Reviews

What a shame that Bob Dylan was the opening act.  Even though the Dylan
website and the local paper gave warning, many people were still unaware
and thus missed part or all of Dylan's show.  Even worse, there were still
people trying to find their seats while Dylan was playing. Perhaps Dylan
was the opening act so Phil Lesh and his band would have darkness for
their light show-- Years ago Dylan was an opening act for Santana and the
review was headed: "Dylan- Just An Opening Act", because Dylan gave a bad
show that night.  Sometime after that I read that Bob had felt sick before
the show, but still went on anyway.  Dylan should be a closing act.

The Pavilion show was great despite the influx of late people. Two of the
highlights for me were seeing the first 15 or 20 rows of people standing
for Dylan's entire set and seeing Dylan play inspired harp on I Don't
Believe You and Wicked Messenger.  I have seen Dylan play with Tom Petty,
Santana, Van Morrison and Lucinda Williams, and without an opening or
closing act.  At the Van Morrison and Lucinda Williams show, I was in the 
20th row and we all stood for the entire show. This time, even though I
was 10th in line to buy tickets I was way back--front rows were not
available on the first day of ticket sales according to the Pavilion box
office.  At any rate, a great show.

I would have liked hearing Things Have Changed, Is Your Love In Vain?,
Forever Young, All Along The Watchtower, among other songs, but I know
that there are so many songs, I could never  hear just my favorites in any
one show.  I look forward to seeing Dylan again and it would be great to
hear him without an opening or closing act like the Portland or Las Vegas
show.  Dylan is a legend that I never tire of hearing.  It may be selfish,
but I hope he doesn't retire soon.

Steve

ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT FOR MUSIC IN CALIF. AS BOB ROLLED INTO CONCORD WITH
SHORELINE TONIGHT AND RENO TOMMORROW. WELL BOB STARTED WITH A GREAT ROVING
GAMBLER I'VE SEEN THIS OPENER BEFORE AND LARRY AND CHARLIE HARMONIZED WELL
ON THIS ONE. NEXT WAS TO RAMONA WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME (1995)
FOLLOWED BY A STEADY MASTERS OF WAR. A WONDERFULLY DELIVERED BOOTS OF
SPANISH LEATHER SEEMED TO WAKE BOB AND THE BOYS UP CUZ THEY SMOKED TANGLED
WITH BOB ONCE AGAIN ENUNCIATING THE WORDS AND HIS TWIST ON VERSES WELL. I
REAALY ENJOYED THE 1ST SOLDIER'S GRAVE I.VE HEARD LIVE OR TAPED  WHICH HAD
A NICE GOSPEL FEEL. IT SEEMS TO BE COUNTRY PIE IN THE IST ELEC. SLOT WHICH
IS OK CUZ IT'S A PLAYFUL LITTLE ROCKIN' NUMBER. TELL ME I WISH HE WOULD
HAVE PLAYED MORE OVER THE YEARS CUZ IT HAS THIS HEART OF MINE KINDA WARMTH
AND I GET THE URGE TO HAVE A SWEET GOOD FEEL SONG SOMETIMES.I THOUGHT HEAR
GOES THE FARM AGAIN BUT I THINK THEY USED IT AS A SPRINGBOARD TO FULLY
LEAP INTO THE SHOW CUZ WHAT FOLLOWED I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WAS FLAWLESS
WHICH LED INTO THE HIGHLIGHT OF WICKED (HARP ALSO) MESSENGER INTO A CROWD
PLEASING ROUSING FINALE PILL BOX HAT. AFTER THE STAND AND STARE WALK OFF I
JUST KNEW THE 1ST ENCORE WOULD BE U GO UR WAY( I WAS BEGGING TO THE POWERS
THAT BE) AND I SWEAR THE TEARS ALMOST CAME UP BECUZ I WAS GRANTED MY WISH.
I WAS HOPING FOR SOMETHING BESIDES ROLLING STONE CUZ NOTHING COULD HAVE
TOUCHED THE ONE IN SAC. BUT THE SURPRISES WEREN'T OVER WHEN HE CAREFULLY
AND QUEITLY DELIVERED STRAIGHT FROM THE BOTTOM OF HIS SOUL A INCREDIBLE
TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME AND THE VOCALS BY EVERYONE HAD THE CROWD GLUED AND
HUSHED TO EVERY WHISPER YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP EXCEPT FOR A GIRL
A LITTLE BEHIND US WHO WANTED TO DISCUSS HAIR COLOR SECRETS UNTIL I HANDED
HER SOME BLEACH AND THE EVIL EYE AT LEAST HER CHATTER DIDN'T MAKE IT ON
THE TAPE. THEY ENDED WITH RAINY DAY 12&35 WHICH NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND
FROM THE BEGHINNING WHEN LARRY HAD TO STAND UP AND TURN ON OR UP THE PEDAL
STEEL THEY JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO PULL IT TOGETHER AND THE RARE PERFOPRMANCES
AND BOB GOOSE STEPPIN' AROUND MADE UP FOR ANY OTHER SHORTCOMINGS TO MAKE
THIS A  TREAT IN MY BOB LOG.