Glen Burtnik, Sal Boyd, Bob Burger and Arne Wendt performed at Pollak Theater in a tribute to legendary musical act The Band with a powerful and upbeat set that echoed the 1976 concert movie, The Last Waltz, on Friday, Nov. 21.
The Band, originally consisting of Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson, was best known for being the ensemble group behind several popular frontmen, including Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan. The group’s unique folksy style was immortalized on Thanksgiving day in 1976, when Martin Scorsese filmed The Band’s final tour and edited it together with special interview footage to create The Last Waltz.
To recapture the spirit of this star-studded extravaganza, Burtnik, Boyd, Burger and Wendt performed many of The Band’s original hits, complete with infectious guitar solos, swinging horn sections, and several energetic guest performances. The ensemble kicked off the set with a lively version of “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down,” followed by classics “Forever Young” and “Further On Up the Road.”
The group was joined at various points throughout the show by artists including Southside Johnny, Pat Guadagno, Bobby Banderia, Kate Taylor, Bruce Gassman, Frank Puggy DeRosa, Matt Wade, Stringbean Sorenson, Frank Lombardi, Anthony D’Amato, Emily Grove, Nick Foster, and Tommy LaBella.
Also contributing to the show was Burtnik’s frequent collaborator and University student, Taylor Hope. A junior double majoring in math and music, Hope has been playing the violin since she was five-years-old, and has toured with many bands across the country. As a featured player in this production, Hope provided a graceful authenticity while supplying the melody in a string of standout numbers.
“It was a great night that was filled with timeless music and extremely talented musicians,” Hope said. “It was nice having a show at a place that means so much to me.”
Burtnik, who played bass throughout the show, thinks that The Band’s music is as relevant today as it was in 1976. “The whole Americana idea, the modern folk movement of Mumford and Sons and the Lumineers, and even the current bearded hipster chic all seem to nicely go along with the attitude of The Band.”
Burtnik continued, “I think their songs are still relevant today because they’re honest, not very gimmicky. If you ask me, their ‘Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ may be one of the finest songs about the Civil War ever written.”
The group covered a wide range of The Band’s material, and featured songs by many of the original ensemble’s frontmen. Boyd, who is credited for organizing the show, took a break from the drumset to cover a famous Springsteen song, “Atlantic City.”
Guest vocalists, like Taylor and Grove, were showcased in tunes like “Long Back Falls” and “Evangelyne,” while Lombardi added both instruments and vocals to a soulful rendition of “Helpless.” Foster and D’Amato were among the night’s most likely performers, offering powerful, energetic vocals to hits like “Caldonia” and “Caravan.”
D’Amato commented, “What made The Last Waltz so legendary, in my opinion, is the collaboration and trust of acclaimed musicians all in the same room together to celebrate each other’s music and musicianship. That was exactly the vibe for us that night at Pollak. Many of us had never performed together before, but we knew of each other’s experiences. We all trusted that we were invited to be on the same stage for all the same reasons: to celebrate great music with great musicians. The energy and spirit of the original show was absolutely present that night.”
This atmosphere, while present in the entire show, was especially apparent during the final number, an ensemble performance of one of The Band’s most famous songs, “I Shall Be Released.” Every featured artist returned to the stage one last time, and joined together in a soothing harmony of the song’s crooning chorus.
The two-hour long show received overwhelming applause at its close. Burtnik, Boyd, Burger, and Wendt, along with their tremendously talented array of musicians and singers, offered a welcoming stage presence and lively set that truly took Pollak Theater back in time.
PHOTOS TAKEN by Mona Bagatelle Shenker
