The sound of Robbie Robertson with The Band. Those who know the music of The Band, especially The Last Waltz, know how that sound live can affect you musically. The sound of Eric Clapton with The Band. When he inducted The Band into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, he said there was a time when he really wanted to join that group. The Last Waltz captures the live Strat as it should be heard.

We're bringing that to life in the regular performances of the rock music theater show we are creating called "the band plays on..." to premier in 2009.

This production is in its early stages, and I personally would like the feedback anyone offers, especially professional musicians and industry pros who enjoys this era of music, historically and aesthetically. My associates and I feel it is a remarkable idea. I am sure there are many Strat players who really connect with this Strat lead music and I would like to hear from as many of them as will look at this. It is interesting, to say the least, and I welcome opinions and conversation about it. I feel we have a broad potential audience, but we also have an audience within that one of Strat players and Strat enthusiasts everywhere. As we are offering opportunities in a number of areas for musicians and production professionals, Professional Strat players are encouragted to contact us through the forms there at our website:

http://thebandplaysonlive.com

I am sure there are many who love this sound as much as I do, and I am working to bring it to those who may not yet know how moving it can be, as well as those who simply "dig it" and have for years. In that journey, I will welcome the counsel and friendship of Strat lovers everywhere.

Harold Hill
Nashville, TN

[quote="haroldhill"]
We're bringing that to life in the regular performances of the rock music theater show we are creating called "the band plays on..." to premier in 2009.

we are offering opportunities in a number of areas for musicians and production professionals, Professional Strat players are encouragted to contact us through the forms there at our website:

http://thebandplaysonlive.com

Now there's an interesting opportunity for y'all

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

The band is still one of the best musicians in history. The number one influence in my bands music. To bad we are in California. Our group can play you almost every band song playing Danko, Robbie and Levons parts. I hope you guys the best of luck on this. The only thing is, The Band isnt about Robbie. His guitar playing was great but you shouldnt be concentrating on the STRAT sound if you are going to do the band plays on. I hope you guys choose the right songs to perform. If you are going to do The Band, you go to do the best/hardest songs to play. Cause thats what made them who they are.

Thank you for your post, Tony. I would love to hear your band play, as obviously you have taste. Since we have plans for stage & theater companies in other cities for this show, I hope you will send me your info from one of the forms on our website

http://thebandplaysonlive.com

It would be great to already know some players in your area when we come to Los Angeles. Part of the plan is to get to do the show in San Franciso, too, where "The Last Waltz" took place originally.

And yes, I understand that The Band isn't about Robbie Robertson, but this forum is about Strats, and that sound is a key element in The Band's package. Hence I am posting at this forum to hopefully gain the interest of some Strat players who may want to be part of our production in some way. Since there are a number of ways to participate, even from a distance, perhaps you'll help us spread the news. Thank you for your post, as any discussion helps us bring attention to the show we're creating.

And - a joyous part of our show is the Eric Clapton segment from "The Last Waltz". I don't care how many times I hear "Further On Up The Road", it still gets me. That Strat had something to do with that (a poem!), and the hands playing it ain't "slow hands". And what about that solo where Robbie Robertson takes it within a beat of when Clapton's guitar strap comes loose? It is interesting that Robbie does one of the songs in our show (that was in The Last Waltz) on the DVD of Clapton's 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago. Like Levon, he looks much different but plays even better.

I am pleased to report that from all the feedback in these 30 days that have passed since the first post of our show ideas, we're really onto something here. We're gaining momentum. Thanks to all who post here. We enjoy the feedback and we hope you'll get on our mailing list from our website.

[quote="haroldhill"] Seems like your looking for vintage Stratocaster
tone here Harold, perhaps with just a bit of an edge. It really begins with Buddy Holly. That's the sound I grew up with and played on my '58 late of blessed memory.

If you have not done so as yet, there's a CD accompanying our 'bible' "The Stratocaster Chronicles" which covers a range of players and tones associated with this guitar.

I also recommend to you a DVD "The Strat Pack-Live in Concert". Both of these are out of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the guitar.

I will be looking forward to this venture of yours when it reaches NYC. I can assure you, judging from the size of this membership alone, and other like forums, you have a gargantuan auditioning task in front of you.

There's an enormous amount of not only professional, but unsung talent out here.

Best!

