Rock and Roll revived in Dayton

November 25, 1976, was a Thanksgiving night like no other. The band held an enthusiastic rock and roll concert called “The Last Waltz” at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Although this was The band’s “farewell” concert after years of touring, artists from the Dayton area reconvene annually to recreate and reminisce in a pre-Thanksgiving concert at the beautiful Victoria Theatre. 

Just 49 years and one day after the original performance that made history, artists and audiences were thrown back to the late 70s. Such A Night: The Last Waltz was an incredible night full of laughter, dancing, and rock and roll music covered by more than 25 talented Daytonians.

Music from the 70s transcends generations. There were audience members both old enough to have been in attendance at The band’s original performance of Last Waltz and young enough to steer clear of the bar. The seats were packed, and the aisles became ballroom floors for those who wanted to dance. 

What was most impressive was the voices and personas of each musician and artist. Dayton is at no loss of talent. Although many of the artists from the original production will never give a live/living performance again, rock and roll was resurrected through the powerful voices on the Victoria stage. 

There was a perfect balance between loud and lively, and music for the soul. Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness and love, and with each song, the air became dense with this feeling. 

Each artist brought both a unique voice as well as one that honored those who came before. Audiences were excited for everything, from the jumping and kicks in Caravan to the soft and beautiful storytelling lines in Coyote. 

Such a Night: The Last Waltz honored the talented artists of one of the most important eras of musical history while spotlighting the fresh, exciting voices of Dayton artists. Each year, locals don their best leather jackets, paisley tops, and corduroy pants to enter the Victoria theatre for a night of rock and roll that they’ll likely never forget. Naturally, each year, the performances get better, year twelve being one of the best yet.