Caught A Cannonball
“Catch a cannon ball now, to take me down the line/My bag is sinkin’ low and I do believe it’s time./To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she’s the only one./ Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.” -The Weight.
Ironically, I was aware of The Band long before I was aware of their importance and significance in the history of American rock and roll. I remember driving with my Father, 42 years ago now and hearing, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” on the AM car radio. On first listen we were both instantly captivated by the music and the lyrics. Approximately thirteen years later Conspiracy was readying for gig at George Washington Hall (sold out, 2,500 seats for those still questioning my rock and roll fame). The opening act was a solo folk performer whose name is long forgotten. During sound check he played one of the most beautiful renditions of The Band’s The Weight.
I came to learn more and more about The Band. As a Dylan fanatic The Band obviously played a large role in Dylan’s music. Whether, it’s the Black Crowe’s version of “Don’T Do It”, The Grateful Dead and Furthur’s version of The Weight, any rock and roll band worth their salt plays a Band cover in tribute to one of the great American rock bands. Almost without exception “rockumentarys” suck momentously. “The Last Waltz” is the exception. The music is phenomenal. But the film somehow captures the unique dynamic between individual members of rock and roll bands. The film also captures the joy, the triumph, the sadness and the despair of rock and roll at the highest level. Ironically, the things that made The Band famous, beautiful women, drugs (The Weight is a timeline of heroin addiction), and Bob Dylan would ultimately be their down fall.
This afternoon the great Levon Helm caught that last Cannonball and passed away. I had the pleasure of seeing what turned out to be one of Levon’s last performances. Even at 71 and riddled with cancer he smiled every minute he was on that stage. His demise I fear is the opening of the flood gates to the passing of great, American, rock and roll as we know it. There was a time when musicians, outcasts of society by definition, lived the songs they wrote. The loneliness of the road, the torture and constant call of addiction, the troubled relationships. They paid their dues; wandering and playing, constantly and aimlessly. Now we reward glorified karaoke stars with shows such as American Idol. Present day rock stars are like water bottles, easily disposable and recyclable. So as real artists like Levon begin to fade so will great american rock and roll music.
“As there’s a flood out in California/And up North it’s freezing cold/And this living on the road/Is getting pretty old,” well Levon get some rest you earned it and Thank You.
KOKO
