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Restored Classics ‘Daisies,’ ‘One Hand Do not Clap’ Head to Spain

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Right here’s who wasn’t taking a load off: the home band at Thursday’s tribute to Robbie Robertson on the L.A. space’s Kia Discussion board. Beginning somewhat after 7 and ending at midnight, the all-star present dubbed “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” clocked in at just a bit below 5 hours, which needed to have been extra taxing for the Don Was-led gamers than it was for the viewers in Inglewood. This epic size got here even and not using a single retake being completed for the cameras — Martin Scorsese was directing the gathering of footage — and with three intermissions turning out to be surprisingly transient. It was epic, however it was a weight the completely satisfied, unbothered viewers bore evenly.

What the Band-loving crowd obtained was a present with 37 numbers sung by about 20 brand-name artists, alone or together, every getting wherever from one to 3 songs apiece. The besides to that was a five-song set by Eric Clapton, along with his personal touring band stepping in for the home band, which lastly obtained to take 5 close to the highest of the ultimate hour. Van Morrison was the opposite veteran afforded the posh of having the ability to headline three songs in a row with out interruption, mid-show. There was no hubris concerned in making these allowances for Clapton and Morrison to get a lot concentrated actual property throughout the night; these Robertson buddies greater than re-earned the privilege of towering over the homage.

Others getting their highlight moments throughout the arguably all-killer, no-filler present included Mavis Staples and Trey Anastasio (pictured collectively, above), and Eric Church, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jim James, Bobby Weir, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal, Allison Russell, Warren Haynes, Robert Randolph and Daniel Lanois. A number of musicians who stepped as much as the mic for lead vocals in addition to serving in the home band: Jamey Johnson, Bruce Hornsby, Mike Campbell and Ryan Bingham. (Initially marketed however not current: Noah Kahan, who exited the invoice in time to be left off the posters and T-shirts, and Elvis Costello, who, nonetheless included on these souvenirs, was apparently marked absent nearer to showtime.) Benmont Tench and Shannon McNally additionally took distinguished roles within the battalion of gamers, which prolonged to an oft-employed five-man horn part.

Restored Classics ‘Daisies,’ ‘One Hand Do not Clap’ Head to Spain

Eric Clapton performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores

Martin Scorsese was initially introduced as an govt producer alongside Blackbird Presents‘ Keith Wortman, Scooter Weintraub and Jared Levine, however it was solely introduced two days previous to the live performance that he could be directing the filming of the present — in a mirroring of his route of “The Final Waltz” again in 1976. This led some who have been experiencing some FOMO over lacking out on attending to think about they may get to see all or many of the present ultimately in theaters or on residence video. However that assumption was most likely made earlier than most individuals knew the size of the present… plus, Scorsese isn’t going to place a capper on his finest buddy’s life and profession with out together with documentary footage within the last piece. So, count on to see a wholesome quantity of present excerpts someplace down the road.

Requested by Selection earlier than the present if there was a plan in place for what would occur with the footage, Wortman mentioned, “Not but. Tonight’s concerning the live performance that actually celebrates Robbie, and we’re capturing it, capturing it, after which we take our time to make the film. You understand, no rush — we actually wish to make a film that stands the take a look at of time.” Added Weintraub, “It’ll attain past being a live performance movie.”

“We knew Marty needed to be concerned on quite a few totally different ranges, and so the query was, did he wish to additionally direct it? And after he considered it for a minute, he mentioned, ‘I’m not gonna have anybody else direct it,’” Weintraub mentioned.

However the producers singled another person out as a key set off for making the present occur. “We had such deep love and affection and historical past with Robbie that, inside a pair weeks after he had handed” — in August 2023 — “this dialog started round: What can we do? We’ve to do one thing particular. So it began from there. I ought to say that Eric was in early and helped us type of kick it off. Proper. He felt very strongly about doing one thing, as nicely, and he reached out. And admittedly, as soon as Eric mentioned, ‘I wish to do one thing,’ all of it type of got here collectively round him and, in truth, the timing round when he could be stateside. We mentioned we are able to’t do it with out him, given their relationship.”

Even with out there being any on-stage dialogue of Clapton’s key position within the proceedings, his five-song set was a spotlight for a lot of available, starting with a rollicking “The Form I’m In” and persevering with by three extra alternative Band covers (“Out of the Blue,” “Chest Fever” and “Forbidden Fruit”) earlier than wrapping up with “Additional On Up the Highway.” Though it may be annoying when attendees even within the entrance part are wanting up on the huge screens as a substitute of on the man in entrance of them, it may be forgiven in a mini-set like this, given the enrapturing closeups of his fingerwork. Clapton didn’t communicate at any size about Robertson however was seen at size in a documentary prelude section speaking, seemingly in earnest, about how he stop Cream and went to hang around at Large Pink in hopes of being requested to hitch the Band, though he didn’t have the nerve to truly ask — as a result of he fervently believed that Robertson’s nascent group was already the end result of all the pieces that rock needs to be.

