I had the good fortune of seeing the Band twice. Once during the Last Waltz tour at the Spectrum In Philadelphia and again in Oct. 1983 at the Brandywine Club in Chadds Ford, PA. The difference between the two shows couldn’t have been more apparent. While they sounded great at the Spectrum in a big venue just a few months before The Last Waltz concert in SF, I was amazed to find how relatively small and intimate the Brandywine Club was. Seats were unreserved and we found ourselves roughly 25 feet away from the Band. Robbie was no longer touring with them but because he contributed very little in terms of vocals they sounded fantastic! I so wish I had brought my camera because it was a memorable night. 40 years later, the Brandywine Club is gone as are all the Band members save Garth. But the memories remain.
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".
I am very fortunate in having heard this amazing song performed live by The Band on their tour in support of the s/t "brown" album. The only other live music experience I’ve had that equals it was hearing Little Village perform John Hiatt’s "Lipstick Traces" on a soundstage in Burbank in ’92. The Little Village album was not so hot, but they sure were!
The Beatles? Saw them in ’65. Hendrix? Saw him in ’68 and ’69. Cream? Saw them in ’67 and ’68. The Who? Saw them in ’68 and ’69. Who else ya wanna name? Sorry, hearing The Band live spoiled me for just about EVERYONE else. Not Iris DeMent, whom I just saw this past Thursday. Stunningly great!
Here’s J.R. Robertson, Eric Levon Helm, and some other guy talking about the song and its’ creation:
https://youtu.be/nVYBW_zCvOg?t=1