys invented a style of music that never existed before. As revolutionary as anything out there with no equal to date.
" Americana"
Miss them so much. Got to work with them in '96, smoked a j on stage with Rick before encore, one of life's great memories. Sang harmony, too. Rick & Levon were SOOO sweet.
BRILLIANT!!! It is very hard to believe that it was 1 year ago that we lost the wonderfully soulful voice and awesome to watch drumming of Levon Helm, who I was very lucky to meet and speak with. He was such a down to earth person and wonderful man. Rest In Peace Levon along with the rest of the fellas..
Cripple Creek transports this British lady to the South. I was fortunate enough to see The Band at Wembley in '73 along with Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
What an AWESOME clip. I saw the Band December 30, 1971 at the Academy of Music - it became "Rock of Ages" - and they were simply terrific.
I was there on the same night. Will always remember the magic.
I was there also. A birthday present. One of the best shows. People got angry when the horns came out and left. We ended up front row. Hahaha
You're right. Three incredible vocalists all gone. Three vocalists that were unmatched for the emotion that they brought to their songs.
Thanks for sharing this gem!
These guys were pure magic. Nothing in the world like them.
I was lucky enough to get to see them in the early 70's . To this day still can't get enough of The Band !!!
this is absolutely the best live footage of The Band I have ever seen...they are at the height of their onstage powers here; the material hasn't gotten stale yet...The Last Waltz doesn't count since it's common knowledge that a lot of it was overdubbed in the studio...thanks for this post, it's awesome!
Levon said he didn't do overdubs on TLW so it's really only him live. He's that good.
That was phenomenal! The Band, Little Feat and the Grateful Dead, three American bands born in the '60's who valued a band sound and achieved it. Great songs and musicianship. This is some of the best footage anywhere.
The dead sucks
The Band is from Canada.
@@JLeeeP4/5 are from Canada; Helm was from Arkansas.
@@danmorrison8194 I know, but that's irrelevant. You could have made a better argument by pointing out that The Band didn't call itself The Band until they had moved to Woodstock. But the fact that Danko, Hudson, Manuel and Robertson had played together for years in their native Canada, including a couple of years with Helm pre-Band, undeniably makes them a Canadian band.
Not Levon
@@JLeeeP
This is so darn good!!!!! Thank you for sharing 🎙️🎹🎸🥁🎸👍
What a marvelous collective The Band was! Their sounds ripple through time and space . . .
The Band were in another league entirely. Not only were they gifted musicians,
but they were all magnificent singers. Recently listened to the seminal "Rock Of Ages",
what more can I say ? I envy people who had the opportunity to see The Band, at
the very peak of their collective powers.
Well, three of them were great singers, Garth never tried, and Robbie, well, in a studio setting, doing the right kind of material, was o.k., but hardly in the same league with Rick, Richard or Levon.
Thanks for the posting. What a great group who made beautifully crafted songs that will always be here.
Rick Danko makes playing the fretless (!) bass and singing look easy. What a hero! The real musician.
By no means the only musician, though he was great. When live they often simply traded instruments and it Always sounded Great .
Agreed. They were all some of the greatest musicians❤
saw the Festival Express movie again last week
Danko, Janis & Garcia ripped & singing Cane On The River has a bit of a
taste of how double-edged it seemed to be as devotedly JOYful as Danko
seemed to me the half dozen times I was close enough to see faces clearly
Robbie was a GREAT songwriter, & I loved his unique guitar work also
but I'll also say a kind word for the Cate(sp?)Brothers for helping the rest
of these guys to get back on it after Robbie decided he'd had enough ...
that version of The Band was also prime time dancing fun & often in a
downhome neighborhood atmosphere@ small local venues they played
the original Band's large venues where they played as superstars they
were 6inches tall & faceless silhouettes from the long distance seats
all the times I saw them except one, & that one time some jackass
(trying to make time w/ a woman I'd picked up hitch-hiking on my 2hr
drive to the show who wanted to go along & use an extra ticket I had)
shared a supposedly great joint he had that was dusted w/ angel dust.