Van Morrison was the evening’s different Greatest Star on Hand, and a rarity as an precise veteran of the San Francisco “Final Waltz” live performance in addition to movie. He not solely didn’t discuss Robertson, he didn’t do any of his songs, both, solely his personal. (This isn’t atypical for the largest stars at tribute reveals; at Jimmy Buffett’s latest memorial live performance, the Eagles and Paul McCartney carried out their very own tunes, too.) However the viewers was hardly sad to get a “Tupelo Honey” and a “Days Like This” from a Morrison who was in good voice, and in good sax. There was a clearer level of connection when he closed out his look with the wonderful “Fantastic Comment,” a horn-section-fueled track of his that Robertson had produced and performed guitar on for the “King of Comedy” soundtrack 4 many years in the past.

Van Morrison performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Oddly, that was not the total extent of the Morrison songs throughout the night, as a result of there was yet another: “Caravan,” which the artist sang for “The Final Waltz”… however not for this night. It was coated by Warren Haynes, who informed Selection backstage what occurred. “They requested me to sing ‘Caravan’ as a result of they mentioned ‘Van’s not gonna do it — however he nonetheless desires somebody to do it.’ I did it within the ‘Final Waltz’ tour (a recurring outing during which a few of these artists cowl Band songs), and it was like, ‘Effectively, I don’t actually really feel comfy with that, with him being right here.’ However they assured me he desires anyone else to do it. So, OK!” That was added to the 2 Band songs Haynes was already singing lead on, “Stage Fright” and “Life Is a Carnival.”

However these Morrison tunes weren’t the one non-Robbie songs to make their approach into the efficiency. Robertson’s affiliation with Bob Dylan allowed for Weir to cowl “Once I Paint My Masterpiece,” the one true solo variety of the evening, with the Grateful Lifeless frontman unaccompanied by something apart from his personal guitar. Rateliff did “Eternally Younger,” which was carried out by Dylan with the Band on the ’74 tour at the moment being commemorated in a large dwell boxed set. And Campbell, reunited with keyboard nice Tench after seven years of no Heartbreakers, did Tom Petty’s “The Better of The whole lot,” which Robertson completed and re-produced for the “Southern Accents” album in one thing near his personal heat and fulsome fashion.

Rateliff was happy to be doing 4 songs at numerous factors within the present. In addition to “Eternally Younger,” he additionally had Marvin Gaye’s “Child Don’t You Do It” and two Robertson originals. “‘Throughout the Nice Divide’ is the begin to probably the greatest data ever made,” he mentioned backstage, referring to the Band’s 1969 self-titled album, “after which I’m doing the song-sketch/demo model of ‘Twilight,’ which has at all times been a deep-cut favourite of mine. That was a request within the household for me to do this, that exact model. All of them have loads of which means to me.” (Rateliff was getting a take a look at run within the Discussion board for his personal headlining present developing there Feb. 21, which was solely introduced Friday.)

Nathaniel Rateliff and Margo Worth carry out onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Margo Worth joined Rateliff for a few these numbers, after playfully posing with him on the purple carpet. She additionally had a solo quantity, with “Evangeline.” “It’s a track that I’ve been protecting for a bit now,” she mentioned backstage, “I heard Emmylou Harris doing it again within the day, and her interpretation of that track was my favourite second of ‘The Final Waltz.’ … Robbie’s songwriting has simply been massively influential on me, for the way it blended roots-music nation with rock ‘n’ roll. It was an unimaginable blueprint to comply with and I really feel actually honored I get to hold on this custom.”

Anastasio, of Phish fame, mentioned he was thrilled to get to be singing “Untrue Servant,” “Look Out Cleveland” and “The Weight,” that final one shared with Mavis Staples, who carried out it within the film. “All three are unimaginable, and ‘Untrue Servant’ is a masterpiece that I feel actually reveals off Robbie’s skills. I imply, not that all the pieces else tonight doesn’t, however it’s not one of many extra well-known of his songs, I’d say, even when I suppose a fan would possibly disagree with me. Nevertheless it’s an amazing honor to have the ability to sing that tonight; I feel I’m further enthusiastic about singing that one.”

Anastasio added that he “grew up with all this music. You understand, my dad and mom have been fairly younger, so that is what was on in the lounge, and it appears like enjoying the inspiration of all music or one thing like that. Particularly for my fashion of music, it’s floor zero.”

Margo Worth, Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Jim James performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

The setlist was simply dominated by Band songs, practically to the exclusion of Robertson’s solo profession, however there have been exceptions. A few artists spoke backstage to how they have been protecting songs that that they had labored on with the honoree for his post-Band albums. Sacred metal king Randolph identified that his choice “Straight Down a Line” was one thing he labored on with Robertson in 2003. (They subsequently carried out it collectively on Jimmy Fallon’s present, with the Roots.) He had run into Robertson once more six months earlier than his loss of life, once they have been each working on the Village studio in West L.A.

