Review by Ricardo Ferrara
April 28. It`s a little bit cold and it would be an ordinary Saturday night in
Buenos Aires if it were not for the fact that Bob Dylan is in town and about to
perform his third show in Argentina and the nineth from his South American
tour. It's been drizzle raining since early in the evening and I`m travelling by
bus from Quilmes, the city where I live, 30 kilometres south from Buenos Aires.
I'm trying to be on time for the concert. I'm very, very late.
Friday's performance was one of the best I've seen, but I always have the same
feelings with his shows because every Dylan concert is different and unique,
always changing and shining anew, so, on Saturday night Bob was ready to do it
again. The same rocking guitar chords for the introduction and the same opener,
a perfect "Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat". The venue was sold out again. Dylan
seems even more relaxed than the night before...for the second song he takes
his electric guitar and delivers "To Ramona" which makes its first appearance on
this tour, Martha, an argentinian super fan of Dylan, recently posted in her
Facebook a significant line from this song "...there´s no one to beat you, no one
to defeat you except the thoughts of yourself feeling bad" and I reminded again
how real and true these words are and for me it was like he was singing it
specially to her. Very emotional moment...Then comes "Beyong Here Lies
Nothing", placed again as the third song in the set list, its strenght breaks
barriers, with its solid playing and nurture us with some kind of habanera rythm,
and Bob's guitar playing is as sharp as the edge of a knife..."Tangled up In Blue"
is delivered, with the first and brilliant Bob's harmonica solo that produces the
first roar of the crowd...I love that song and when I was on the road following
this tour I liked to listen to that lines that goes "I don`t know what they do with
their lives, but me I`m still on the road" on my cd player, ...then "Summer Days"
reappears...it's a rendition full of energy, like the one in the record and very
similar to it and an enjoyable song indeed, ...Then the second surprise of the
night "Not Dark Yet", played for the second time on this tour, the first one was
sung in Sao Paulo on April 21, intense and touching singing, it`s like a prayer,
"Bob you taught me how to live in this world full of lies and everytime I hear from
you I can't help but smile", I said once and I was waiting for this one, especially
this one, so , thank you Bobby ..."Jolene" makes its first 2012 tour appearance,
here Bob s singing is pure rock, the best rock singing I`ve ever heard. Once
again he "plays" with his band and stops it and makes it start again a couple of
times...afterwards? ..Well, well, well, what a nice surprise, the banjo sounds and
I have three options to think about, but none of them takes place, magnificent,
outstanding "Ballad Of Hollis Brown", with (for me) a new arrangement, superb,
the very highlight of the night, I'm sure of that..and this song starts to make the
show turn different from the previous one, because of the strong social comments
in it's lyrics, the injustice in this world full of lies that Bob`again sings and reminds
us...after this one "A Hard's Rain Gonna fall" takes its place, with Bob's singing it
as good as the previous night, that's to say as good as always ..In Brazilia, Brazil I
thought I heard him singing "I've been in the front rows of a Bob Dylan Crowd"
but no, allthough he is gemini, he didn't was in the first rows, he was up on
stage, thankfully.
Yesterday Eduardo Bueno wrote a review in which he asked himself how Bob
could change his mood from one song to another, how can he do it, it's like
being two persons almost at the same time, It`s a mistery to me too, maybe it's
because of his histrionism, or maybe because of his zodiac sign, Gemini....
"The Lonesome death of Hattie Carrol" definetely defined the show...Again a song
of social compromise, one of my favourites songs also making its first appearance
on this tour, new and rich arrangements, it's like a new song, only the chorus
remains equal, my friend Nahuel was seeing the show far from where I was, and
he said that at that moment he would have wished to be near me, in order that
I could telll him the name of this song...again, Bob is bringing new life to this lyrics
by changing the melody of the verses and singing it differently ...On "Highway 61"
in the first line the "no" from "God says No" is incredible good, the entonation of
the dialogue between Abraham and God is always different in the shows, in this
one he could get it perfectly. Now, hey man, "Forgetful Heart" really shocking,
he doesn't put a mask here, instead, he takes it off, is the real Dylan, just a man
singing to his forgetful Heart. Nobody is in the theatre now, he is alone and in
front of him is his forgetful heart, I was touched so deeply by this performance
that I was moved beyond words, this song alone is worth the entire show, and
the fiddle brings the exact colour for this incredible performance. It finishes and
the audience clap in silence, such a moving moment that I think nobody could say
just one word.
"Thunder On The Mountain", the beggining of the end, enjoyable rythm balancing
the mood of the previous song, afterwards, another ballad, the ballad of the Thin
Man this time, Todd Haynes and Claire Blanchett made a good job in that film, but
not as good as Bob acting this one, after all, he is the writer and owner of the
song. Brilliant performance again and pleases the audience a lot...now, yes Bob,
we are ready for "Like A Rolling Stone", the third verse is missing on the last shows
of this tour. The audience is pleased again but is a very quiet audience. After this
song Bob introduces his band to the audience, a good job boys, now it's time for
the bow before leaving the stage and then comes the crowd ovation, they ask
for one more...Bob comes back again and sings "Blowing In The Wind". He blows
his harmonica looking towards the audience...then the final bow with Bob looking
so young, indeed he is..
I won't be late tonight. Tonight is the last one of Bob s four shows in
Buenos Aires, I won't dare to be late, sure, I won't miss it. .
Ricardo Ferrara
rick2001ar@yahoo.com.ar
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