In Green Bay, the Cripple Creek Caravan musicians hold a special place in their hearts for the music of "The Last Waltz" concert film. It's not just a tribute; it's a labor of love that connects them deeply. As Johnny Mazzariello of The Chocolateers said, "Everybody in this band loved that music and has a deep connection to it."

Experience the Magic of "The Last Waltz" in Green Bay

Revisiting a Rock Legend

On November 27th, the night before Thanksgiving, the local music collective will bring the magic of "The Last Waltz" to The Tarlton Theatre. This 1978 Martin Scorsese documentary of The Band's legendary farewell concert holds a significant place in rock history. In 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, The Band's Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel were joined by a who's who of music for a four-plus-hour final performance. Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, and the Staple Singers were among the guests.The Cripple Creek Caravan, consisting of fifteen northeastern Wisconsin musicians, will perform classics like "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Coyote," "Evangeline," and "Forever Young" to celebrate what many consider "one of the greatest eras of rock 'n' roll."

The Ever-Changing Song List

Just like the lineup of the Cripple Creek Caravan, the song list changes each year. The beauty of a group like The Band is that its catalog is so deep there's always a new song to learn. As Mazzariello said, "The only word I can really describe them with is prolific. They're just such a great band of the era." What's unique is that they broke up when they were all very young, yet they were at the height of their fame and talent. Each member went on to have significant solo careers.

The Birth of a Tribute

"The Last Waltz" concert is the brainchild of Green Bay musician Gerry Sloan, who has watched the film more than a hundred times. The first tribute happened in 2019 at The Blue Opus in Bellevue. Sloan was joined by The Chocolateers as the backing band and the horn section from Brass Differential. However, the pandemic sidelined the project for a couple of years. But last year, it returned with a sold-out Tarlton show, and the collective was rebranded as the Cripple Creek Caravan. There are still eight original members, and the goal is to rotate musicians in and out to showcase the scene's talent.This year's lineup is impressive, with Gerry Sloan on guitar and vocals, John Mazzariello (Chocolateers) on guitar and vocals, Krissi Minten on vocals, Gregg Daigle (Gregg Daigle's Music Workshop) on mandolin and vocals, Alex Kinstetter (Chocolateers) on bass and vocals, Chris Schoenecker (Chocolateers, Solid State Speed Control) on drums and percussion, Gary Van on drums and percussion, Mike Garrity (Synergy) on piano and vocals, Tony Wiltgen on organ and synth, Andy Cismoski (Bonzai McPherson) on bass, Tony Warpinski (Shaker and the Egg, The Priggs) on guitar, Phil Haines on harmonica, Nicklas Waroff (Catplan) on saxophone, Bill Hill (Brass Differential) on trombone, and Tyler Jones on trumpet. David Wanie takes care of sound and lights.

The Rehearsal Process

It's not a re-creation of The Band's concert. Not every song from that performance is included, and sometimes songs not in the film make it into the two set lists and encore. "All the songs are done in the style of The Band, but we kind of allow for improvisation on stage and each artist can put their individual flair on the performances," Mazzariello said.Year-round planning is required to coordinate. Weekly and sometimes twice-weekly rehearsals begin in early September when the busy summer playing season slows down for the musicians' other projects. It's a significant commitment, but when a horn section, two drummers, and that kind of camaraderie combine onstage, it's hard to top.Mazzariello said, "I would say the friendship that we develop and the joy of the finished product overcome the extreme challenges of putting a large project like this together. It's a lot of work and a lot of behind-the-scenes discussions. When you're working with so many different musicians and trying to fill so many different parts without overfilling songs, it's definitely a challenge. We're kind of tested by fire through our rehearsals. I would say it's the most challenging project I've ever been involved in as a musician."The Cripple Creek Caravan's tribute to "The Last Waltz" is at 7 p.m. on November 27th at The Tarlton Theatre in downtown Green Bay. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 for the concert only or $45 with dinner at thetarlton.com.Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert.