What's today? Thanksgiving? Yes, but it's also the thirty-first anniversary of one of the most famous concerts in rock history. Kinda. The Band performed their "last waltz" at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving night November 25, 1976. Showing up to lend support were Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Ringo, Dr. John, and, strangely, Neil Diamond, who, in my opinion, just stuck out like a sore thumb. The concert was immortalized by Martin Scorcese's film, "The Last Waltz," which captured great music, boasted beautiful cinematography, and, alas, featured some underwhelming interviews of some interesting characters like the late Richard Manuel and the singing southern drummer, Levon Helm. Anyhow, let's let the music do the talking. Here are my five favorite performances from The Last Waltz:
The Band--The Shape I'm In
Neil Young--Helpless
The Band--The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Bob Dylan--Forever Young
The Band w/The Staple Singers--The Weight
"Pop" Staple's voice on "The Weight" is a must-hear. It is smooth and effortless. Enjoy.
I would have chosen "It Makes No Difference" and "Caravan". Van Morrison was great. Could there be a concert today that had that much contemperory talent on stage?
I like this music in a sleepy kind of way. But I can't imagine being at that concert. You'd need to be on quaaludes to handle I think.
Agreed. About the 'ludes, I mean.
the first Thanksgiving was in Virginia
Some say Texas in 1591 when a group of Spaniards and their indian counterparts performed the 1623 Plymouth ritual years before.
The Dylan clip is great, but, man, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a complete retard. Completely unclever. It is amazing that so many people think one can be an artist and insightful just by being an asshole, posing as avant guard, and roaring spitefully and weakly at God. I think drugs may have something to do with this self-delusion of cleverness.
But I LOVE how after that anti-God B.S. from Ferlinghetti, Dylan comes out: "May God bless and keep you always..."
I don't know whether this juxtaposition is Dylan's work, Scorcese's work, or the Lord's (i.e., chance's) work. But it is a great twist.
I find it funny how people who have a problem with "God" and the belief thereof are always screwed up about it.
You rarely find anti-God folk who keep their opinions to themselves. They typically need to go out of their way to adamently convince other people that they don't believe to the extent that they need to rail agsinst God's existence.
This seems to run rampant among the celebrity crowd. Ego must dictate that they need to prove to themselves regularly that they are supreme and nobody else can be.
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Many in the pro-god camp feel the same need, it's often two sides of the same coin. What happened to quiet, self-secure spitituality?
"What happened to quiet, self-secure spitituality?"
Well that's the point I think. There are many of those out there who are true in their quiet practice of their beliefs.
Maybe it's media coverage and/or the fact that celebrities have a wider stage in which to spout their beliefs (or non-beliefs), but I don't find the believers to be as vocal and invasive.
