So I'm always told, never had the pleasure! Jonathan & Grasshopper from Mercury Rev recently told me about working with him on Deserters Songs. Quite a character, quite a talent.
"Then again, they’re all still here, in all the rootsy bands with singing drummers, stinging guitarists, and wooly wild organists, soundtracking a country’s unruly, ugly-beautiful history through vivid human storytelling, flights of melodic invention, and grooves that get your ass up off the chair."
Ha, ya got me man — I'd meant it more as a Platonic collective amalgam of those individual elements, not sure I can name three that quite do it all! But sure, I'll bite. Let's see... Yo La Tengo pretty much tick the boxes. Haim, arguably. I saw John Medeski, Nels Cline & Joe Russo play in Woodstock a couple weeks ago, no vocals but otherwise channeling the Band's spirit — and in the Bearsville Theater, which hosted Danko's funeral reception. I'll keep thinking! Anyone else wanna play?
I’d also add Mercury Rev, with whom Garth collaborated on their iconic Deserter’s Songs alongside Levon Helm. As my good friend Jeff Mercel once explained to me, Garth spent 90% of their precious studio time meticulously disassembling and rewiring the equipment and consoles to align with his exacting sonic vision. When I later met Garth through Jeff, he not only confirmed this but shared mesmerizing details about why every step was necessary. I have such admiration for analogue perfectionists—perhaps because I’m one myself. I would also add Jared Samuel's band Invisible Familiars as an upstate rootsy band with singing drummers and wooly wild organists with definite flights of melodic invention and finally Ultraam who I was lucky to see at Opus 40 on a summer evening and felt like The Band were being telepathically transported to my very being.
Beautiful obit. I first remember hearing The Band (The Weight—a most perfect song) watching Easy Rider as a kid. I didn’t know about the Neko Case collab. Super pretty. I’m often up near Catskill and will have to listen to Music from Big Pink in his honor next time I’m up.
I am so sad they are all gone now. R.I.P Garth, the last of The Band. 😢
Indeed. At least we have The Last Waltz.
Here here, Rest in peace and harmonies, Garth. And we were just talking about him. One of the nicest most talented musical souls I ever met.
So I'm always told, never had the pleasure! Jonathan & Grasshopper from Mercury Rev recently told me about working with him on Deserters Songs. Quite a character, quite a talent.
From your piece about Gary Hudson's passing.
"Then again, they’re all still here, in all the rootsy bands with singing drummers, stinging guitarists, and wooly wild organists, soundtracking a country’s unruly, ugly-beautiful history through vivid human storytelling, flights of melodic invention, and grooves that get your ass up off the chair."
Name me three working today. TX
steven faigen
loyal subscriber
Ha, ya got me man — I'd meant it more as a Platonic collective amalgam of those individual elements, not sure I can name three that quite do it all! But sure, I'll bite. Let's see... Yo La Tengo pretty much tick the boxes. Haim, arguably. I saw John Medeski, Nels Cline & Joe Russo play in Woodstock a couple weeks ago, no vocals but otherwise channeling the Band's spirit — and in the Bearsville Theater, which hosted Danko's funeral reception. I'll keep thinking! Anyone else wanna play?
I’d also add Mercury Rev, with whom Garth collaborated on their iconic Deserter’s Songs alongside Levon Helm. As my good friend Jeff Mercel once explained to me, Garth spent 90% of their precious studio time meticulously disassembling and rewiring the equipment and consoles to align with his exacting sonic vision. When I later met Garth through Jeff, he not only confirmed this but shared mesmerizing details about why every step was necessary. I have such admiration for analogue perfectionists—perhaps because I’m one myself. I would also add Jared Samuel's band Invisible Familiars as an upstate rootsy band with singing drummers and wooly wild organists with definite flights of melodic invention and finally Ultraam who I was lucky to see at Opus 40 on a summer evening and felt like The Band were being telepathically transported to my very being.
Beautiful obit. I first remember hearing The Band (The Weight—a most perfect song) watching Easy Rider as a kid. I didn’t know about the Neko Case collab. Super pretty. I’m often up near Catskill and will have to listen to Music from Big Pink in his honor next time I’m up.