{"id":13175,"date":"2012-04-22T13:22:28","date_gmt":"2012-04-22T17:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/?p=13175"},"modified":"2012-04-22T13:24:02","modified_gmt":"2012-04-22T17:24:02","slug":"greg-mayo-band-levon-helm-tribute-at-rockwood-music-hall-stage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/22\/greg-mayo-band-levon-helm-tribute-at-rockwood-music-hall-stage-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Greg Mayo Band Levon Helm Tribute at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greg Mayo<\/a> Band headlined a set at Rockwood Music Hall<\/a> Stage 2 last night. The show was on opposite two others that I would gladly have attended, but a week ago I decided that one can\u2019t have enough Greg Mayo in their lives, so with apologies to the others, I was going to see Greg.<\/p>\n

\"GregMayo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then on Thursday (April 19th, 20120), Levon Helm passed away. Greg announced that Saturday\u2019s show would now feature a tribute to Levon Helm and The Band. Had I chosen one of the other shows, I would have changed my plans to attend this for that reason alone.<\/p>\n

\"LevonHelm\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Greg split the show into two parts. The first was five songs written by him and performed by the full Greg Mayo Band (eight people, including a brass section). The second was the Levon Helm \/ The Band tribute, consisting of six songs with special guests joining on a few.<\/p>\n

I was really glad that Greg chose to play some of his own material as well because one of our friends had never seen a Greg Mayo Band (GMB) show and he totally got how awesome they are (and Greg\u2019s songs are!) before the first verse was over. I bet I\u2019ll be seeing him at many future GMB shows. \"Smile\"<\/p>\n

After playing It\u2019s a Pity (typically the last song of a GMB set), the horn section left the stage and Greg gave a moving speech about Levon and what he meant to Greg, all of his musician friends and many others (including me!).<\/p>\n

One of the first things he mentioned was that a few people had told him that everyone was doing tributes to Levon and perhaps he should consider not doing one. Greg had the perfect<\/strong> answer: \u201cYou can never have too many tributes to The Band, everyone should do one!\u201d. Amen<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll cover all of the band members below, but the spirit of the tribute deserves mention before the individuals who performed it perfectly.<\/p>\n

In the GMB Greg plays the keyboards (last night he played the grand piano exclusively, amazingly<\/strong>, though he typically plays a bunch of electronic keyboards during these shows as well). Greg also plays a ton of guitar in many other bands. A few of those bands (including The Big Apple Singers and it\u2019s various spin-offs and The Narwhals) specialize in songs by The Band. So I have personally witnessed Greg and his cohorts choosing to honor those songs over and over, ensuring that our youngins get exposed to these timeless classics.<\/p>\n

\"GregMayoPiano\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s another reason that the timing of Levon\u2019s passing was so emotional for Greg. Over the New Year\u2019s weekend, as a surprise gift for his recent birthday, a very special person in Greg\u2019s life took him to one of Levon Helm\u2019s Midnight Ramble<\/a>s. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s a night that Greg will remember for the rest of his life. The fact that it ended up being one of Levon\u2019s last Rambles makes it all the more poignant.<\/p>\n

Greg began the tribute portion by inviting up one guest.<\/p>\n

Patrick Firth<\/a> on electronic keyboards and vocals. Patrick joined for most of the The Band portion, including stepping away from the keyboards to sing lead on a verse at center stage. He was great on the keys, always an integral part of The Band songs.<\/p>\n

\"PatrickFirthKeyboards\"<\/a>\"PatrickFirthSingingZachJonesMattSimons\"<\/a>\"PatrickFirthSingingZachJones\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"PatrickFirthRebeccaHavilandChrisAndersonPaulMaddison\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then Greg invited up a couple of guests to sing on a few of the songs.<\/p>\n

Evan Watson<\/a> kicked it off with the lead vocals on the first verse of Up on Cripple Creek. Evan fronts a number of bands, including The Big Apple Singers. He\u2019s as well suited for singing any song by The Band as anyone I know. Evan returned later and took over the electric guitar for one song in addition to singing on others.<\/p>\n

\"EvanWatsonSinging1\"<\/a>\"EvanWatsonSinging2\"<\/a>\"EvanWatsonGuitar\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Zach Jones<\/a> sang a verse on Up on Cripple Creek as well and joining everyone else for a few other songs.<\/p>\n

\"ZachJones\"<\/a>\"ZachJonesSinging\"<\/a>\"ZachJonesEvanWatson\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Circling back to the band, but first, a few more words about Greg. He\u2019s never disappointed me at any show, whether he\u2019s the star or a sideman. Last night his voice was as good as I\u2019ve ever heard it (I\u2019m tempted to say he was inspired<\/strong>, but that would detract from the fact that his worst is better than most others\u2019 best). His piano play was as good as it always is.<\/p>\n

