The Last Waltz Ensemble kicks off Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast Concerts on the Lawn series
Atlanta, Georgia's The Last Waltz Ensemble started the Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast Concerts on the Lawn series Monday evening in Watkinsville with a hearty crowd consuming the covers of The Band and Bob Dylan on the luscious tiered back yard of the beautiful jewel of Oconee County.
The group - consisting of Mark Kramer on vocals, acoustic guitar; Kris “Jelly” Gloer: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars; Kevin Rutschman: drums; Eric Reed: bass, vocals; Benji Shanks: electric guitar and Jason Fuller: piano, organ, vocals, started off the evening with perhaps the most well known song of the Band's memorable and considerable repertoire "The Weight". Many people chose to "take a load off fanny" and enjoyed the performance. Other songs included Bob Dylan's classic "Tangled Up in Blue" and the Robbie Robertson-penned "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
The lyrics written by a Canadian still stir souls in the Old South with the vivid Civil War imagery to this very day; now I have always preferred the Joan Baez version to that of The Band, but they wrote it, so I give them the benefit of the doubt. And the Last Waltz Ensemble did the rendition of The Band's version that would have made Martin Scorsese proud as he was the director of the film "The Last Waltz" was the genesis of this band's name and at that time the last performance of The Band.
Here is a description of what The Last Waltz Ensemble performs from their Facebook page: The Last Waltz Ensemble is a musical group that progressively plays the music of Bob Dylan and The Band. The group bolsters a play list of over 70 Bob Dylan, The Band, and related tunes covering all eras of the artists.
From The Hawks to the Basement Tapes to The Last Waltz and beyond, the group plays traditional and original arrangements in an improvisational jamband format, never playing the same set list twice. Using vintage equipment and borrowed arrangements, the ensemble produces sounds to take the listeners on a musical ride through some of the most fit, finished, and timeless music in history.
The shows are filled with the hits and the deep cuts. They are also known for special guest performances incorporating friends from regional and national acts.
Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train
'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65, we were hungry, just barely alive
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell
It's a time I remember, oh so well
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "La, la, la"
Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see, there go the Robert E.Lee"
Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest
But they should never have taken the very best
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "La, la, la"
Like my father before me, I will work the land
And like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand
He was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, na"
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, na"
The following and preceding are photographs taken by Dan J. Matthews, Jr. and may not be reposted or reprinted without express written permission granted.
Families and friends gathered on blankets and tables scattered throughout the terraced grounds. The sound quality was not too loud to talk to the person next to you, or to get your children's attention playing on any one of the many trees in the area adjacent to the stage.
Citronella candles were lit and bamboo swords were fashioned by the more creative kids, who also harvested figs a few weeks too early. It was a great time had by all, and a Jimmy Buffet cover band Sons of Sailors will grace the stage in Watkinsville in a fortnight. Parrotheads will be out in droves on Monday, May 31st for a Memorial Day night not to forget.
The group - consisting of Mark Kramer on vocals, acoustic guitar; Kris “Jelly” Gloer: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars; Kevin Rutschman: drums; Eric Reed: bass, vocals; Benji Shanks: electric guitar and Jason Fuller: piano, organ, vocals, started off the evening with perhaps the most well known song of the Band's memorable and considerable repertoire "The Weight". Many people chose to "take a load off fanny" and enjoyed the performance. Other songs included Bob Dylan's classic "Tangled Up in Blue" and the Robbie Robertson-penned "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
The lyrics written by a Canadian still stir souls in the Old South with the vivid Civil War imagery to this very day; now I have always preferred the Joan Baez version to that of The Band, but they wrote it, so I give them the benefit of the doubt. And the Last Waltz Ensemble did the rendition of The Band's version that would have made Martin Scorsese proud as he was the director of the film "The Last Waltz" was the genesis of this band's name and at that time the last performance of The Band.
Here is a description of what The Last Waltz Ensemble performs from their Facebook page: The Last Waltz Ensemble is a musical group that progressively plays the music of Bob Dylan and The Band. The group bolsters a play list of over 70 Bob Dylan, The Band, and related tunes covering all eras of the artists.
From The Hawks to the Basement Tapes to The Last Waltz and beyond, the group plays traditional and original arrangements in an improvisational jamband format, never playing the same set list twice. Using vintage equipment and borrowed arrangements, the ensemble produces sounds to take the listeners on a musical ride through some of the most fit, finished, and timeless music in history.
The shows are filled with the hits and the deep cuts. They are also known for special guest performances incorporating friends from regional and national acts.
'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65, we were hungry, just barely alive
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell
It's a time I remember, oh so well
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "La, la, la"
Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see, there go the Robert E.Lee"
Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest
But they should never have taken the very best
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "La, la, la"
Like my father before me, I will work the land
And like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand
He was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, na"
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, na"
Families and friends gathered on blankets and tables scattered throughout the terraced grounds. The sound quality was not too loud to talk to the person next to you, or to get your children's attention playing on any one of the many trees in the area adjacent to the stage.
Citronella candles were lit and bamboo swords were fashioned by the more creative kids, who also harvested figs a few weeks too early. It was a great time had by all, and a Jimmy Buffet cover band Sons of Sailors will grace the stage in Watkinsville in a fortnight. Parrotheads will be out in droves on Monday, May 31st for a Memorial Day night not to forget.
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