Woodstock Day 3: The Band

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, The Band played on August 17th at 10 pm for just under an hour. At the time, The Band had only one album out, the cult favorite Music from Big Pink (1968). The album was named as such since they wrote music in a house that they had rented that they had affectionately named "Big Pink" in Woodstock, NY. They're a folk-rock band that was mentored and employed by Bob Dylan from 1965 to 1966.

"Big Pink" - The house that started it all!

In 1969, The Band consisted of Robbie Robertson on vocals and guitar, Rick Danko on bass and back-up vocals, Levon Helm on drums and mandolin and back-up vocals, Garth Hudson on sax and synth, and Richard Manuel on piano and organ.

They played seven of their eleven album songs, did a little bit of Dylan (for homage purposes), and closed with their hit "The Weight" which had been recently made popular in the film Easy Rider. They were not, however, included in the film Woodstock due to legal complications.

The Band on the way to the set to play at Woodstock

They've got some lovely tunes and a long discography (too long for this snippet in time, but perhaps another post). Though overlooked in music history, The Band, along with The Byrds, set the template for country and folk rock. Both Eric Clapton and George Harrison cite the band as a major musical influence. After taking a break from 1977 to 1983, The Band remained active until 1999 (the year that Rick Danko died).  They also played in Woodstock '94.

In 1989, The Band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Band also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

Twitter: @bobdylantheband