At the Helm

"But I tell you what -- it's pretty much even. 'Cause if you think they don't like me, I sure don't goddamn like them."

It's no wonder Helm likes the blues. During his recovery from cancer treatments, he says, drumming with the Barn Burners was "the best therapy I got, and it still is. I've played so much that my style's changed quite a bit. I use a mallet grip more than I used to, I use a traditional grip less than I used to, and I set up my drums a little different: no padding, no governors -- just wide open. And I'm having a lot of fun."

His wheel's on fire: The Band's Levon Helm (left) with his current project, the Barn Burners.

Helm (second from left) in happier days with the Band.

Details

9 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. $12.75, 303-447-0095

Fox Theatre, 1135 13th Street, Boulder

Related Content

• R.I.P. Levon Helm, 5/26/40 - 4/19/12
  April 20, 2012
• Plants and Animals
  May 10, 2012
• Five misinformed rock songs
  April 4, 2012
• Jewel: "I've never held back because I'm a woman. I feel like I can accomplish anything a man can accomplish in my field.""
  March 27, 2012
• Tom Petty
  April 12, 2012

More About

• Amy Helm
• Robbie Robertson
• Levon Helm
• Rick Danko
• Blues Music

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

He'd like the Barn Burners to make an album sometime soon, but he hasn't yet contacted any labels to see if any are interested in signing the group. Were he able to sing, this task would likely be easier, but his doctors hold out no great hope for a breakthrough. "They just tell me to do what I think I can do, and that's about it. They don't want to be responsible for what I sound like!" he says, guffawing. "But it really don't bother me, honestly."

In this respect, Helm has little in common with another vocal icon, Julie Andrews, whose singing voice never returned following the 1997 removal of benign throat nodules. Andrews filed a lawsuit against her doctors that was settled out of court, and in recent interviews, she has spoken openly about how profoundly her condition has affected her psychologically and has detailed the efforts she's making to one day sing again.

At the mention of Andrews's name, Helm is filled with empathy. "Oh, boy, bless her heart," he says, on the edge of emotion. "I mean, she did The Sound of Music. God almighty -- now, that's a loss."

Tell Helm that many people feel the same way about him and he's taken aback.

"Well, that's awful nice to think that; that's a hell of a compliment just to be in the same sentence with her. God love her, I hope she's happy. 'Cause there's worse things in life than not being able to sing. Lord knows there are."