Dylan Update
So I've seen three of the four shows I'll see on this tour; Bob's done 21 songs each night. As an illustration of how he mixes up the setlists, I've seen him sing 40 different songs in these three shows. Some of the arrangements, too, seem to be evolving -- Highwater (For Charley Patton) for exmple -- and were different last night in Berkeley than they were in Sacramento.
Last night's show was terrific, nearly as good as I've ever seen him. He was in terrific voice, really holding some notes, really expressive. The playing was really great; suprisingly, Bob's guitar playing was impressive and expressive and well worth listening to. They mix his keyboard too low, though, so it's hard to pick out. I would rather have seen some more quiet, personal songs, even set pieces like Sugar Baby. Only one place did it seem to drag for me, which is Positively Fourth Street, which usually drags for me in concert.
For that blogger who saw the Newport show and left early complaining that Dylan didn't rock, I just wonder what she means by rock. This music is just flat-out raucous rock and roll. It's loud, fast, driving; the guitars are loud and screeching. The voice intense, insistent and powerful.
All in all, an outstanding, winning show. Really looking forward to the last one tonight; I'd just as soon see a Dylan show as do anything else. It's a real privilege to be able to see so much of this great artist's work.
2:58:30 PM Permalink
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