By Emily J. Weitz
The Weight is no cover band. While they focus their work on playing songs of The Band, these five musicians have tight ties to the group, from playing as official members of the Canadian-American rock roots band to writing some of The Band’s original songs. So when they get together to play, it’s more than a tribute to a great American band. It’s a tribute to music itself, and to the longevity of these songs, which these very musicians helped to create.
Jim Weider, who was in Sag Harbor for the recent Masters of the Telecaster show at Bay Street Theater this winter, played lead guitar with The Band from 1985 to 2000. Randy Ciarlante was the drummer for The Band from 1990 to 1999, and Marty Grebb wrote songs on The Band’s 1993 album, “Jericho.” So when they get together, it’s as much a remembrance of first-hand experience as it is paying homage.
“It’s not a tribute band,” said Mr. Grebb. “It’s a reincarnated sidecar of The Band, because there’s so much closeness.”
This closeness applies to the relationships between the musicians and their relationships with the songs.
“Everyone has a deep reverence for the music,” said Mr. Weider, “since we’ve all played with members of The Band.”
They’ve also performed separately with the late Levon Helm, who was well known for his own ensembles, like the Levon Helm Band and the Midnight Ramble Band, which would gather at Helm’s Woodstock home for Saturday night concerts that became a destination for music lovers.
“Byron [Isaacs] and Bryan [Mitchell] have deep rooted ties to Levon’s resurgence in the Midnight Ramble Band,” explained Mr. Ciarlante, “and Byron has also written songs for The Levon Helm Band.”
What makes these five musicians really work together is that they all get it. Not just in their own individual talents, but in their love for the specific songs that they’re playing with The Weight.
“I believe collectively and as individuals,” said Mr. Ciarlante, “we have a thorough understanding of what The Band music was all about, and fortunately, we’ve all had direct insight on what made it work.”
They use this understanding to re-interpret the songs in the present tense.
“We all try to harness the strengths of each composition we choose to play,” said Mr. Ciarlante, “based on our past associations with the original creators.”
One of the things that made The Band great was their accessibility to a common American experience.
“The Band was the first Americana band,” said Mr. Weider. “Now that’s a big thing, but The Band really started it. The common man could relate to these songs, and they ring through the ages. They’re fantastic tunes about American life, they’re well-written, and the songs hold up.”
Mr. Ciarlante agrees that the storytelling quality of these songs is crucial to their longevity. But it’s also the musicianship.
“What gives The Band songs longevity,” he said, “is how they’re crafted as compositions, how the lyrics tell a story, and in some cases how the story lines reflect the listeners’ own personal plights.”
This, he believes, is rare when compared with other music coming out of the same era.
“These songs weren’t as much of a psychedelic jam session,” said Mr. Ciarlante, “as they were a well-crafted storyline that every listener felt a part of.”
This connection that the listener feels is what continues to drive the music today, and it’s why these songs continue to be played for new generations. You would think that playing the same song over and over again might grow tiresome, or the meaning might get lost. But Mr. Weider invokes the song The Weight, the group’s namesake, as evidence to the contrary.
“The Weight is about helping each other out,” he said, “taking a load off. That’s one of our anthems. I’ve been playing it for so many years, but watching people sing along with it, you never tire of it.”
The audience gets involved, and becomes a part of the show, which makes every show different. And the group has a reservoir of songs to draw from, King Harvest to Cripple Creek to The Rumor. Mr. Ciarlante emphasizes that these songs are great because of the pure talent of the players and singers who created them.
“These were extremely gifted musicians,” he said, “with a vast knowledge of many types of genres, and combined they created a form of Americana music that has been the inspiration for generations of musicians, past and present.”
Part of the reason they’re returning to Sag Harbor so soon is because of the great reception they had at Masters of the Telecaster. That project was the baby of Mr. Weider, Mr. Ciarlante, and Byron Isaacs.
“The audience was 100% with us on every note,” said Mr. Ciarlante. “I expect the same band/fan partnership when they hear these impeccably constructed songs, delivered by five passionate musicians who were always trusted and respected by [founding Band members] Levon, Rick, Garth, and Richard that they would do the right things when it came to singing, writing, and playing the songs of The Band.”
The Weight will play at Bay Street Theater on Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $45 and can be purchased at baystreet.org. Learn more about the band at theweightband.com.
27east on Apr 14, 2015