Reviews

New Orleans, Louisiana

UNO Lakefront Arena

July 26, 2011


[Ken Rayes], [Glenda]

Review by Ken Rayes



Leon Russell

1 Delta Lady - Nothing like opening with possibly your most famous song. 
   (Sound is a bit muddy)
2 Rolling in my Sweet Baby's Arms - Full Hank Wilson's Back mode , but much faster
3 Unidentified blues medley - two songs
4 Back to the Island - Almost unrecognizable at first - faster rock arrangement
5 Wild Horses - Nice cover - good harmonies from the band
6 I don't know or recognize this one
7 I've Just Seen a Face - The Beatles song - nice galloping version - seems perfect for him
8 Out in the Woods - Again, almost unrecognizable at first until the chorus comes.  
   Nice "Amped - up" rock arrangement, faster than the original.
9 Leon's lead guitarist sings and plays a blues song - He's very good - gets the loudest 
   cheers of the night so far.
10 Song For You - Leon alone at  the piano - A great reminder of his songwriting 
    talent - sounds very vulnerable
11 Medley - Jumping Jack Flash / Papa Was A rolling Stone / Paint it Black / Kansas City 
    Leon is known for his long medleys, and the crowd gives him a standing ovation after this one.
12 Encore - Roll Over Beethoven - Good way to end the set - back to Rock N Roll.

Bob Dylan

1 Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Dylan at organ - nice job!  Swingin his legs, into it.
2 It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Dylan is into it!  His body English rolls and struts in place.  
   Vocals are great!
3 Things Must Change - Version given a bit of a country twang.  Dylan is in great voice 
   tonight and he really is into enunciating.  Smiles after almost every line.
4 Tangled Up In Blue - Fantastic version of a song he often completely changes up.  
   Kind of a talking - blues style verses and then the band comes in for a subtle punch in 
   the chorus.  His first harmonica solo and he is great - really into it strong feeling and 
   great body English.
5 Beyond Here Lies Nothin'  - slinky blues - he's really into it
6 Sugar Babe -   Mellow and silky textures to the vocals - he is in great form!
7 Cold Chains Bound - I never was too much into this song, but he totally got me 
   with this one - really intense, singing like he means every line.
8 Simple Twist of Fate - Dylan plays lead guitar on this one - fantastic - he meshes in 
   with the band perfectly, and you can see him leading the group with his looks and 
   body English.  The band is fantastic - perfect tone for each song - wild and electric in 
   some places, warm and inviting in others.
9 Highway 61 Revisited - Great controlled energy - the band build up to each chorus 
   and the end literally explodes with the volume amped up.  Crowd gives first standing 
   ovation - they know we are having a special night.
10 Forgetful Heart - Band switches to violin and cello and guitars.  Powerful.  Dylan is 
    having a great night and so are we.
11 Thunder on the Mountain - I've previously thought this was kind of a throwaway, 
    but this version was "thunderous" - great galloping rock.  Dylan moves his legs at some 
    point - putting one up by the organ leg - he is into it!  Dylan plays an organ solo that is 
    fantastic - just like his harmonica solos but transposed to organ.  He is not just fingering 
    the keyboard tonight - his organ playing anchors the band and can be heard whenever 
    he's at the organ.  Great Job!
12 Ballad of a Thin Man - a definite highlight - Dylan just stands center stage and 
    sings - no guitar or organ.  Builds well - the sound and the band is right in the 
    pocket - knows all the moves.  Ends with a fantastic harmonica solo that melds with 
    the band and explodes in volume at the end.  Standing ovation and the band walks off.
13 Encore - Like A Rolling Stone - This is the one song that they mess up a bit on.  
    Dylan seems to miss one of the transitions and seems to throw it off a bit.  Still a good 
    time though.
14 All Along the Watchtower - Fantastic!  Revelatory!   The electric style version a-la 
    Jimi Hendrix, but Dylan takes the solos with harmonica and puts a much more controlled 
    sense of menace to the song.  Played a little slower than usual.  Wow - this is what it's 
    all about - A great song reinvented in a new way while keeping the spirit of the original, 
    played expertly.  Dylan is into it.
15 Second Encore - Yes - they stay for one more - Blowin in the Wind - What else can 
    you say about this one - everybody remains standing throughout the song.  Played with 
    the whole band - very nice.

One of the best Dylan shows I've seen.  The main thing is that he was in the best voice 
I've heard in about 30 years.  Also he was completely engaged with the songs - the 
phrasing was intense and well thought out - playful even.  His persona was great - his 
body was moving along with the songs, emphasizing some lyrics, etc.   His organ playing 
was a revelation - it was an integral part of the songs, not just punching chords.

[TOP]

Review by Glenda



I hope someone filmed New Orleans:  IT WAS JAZZ BOB IN JAZZ TOWN FOR  
THE JAZZIEST DYLAN CONCERT I EVER REMEMBER.

HE PLAYED HIS HARMONICA LIKE A JAZZ HORN, AT ONE POINT.  AT ANOTHER  
POINT THE BAND WAS JUST SHORT OF BREAKING OUT INTO PURE DIXIE LAND.    
THERE WAS SWING THAT ALMOST BECAME PURE JITTERBUG.   AND THERE WERE  
SAD SONGS-TORCH SONGS.  And then we had
"Mr Jones" in the middle of a burlesque strip joint.... someplace in  
that concert was a GREAT MOVIE!

AND THE CROWD LOVED EVERY MINUTE.  WHEN THEY GOT TO THE LINE IN BABY  
BLUE....."watch out, the Saints are coming through"...which ALWAYS   
is a comic turn in MY mind, almost Marx Brothers....THE AUDIENCE  
LOVED IT---THEY KNEW HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THEIR HOME TOWN.

I WISH HE HAD AUDIENCES LIKE THAT IN HOUSTON--INSTEAD OF "SHERIFFS  
WITH STARS"     (& BARS).

[TOP]

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