It was the '74 Dylan tour, & I spent the last set stretched out awake on
the cement steps of an NBA arena lying across the steps' cement corners
& they felt like a feather bed ... not my prefer'd music experience. We
drove him home anyway. Some attitudes were especially good then.
Some folks not so much.
the first time I saw the later version we were close enuf to set our beers
on the low stage to dance while Levon+Rick grinned ear to ear right back
at us from 15 yards away. Great music either way; proximity is also good.
Hope Garth's memories still intact; that's a man earned some good ones.
Levon Helm's voice is made for joy!
F-n-A! Awesome to see more footage of "The Band"! Truly transcedental. Across the great divide. These guys gave it all they had, which was alot. Like the first song sings about.
Wow.... very impressive quality for a 40 year old video.... I saw them at this venue. What I remember most is: The Syria Mosque was acoustically perfect. And the BAND just filled the place with music- especially when Richard and Garth were going full blast on organ and piano... Singing-wize, instrumentally... it just doesn't get any better than this!
They were and still are my all time favorite band- thanks for the memories.
The lyics, the key changes, the rhythums...love it all.
They were so good.
ABSOLUTELY GREAT MUSIC!
Love how all members take singing lead in different songs. So talented. I miss them. A lot!
I wish I could go back to this time and see these guys live! Saw 40th Anniversary in NOLA which was awesome but to see them live would be the ultimate. They are so in sync and talented its sick.
Exactly. No one should forget Richard Manuel.
A beautiful soul, voice, and musician.
I only wish I could've met my favourite member of THE BAND which is of course, Richard.
I wish ol' Richie knew how appreciated and adored he was. Hell he still is with me and many others.
I didn't ever meet him, but I feel like I know him through the music.
They were so f'in good it makes me cry.
+Garret Fitzgerald me too!
Ain't that the truth. The Band are a (North) American treasure.
+Garret Fitzgerald I usually get to " I pulled into Nazareth" before I cry.
OMG......I am so old school it should hurt yall. These guys are my musical idols!
great music never gets old. Better every time I listen.
This has to be the best band footage I've seen other than the woodstock, ny stuff. Sounds very true to the album vibe... which really says a lot about their talent and recording habits.
They just naturally sounded good.
Almost no overdubbing on the first two albums. You always hear a full band playing and singing live plus extra horns or percussion. They were THAT GOOD.
I'm glad this is footage of the band, not bandage of the foot.
I have a bad foot and that made me laugh a little, thanks!
RIP Levon. You had a great drum style , old wooden drums made a special sound and your and Rick's singing was great.! Miss you guys , you were one of my favorites back in the day !
The Band was seriously good, individually and collectively. I am no music expert but I cannot fault the way they all played and the way they complimented each other. Vocally I think they are second to none. Harmony wise these guys and The Eagles are the best two I have listened to. Unfortunately I did not get to see The Band live but I love them just just the same.
Passionate musicians passionate about their music ! ! !
This music means so much...the kinda music to the heart from the source..pure water for a thirsty soul
Thanx for this post!!!
These guys were so unique and pure genious !
I never had the Luxury of seeing them in Concert Live but I can see them Here thank You, You Tube..✌✌✌✌☝☝👍👍
Thank you for posting this masterpiece, what a joy I feel to hear all The Band at their very best, what music ❤to my ears 🎉❤just brilliant
Agree!
You’re darn Toot’n 👍
Thank You for posting, this takes me back to a great time.
I had the privilege to see The Band one time in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Must have been around 1970. I was in awe.
Thanks very much for this upload.
I was there too. And indeed: .tight as an album but live.