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Doc,

(zzdoc, in reply to your last post in the thread

Strat To Be Featured In Rock Musical about "The Band")

It is because of "vintage" that old guys do indeed rule!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge on resources, and I will obtain the CD from "The Stratocaster Chronlicles" and the DVD "The Strat Pack-Live in Concert".

I also appreciate your good wishes, especially in light of the size of membership of your forum here. Just the discussion of our show has already brought responses to my efforts wearing the "producer hat" for this show, and it is important to note that we are seeking investors in our enterprise. I just know there are some Strat enthusiasts who read this who are in a position to be rewarded very well for helping us financially to bring this show to life. I invite those interested to contact me through our website at

http://thebandplaysonlive.com

Yes, the auditioning process will be large, which we have anticipated for some time, and that gives us access to just the right people to give the show the wings it deserves. Besides, I love the work this entails, and each step gets us closer to the point of enjoying the music live with a lot of others with each performance.

I am pleased to report our enterprise is already gaining momentum just after 30 days of our first post, so I will look forward to seeing you when we are in New York. I hope you'll remember this. I will, as I appreciate your encouragement more than I can tell you.

Perhaps you can run this up the flagpole out there on Long Island? Finder's fees are a good thing!

Best regards,

Harold HIll
Nashville, TN
thebandplaysonlive.com

What a coincidence. I read you post today and watched "The Last Waltz" on DVD yesterday. I was thinking it would have been so great if I lived at that time to have an opportunity to live it live. Musical events like that don't happen that much anymore. Granted Clapton organized a few events in similar fashion. Don't forget the folks on the north side of border. There are a looootttt of folks here in Toronto with a lot of money, a lot of talent or mix of everything, it might be a good idea to promote here. I think i heard somewhere, (it might not be true) that "Mamma Mia" for example, hit it big in popularity not on Broadway, not in London UK, but here in Toronto Canada and then became a hit everywhere else.

Congrats on a great idea, wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for your post, Daniel. It may interest you that all the members of The Band except Levon Helm are/were Canadians. A project this big requires friends everywhere, and I appreciate your thoughts.

In addition to doing it for those of us who love this kind of music with the Strat as one of the solo instruments and the culture among those of us who were coming of age as this music was in the forefront of social consciousness (in both art and social statement), part of creating this show is about bringing the feel of this music live to a new audience that wasn't yet born when The Last Waltz was taking place. It still holds up very strongly. The feedback I am getting is that there is an entire NEW audience who will enjoy our show, and you confirm that even more with your welcome addition to this thread.

I agree that Toronto (such a great city!) should be part of our promotions, and your thoughts about that are taken well here. It may interest you that I found out after we were underway that "Beatlemania" started the same way we are creating our show, the idea "snowballed" because of interested musicians and music supporters. and that some of the financing for that hit came from folks in Toronto. We're gaining a lot of momentum, and we're showing those interested that we have lots of possibilities with this production. it is exciting for me to see the ideas find a very receptive audience, which will lead to the show finding ITS audience.

We're on a good road here, and I look forward to contact from anyone who is willing to help in any way, even with enthusiasm and good wishes. I thank you for yours! Let's make Toronto aware that we're on our way there, too!

My thanks to Strat lovers everywhere (including Robbie) who allow me to discuss this in this forum.

Harold Hill
Nashville, TN
http://thebandplaysonlive.com

The Band was never about Robbie's Strat before that all he used was a Tele and b4 The Last Waltz he rewrote all the songs music to include more solos so he could look like the band frontman.The Band was about the Soul of the American south in Levon Helm's voice and Drum beat the combined harmonies of Rick,Richard and Levon the thriving bass of Mr.Danko and the most meaningful lyrics since Bob Dylan and The Beatles (sure it was only a few years) of Robbie Robertson. there influence brought the Beatles back down to earth from psychedelia and made Clapton disband the biggest band in England to form the British version of The Band

_________________
Just a amatuer looking for tips

Current Gear:
1968 Kay Strat
Kramer Focus 111S
Johnson 15w amp
Squier Black and Chrone Special Tele

[quote="nrt4"]....and with Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks...what??

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

i never mention Ronnie or the name Hawks in that

_________________
Just a amatuer looking for tips

Current Gear:
1968 Kay Strat
Kramer Focus 111S
Johnson 15w amp
Squier Black and Chrone Special Tele