University of Virginia Library

Midwinter's Concert
Features The Band

By Bruce Heflin

Highlighting Mid-Winters Weekend,
possibly the entire year, will
be the appearance of The Band on
Friday the thirteenth in University
Hall. Their first album, "Music
from Big Pink," was chosen by
hard-to-please Rolling Stone magazine's
reviewer as his album of the
year. Life magazine praised them in
a large article, and Time magazine
featured them as their cover story,
a rare occurrence for a weekly news
magazine, but one that is richly
deserved, because The Band is
news.

Throughout the past twelve to
eighteen months, rock music has
been experiencing many convulsions,
particularly in regard to its
absorption of, and alignment with,
a diversity of other musical forms.
Jazz, classical and folk music have
all been major "new" directions
that rock has of late been gravitating
toward. The most significant
shift in rock, though, is exemplified
by groups such as Credence
Clearwater Revival, The Flying
Burrito Brothers, Crosby, Stills,
Nash, and Young, and The Band.
This influence is, of course, the
subdued, basic freshness of country
music, with its easy rhythms and
twangy blues.

The Band is somewhat unique in
this country revival, however. They
bring every element of popular and
classical music to their work, and
combine technical brilliance that is
nearly unsurpassed with an unassuming
dedication that is as refreshing
and exhilarating as their sound.
The Band is not hype o pretension,
it is a purely musical experience,
through the individual talent of
each member and tight-knit unity
of the total effort.

Robbie Robertson on lead guitar,
Richard Manuel on piano,
Levon Helm on drums, Rick
Danko, bass, and Garth Hudson on
organ make up The Band. All
contribute vocally. Of their individual
virtuosity, hard-bitten, usually
grudging critics tend to superlatives
that stretch one's credulity. In
1968, Eye magazine's international
poll of rock musicians and music
critics found The Band tied with
The Beatles as the most important
group on the scene. The Band is
that good.

Rising from the depths of lean
one-night stands to relative obscurity
as the back-up group for Bob
Dylan to their position as probably
the most influential American force
in popular music has been a long,
difficult task. The group's music
reflects this dues-paying in its
maturity and polish. Ten years of
constant practice and endeavor
have paid off in one of the cleanest,
closest sounds to be found anywhere
today.

That the University has contacted
a group of such caliber is
little short of amazing. After an
extended overdose of soul and soul
rock. Midwinters concert provides
an opportunity for expansion of
our musical horizons that should,
and hopefully will, be welcomed
enthusiastically by the university
community. Reading or writing
about The Band is pointless, they
say all that should be said in their
music. The Band is "what's happening,"
and I respectfully urge all of
you to take advantage of this
chance to see the group in concert.
If you're into good rock, then
you'll certainly dig The Band.