Thanks so much for posting this amazing footage! I was lucky enough to see them when they played the string of shows at The Academy of Music in NYC which yielded the "Rock of Ages" album. What an incredible night! They played a few songs from "Cahoots", which had been released earlier in the year. It's one of those special musical moments that make me wish I could go back in time and watch it all over again. I really miss these guys.
Not many could sing and play like Danko and Helm. Man, they were good!
you are so correct.
MORE than correct. They made up one of the BEST rythm sections in Rock and Roll. no QUESTION. and the harmonies that rick managed to weave in and out...were pretty spectacular. bless them.
Mark Gotham Not any.
Richard Manuel could
But neither of them could sing as good as Richard.
Did Rick Danko ever play a bad note? Dude was a machine with that fretless bass
Rick was an amazing talent from Southern Ontario about an hour from me. That was one ugly fretless bass but man…he played the hell out of it. You're right Jacob…i don't believe he ever played a bad note. Robbie said it himself.
I tried to emulate him during my playing days but i was never as smooth as he was. He is terribly missed but fondly remembered. Rock on Ricky !
I think that bass has a cool, retro look. Rick is definitely one of my favorite bass players to watch... or listen to.
listen 2 neil young "revolution blues" , danko bass.
Glad you mentioned that because I was about to post the same thing. Rick Danko does not get mentioned anywhere near enough, if at all, in discussions about bass playing. Still, for us fans we know there was nothing in The Band that wasn't top drawer. Cool bit of footage by the way.
Saw him play that fretless about the same time in Central Park NYC. Snuck in stage side. Unbelievable up close.
Very solid . Those guys all had good chops. Very hard to sing lead and play like Levon Helm did . Love this group.
Incredible early live footage; The Band are their own genre; awesome post
Levon rocked the house!!! RIP and thank you for the amazing music you gave us
The best of the best. Thanks for sharing.
3 fantastic singers in one group. Mad!
@phillydiscoI disagree with the asserrion that Robbie was a fantastic singer.
@@samheard7849- His guitar sang for him. An absolute fantastic player.
Most boring song I heard in a while. It’s just corny as hell!
That was very cool! An nice bit of footage and fine song selections. Love The Band. This vid even ended with a few bars from The Beatles doing Flying. 👍
Utterly amazing footage and playing. A shame there isn't more!
though a pity that the sound recording ain't all to good ....
Wow! November 1970. The Band at this time was playing the very best versions of these fantastic songs. Great video.
here I am 62 years old, music lover to the cosmos, and im Justfully getting into the Band. liked some of their stuff and saw the Last Waltz a couple of times. Now, for me, I am reaping the greatness as a whole new revelation. Lucky me. and to all Band fans, read Robbie Robertsons bio "Testimony". Fabulous read and it brought me to this new heightened awareness.......
Just watched “Once Were Brothers”, doc based on “Testimony “. Excellent.
Levon's book This Wheel's On Fire is also great. Different perspective. Levon never wanted to quit and thought The Last Waltz was crap. He couldn't stand Scorsese 😆 cause he talked so fast.. Especially with that Columbian marching powder!
Thanks for posting! Absolutely wonderful!!!!
i dont even know how to express my feelings down in words of how great this is. You'll never see a group of 5 guys like that ever again buddy. Just glad we have records, films, and books to show on going generations this wonderful music.
Praise for levon can't be overstated. He's just so down home, funky. It's almost sickening.
I get emotional often from their voices. Like, sweating from the eyes n such 😆
I sure do miss my old friend and part time boss, Levon..... Rest In Peace Lee
I love all of the Bands tidbits of music, THANKS for the upload.
Thanks so much for posting. Three of the greatest vocalists in rock, all in the same band and all gone. RIP Levon, Rick and Richard.
thanks for sharing this, I wish I was only a few years older to have been able to be around during the Band's heyday. What a show this was, and it was before frictions began to tear at the band's chemistry.
I appreciate the respectful audiences back then,
people seemed to listen and have respect for fellow concert-goers and for the band onstage too. I miss these amazing musicians,-
(except for Robbie who is still around of course)
Garth is still here as well.