And Daniel Lanois, who produced Robertson’s first solo album, was resurrecting one of many higher remembered tunes from that document, “Damaged Arrow,” in a really totally different, hauntingly lovely association. “It’s a track that’s very expensive to me,” Lanois mentioned earlier than the present, “and brings up loads of recollections of us huddled up within the little studio on the Village, working up these preparations. It was an amazing honor for a Canadian child, as a result of as a guitar participant, Robbie was at all times a hero for me. And so there I used to be working with one in every of my heroes, and we had a pleasant alternate as a result of he loves imaginative considering. The wildest thought, he would actually settle for…

“So right here we’re tonight,” Lanois continued. “We are able to’t cease the clock and we misplaced Robbie, however tonight I’m gonna sing the track for Robbie, quite than only a rendition of what Robbie wrote the track about. I put somewhat little bit of twist within the association and I modified a few of the lyrics to counsel that we’re nonetheless listening to him and he’s nonetheless a trailblazer as he at all times was, however up there quite than down right here.”

Allison Russell, Cassandra Isaac, Cy Standing, Logan Staats, Ava Hill, Julian Taylor at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” – Arrivals at Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Allison Russell was proud to hitch Lanois in being one of many few precise Canadians on the invoice. She had introduced in some associates related to the Six Nations Reserve in Canada, the place Robertson was partly raised by his native mom. This had not been the plan till two days earlier than. “About 48 hours in the past, I obtained a name saying that the artist I used to be initially scheduled to collaborate with couldn’t make it,” Russell mentioned backstage. “And I had truly been making an attempt to get Julian (Taylor) and Logan (Staats) and our buddy William Prince on this present for a very long time, as a result of I felt it was so necessary to have indigenous illustration. Robbie and Logan are from the identical area, Six Nations, and I actually needed to be sure that that was a part of this tribute to him. So once I obtained 48 hours discover that there was a possibility, I used to be given the OK, and I referred to as Julian and Logan and so they dropped all the pieces and confirmed up for Robbie. We’re so honored to be right here, singing ‘Acadian Driftwood,’ for Canadian illustration on the present.”

Forty-eight hours later for Russell and firm, and simply 4 days after the home band launched into rehearsals, the present got here off flawlessly, from all appearances, with 37 particular person performances, the top of every one main a viewer to quietly assume: That was a beautiful comment.

Set 1
“Peyote Therapeutic” – Verdell Primeaux
“Up on Cripple Creek” – Eric Church
“Ophelia” – Ryan Bingham
“The Better of The whole lot” – Mike Campbell
“Evangeline” – Margo Worth
“Acadian Driftwood” – Allison Russell, Julian Taylor and Logan Staats
“Straight Down the Line” – Robert Randolph
“Who Do You Love” – Taj Mahal
“Down South in New Orleans” – Dave Malone and Cyril Neville
“Go Again to Your Woods” – Bruce Hornsby
“King Harvest” – Bruce Hornsby
“The Night time They Drove Outdated Dixie Down” – Jamey Johnson

Eric Church performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection


Set 2
“Damaged Arrow” – Daniel Lanois
“Life Is a Carnival” – Warren Haynes
“Whispering Pines” – Lucinda Williams
“Twilight” – Nathaniel Rateliff
“Throughout the Nice Divide” – Nathaniel Rateliff
“Rag Mama Rag” – Jamey Johnson
“Don’t Do It” – Nathaniel Rateliff with Margo Worth
“Tupelo Honey” – Van Morrison
“Days Like This” – Van Morrison
“Fantastic Comment” – Van Morrison

Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Worth at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” – Arrivals at Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Set 3
“The Form I’m In” – Eric Clapton
“Out of the Blue” – Eric Clapton
“Forbidden Fruit” – Eric Clapton
“Chest Fever” – Eric Clapton
“Additional on Up the Highway” – Eric Clapton

Bob Weir at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” – Arrivals at Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Set 4
“Eternally Younger” – Ryan Bingham
“It Makes No Distinction” – Jim James
“Stage Fright” – Warren Haynes
“Caravan” – Warren Haynes
“Once I Paint My Masterpiece” – Bob Weir
“The Untrue Servant” – Trey Anastasio
“Look Out Cleveland” – Trey Anastasio
“The Weight” — Mavis Staples with Trey Anastasio and Bob Weir)
“I Shall Be Launched” – Jamey Johnson, Jim James, Allison Russell and full firm

Lucinda Williams performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Warren Haynes performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

Shannon McNally, Logan Stotts, Julian Taylor, Allison Russell and Nathaniel Rateliff performs onstage at “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” held on the Kia Discussion board on October 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores for Selection

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