Yes, you read that headline correctly. The full nearly four hour performance of the 1976 Thanksgiving night concert by The Band has made it’s way to the public. It includes, previously unreleased tunes by The Band such as “WS Wolcott Medicince Show,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Arcadian Driftwood,” “Rag Mama Rag,” and also “The Weight” which in the film was represented only by the live in studio version. No overdubs here either. Songs by some of the guest stars include “Hazel” by Bob Dylan, “Four Strong Winds” by Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and “Coyote” also by Joni. “Don’t Do It”, which opens the performance part of the movie is also shown in its rightful place as the...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#810 in the Series) is Bobby Charles, Bobby Charles Bobby Charles is one of those artists that you know intimately, has been in your life for a long time, but you just can’t remember, or never really knew how the relationship got started. Born in 1938, a true Cajun by birth, Charles was one of the swamp rock founding fathers, a genre that deliciously combines zydeco, boogie rock, rockabilly, and old juke joint rhythm and blues.  A typical “he’s big overseas” artist, in his early days he was generally known as a songwriter penning “See You Later Alligator,” famously covered by Bill Haley and the Comments, and “Walking to New Orleans” for...

                    —————————————————————————————————————————————————— Last night was the Love for Levon concert. I wasn’t there so I can’t review it, but I’ll be glad to give you the setlist. The picture here is that of a cake that honored the great musician. We’re consistently searching for and adding more videos so stop back!  Love For Levon Setlist Set one “The Shape I’m In” with Warren Haynes “Long Black Veil” with Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes “Trouble in Mind” with Jorma Kaukonen and Barry Mitterhoff “This Wheel’s On Fire” featuring the Levon Helm Band “Little Birds” featuring The Dirt Farmer Band “Move Along Train” with Mavis Staples “Life is a Carnival” with Allen Toussaint “When...

  (Setlist and Videos From Show Here) October 3rd has been announced as the date for the “Love For Levon” concert. The show will be held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Taking the stage will be The Levon Helm Band, John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, Gregg Allman, Ray LaMontagne, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Marc Cohn, Patty Griffin, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Jorma Kaukonen, Robert Randolph and Joe Walsh. Musical Director responsibilities will be handled by The Levon Helm Band’s Larry Campbell and famed producer Don Was.  Surprise guests are expected as well. Proceeds will be donated to the Levon Helm’s Woodstock New York studio and concert hall where the...

  by John W. Barry Thousands were on hand at the Mountain Jam music festival Saturday night for a stunning tribute to the late musician Levon Helm that embodied his ability to reach across generations and slice through genres of song. Helm, a Grammy winning member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from Woodstock, died April 19. The Levon Helm Band performed twice at Mountain Jam, in 2008 and 2010. The eighth edition of the musical extravaganza, which is staged by Radio Woodstock and Gov’t Mule and Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes, started Thursday and ends tonight. Mountain Jam is held at Hunter Mountain, in the heart of the Catskills. Helm sang, played drums and mandolin...

  Levon Helm has passed away at the age of 71. This was the statement on his website “Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.” Garth Hudson posted this statement on his website shortly after hearing of Levon’s passing:  “I AM TERRIBLY SAD. THANK YOU FOR 50 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP AND MUSIC. MEMORIES THAT LIVE ON WITH US. NO MORE SORROWS, NO MORE TROUBLES, NO MORE PAIN. HE WENT PEACEFULLY TO THAT BEAUTIFUL MARVELOUS WONDERFUL PLACE. HE WAS BUDDY RICH’S FAVORITE ROCK DRUMMER … AND MY FRIEND. LEVON, I’M PROUD OF YOU.” Bob Dylan released...

  A painful back caused by a slowly healing slipped disc caused the cancelation of Friday, March 30th’s Levon Helm concert that was scheduled for  the Casino Ballroom in Hampton, New Hampshire. Here’s the official Statement. March 30, 2012 3:11 PM “Levon Helm and Los Lobos postponed. Please help spread the word (crushing news for us) but: Unfortunately, tonight’s Levon Helm show at the Casino Ballroom is being postponed until July 17. “Levon has a slipped disk in his back, and despite therapy, it hasn’t healed enough for him to move freely enough sit at the drums for any length of time. “Levon would like to assure everyone that his health otherwise has been excellent as of late. Levon...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#632 in the Series) is Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer. (Vanguard Records) Every year since the early 80’s I’ve come up with my own Album of the Year. This won easily as my Album of Year in 2008.  (It was actually released late in late 2007, I know! You’ll understand soon.) We all know Levon Helm as drummer, picker and lead vocalist of The Band.  If you’re a fan of The Band, or just Americana music in general, you must add Dirt Farmer to your collection. It was strange.  I actually had this album for quite some time before I really got into it.  I had it, gave it a quick spin when...

  Not much is know at this point, but Levon Helm has shared news through his website that he’ll be missing at least three of his upcoming Midnight Ramble House concerts as he will be undergoing a medical procedure. Here’s the statement: “Levon will be undergoing a medical procedure that will necessitate his absence from the February 11th, 18th and 25th Rambles. We wish him the best and we know he will have a speedy recovery. We’ll continue with the normal Ramble schedule with special guests joining the band. Those guests will be announced shortly.” It appears that the procedure is not anything of an emergency nature as it appears, again, at least according to his website, that he will...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#588in the Series) is The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume II. Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol II is, obviously, the follow up to the 1971 album. If you’re not familiar with the two, they were a pair of albums released by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that featured a roomful of guest stars. The original album gave us names like Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements etc. Volume II continued the tradition. Some wonderful names are on this release. Here we find, Johnny Cash, Sam Bush, Bruce Hornsby, EmmyLou Harris, Levon Helm, John Denver (Before he made a big splash), John Hiatt, John Prine, Rosanne Cash, Randy Scruggs, Roger...