Thump. Thump. Thump.
There’s scant few drum notes that are as instantly recognizable as the beats that begin The Weight. If the percussion alone doesn’t instantly reel you in, the incredibly distinct, timeless and soulful sound of Levon Helm’s voice surely will. There was something intangible that mesmerized me listening to The Band. Music From Big Pink was one of the handful of albums that was in heavy rotation as a teenager and through college. It became one of those comforting albums that felt like an old friend. Such was the case the first time I saw The Last Waltz. It felt like I had seen it one hundred times before. And over the years, perhaps I’ve come close to viewing it just that many times.
[Photo by Parker Harrington]
It was with extraordinary excitement that I anticipated attending one of Levon’s Rambles. As I reflected in my account of the evening, it felt nothing short of sitting in a friend’s living room. The amiable smile, the welcoming gestures and overall joy that he exuded made everyone feel at ease. There’s not many people that can, on the one hand, put you in awe of his musical history and impact on American culture and at the same time, put you at ease. Levon Helm had that special ability.
At this past fall’s Life is good Festival, I had the pleasure of hearing the Levon Helm Band one last time. “It was magical” was my sentiment reflecting on the performance with Ray LaMontagne. Americana and folk songs get passed from generation to generation. It was fascinating listening to LaMontagne sing with the familiar drum beats behind, envisioning a time when a young Helm performed with the legends before him. And so too will this cycle likely repeat someday when an older LaMontagne takes the stage with someone from the next generation. Yet there are some songs that will forever be indelibly etched with Levon Helm and The Band. I’ve seen literally dozens of takes on The Weight from the Grateful Dead to Joan Osborne to The Black Crowes and scores of other bands. Yet, for me, that is one of several songs that will be impossible to fully pass down to the next generation as such a big piece of it resides within the heart and soul of Levon Helm.
In a wistful few moments at Life is good, Levon closed his eyes as he often does when playing the drums, paused, then lifted his head and briefly looked to the Heavens with his signature magical smile. Who knows what he was thinking but it’s impossible not to imagine the flood of stories, memories, and history that could come to his mind at any moment. I am thankful that I have some of my very own memories experiencing this American legend and musical hero.
