Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Band, Frost Amphitheater, Stanford University, 6-6-1976






This great Canadian group, formerly know as The Hawks, first came to prominence as Bob Dylan's backing musicians, but soon came to carve out a stellar career as The Band. Universally admired by critics, fans, and other musicians, they were one of my favorite bands, and still remain so. Three of the members have passed away, unfortunately. On this hot early June afternoon, they came to Stanford and blew the sold-out crowd away. From top to bottom; Robbie Robertson on guitar as well as one of the three main songwriters. Drummer Levon Helm is next, the voice of many familiar Band songs. Rick Danko on bass follows. A great singer, the same which can be said of  keyboardist Richard Manuel at the bottom. Garth Hudson is above Manuel, a multi-instrumentalist know mostly for his Hammond organ virtuosity but pictured here on sax. Frost Amphitheater is once again holding concerts after a long hiatus, but I haven't been back. Robertson and Hudson are still alive and doing sporadic work.

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