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_ &n‘ them to The Centre j last Friday. It has no doubt a mixed feelings . Although the 80‘s may be ; as the Decade when . eve potâ€"bellied, exâ€"rock star decid reunion, such a venture did possible in the case of The Ra: roed hy .. ___ 7 ~*4an song, muchâ€" ballyhooed by some because of the indusâ€" try heavies it attracted, but equally lamented by others who realized that the end was imminent. Well, seven years later The Band is back together, embarking on a small tour that brought them to The Centre in the Square last Friday. It has no doubt aroused some mixed feelings . With the disbandment of 1976 came an end to one of the eras in the history of modern The final concert, wellâ€"do« Martin Scorcese in the filr Waltz, appeared to be exa,« seemed an untimely swan . ballyhooed by some because try heavies it attracted, lamented by others who reali end was imminent. 00 4 & i To a OV wavn Remnants of nostalgia there to be savored in a time when current music has sold its soul -â€" The Band is back "~ _ ~nen every balding: ock star decided to hold a a venture did not seem a ol P mm 2 1 may be remembered AOBD Aoe e e en oe of modern music. 1, wellâ€"documented by n the film The Last o be exactly that. It .002 most prolific nllts fit...c tA C "t tie ________ Provects was less enthusiasâ€" for more instrumental flexibility brings tic. the studio closer to the stage. in Song after song, the repetoire was like a As is usually the case with reunions such ic â€" capsule history of the group‘s most _ as this, the timeâ€"period element is a popular recordings. From the early rockâ€" disconcerting fa.â€",22"IIM" C y _ abilly, blueâ€"eved sani »...,. _, C Carly rock nas â€" _ C°@ & aHmpDS d element i. _ â€" °* * £"*Â¥ing heroes. he early rock. â€" a4;. 4* ht timeâ€"period element is a Perhaps we should savor these nostalgi 2, f,, ", |ccordings. From the early rockâ€" d!sconcertlng factor. Here is one of the moments. abilly, blueâ€"eyed soul roots of the Big Pink definitive bands of the late 60‘s and better For as popular music approaches the era to the more experimental textures of part of the 70‘s tryingnolonly;orecaptum second half of the 80‘s, it threatens t« the Neorthern Lights/Istands period, each _ the spirit of that age, but to somehow become a faceless idiom. The character number was indelibly stamped with The preserve it. spontaneity and sheer musical prowess o Band‘s trademark sound . But while the songs retain their timeless groups like The Band are practically It was an informal atmosphere, made al} quality, the fact remains that the musical _ nonâ€"existent in the business today. the more possible by Helm‘s insistence on _ and social climates of The Band‘s heyday Instead, we have a market inundated keeping the pomp and circumstance to a _ are different now . with synthesizer bands, where redundancy minimum. Here is a guy who really enjoys Seeing the Hawks, The Band of Big Pink _ is the name of the game. his craft, an unflappable character devoid or even The Last Waltz: was an event. And as crazy as it seems, the Levon of any inflated ego. Hearing them on record is still an event. Helms of today may indeed become the As the vocal and rhythmical leader he _ But seeing them now brings about a Apples and Commodores of tomorrow . puts his charges through the paces but _ realization that the magic of that time is * constantly reminds them that play comes no longer there. before work. These reunions merely represent fading & His effervescent nature was obviously remnants of nostalgia, of times long before m * contagious as evidenced by the collective music sold its soul to the computer. Like effort which featured some inspired indiâ€" ® vidual performanrac abilly bina ... ; C727 " rom the early rockâ€" abilly, blueâ€"eyed soul roots of the Big Pink era to the more experimental textures of the Nerthern Lights/Istands period,. each numhar was 1o P oanl s ind as crazy as it seems, the Levon Helms of today may indeed become the Applesiand Commodores of tomorrow . second