As a teenager, Jim Weider worked at a stereo shop in downtown Woodstock called the Sound In.
Weider said the shop was run by Kermit Schwarz, a local character beloved by local musicians of the time, was known for smoking three cigarettes at a time who often sported a ring of the antacid Maalox around his mouth.
When the late saxophonist David Sanborn or other musicians had recorded a new album, they would bring it to the Sound In and Schwarz would play it full blast on one of his high-end audio units. Weider said just about everyone had a line of credit at the shop.
That’s where he met the members of The Band. Years later in 1985, Weider would join the iconic group, replacing guitarist Robbie Robertson. The legacy of that ensemble lives on as Weider leads The Weight Band, which pays homage to the iconic group while carving its own niche with original songs.
The Weight Band is set to perform Saturday night at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.
“It’s always very special to play in town,” said Weider, 74, a Woodstock resident. “My old high school friends come out—my electrician and plumber and everybody that I grew up around here with. It brings back a lot of memories.”
Named for the iconic Band song, “The Weight,’ Weider’s current ensemble have built a loyal following in the region and beyond with their enduring links to Woodstock’s creative past and present. Both have helped define—and maintain—the town’s legacy as a global destination for music lovers and those inspired by the arts.
“He is part of the Woodstock music-arts legacy,” Assistant Woodstock Town Historian Janine Mower said of Weider. “He’s a hometown hero. He’s done the hard work. He put in all the time to get to the point he’s at right now.”
Asked how The Band influences him today, Weider said, “I think it’s definitely the spirit of just going for it on songs. Those guys always went for it 110 percent. Nobody held back— that spirit comes through for me.”
“I think of the guys all the time,” he added.
Over his 15-year tenure with The Band, Weider played some notable gigs: “The Wall” concert staged by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame in 1990 in Berlin; the Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden in 1992; President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993; and Woodstock ‘94 in Saugerties in 1994.
Weider also played on “All the King’s Men,” the 1997 release from Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana, who played extensively with Elvis Presley. Levon Helm of The Band and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones also performed on that record, the partial recording of which took place at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.
Following the dissolution of the second incarnation of The Band, Weider played with the Levon Helm Band. He now focuses his energy on The Weight Band, which formed following the death of Helm in 2012, touring extensively around the country.
“What’s nice about The Weight Band is we all have been together for so long now,” Weider said. “You just feel really comfortable. You can take chances. Everyone listens and every night is a little different, which keeps me on my toes and keeps the rest of the guys on their toes.”
In addition to Weider, The Weight Band features Michael Bram on drums, Albert Rogers on bass, and Matt Zeiner and Brian Mitchell on keyboards. Bram has performed with Jason Mraz. Zeiner played with Dickey Betts of Allman Brothers Fame. And Rogers has performed with Robbie Dupree, Albert Lee and Garth Hudson from The Band.
Like Weider, Mitchell played in the Levon Helm Band. Mitchell has also recorded and performed with a range of musicians, including Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne.
“Jimmy’s the most giving cat in the world,” said Rogers, 57, a former Woodstock resident who resides in North Carolina. “He’s the kindest, most generous musician you’ll ever meet. It’s not about egos with him. He just loves to play with good musicians.”
John W. Barry is a reporter for The Overlook. Reach him at john@theoverlooknews.com.