​Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24 visits Proctors

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Nearly a half-century after The Band’s historic 1976 Thanksgiving concert, the acclaimed Last Waltz Tour is bringing the music and magic of that night to audiences around the country. 
Local concert-goers got to experience Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24 on Thursday at Proctors in Schenectady. More than a dozen talented musicians took the stage as part of this epic tour that continues the tradition of capturing the excitement of what is hailed as the greatest live concert event of all time. 
Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24 features an excellent lineup led by Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, Mike Campbell & Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Don Was, John Medeski, Dave Malone, Terence Higgins, Cyril Neville, Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns (featuring the original horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint). 
Thursday's concert featured two sets including fan favorite Band classics "Life Is A Carnival," "Up on Cripple Creek," "The Shape I'm In," "Ophelia," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "The Weight." In addition, the ensemble performed a handful of songs covered at the 1976 show such as Neil Young's "Helpless" and Van Morrison's "Caravan." 
In an encore, the act closed out the set with the beautiful "I Shall Be Released" by Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye's "Baby Don't You Do It," sending the crowd off in a feel-good mood. 
The Last Waltz Tour certainly succeeded in making the crowded Vaudeville theater in Schenectady on a cold November night feel much like the famed Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on the evening of the iconic and star-studded Last Waltz concert. It's evident that the music from that night still greatly resonates with folks, and this Thanksgiving season music-lovers can be thankful to have this tour carrying on The Band's legacy.