The Band. The Band. The Motherfuckin' Band.

[Taverner]

Greatest "Americana" Band I've ever known



Whether they're playing with Dylan, or going out on their own, just a great band that pretty much 'wrote' the whole Roots/Americana genre...

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. Yeah, but ONLY the lineup in that photo.

It's a shame that Levon and Robbie had a falling out, but the version Levon tried to pull off for three albums without Robbie (or the late Richard Manuel) was utter horseshit.

Best wishes to Levon on the solo thing, but The Band is the five guys in that photo, and he was only one of them.

[Taverner]

3. Yep

It's hard not to watch or listen to "The Last Waltz" and not feel a sense of "well, the party's over boys."

[Heidi]

2. I like The Band, but roots music far pre-dates The Band. (nt)

[abq e streeter]

4. Had the extraordinary privilege of seeing them with Dylan on the opening night

of Dylan's "comeback" tour in 74. Absolutely electric atmosphere, but it started out a little slow and uneven until the Band did a couple of their own songs with Bob just as a part of it on rhythm guitar/harp. Some kind of spark was lit and after that they and Bob just burned through the rest of the concert, doing mainly Dylan songs but a fair amount of Band ones thrown in too, including a stunning version of Bobby Bland's Share Your Love (from Moondog Matinee). I loved The Band ,and still do, but was there mainly to see Dylan. Came out of the Chicago Stadium realizing it had been as much of a thrill to see The Band and is was to finally see Dylan.
By the way, Levon's autobiography This Wheel's On Fire is a very interesting history and worth reading for any Band fan.

As someone who has combined a musical career (using the term "career" loosely) with social anxiety disorder, this song always especially resonated with me....

Just never show the fear that's in your eyes.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbX_XYo6xI&feature=related

and when I think of "Americana" ,I think of music just like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgu6iE4od0



On edit, also remembering seeing Levon and the RCO All-Stars at a free outdoor show in Albuquerque(couldn't even guess the year at this point).Obviously not The Band, and not trying to be, but a wonderful show nonetheless. Russell Smith (of The Amazing Rhythm Aces) impressed the hell out of me at that show too.