New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Jim Weider Talks About The Weight


By Gary Wien

originally published: 04/08/2015


The Band may be best remembered for backing Bob Dylan and being the subject of Martin Scorsese's brilliant documentary The Last Waltz, but their music holds a special place in history as well. In fact, one could argue that they were one of the originators of the Americana sound so prevalent in today's music. Songs like "Up on Cripple Creek", "Life Is A Carnival" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" have been staples of class rock radio stations for decades.  The music continues on stage thanks to a group called The Weight, which takes its name from another classic cut.  The Weight will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, April 18 at 8pm.  Tickets range from $32-$42.

Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante started The Weight to not only pay tribute to the music of The Band but with the intention to to recreate the music as close to the original recordings as possible.

"Randy and I had done several shows with Jimmy Vivino and Garth Hudson from The Band, along with Byron Isaacs from Levon Helm band (playing the songs of The Band) and they went so well that when Jimmy got busy with his group The Fab Faux and Garth was touring with his wife we said why don't we do it?" said Weider, describing the inspiration behind The Weight. "It was really great to play the songs again."

The Weight mostly plays songs from The Band during their sets but will throw in something like "I Shall Be Released" by Bob Dylan as well.  Weider says his favorite songs to perform live include "Life Is A Carnival," "Remedy," "Whispering Pines", and, of course, "The Weight."  The songs have the feel of The Band because all of the musicians have a direct connection to the legendary group.  Both Weider and Ciarlante are former members of The Band.  Weider replaced Robbie Robertson on lead guitar in the 2nd incarnation of The Band from 1985 until 2000.  Ciarlante drummed and sang alongside Levon Helm in the second incarnation of The Band and also in The Levon Helm Band up until Levon's passing.  Both performed on three of The Band's studio albums (Jericho, High on the Hog, and Jubilation).  The Weight is rounded out by Brian Mitchell and Byron Isaccs who are both current members of Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Band and Marty Grebb, who has written songs for The Band.

Having musicians with a direct connection to the songs of The Band is very important.  It lends a certain credibility and feel to the songs that help separate the live shows of The Weight with those of regular tribute groups.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



Weider's career is full of great memories from his days with The Band.  Some of the highlights include meeting Eric Clapton, playing at Rogers Waters' The Wall with Ronnie Hawkins, performing at Carnegie Hall with a full horn section, and taking part in Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1992.  

"The songs are such a big part of American music culture," continued Weider.  "They are what I grew up with and the music was a big part of my life.  It's the Woodstock/Catskill Mountain music for me, and its what Levon, Rick, and Richard would have wanted."

 

 After the show in Newton, The Weight heads on the road again with stops in New York, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware  before returning to New Jersey.  They'll be headlining a show at the Levoy Theatre in Millville on June 13.  For more information on The Weight visit  www.theweightband.com




Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.



Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."