3:01 Pick Me Up: The Band

by The Georgia Straight Staff on February 9th, 2012 at 3:25 PM

Let’s face it: 3 p.m. is the cruellest time of the workday. The morning latte has worn off, and the post-lunch crash has you staggering around like an extra from a George A. Romero flick. That’s why, each weekday at 3:01 p.m., we present you with a video hand-picked to kick-start your heart. If the following clip doesn’t bring you temporarily back to life and help get you through the rest of the afternoon, chances are you’re dead inside.

Well, that goofy Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time got something right when it included Robbie Robertson, and something wrong when he was placed at #59. As Don Was said in an old episode of VH1’s Classic Albums series, “Robbie Robertson is a freak on guitar.” Indeed, but he’s a generous freak, content to sit it out until he’s needed, as in various magical moments during this smokin’ version of Marvin Gaye’s “Don’t Do It”—and even then, he’s playing around everybody else, not stepping all over them. The man had taste to spare.

Incidentally, this clip is from the same series of shows that were used for the Band’s live Rock of Ages album, and as any nerd will tell you, it captures them at the height of their powers in a way that The Last Waltz decidedly doesn’t.

Comments

5 Comments

R2

Feb 9, 2012 at 4:24pm

Never got all the hubbub bout this band....guess I should of smoked more pot.
Then again haven't really gotten into many jam bands past or present.
I like my songs Rockin, under 4 mins with a good melody....get in, rock it, say what u need to and get out.
Sorry this one didn't pick me up at 3:01..
Hey guys I'm headin down to the States of Merica tomorrow to catch the Smithereens, how bout pickin me up at 3:01 by playing Green Thoughts, House We Used To Live In or Drown in my own Tears from them Friday?
Peace out....

shane kennedy

Feb 9, 2012 at 8:20pm

No,R2, I guess you should have born with more intelligence and discernment, forget about the pot

d2 4check

Feb 9, 2012 at 8:44pm

under 4 minutes and not ashamed to expose your idiocy for me to smack down, have you heard let there be rock? studio clocks in at 6 min, comfortably numb ? wont get fooled again? dazed and confused? not to mention most of The Band's songs clocked in under 4 minutes. r2 you are sharp as a ncaa game ball

R2

Feb 9, 2012 at 11:16pm

Stickin to my comment under 4 minutes and closer to 3:30 if at all possible.
The Band had songs under 4 minutes?
oh then it just felt twice as long listening to them : ).....pick it up boys
Luv the Who, Kinks, Birds, Zombies, Small Faces and many many others from the 60's and 70's but honestly the jam bands that go on for 5 plus minutes bore me to tears and I've been forced to watch the Band's concert on an old friends VCR no less and they put me to sleep but then I didn't smoke a bunch of Pot and it was late, maybe that was it?
Anyways I can go on all day about XTC, Echo and the Bunneymen, the Stranglers, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Damned, PIL, the Smiths, the Clash, Gang of 4, REM, Violent Femmes, Jesus and Mary Chain, the Fall, the Jam, the Style Council, Elvis Costello, Cheap Trick, Cracker, Wedding Party and hell yeah the Go Go's and B52's too and I'm just touching the tip of the berg on this era Pals.
but hey what do I know cause I'm a toothless imbecile
but I love posting comments here because everyone's gets so fricken defensive about everything
i feel sorry for the Georgia Straight staff that have to review concerts