WATCH: The Weight Band, “Out of the Wilderness”

Artist: The Weight Band
Hometown: Woodstock, New York
Song: “Out of the Wilderness”
Album: Shines Like Gold (produced by Colin Linden)
Release Date: April 1, 2022
Label: The Weight Band Records

Editor’s Note: The Weight Band’s origins are tied to Woodstock, New York, and its famous inhabitants, The Band. Jim Weider, a Woodstock native, served as The Band’s lead guitarist from 1985-2000. In the late ’00s, he joined the Levon Helm Band, with Brian Mitchell playing keyboards. Alongside Weider and Mitchell, The Weight Band lineup includes bassist Albert Rogers, drummer Michael Bram, and keyboardist Matt Zeiner.

In Their Words: “‘Out of the Wilderness’ is about being lost and being found (‘stumbling thru the forest, thought that I was cursed’), coming out of the darkness and into the light. Getting rid of your worries and troubles (‘gonna shed this crown of thorns’) and feeling free of all your burdens (‘feel like a baby being born’). The song was originally written for Rick Danko when I was writing with Colin Linden for The Band’s Jericho album and was never used for that album. Colin had a big hand and footprint on this record. We go back, so there is a comfortableness working with him. We filmed the video at the Clubhouse Studio in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where we recorded the album, and during a live show at The Warehouse in Fairfield, Connecticut.” — Jim Weider, The Weight Band


Photo Credit: Bob Feather

LISTEN: Jim White, ‘Playing Guitar’

Artist: Jim White
Hometown: Athens, GA
Song: “Playing Guitar”
Album: Waffles, Triangles & Jesus
Release Date: February 9, 2017
Label: People In A Place to Know (via Joyful Noise & Secretly Canadian)

In Their Words: “I blame Ray Stevens for this song. Had he not written all those crackpot masterpieces like “The Streak,” “Mississippi Squirrel,” and “Gitarzan,” I might have been able to peacefully live out my days on this earth without sullying my soul in the mire that is ‘the gimmick song.’ But here I am.” — Jim White