Woodstock '94 Saugerties, New York 8/13/1994

The Band played a superb set the with special guests of Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Rob Wasserman, Bob Weir, Bruce Hornsby and Roger McGuinn going through tunes old and new including a version of the Grateful Dead's "Throwing Stones" Fitting show for a fitting concert.

The Band

The Band's first album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy.The Band, the group's self titled second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit. The arrangements were simultaneously loose and assured, giving the songs a timeless appeal, while the lyrics continued to paint portraits of 19th century rural life (especially Southern life, as references to Tennessee and Virginia made clear), its sometimes less savory aspects treated with warmth and humor.

Music from the Big Pink

At first blush, the group seemed to affect the sound of a loose jam session, alternating emphasis on different instruments, while the lead and harmony vocals passed back and forth as if the singers were making up their blend on the spot. In retrospect, especially as the lyrics sank in, the arrangements seemed far more considered and crafted to support a group of songs that took family, faith, and rural life as their subjects and proceeded to imbue their values with uncertainty. The album and the group made their own impact, influencing a movement toward roots styles and country elements in rock making it's mark in rock and roll.