Show Review: The Weight Band at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT

The Weight Band at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT on Saturday May 17, 2025

The Weight Band, composed of band leader and renowned guitarist Jim Weider (The Band, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, Jim Weider Band), keyboardist Brian Mitchell (Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band), bassist Albert Rogers (Jim Weider Band, Jimmy Vivino), drummer Michael Bram (Jason Mraz) and keyboardist Matt Zeiner (Dickey Betts Band), brought their trademark Americana “Woodstock Sound” to the Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, Connecticut on Saturday May 17, 2025.

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The Grateful Dead’s “Althea” and ZZ Top’s “La Grange” played over the PA before The Weight Band members took the stage, which set an appropriate vibe for the night’s music, since the band both jammed and rocked during their performance. They kicked off the night with “Don’t Do It,” which included stellar solos (the first of many) from both Zeiner (on B3 organ) and Weider, who proved that he rightfully deserves his appellation as “Master of the Telecaster” with the tasty, technical, and skillfully dynamic guitar and slide solos he performed throughout the night (as well as playing mandolin on a number of songs). Mitchell, with his gravelly New Orleans vocal drawl, would have made Dr. John proud on his featured performances of Jerry Garcia’s “Deal,” Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” (which he played on the accordion with a ZZ Top “La Grange” groove), and The Band’s “Holy Cow” (a deep cut from Moondog Matinee) and “Ophelia,” which Mitchell dedicated to Levon Helm. Rogers (who confessed to being jet-lagged from a 5am flight) and Bram not only held down a solid, steady foundation all night, but also provided some tight vocal performances on The Weight Band original songs (which dominated the first half of the show), as well as classics from The Band, such as “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up on Cripple Creek,” while Zeiner sang impressive bluesy Richard Manuel-inspired lead vocals on “Chest Fever” and another Band deep cut “Just Another Whistle Stop” (from their Stage Fright album).

The Weight Band was short on crowd banter, preferring to let the music speak for most of the night, save for a few reminiscing anecdotes from Mitchell about playing with Allen Toussaint and Levon Helm, and a few humorous quips from Weider, who at one point stated, “The summer season is upon us, which is great. I found the first tick in my bed.” When an audience member uttered an audible “Ug!” Weider offered, “Hey, at least I found it.” Another time, after engaging in a spirited back-and-forth solo tradeoff duel with Mitchell on accordion during “Highway 61 Revisited” (one of the highlights of the night), Weider stated confidently to the crowd, “Well, when you got it – flaunt it!” There certainly was a great deal of flaunting going on during the night, as The Weight Band are all seasoned musicians who present a blend of polished, well-rehearsed and well-delivered harmonies, and lively, loose grooves that prove, song after song, to be a powerhouse combination.

For more Weight Band tour information: https://www.theweightband.com/

Enjoy our previous coverage here: Show Review: The Weight Band in Albany, New York

SETLIST:

Don’t Do It (The Band)

Look Out Cleveland (The Band)

Deal (Jerry Garcia)

Shines Like Gold

Time Is a Thief

One More Shot (The Levon Helm Band)

Holy Cow (The Band)

Weight of the World

Out of the Wilderness