Photo Credit: The Weight Band
THE WEIGHT BAND
Featuring Former Members of The Band & The Levon Helm Band
Release New Video for Latest Single
“Out of the Wilderness”
Master roots rockers, The Weight Band share the new music video “Out of the Wilderness,” the latest single from their forthcoming second studio album Shines Like Gold, available on April 1.
Guitarist Jim Weider talks about the song, “‘Out of the Wilderness’ is about being lost and being found, coming out of the darkness and into the light. Getting rid of your worries and troubles and feeling free of all your burdens. The song was originally written for Rick Danko when I was writing with Colin Linden for The Band’s Jericho album and was never used for that album. Colin had a big hand and footprint on this record. We go back, so there is a comfortableness working with him.”
Watch “Out of the Wilderness”
The Weight Band is renowned guitarist Jim Weider (The Band 1985-2000, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, Jim Weider Band), keyboardist Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band), bassist Albert Rogers (Jim Weider Band, Jimmy Vivino), drummer Michael Bram (Jason Mraz) and keyboardist Matt Zeiner (Dickey Betts). The Weight Band presents a dynamic set of classic Americana with Shines Like Gold that draws upon roadhouse rock, funky swamp pop, blues, country, soul, and folk.
Featuring nine original songs and a cover of a Willie Dixon gem, the band recorded the album live at Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, NY, over four days – with minimal rehearsal during the height of the pandemic in 2020 while producer Colin Linden, an award-winning musician and Weider’s longtime collaborator and co-writer on several of the album tracks, was in Nashville.
LISTEN: Jim Weider Interview–The Band: A History Podcast
ABOUT THE WEIGHT BAND
The Weight Band’s origins are tied to Woodstock and some of its most famous inhabitants, The Band. Weider, a Woodstock native, served as The Band’s lead guitarist from 1985-2000, following Robbie Robertson’s departure. In the late 00s, he replaced Jimmy Vivino in the Levon Helm Band, which already included Mitchell. The connections extend further, as Rogers shared the stage with Helm and Hudson while in The Jim Weider Band and Bram drummed in the Chris O’Leary Band, an off-shoot of Helm’s band The Barnburners.
After Helm’s death in 2012, Weider performed a few “Songs of The Band” concerts, which included Vivino, Byron Isaacs, Randy Ciarlante, and Garth Hudson. The shows were so well received that Weider started the first version of The Weight Band with Ciarlante, Isaacs, Mitchell, and keyboardist Marty Grebb. Over the next several years, the group shifted from mainly Band songs to their originals. Along the way, band membership turned as well. When Isaacs left for The Lumineers, Rogers came aboard. Bram joined
the group after Ciarlante’s departure. Following World Gone Mad’s release, Grebb bowed out, and Zeiner stepped in.
THE WEIGHT BAND ON TOUR
March 19 – Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head on Stage
March 24 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Cafe
March 26 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon Helm Studios
April 7 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
April 9 – Helena, AR @ Delta Roots Festival Tribute to Levon Helm
April 13 – Austin, TX @3Ten
April 15 – Greenville, TX @ Texan Theater
April 16 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
April 29 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Center for the Arts
April 30 – Phoenixville, PA @ Colonial Theatre
May 15 – Portsmouth, NH @ Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
June 13 – Big Indian, NY @ Camp Cripple Creek 2022
July 9 – Patchogue, NY @Great South Bay Music Festival
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I saw these guys about 3 or 4 years ago and they were fantastic. I would definitely go see them again in a heartbeat!
This is a great song
This is a great Live band!
See them if you can.
Having sung with Jimmy Weider Rando and Albert many times I sure miss those Golden moments an honor , and a thrill for me .I can not believe it they get better and better all the time!!