Probably my favourite group,incredible talent and original songwriting.There will only ever be one.....The Band
Life as I knew it changed the very 1st time I "heard" them, and by the time I finally got to see them in concert, I was hooked for LIFE... No sense in even trying to embellish it anymore than that because many others said it better than I.
i was there that night. They just walked out on stage, no introduction. Then that first chord. What joy. Much better than their performance to what was left of the rain-soaked, mud-caked survivors by the time they played at Woodstock.
Very beautiful venue. Great sound. So many great shows between 1969 and 1973, The Band, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison,...
Ah yes, the immortal Van the Man!!
Had the pleasure of meeting Rick during his birthday party. We have him a cake shaped like a bass!!! He loved it😎🙏🎸
This is fantastic! I was there, a freshman at Duquesne University, my first of five Band concerts over the years. Thanks for sharing this video.
Omg. Thanks for the upload brother. Really needed the good vibes great music pick up. Its a sad state of affairs in music today and to hear some amazing stuff from the heyday of what gets me there is priceless. So again THANK YOU
No matter the size of his ego or the fact he broke up one of the greatest musical units of all time - to diss Robbie as a guitarist is sheer ignorance! Clapton or Page could never have contributed such powerful or sensitive playing as this man did to the Band's incredible music. But to single out any of them is to miss the fact that each one of them was indispensable! 3 incomparable voices in Levon, Richard & Rick & 5 musicians at the top of their game. Music of this calibre & quality may never be heard again. Yeah 68 idiots are just showing their total lack of taste or recognition of true art. Pearls before swine...!
5 artists, but only one got the money. Doesn't sound right to me.
"they all got money" thats not true, man. I've just read levon's book and in the last waltz chapter is really sad to know how they got screwed
"Non-writers", thats your mistake right there. To believe robbie would do it without them is crazy, they were all working together.
but only one is credited
John Simon their producer was asked on television about the songwriting . His response was " well if you are talking about the chords and the words then that would be Robbie". ok so words and music by Robbie.
Man that was AWESOME. A big thanks for sharing this
The Fucking Band.
They'll be young guys fifty years from now who totally connect to this music.
forget all the bullshit, negative comments about the business side of The Band...this is awesome footage of one of the truly great ensembles to ever make music together as a like-minded team; and this, at the height of their powers...this is what a band should be all about and it seems to be a lost art form in this era of computer-generated music (they weren't called THE Band for nothin') not only is the film really cool but this is a great audio recording of classic performances...all 5 are firing on all pistons; Richard Manuel's vocals strong & intact; the mix is near-perfect...I can't compliment this film enough...thanks for the post!
They are still awesome, each and everyone of them.
The only fault I ever had with the move was that after the early scenes, there was not nearly enough Richard. Truly one of the best voices I have ever heard. The range was what allowed songs like "Rocking Chair" to work so well. Manuel sang the lead and then switched to the high harmony on the chorus. Apparently Richard was a bit shakey going into the Last Waltz, so his performances (awesome) ended up being early.
My God...theyre just as good without the big production and mixing...TU for posting..i don't know whos better than THE BAND
@@MindthegapMonday Rockin' Chair = beautiful song...
To have 5 guys each with so much talent in one package.
Very rare. Extremely unique. Best ensemble ever.
Ronnie Hawkins put them together!
i have been around for 70+ yrs. from a family of great musicians, my daughter is a great organ teacher and am sad to see the person write about Rick, Richard and Levon-all so multi talented and diverse. Don't hear that anymore. Robbie was a great player but not unusual, Richards voice was beyond compare, listen to an early tape, Robbie, another great natural talent and Levon-well not enough words for him. Listen again my friend-it is all there. NDM
Thanks for posting this. I had the extreme pleasure of spending a day and a half with Garth Hudson programming DX7 sounds for him. It was a time I will never forget.