I'm sorry but did my brain just explode or did I just watch a video with Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Levon Helm and ALLEN TOUSSAINT all on the same stage? This can't be real. I must be dreaming this.
In his memoir "BeesWing", Thompson writes of how The Band's "Music from Big Pink" record was a huge influence on Fairport Convention ---- not stylistically, but upon hearing how the Band blended and melded traditional American music with modern instruments and a rock sensibility, it inspired Fairport to do the same with the traditional music of the British Isles. Joni Mitchell was another big influence ---- Fairport had access to some of Mitchell's early demos through their shared producer Joe Boyd before they were properly recorded and publicly released. Thompson admits to doing something he now considers unforgivable, which was to take a peek through Joni's songbook backstage as she was on stage playing!
Davey Graham was also an influence on Fairport and on Thompson. I just watched the unbroadcast bio of him that's here on youtube and was thinking about how great he was, how many he influenced (not to mention those who stole directly from him and never paid him, which Thompson is not one of, to be clear), and what a lousy businessman he was. Revolutionary guitarist and composer whose ideas still reach into today's fingerstyle guitarists and how they compose. Like Allen Toussaint, here on keyboards, also influential beyond reckoning but he never wanted to leave New Orleans for long, and while it left him a bit poorer in cash, I have no doubt it also left him happier in spirit.
Rest on peace, Levon Helm. The greatest combination of singer and drummer of all time, and pretty high on the list of just plain singers and just plain drummers.
And now Robbie Robertson died too... Sad week, sad days, sad life... We always love you brothers musicians. Coz life is a little bit easy with you areound us....😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
There have been days where I spent hours down a rabbit hole viewing various versions of this piece, yet I've never seen this particular one. The 'Playing for Change' version done as a tribute to Robbie Robertson is one of my favorites, as well as the Americana Awards show at the Ryman, the year of Levon's passing.
@@silverblade757 After he caught him in the fog, the verse is about a bed (fix your rack) and he wants him to put down his dog (but he can't because he is a peaceful man)... gotta see the video where Robbie talks about this.
Man, if this isn't the pick up band of geezers but my god, what talented geezers they are, it doesn't get any better than this. Ah Levon looks like he is having the time of his life, RIP Levon. Too many artists (and I use the term loosely) are just going through the motions these days, but few possess the passion for their craft the way this group does.
I know it's silly to respond to a comment three years old, but I do it for the reader of today. So, "pick up band of" what? "But my god, what talented" what? Are you as casual about using hate speech when you refer to women or POC as you are when you talk about old people? I think I represent quite a few other seniors when I say that I resent being referred to as a geezer. No, it isn't an "affectionate" term. It's demeaning. Keep saying it in public and see what happens.
@@AndrewStuartBrown You appear to misunderstand the term "pick up band", which means essentially a group assembled just for the occasion. Also applied to orchestras. Absolutely nothing to do with picking up women, which I presume is why you are getting vicariously offended. Nor am I offended by "geezer", which has nothing to do with old people in Britain, where I was born nearly 70 years ago. Lighten up.
"spectacle elvis costello with..." season two. What an amazing group of musicians. Check out "Shoot out the LIghts" from this same program - incredible.
I couldn't believe this line-up! Nick Lowe, Ray Lamontaigne, Allen Toussaunt - but not only them, but also the two of the best British singer-songwritersof the past 45 years (Richard and Elvis) and the best ever British electric guitar player (RT again)...
Have to disagree about RT being the "best ever British electric guitar player"! Great voice, amazing song writer, and a fine guitar player, the dude is multi talented. But when there are players like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, need I go on. It's a stretch to call him the best ever.
@@marklong4980 adding RT to the list you give proves that ‘best’ is a fallacy, we should stick to ‘favourite’ (and we all know favourite can change depending on our mood too 😁)
In Richard's 2021 book "Beeswing", he writes about how The Band were a major influence on him and Fairport. I'm sure everybody else in this clip would concur.
This is one of Richard Thompson's best songs, definitely. It's kind of fun to see him playing it with Elvis Costello as a sideman. This isn't quite up to the standard of the recorded version, but it's well-done. I suddenly thought of Tom Verlaine, maybe some overlap or influence between them, or maybe not. But some of the playing puts me in mind of Tom Verlaine as in the live performance of an extended "1880 (or So)" with Richard Lloyd and the Television band as it was off and on. That live performance from the Jools Holland TV program is available on this site.
And Levon looks so much like He wished He could still sing, mouthing the words..Sadly missed, an honest working Man's voice, but what a cast to take up the slack.
That must have been when Levon was still sick--no mic. But aren't those Allen Toussaint and Nick Lowe, beside Ray Lamontagne? They are worthy of mention too, I would think.I love that RT got Rick's verse--perfect edginess for that.
Thanks for the great upload. I am ASSuming this is one of Levon's Midnight Ramble shows in Woodstock. There's an article on his website about Toussaint's friendship and him showing up to play. As for comments on Costello, I've never "gotten" him. From being lucky enough to snag Diana Krall to showing up in more places that Jessie Jackson, I just don't get it. But opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one. Thanks again and RIP Levon
It's not one of the Rambles -- those were held at Levon's barn, which is a much smaller and more intimate space. Not sure when/where this was, but I think it was done for a TV special. Here's one of the barn shows: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i4f9weWSvuA.html
@@olafbigandglad Probably silly to reply to a three year old comment, but Spectacle was filmed at the Apollo theatre in New York, and most certainly did air outside of Canada.
And Declan McManus (aka Elvis Costello)... and none of them would make it on American Idol but... good grief, this is some talent on one stage here!! Check out the vesrion by Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show, too, if you can.
This shouldn't have worked. One of the pillars of American folk-rock being performed by a load of 60 years olds + a few new boys. Half the band isn't even American. It's perfect. My, how the original Band would have loved this tribute.
because we all know that canada is not part of the americas.. and how can alaska belong to both USA and canada, when they arent even on the same continent if you ask a 'murican.
