Sunday, August 20th

[Cornflake]

Good morning, folks. It's 79 degrees with a high chance of rain later in the day. Besides church this morning we have nothing planned. Be of good cheer.

Wordle 792 4/6

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[paleo]

Hot and a little Smokey this morning. Coffee tastes good this morning as I recover from our outdoor gig yesterday where the temperature peaked out at 92 degrees and we were in the sun.

Music this afternoon at the Mercantile in Garrison.

[Cornflake]

Dawn in our backyard. My thanks to the tropical storm for the clouds.

[PaulKay]

Actually saw moisture on the ground for the first time in months this morning.
Hurricane Hillary isn't contributing much rain this far east.
Eric had to miss last Sunda\y's session due to car problems. So we will meet today to practice and maybe record.

[howard lee]

For the last week, I have been listening to as many of The Band's recordings as I have in my collection and can find online. I am also reading that biography of Levon Helm and waiting for his memoir to come in to the library. This group has been characterized as one of the greatest rock bands ever, and from what I have read, Levon was the anchor that cemented their rhythm and tone. His drum kit was always placed beside the rest of the musicians on the bandstand, not in the rear, because his drumming was just as important to the songs as anyone else's contributions. 

Their music might not be everyone's taste, but it was timeless, tight, and evocative of everything that was once quintessentially American in music—and Levon was the only non-Canadian in the band.

From Scorsese's film, The Last Waltz:

Watching this video just makes me well up at moments.

Clear and warm in New York with low humidity today. Southern California friends, stay safe. A good day to all.

[Marty]

Good morning

64F-82F mostly sunny.

Yesterday morning was quite nice. No shop so we could make a early trip to the DMV for new plates for the truck, dead cheap. Then breakfast outside at a old local place, Obb's. We followed that with a trip to Menard's for some needed shop supplies and then back home all before it got beastly hot.

But I'm paying for it today as I woke up with extreme lower back pain, barely able to move. Got a Asper cream patch on the area and some Tylenol in me. It's easing off so I just might make it to breakfast with the girls. I think getting up and moving about will help but got to deaden some of the pain first. Don't think I'll be standing at my bench today unless there are some drastic changes.

[Cornflake]

"This group has been characterized as one of the greatest rock bands ever, and from what I have read, Levon was the anchor that cemented their rhythm and tone."

I agree. Almost everything that was distinctive about The Band's approach and material came from Helm, directly or indirectly. He was the only one familiar with the rich traditions they mined. And he was a guy I'd do business with on a handshake.

(I said "approach and material" so as to sidestep some of the things that were distinctive musically. Hudson was an important part of that.)

[howard lee]

Aug 20, 2023 9:52:19 GMT -5 Cornflake said:

"This group has been characterized as one of the greatest rock bands ever, and from what I have read, Levon was the anchor that cemented their rhythm and tone."

I agree. Almost everything that was distinctive about The Band's approach and material came from Helm, directly or indirectly. He was the only one familiar with the rich traditions they mined. And he was a guy I'd do business with on a handshake.

(I said "approach and material" so as to sidestep some of the things that were distinctive musically. Hudson was an important part of that.)

Garth Hudson was the only member of the group who had been classically trained and the only one who could read music. 

Early on, they all contributed to the songwriting process, although Robbie Robertson claimed that he "wrote" most of the song lyrics and a lot of the music while Levon, Rick, and Richard got deeper into drugs and alcohol. Robbie said that being in the same room when a song is being written doesn't qualify someone for a co-writing credit. Before the money started to pour in, Robbie says he wrote the majority of the songs but everyone contributed to arranging and building out song structures, even if they brought a song to the rest of the group to work out. 

Levon disagreed emphatically, claimed that they all wrote and contributed, and was displeased that Robbie and Albert Grossman, their manager at the time, weren't sharing the publishing profits equally or at all, from what I can divine from this book. This is what led to the big rift between Robbie and Levon, who before this, had been closer than brothers.

This is one of the main reasons I want to read both of their memoirs, to try and get a clearer picture of what occurred and led to their breakup.

[Cosmic Wonder]

Morning. It’s fairly smoky here this morning. Not sure where it’s coming from, as there are fires in eastern and southern OR and WA state. But we have our hope air filter going, and will probably limit out door activity today. Hopefully when Hillary pushes north she will blow this smoke away.

I’m thinking it’s a good day to change the strings on the Collings.

Mike
Wordle 792 3/6

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[Cornflake]

"This is one of the main reasons I want to read both of their memoirs, to try and get a clearer picture of what occurred and led to their breakup."

