{"id":3624,"date":"2021-02-03T22:18:31","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T03:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/315music.com\/?p=3624"},"modified":"2021-02-03T22:18:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T03:18:32","slug":"315-flashback-the-last-waltz-looks-great-at-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/315music.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/03\/315-flashback-the-last-waltz-looks-great-at-40\/","title":{"rendered":"315 Flashback: ‘The Last Waltz’ Looks Great at 40"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photos by Jim Gilbert from Nippertown<\/a>\/JTG Photo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impetus was a one-off tribute to\u00a0The Last Waltz\u00a0during last spring\u2019s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Warren Haynes and Don Was put together an all-star cast of musicians to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Band\u2019s all-star farewell concert at San Francisco\u2019s Winterland Ballroom on Thanksgiving Night, 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That performance spiraled into yet another tribute during Haynes\u2019 annual Christmas Jam featuring many of the same musicians. All involved agreed that it was too good and too fun not to continue. The Last Waltz 40 Tour was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon entering the picturesque Palace Theatre, attendees were treated to a full scale reproduction of the original Waltz stage, chandeliers and all. \u00a0With the stage aglow in indigo, the mood was set before the musicians even set foot on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While billed as a tribute to the now 40-year-old classic concert, this show felt fresh, more of a celebration of this great slice of Americana. Those in the know understand that what was originally released in the film and the three-LP album in 1978 was far short of the actual four hour-plus long show back in 1976. Thursday\u2019s show was closer in length to that evening, clocking in at three hours and 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cBand\u201d for this tour was fronted by Warren Haynes, founder of Govt Mule and former Allman Brothers Band guitarist. There isn\u2019t much Haynes hasn\u2019t had a hand in. Among his unlikely group of merrymakers was former Doobie, Michael McDonald, outlaw country artist Jamey Johnson, avant-jazz keyboardist and virtual mad scientist of the keys, John Medeski, of Medeski, Martin and Wood, Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terence Higgins and uber-producer and bassist Don Was. The four-piece horn section, anchored by Bonerama trombonist Mark Mullins, performed the late Allen Toussaint\u2018s arrangements throughout the night, adding just perfect punch of authenticity to the classic songs of the Band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night began with the PA pumping in the introductory theme from the movie, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet. Johnson took the lead vocals on \u201cUp on Cripple Creek,\u201d giving proper reverence to Levon Helm while maintaining his Nashville twang. Each time Johnson took the lead throughout the night was a pleasure, particularly during his performance of \u201cGeorgia on My Mind.\u201d Johnson channeled the legendary Ray Charles with a touch of Willie Nelson in a soulful country-fied take of this classic that had the audience cheering throughout. McDonald\u2019s piano solo and Haynes\u2019 guitar solo complemented Johnson\u2019s vocals perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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