Local Musicians Band Together to Pay Tribute to The Last Waltz and Help Rain City Rock Camp for Girls

Several Seattle musicians have been rehearsing like mad to take on one of roots rock’s sacred cows: The Last Waltz LP by the Band. They’ll be paying tribute to it November 23 at the Tractor Tavern. (If you haven’t seen Martin Scorsese’s 1978 film of the same name, get on that.)

The Band’s doppelgängers on this night include Leif Dalan (piano/organ/vocals), Joe Michiels (guitar/vocals), Bill Nordwall (piano/organ/vocals), Michael Rognlie (bass/vocals), and Jasen Samford (drums/vocals). A four-strong horn section and 14 guest singers will also participate. All proceeds for the event go to the local organization Rain City Rock Camp for Girls. The Stranger talked to Samford, who’ll be fulfilling the Levon Helm role for this show, about the motivations behind this The Last Waltz re-creation as a vehicle to raise funds for Rain City Rock Camp for Girls.

“The Band has been a huge influence to me, personally, and that love and influence is shared by a lot of my friends and musical cohorts,” Samford says. “The Band represents everything great about a rock band; it highlights every member’s skills with consummate versatility. I'd talked with friends for years about doing a tribute to The Last Waltz (it is ‘the finest of all rock movies,’ after all). The timing finally worked out right for everyone, and we were able to pull it all together.

“We knew we wanted to make it a benefit show, and Rain City Rock Camp for Girls is one of my favorite local charities. They are, as their mission statement states, ‘dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music, providing girls with an opportunity to participate in an environment that fosters leadership, encourages social change, and cultivates a supportive community of female peers and mentors.’”

Samford and company won’t be performing every song from The Last Waltz at this benefit show, but they’re hoping to make it an annual occurrence, so expect the rest of the album’s repertoire next year, if all goes according to plan. “We went through and tried to pick a sort of ‘best of’ song selection,” Samford says. “Paring down a list of 44 amazing songs was no easy task! We did end up putting in a couple songs that were played at the concert, but didn't make the cut for the film. We settled on: ‘Up On Cripple Creek,’ ‘The Shape I’m In,’ ‘It Makes No Difference,’ ‘Georgia on my Mind,’ ‘Ophelia,’ ‘King Harvest (Has Surely Come),’ ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,’ ‘Stage Fright,’ ‘Coyote,’ ‘Caravan,’ ‘Mannish Boy,’ ‘Helpless,’ ‘The Weight,’ ‘Forever Young,’ ‘I Shall Be Released,’ and ‘Don't Do It.’"

Samford says that there’ll be guest vocalists on every song, including Jason Dodson (Maldives), Tamara Power-Drutis, Ayron Jones, Star Anna, Nouela Johnston, and others. “Nouela will be singing Van Morrison's ‘Caravan,’ and yes, we absolutely talked about really getting into the role for those high kicks.”

Tickets and more info about the personnel are available here and here.