This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photos by Anne Spooner

Nashville was the last stop for the 13-city celebration tour, and when this musical mystery train pulled into the station, it had picked up some My-T-Fine kindred-spirit passengers. There were also some iconic hometown folks who helped bring down the curtain in fine fashion. Not that the core group really needed any help thank you, but everyone involved with this show brought something cool, hot and tasty to the table.

I’m no fan of arena rock, only because of the acoustic challenges these behemoths present, venues better suited to slap shots than rim shots. The first three songs were sort of sacrificed as the sound crew worked to dial things in. Additional challenges were soon added to their task as the fantastic four Levee Horns, led by trombonist Mark Mullins, joined in. Salvation started by the fourth song, when the db level was lowered for core band member, Jamey Johnson to deliver “Georgia.”

I can’t say enough about the core band that played all night long. It was assembled and directed by Don Was, who anchored things on the bass, in cahoots with New Orleans drummer Terence Higgins, who, with his fathoms of feel, did the work of groups that use two drummers. He did fire up some extra mojo when Cyril Neville joined in on the congas. Was’s Cheshire smile throughout the evening let you know how he felt about the music being made. The front line was shared by guitarists Lukas Nelson, Warren Haynes and Jamey Johnson. Nelson, who can really gin, too, squeezes notes out of his Les Paul Jr. beyond human hearing. Warren Haynes also slid his guitars into the stratosphere when it was called for, while Jamey Johnson stayed mainly on an acoustic, and provided a great low growl counterpoint to Lukas on the vocals they shared. Keyboardist John Medeski was phenomenal, and clearly demonstrated that on “Chest Fever.” Joining in and featured on their special spots, were some artists who had been on board for the entire tour, New Orleans blues Radiator Dave Malone, who got into a deep groove with Cyril Neville and big blues bulldog, Bob Margolin, who was on the original Last Waltz show some four decades ago, with Muddy Waters. Margolin walked like giant on Mannish Boy. Before intermission you could have retitled “This Wheel’s On Fire” to “This Show Is On Fire.” As they took a break, Warren Haynes told us to “stick around ‘cause the second half is gonna be something else.”

And of course it was. It opened with a stunning vocal solo from Margo Price, who also has been on the entire tour. Special guests for this show Darius Rucker, Michael McDonald, Emmy Lou Harris, Nathaniel Rateliff and Vince Gill, , each of them highly fired up, came out and delivered their all. See the enclosed set list for who did what with whom. I would be derelict, if I didn’t mention how Nathaniel Rateliff drove the crowd wild with a reprise of “Caravan” that Van Morrison performed on the first Last Waltz.

There were many musical spirits conjured up all night long, including Bo Diddley, whose song “Who Do You Love?” and trademark beat was woven into many that night. Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and of course, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. As the evening wore down, with no signs of wearing out, Robbie Robertson appeared to thunderous applause to say a few words, like “How About THIS BAND? “ I could tell he had been awed by what had taken place so far. When he reappeared, a short time later, guitar in hand, for the closing numbers, “Forever Young,” “The Weight” and “I Shall Be Released,” everyone was standing and singing. When we finally filed out after some three hours, the guy in the seat next to me said, “You know we will never see anything like that again in our lifetime.” I agree. When we got home I said to my wife Anne, “I don’t really know what I can say that can do it full justice—you just had to be there.” I’m so glad I was.

—Ken Spooner