Happenings on the Scene – Clear Lake musicians play The Last Waltz

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This article was published 22/07/2010 (5796 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Concert goers looking for something new will find it at the Onanole Rec Centre tonight, thanks to a re-enactment of something old but this isn’t the same old same old.

This is a fresh new idea that fans of live productions will thoroughly enjoy. It’s a flashback to an historical event made by a legendary group and a plethora of their friends.

On Nov. 26, 1976, The Band teamed up with Martin Scorsese to film what was then touted as their farewell performance at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The star-studded lineup of special guests who sat in with The Band included musical icons such as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and more.

The man spearheading tonight’s musical event is long time local singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and owner of Poor Michael’s Bookshop, Murray Evans.

Immediately after discovering this unique concert was going to be re-enacted right here in Westman, I was intrigued to find out more about it. The following is a transcript of our Q & A session.

 

First off this is a brilliant idea! When did you come up with recreating a musical event such as this?

The idea came out of the Route 10 Jam Sessions at the Sonics Festival in Onanole. Cam McKillop and I thought about doing a jam session with direction, as opposed to finishing a song and then saying "whaddya wanna do next?", "I dunno, what do you wanna do next?". This Last Waltz Show combines the jam session spirit with multiple players, but still retains some semblance of order and offers amazing variety.

 

It must have been a long process not only selecting the players but learning all the music. Describe the process for us.

There are so many good players up at Clear Lake either as full time or seasonal residents. Picking the players was a matter of who was available to make the rehearsals. We’ve got a great lineup of people we always wanted to play with but never had the chance.

There is no one who can really "do" Dylan so we’ve gone to an "alternate universe" vibe in getting Alana Levandoski to step up to the plate. Alana is a fantastic singer/songwriter from Kelwood who tours most of North America and the UK. I still can’t believe I talked Don Kille into being our Rockin’ Ronnie Hawkins — it’s going to be a real hoot!

The Band’s music is deceptively simple. We’ve all played their music at jam sessions or around camp fires but when you sit down and really study the songs, there is a lot going on. They had four amazing singers and that’s been the biggest challenge. It’s always hard to sustain energy and emotion through a four-minute song, which has no chord changes: For example, "Who Do You Love" as performed by Ronnie Hawkins — a band really has to find the right groove to pull those things off.

 

How often did you rehearse as a group or was everything learned individually?

We’ve all put in extra time on our own, but as a unit, the band learned the songs in nine four-hour sessions — no small feat. I’m stoked to be playing again with Dave Oakey (keyboard player for Big Dyck Cadillac). Dave and I played in bands all through university in the early ’80s. Our band actually lived together in a big house and jammed all day and often all night, doing many of these songs.

 

Have you done a dress rehearsal yet? If so, what does the show time out at?

In real life the concert must have gone on for five or six hours. We’re doing the complete movie version, so it’s a cozy two and half hours with an intermission. Dress rehearsal is the day before the show — leaving nothing to chance!

 

How much attention will be paid to detail? Will it be just a loose jam-styled deal or will you get it right down to the thickness of their beards?

We’re all wearing the same style of underwear. Seriously though, we’ve had to change a couple of keys but otherwise, it’ll be a fair representation of the songs.

 

Levon Helm was at the Winnipeg Folk Fest. Did you or anybody you know get a chance to see his set?

I was chained to the bookshop this past weekend, so I missed Levon but I’ve heard that he was amazing.

 

How big of an influence was The Band on you as a musician?

The Band has been a huge influence on all folkies. Their music was neither old nor new. It was timeless, organic and real, as evidenced by how well it has aged. To me it sounds just as strange and exciting as it must have in 1968. It’s little wonder that Dylan took them on to be his backup band and that Clapton was jealous of their comradeship. If you are a fan of roots/Americana music, then this stuff is the real deal.

 

What is your favourite song or album from The Band and why?

I believe that Northern Lights Southern Cross was one of the first albums I purchased without influence. It’s got some great songs on it: "Acadian Driftwood", "Hobo Jungle", "Forbidden Fruit". The voices are what propelled me towards The Band’s sound. From that record in 1976, I worked my way back to their first record, "Music From Big Pink". Robbie Robertson was such a literate writer. All the songs have a strong storytelling nature to them without coming off as being dry. You can also dance to it because the songs have such a great groove to them.

 

There are similar event-styled shows out there, such as tribute bands that do certain musical eras and even a group that recreates classic albums. Have you ever entertained the thought of taking this production out on the road?

I’m trying to convince Richard Golletz that there’s no money in concrete and that the accordion is his true calling. Thus far he’s just laughed at me. There are no plans to tour this thing or even to reprise it — this is a one-off production. We haven’t thought of next year’s project, but we almost did Concert For Bangladesh instead, so that could be an option.

 

Good luck with the show! Any parting thoughts?

I’m also trying to get across that it’s advance tickets only, due to the liquor licence, available at Poor Michael’s Bookshop, Onanole, 848-0336.

 

 

Extra Happenings

* Get primed up for The Brandon Folk Music and Art Festival tonight (July 22) at Clancy’s Pub.

The 26th annual folkfest is set to take place under one of Nature’s greatest canopies. That’s right, on the southeast corner of the Keystone Centre grounds. Artists on this year’s lineup include:

 

– Buffy Sainte-Marie

– Son Latino Band

– Nathan

– Oh My Darling

– 4Ghosts of the Highway

– Christa Couture

– Elena Yeung

– Don Amero

 

The site opens at 6 p.m. on Friday, show starts at 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the site opens at 11 a.m. There’ll be food vendors, festival store, audience services and workshops start at 11:30 with main and second stage starting at noon.

Tickets available at BUSU, Pennywise Books, 10,000 Villages and the Marquis Project.

 

* Brandon’s Music In The Parks series continues tonight with Fingals Last Pint at Eleanor Kidd Park.

 

* Groove on down to The 40 this weekend for Brandon’s Groove Kitchen. They’ll perform three sets nightly, Friday and Saturday.

 

* Second annual Westman Metal Fest is Friday, July 23 at 7-11 p.m. at Parthenon Pizza, 34th and Victoria.

 

* Lady of the Lake presents "Thief", featuring Alexander McCowan, who’ll offer up a tasty mix of folk/soul/rock for your listening enjoyment Friday night. On Saturday, catch the Tom Dowden Quintet.

 

Next week "Happenings" takes a close up look at Rockin’ the fields in Minnedosa! Until then, get out there and take in a show.

 

 

Frank McGwire is a radio personality and booster of the music scene in Brandon and Westman.

» franko1@mts.net