Gig Review: The Midnight Ramble Band-Industry City, Brooklyn
August 19, 2022 and a Playlist Enclosed
The Midnight Ramble Band
Industry City- Brooklyn, New York
19 August 2022 Friday
There are certain musicians and groups that colour your world from beginning to end. Whatever the collective of instruments and songs, they are linked to you as a listener forever and they course through your lifestream. For me and many others, The Band delivered that music in spades when originally released and those songs still carry life, love, and beauty decades later.
The Midnight Ramble Band has the heart, soul, and genetics to continue the musical legacy that the man from Turkey Scratch, Levon Helm, laid out for them. With the promise of two sets down at Industry City, we were in for a treat with the big band sound of this outfit. It was a beautiful summer night in Brooklyn and albeit a small audience, they were eager and appreciative of each note.
Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, and Larry Campbell were up front, and it did not take long to shake off the dust and get people onto their feet. ‘This Wheels On Fire”, ‘The Shape I’m In’ and then a raucous and very danceable ‘Life Is a Carnival “were the winning trifecta to kick things off. With three horn players, Erik Lawrence and Jay Collins on sax and Steven Bernstein on trumpet the sound was large and the songs were given the treatment they deserved.
Smiles all around on and off the stage were from ear to ear. The first set flew by, and they closed that down with The Grateful Dead’s ‘Attics Of My Life.’ The harmonies were perfect. Stunning. It was as quiet as a church as they sang:
“I have spent my life
Seeking all that's still unsung
Bent my ear to hear the tune
And closed my eyes to see
When there were no strings to play
You played to me” (Garcia/Hunter)
The Band was responsible for exposing their audience to many types of music. It was the same tonight as the next portion of the set delved into country (Hank Williams), rock and roll (Buddy Holly) and jazz (Dr. John). ‘Mardi Gras Day’ was indeed a fabulous boogie for all, and the horn section did a second line through the audience. Somebody scream, as they say down in N’awlins.
Brian Mitchell on keyboards/vocals and accordion took us away on Genetic Mood and Chest Fever. Having played with Dylan, Buster Poindexter, Allen Toussaint, and Al Green his multiple talents were a big part of this congregation.
A long-haired young teen was wandering around during the show tonight. It warmed my heart to see that the older generation had passed on the torch to their son. But this was a young man with some unique traits, and he took a seat behind the drum kit for the closing song ‘The Weight.’ His name is Lavon Henry Collins, and he is the grandson of Levon Helm.
The wheels keep turning and the road goes on forever. Ramble on.
