June 29, 2011
Review by Espen Aas
After I'd seen the setlists being rather interesting all of a sudden,
I looked forward to see Dylan for the first time since the previous
line-up (with Denny Freeman) played in Oslo in the spring of 2009. My
hotel-room was a few hundred meters away from the stage, so when I
returned back from dinner and walk in the pouring rain, I was treated
to the last two songs of the soundcheck (which of course happened
without Dylan). They did an instrumental "When The Deal Goes Down"
and then after Al Santos has tested a few words in the microphone,
they played an instrumental "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking". I was
hoping for them to open with that later on, and it sounded great in
the rehearsed version.
Anyway, after watching a live-report from the concert-area on the
local news, we approached Bergehus Festning (or fortress), the
wheel-chair entrance was next to the hotel, and they let us in,
despite the lack of wheel-chairs. It was so nice with security who
behaved like people, I wasn't exactly spoiled with that back home in
Oslo. Suzanne Vega opened with a handful of songs, ending in "Luca"
and "Tom's Diner" which both were welcomed by the audience.
Dylan was supposed to be on at 9.15 p.m., but they arrived already at
9, launching not into "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking" but "Rainy
Day Women". Although it was a lot of cheering from the crowd, it was
quite an average performance, but warmed us up.
I was guessing that "Baby Blue" or "Don't Think Twice" was next, and
I was right about the first one. I'm not too fond of this
arrangement, and after enjoying Dylan spitting out words at center
stage, I was fascinated about how passive Stu Kimball still is on
stage. Standing in his corner, playing away on his acoustic guitar.
Much more lively was of course Charlie Sexton, but he seemed
dissatisfied with several guitars or possibly his monitor. Anyway, he
and Dylan were the only ones who moved around and looked like they
enjoyed themselves.
The newly arranged "Things Have Changed" was up next, sounding like
it could've been arranged for Johnny Cash with its "boom-chicka-boom"
rhythm. Not too bad though, and the great thing was how Dylan's harp
melted in with the song, and of course also Donnie Herron's lap-steel.
Dylan stayed center stage for "Tangled Up In Blue" next. I'm sorry to
admit I really have a hard time with the version they've been doing
over the last years. It has the lovely acoustic rhythm guitar from
the late 90s and up until 2002, but the way he sings it, going up at
the end of each line... A low-point of the show.
I did get happier when Dylan strapped on his guitar for the first
time that night and they launched into a messy "Beyond Here Lies
Nothin'". Sad that they've skipped the trumpet for this. Perhaps it
went in too many directions at times, but I just love how ragged it
is and how it suits the Dylan "of our time"..
It all slowed down again with "Simple Twist Of Fate", another
arrangement I'm not terribly fond of. It is one of the best songs
from the whole 70s era in my book, but it doesn't really go anywhere
and none of them really gave much into the song.
THEN the show woke up, and from here things got much better. Donnie
Herron picked up the banjo and there was no doubt, we got "High
Water". I read Keith Richards biography earlier this year, and
remembered all the great things he wrote about George Receli, and
listening to how he and Tony Garnier pumps through all this High
Water everywhere is one helluva ride.. Dylan was a fantastic sight
looking like a crow who was spitting out the words at time.
One of my three highlights of the evening came next, a stunning
version of "Tryin' To Get To Heaven" which he sang so well. I even
managed to forget about the organ, disappearing into those great
lyrics. He didn't miss a line as far as I could hear. Hard to imagine
that this great album came out more than 14 years ago...! Glad some
of the songs have survived, especially this one.
Dylan again picked up the guitar and they played around with the
silly "Tweedle Dee" which I've never liked much, I managed again to
disappear into that massive drum-sound. People around where I was
standing didn't seem to know what to think about it either. Easily
forgotten about...
The second highlight of the evening came up with "Desolation Row", I
started out being VERY sceptic as this have been butchered and
drowned(!) into organ and that old sing-song voice way too many
times, but it didn't last long until it was clear that he was really
giving us a treat tonight. At this point his voice was well warmed-up
and the world of Cinderella, Casanova, Cain, Abel and all the others
slowly grew into my mind. He even managed to deliver that last verse
more or less perfect (that has always been the sing-song-voice verse
for the last ten years or so, but tonight...!)
No prices for guessing that "Highway 61" was up next, more or less in
its traditional format, I was hoping for the new arrangement they
started out with in Cork, but they obviously enjoyed the old
rock'n'roll version more. I guess this is the version that fits the
regular crowd best as well..
