ideologyhunter
Contributor
I didn't catch this news until today, but Garth Hudson died at age 87 two weeks ago (1/21/25). He had been the last surviving member of the original The Band, and, in common with every other member of that unique quintet, he was a master musician. I'm presuming that most users who open this post know what The Band played and about their history as The Hawks, then as Dylan's '66 band, then their headlining career as The Band. If you don't know, they were a group that simply amazed the rest of the rock world. George Harrison and Eric Clapton were fans; Clapton said that after hearing their first two albums he wanted the join the group. As far as I know, Garth never took a vocal on any of their songs and probably never said a word on stage. For most of their concerts he'd be half hidden behind his Lowrey organ, adding a pulse and exotic coloration to every sort of song.
The best way to experience the power of Garth's playing is to get a copy of their 1972 live album, Rock of Ages. In the middle of W.S. Walcott Medicine Show he steps out from behind the organ and plays a tenor sax solo that blows the roof off the Academy of Music. The most Garthlike of all his playing is a long improvisation on the Lowrey called The Genetic Method, which is a wild mixture of distorted Gaelic lilts, silent movie music, carousel tunes, hymns, thunderclaps, and all manner of Garthisms. Then his bandmates charge in with Chest Fever, to which Garth contributes two solos. In his second solo, he sounds like bagpipers going at rock and roll tempo -- it really sounds like a thousand Highlanders are charging down a mountainside. The Rock of Ages version is the one to have, but if you hear it, you'll probably want to explore the other Band classics -- don't miss Music from Big Pink, The Band, and The Last Waltz.
The best way to experience the power of Garth's playing is to get a copy of their 1972 live album, Rock of Ages. In the middle of W.S. Walcott Medicine Show he steps out from behind the organ and plays a tenor sax solo that blows the roof off the Academy of Music. The most Garthlike of all his playing is a long improvisation on the Lowrey called The Genetic Method, which is a wild mixture of distorted Gaelic lilts, silent movie music, carousel tunes, hymns, thunderclaps, and all manner of Garthisms. Then his bandmates charge in with Chest Fever, to which Garth contributes two solos. In his second solo, he sounds like bagpipers going at rock and roll tempo -- it really sounds like a thousand Highlanders are charging down a mountainside. The Rock of Ages version is the one to have, but if you hear it, you'll probably want to explore the other Band classics -- don't miss Music from Big Pink, The Band, and The Last Waltz.
