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Photo by Chloe Barkley<\/p>\n
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The tribute to the Band\u2019s The Last Waltz<\/em> at the hi-dive on Wednesday, November 26, is a nod to the concert highlighted in Martin Scorsese\u2019s 1978 film that\u2019s widely viewed as one of the best music documentaries ever made. But it also epitomizes the warmth and camaraderie of the Denver music community at its best \u2014 an event that went from casual idea to a joint project involving more than two dozen local performers in a matter of days.<\/p>\n \u201cThis wouldn\u2019t be the first time a bunch of people jumped at the chance to do something for community and music,\u201d says Horse Bitch<\/a>\u2018s Dave Knodle. \u201cBut it\u2019s definitely pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs this was coming together,\u201d adds Gillian Pasley of Caspar Milquetoast<\/a>, \u201cI was really struck by how nicely The Last Waltz<\/em> sort of mirrors the music scene we\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword<\/em> matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n For the uninitiated, the Band went from being backup musicians to Bob Dylan during his seismic mid-1960s era to a highly influential combo that turned tunes such as \u201cThe Night They Drove Old Dixie Down\u201d and \u201cUp on Cripple Creek\u201d into essential artifacts of Americana, despite most of the members hailing from Canada. But in 1976, guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson decided that the collective had run its course and conceived of a final concert featuring Dylan and other icons of the era as a fitting send-off.<\/p>\n The gig took place that Thanksgiving, November 25, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco and quickly established its place among the great spectacles in rock history. Granted, the aftermath of the celebration was messy, as detailed in a pair of vintage Westword<\/em> interviews with Robertson and drummer\/singer Levon Helm: While Robertson spoke about the bash with pride<\/a> in a 1998 conversation, Helm displayed bitterness and regret<\/a> over what he saw as the premature end of the outfit during a 2001 chat. But nearly a half-century later, the music offered up by The Band, Dylan and guest stars ranging from Ronnie Hawkins and Muddy Waters to Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and even Neil Diamond remains undeniably brilliant.<\/p>\n Pasley turned her love for this collection of songs and performances into an annual tradition. \u201cIt was November, and I felt the breeze in the air and remembered that every year, I like to listen to The Last Waltz<\/em> soundtrack,\u201d she says. \u201cAfter driving around listening to that, I posted on my band\u2019s Instagram fishing for someone to watch the movie this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly thereafter, she goes on, \u201cDave texted me \u2014 but we misunderstood each other. I was just trying to do a movie night, but Dave said we should do our own version of it. And within, like, 24 to 48 hours, it went from \u2018Let\u2019s watch the movie\u2019 to \u2018Let\u2019s see if our friends want to play the album with us.\u2019 Then everyone we knew said yes, and we thought, \u2018I guess we should go ahead and find a venue.’\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, the number of participants ballooned so quickly that Pasley and Knodle had to create a spreadsheet to keep up with who was doing what. \u201cWe\u2019re super-organized,\u201d Pasley jokes.<\/p>\n They needed to be. Players from a slew of acts immediately signed on, including Tomato Soup, Fresh Fruit!, Clementine Was Right, Standing Start, Alana Mars, Horticulture, Supermoon, Plain Faraday, Dream of Time, handknit, and Bitch Bitch Bitch, another of Pasley\u2019s groups. Moreover, the bill is still in flux and could continue growing right up until the day of the show.<\/p>\n Because of the last-minute rush, only about fifteen or so Last Waltz<\/em> ditties made the final cut (sorry, Mr. Diamond), and some folks will be playing multiple roles. \u201cA few different people will get to be Robbie Robertson,\u201d Pasley points out.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s at least one significant exception to this rule. \u201cI think the thing I\u2019m most excited about is our friend Gion Davis, a poet, is going to read as Lawrence Ferlinghetti,\u201d a wordsmith whose \u201cLoud Prayer\u201d was part of The Last Waltz<\/em> mix. \u201cBack then, they did things like reading poetry in the middle of rock concerts, and Gion already does that. So it just seems perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n The proceeds from the performance will go to Kaizen Food Rescue<\/a>, a Denver nonprofit that has distributed more than 17.5 million pounds of food to over 400,000 households. \u201cWe decided we wanted to do this as a benefit,\u201d Pasley says. \u201cWith the political situation around SNAP<\/a> [the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which became a bargaining chip in the recent government shutdown], we went about identifying an organization to donate to. A friend recommended Kaizen, since they\u2019re local and they promote food access and fight food insecurity\u201d \u2014 issues that are always vital but come into even sharper focus around Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n Both Knodle and Pasley expect that the tribute will have some ragged moments, but they believe the spirit of the gathering will come through loud and clear.<\/p>\n \u201cCompared to Dave and a lot of people who\u2019ll be playing, I\u2019m newer to the scene,\u201d Pasley acknowledges. \u201cBut this has been amazing to see and it gives me hope and excitement for the years to come. It\u2019s such a warm and generous time of community, and I\u2019m grateful to be here and be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tribute to The Band\u2019s The Last Waltz, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, the hi-dive, 7 South Broadway. Tickets <\/a>are $15. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen news happens, Westword is there \u2014<\/strong>
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