And then, ladies and gentlemen, came the ultimate high-point of the
show, a fantastic "Forgetful Heart", with Herron playing viola, Tony
using the bow, and George playing the congas - not to mention how
bloody perfect Dylan's vocal was. Goose-bumps and chills all
over..and once more Dylan blended in his harp with the rest of the
music perfectly. That was a new thing to me, how he has transformed
all those old harp-solos into an extra layer of music in so many of the songs.
Like everyone else who follows Dylan's setlist, I knew we were into
the predictable part of the show, but even if Thunder On The
Mountain, Ballad of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone and All Along
The Watchtower have been played to pieces over the last years, they
work, and gives everyone a great feeling for their way home. "Thin
Man" was no doubt the best of them, just watching him sneak and crow
around the center stage was worth the whole ticket...
I was curious to see if he would do "Forever Young" as the closer,
but it was Blowin' In the Wind. Bergen was soaked after days of rain,
but when "Blowin' In The Wind" came on, the sun came out and what
more could you ask for, eh?
The buses started up before the song was over, and they all rushed
quickly away, heading for Oslo now... I enjoyed the show, great to
finally see Sexton back (despite all his difficulties with guitar and
amps), I am still not that impressed by Kimball and wouldn't it be
great if Sexton got the change to back Dylan up vocally again too....?
Review by Steinar Daler
I saw Dylan at the Feis festival in London and was very happy about that
concert, and happy that I stayed there two days to see Van Morrison the
second day. The last half of his concert was something special too. My
expectations before my tour with a lot of other Norwegian and Swedish
fans plus freinds and followers from Germany and the British isles as
well, for Odense, Bergen and my hometown Oslo were high. I leave it to
others to tell more about the Odense concert, but a very nice venue,
perfect weather, and rows of highlights during the concert. (I have to
mention Hollis Brown, Boots of Spanish Leather and Every Grain of Sand,
in a row - we were stunned). Two days after, including a long nice boat
trip from Denmark to Bergen, we were ready for another great concert.
Not a particular nice venue, and the weather was the normal for Bergen;
rain, rain, rain. Last time Dylan played Bergen, almost exactly 10 years
ago, the weather was super and Dylan too. I heard two of my favourite
Dylan songs live for the first time back then; Dignity and You Ain't
Going Nowhere, and still remember that concert as among my top ten in
close to 150 concerts I have seen since 1978, so to be honest I was a
bit afraid that this night would not be the same level, and I also could
not believe that Bob could hold up the fantastic standard of the concert
in Odense. But even if it rained most of the concert, even if the venue
was'nt good, Bob even managed to make the night maybe even slightly
better than in Odense. The setlist do not differ very much from concert
to concert on this tour and I will not review every song but just give
10 reasons for this concert being another Bergen concert on my top ten
concerts list.
1. Bob was smiling and for sure enjoying himself all through the
concert. Bob is defenitely in good shape and will for sure keep on
keepin' on for a long time still to come.
2. Bob is now defenitely the king of the stage (I almost forgot to look
at Charlie or Tony - recent tours band leaders.)
3. Bob's voice was the best I have heard in years. If you know how to
download the concerts, listen close, and you will understand what I mean.
4. Bob can still be a very good guitarist. Listen to Simple Twist of
Fate and you will understand. The sound in his guitar is sharp and warm
at the same time, and shines in a perfect mix.
5. Bob let Stu Kimball shine as well, at least in a couple of songs -
Highway 61 and Watchtower among them.
6. Donnie is more up in the mix, and you can hear his different
instruments much better than before.
7. Bob as a crooner, as in Ballad of a thin man and in Forget heart, is
wonderful - both his vocals (phrasing) and his way of mowing.
8. Forgetful heart is just BEAUTYFUL. A fulfilled performance. To me
Forgetful heart has been the very highlight of all the concerts I have
seen on this tour.
9. We all (at least his followers - as me) know that Bob can be both
brilliant and hillarious live in concert. And sometimes both at the same
concert and in the same song. Desolation Row in Bergen was such a moment
that I will never forget. It's hard to describe what I mean, if I can't
show you a video, but its a mix of good and extremely well phrased
singing, lot's of funny movements, his mostly destroying, but sometimes,
as on this occasion, very pointed stacato singing (not to much not to
less). I know a lot of you out there normally hate his stacato singing
as much as me, but sometime he makes it work, and on Desolation Row in
Bergen maybe he finally found what his been searching for the last
couple of years. Brilliant and hillarious at the same time.
10. Before the anchors, the rain had stopped and during watchtower a
late evening sun came shining through the clouds right in Dylans face.
It made the atmosphere in the audience during Blowing in the wind as
good as it gets. A shining Dylan wih the sun in his eyes.
On to my hometown Oslo.
Steinar Daler
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