I'm not sure you'll get a clear picture. Maybe it's because I'm from essentially the same cultural background as Helm that I can't help leaning his way. He and the others trusted Robertson to make sure they were all fairly treated. In Helm's view, Robertson took advantage of them and betrayed their trust. That's an unforgiveable sin. Danko was almost equally bitter towards Robertson. Hudson and Manuel avoided the subject.

Robertson thought he was taking care of business while the other guys partied. That's true. I think he talked himself into believing that he'd written everything and deserved a bigger piece of the pie. In a legal sense a case can be made that he did. But you don't argue legalities when you're supposed to be looking after your friends' interests.

[Hobson]

We'll be watching church on line today. Both still have some kind of crud. Just checked and no fever for either of us. COVID tests negative. Acts like a cold. Neither of us really feels bad, even did our usual 2 1/2 mile walk. But we sound bad and don't want to spread it around no matter what it is. So Mr. H decided that I'll be helping him with a plumbing job that he has been putting off. Not exactly what I had in mind for the day.

No rain yesterday or so far today, but it has been humid. Even saw some fog through the window in the wee hours.

[howard lee]

Aug 20, 2023 10:59:48 GMT -5 Cornflake said:

"This is one of the main reasons I want to read both of their memoirs, to try and get a clearer picture of what occurred and led to their breakup."

I'm not sure you'll get a clear picture. Maybe it's because I'm from essentially the same cultural background as Helm that I can't help leaning his way. He and the others trusted Robertson to make sure they were all fairly treated. In Helm's view, Robertson took advantage of them and betrayed their trust. That's an unforgiveable sin. Danko was almost equally bitter towards Robertson. Hudson and Manuel avoided the subject.

Robertson thought he was taking care of business while the other guys partied. That's true. I think he talked himself into believing that he'd written everything and deserved a bigger piece of the pie. In a legal sense a case can be made that he did. But you don't argue legalities when you're supposed to be looking after your friends' interests.

I tend to see it your way, too (and Levon and Rick's).

[billhammond]

Home again after picking up coffee and then exercising the motorcar on two-lane backroads. Great fun -- the old girl is still a riot in the twisties and amid perfect windows-down weather I could enjoy her throaty exhaust note, too.

Wound up eventually at a newish brewpub I've been meaning to try, where I had a tasty Southwestern omelet with pepperjack cheese, ham, bacon and lots of veggies (Cry Baby Craig's hot sauce poured o'er, of course). Brought half of the meal home, as usual. The omelet and cottage spuds will reheat nicely, either dinner tonight or breffkust tomoro.

Operators of all manner of sporty cars and motorsickles were enjoying an idyllic summer day. I've never seen so many top-down Miatas!

[Village Idiot]

It's a hot one out there today. There's a concert in Garrison today, the Farmer's Merc is air conditioned so I'll be there.

[Marty]

I made it to breakfast and shopping but now it's sit down time with a ice pack. 

[howard lee]

This Just In...

I purchased a new 35mm slide/film scanner and was testing it today. I found some really vintage slides from the early to mid-1970s.

Here's me in 1974 or '75.

And with my cousin at my kid sister's sweet 16, Bear Mountain State Park, June 1971

That's a 1969 or '70 Guild M-20. I don't have it anymore.

 

Waves of nostalgia. Or is that neuralgia?

[John B]

Awesome pictures, Howard.

I rescued a Polyphemus moth yesterday from the pool. Those of you who know The Odyssey might divine where the moth gets its name. I managed to get it close enough to lift out and put it on a rock in the sun to dry out. While it was drying off I had a chance to get some close-up photos. For all I know I was terrifying the poor thing, as it couldn't get away from the large beast pointing a huge eye at it, but after about 15-20 minutes it was able to fly around a bit and it eventually left the back yard.

Today, on my seemingly daily trip to get hardware stuff, I finally saw a Honda Cub in person. VERY cool looking motorcycle. I wouldn't mind getting one for around town; or maybe something with a little more power than a 125cc engine can provide.

Let me know if I need to resize these - hopefully the site resizes, but you can click on the moth pics to see some good close up stuff.

[billhammond]

Aug 20, 2023 16:09:54 GMT -5 John B said:

Those of you who know The Odyssey might divine where the moth gets its name.

A moth was named after a minivan???

[Dan McLaughlin]

I hope that a good one has been going on for all.

[Village Idiot]

I love those pictures, Howard. I was much younger, but the early to mid 70s was a wonderful part of my life despite my age.