Act #25 The Band Sunday, August 17, 1969... 10:00 P.M.

The Band Woodstock Setlist Live

Originally known as The Hawks, the group gained fame as the backing band for Rockabilly Singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1958 to 1963. They later collaborated with Bob Dylan during his pivotal 1966 tour, which marked Dylan's first tour with an Electric Band. After parting ways with Dylan, they adopted the name "The Band" and released their debut album, Music from Big Pink, in 1968. This album is often hailed as one of the most influential records in rock history, with songs that blended elements of Americana, folk, rock, and country.

The Band's Music is characterized by its Fusion of various genres, incorporating old Country Music, early Rock and Roll, and R & B influences. Their notable Songs include "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and "Up on Cripple Creek," which have left a lasting impact on many artists, including George Harrison and Eric Clapton.

The Band's Farewell Concert, known as "The Last Waltz," took place on November 25, 1976, and was later immortalized in a concert film directed by Martin Scorsese. The group received significant acclaim throughout their career, including being featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1970, making them the first rock band to achieve this distinction after The Beatles

My Take: From Rolling Stone magazine: There was a severe thunderstorm that afternoon, delaying the show for over three hours. When things cleared, Country Joe and the Fish played, followed by Ten Years After and the Band. “After three days of people being hammered by weather and music, it was hard to get a take on the mood,” Robbie Robertson told Rolling Stone in 1989. “We played a slow, haunting set of mountain music. We lived up there, near Woodstock, and it seemed kind of appropriate from our point of view. We did songs like ‘Long Black Veil’ and ‘The Weight,’ and everything had a bit of reverence to it. Even the faster songs sounded almost religious.”

The Band delivered a haunting and slow set that included songs like "Tears of Rage" and "The Weight." Their performance was characterized by a sense of reverence, reflecting the challenging conditions of the festival... the Band's music resonated deeply, providing a poignant contrast to the tumultuous environment.

For some unknown reason, their Selist was left out of the official Video of the Event causing them much consternation, to say the least... Bummer

They are on my Top 10 list of the Event at #5.

Rock On ♪♪♪...