\"GregMayoPianoSinging\"<\/a><\/p>\n

His mic stand failed on one song (I didn\u2019t see how). Armando cut through the crowd with a replacement. While he was swapping one for the other, Greg took the mic and stood up to sing without playing the piano. Of course he was incredible. When the swap was done Greg didn\u2019t replace the mic in the stand until the song was over. Instead, he sat down at the bench and alternated playing the piano with one hand, then the other, switching the mic into the non-playing hand. Great job of making awesome Lemonade from the lemons. \"Smile\"<\/p>\n

\"GregMayoRebeccaHavilandJohnLiotta\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The rest of the band, left-to-right on stage:<\/p>\n

Rebecca Haviland<\/a> on vocals and tambourine. Rebecca was on stage for every number in the set. She sang a lot with Greg during his numbers, including taking the lead on part of It\u2019s a Pity. Then she joined on every The Band song, including singing a verse on the lead of at least one song. Superb!<\/p>\n

\"RebeccaHavilandSinging\"<\/a>\"GregMayoRebeccaHavilandSinging\"<\/a><\/p>\n

John Liotta on baritone saxophone. John played on every GMB number, then returned for half of The Band ones. He took one long lead on a GMB song and wailed a bit with the rest of the brass section on The Band tunes as well. Excellent!<\/p>\n

\"JohnLiotta\"<\/a>\"JoJoh\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Josh Reed<\/a> on trumpet. He was on stage for the same songs as John Liotta (as was the next person, completing the brass section). Like John, Josh took a long lead on one GMB number. Excellent!<\/p>\n

\"JoshReed\"<\/a>\"JoshReedTrumpet\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Matt Simons<\/a> completed the brass section on tenor saxophone. Matt is awesome on the sax, but we don\u2019t get to see him play it often enough, because his own original music (which I love!) is delivered on the keyboards. So, having him play at last night\u2019s show was a very special treat for me.<\/p>\n

\"MattSimons\"<\/a>\"MattSimonsSax\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The brass section alone, then bracketed by Rebecca and Paul:<\/p>\n

\"BrassSection\"<\/a>\"RebeccaHavilandBrassSectionPaulMaddison\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Kenny Shaw<\/a> on drums. I had to go three days between seeing Kenny playing the drums. Thankfully, the long drought ended with such a great set.<\/p>\n

\"KennyShaw\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chris Anderson<\/a> on electric bass and vocals. Chris is always great on the bass. He sang a bunch of background vocals on the GMB portion. In addition to singing a verse on the lead in a couple of The Band songs, Chris came to center stage to sing lead on The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Fantastic!<\/p>\n

\"ChrisAnderson\"<\/a>\"RebeccaHavilandChrisAnderson\"<\/a>\"ChrisAndersonSingingJoshReed\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul Maddison<\/a> on electric guitar and vocals. Paul sang a bunch on the GMB numbers. He wailed on the electric guitar more during The Band portion, but was extremely solid during the GMB set. He relinquished his guitar and spot on stage for the number that Evan played guitar.<\/p>\n

\"PaulMaddison\"<\/a>\"PaulMaddison2\"<\/a>\"MattSimonsPaulMaddisonSinging\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Most of the audience sang along to The Band numbers, with quite a number of people singing along to the GMB ones as well. It was a set most worthy of losing one\u2019s voice. Thanks Greg and everyone on stage (and in the audience) for such an incredible, memorable performance!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the set list:<\/p>\n

\"GregMayoBandLevonHelmTributeSetList\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few extra shots, including one of Greg\u2019s little mascot:<\/p>\n

\"GregMayoMascot\"<\/a>\"GregMayoRebeccaHaviland\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Goodnight Levon and thanks for everything!<\/p>\n

\"LevonHelmDrumming1\"<\/a>\"LevonHelmDrumming2\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greg Mayo Band headlined a set at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 last night. The show was on opposite two others that I would gladly have attended, but a week ago I decided that one can\u2019t have enough Greg Mayo in their lives, so with apologies to the others, I was going to see Greg. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":4,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,2],"tags":[602,845,715,1138,1075,819,650,1367,716,861,818,493,1032],"class_list":["post-13175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music","category-2","tag-chris-anderson","tag-evan-watson","tag-greg-mayo","tag-john-liotta","tag-josh-reed","tag-kenny-shaw","tag-matt-simons","tag-music","tag-patrick-firth","tag-paul-maddison","tag-rebecca-haviland","tag-rockwood-music-hall","tag-zach-jones"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13175"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13178,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13175\/revisions\/13178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}