Written by: Geoff Tischman

Put together by Robbie Robertson, his son Sebastian Robertson and Keith Wortman of Blackbird Presents, The Last Waltz Tour, 2019 is a recreation of the Band’s landmark 1976 farewell show at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom.

Beginning at the Capitol Theater in New York, the opening night of the tour was an astonishing take on what may very well be one of the greatest live shows of all time.

Performed by an all-star cast of players, including Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, John Medeski, Don Was, Terence Higgins, Dave Malone, Cyril Neville, Bob Margolin, Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns, every song was soulful and dynamic.

It’s absurd to pick favorites, because there wasn’t one moment of the show that wasn’t fabulous, but “Up On Cripple Creek” and “The Weight” were particularly riveting and the positively rousing take on Van Morrison’s “Caravan” was decidedly stirring.

The band tore through Dylan’s “This Wheel’s On Fire” and Dr. John’s “Such A Night” with rootsy grace and the show-closing reading of Marvin Gaye’s “Baby Don’t You Do It” was utterly perfect.