August 17, 2011
Review by Peter Stone Brown
Bob Dylan returned to the Mann Music Center for the first time in 14 years for
his third show at the venue in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, the largest city
park in the world. When Dylan played there in '97, he added a few songs to the
set list earlier in the tour he had rarely performed such as "One Of Us Must
Know" and "Seven Days," and one he had never performed, "Blind Willie McTell."
But for whatever reason, Philadelphia got none of those songs that night, though
he did to "Tears of Rage." I had to see "Blind Willie McTell," so four days
later I found myself driving to Wolf Trap where I finally saw it.
Foregoing the outrageous 15 bucks parking charge - my motto is real
Philadelphians do not pay to park, when you can park for three, we arrived at
the venue while Leon Russell was already in progress. Then the line to get a
drink was so outrageously long, we entered the theater just as he ended. No big
deal.
Dylan started with "Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat" in a version that was a bit
stronger than the one two days earlier in "Asbury Park," and followed it with a
pretty decent "Don't Think Twice."
Moving to center stage for "Things Have Changed," the energy didn't quite kick
in, though Dylan seemed to be having a lot of fun onstage. That changed with
"Tangled Up In Blue" which was sung and played full force with stellar harp,
though I wish he'd sing at least another verse. But again, standing at the mic,
harp in hand, he acted at the song and the phrasing and emphasis came into play
on, "She opened up a big of poems and read it aloud to me," and then on the
final verse with special attention to and a brief pause before "Some are
trucker's wives."
Bob stayed center stage for "Beyond Here Lies Nothin' " more than nailing his
guitar solo. Returning to the keyboard, "Mississippi" seemed a bit looser than
the version in Asbury Park and his vocal was incredibly strong. With a better
view of the stage, and the full band, I noticed they very subtly use the "Love
and Theft" intro and go back to it midway through the song, and they're seemed
to be a bit more emphasis on the rhythm. Or maybe it was just Dylan's vocal was
so on, that the arrangement mattered less.
An excellent "Desolation Row" came next that included most of the verses with
Dylan slightly playing around staccato singing near the end of the song, trying
for a line or two and returning to singing it a bit more straight. This was
followed by a fairly rocking "The Levee's Gonna Break" that was as much about
the groove as anything else.
Dylan returned to center stage for "Blind Willie McTell. Donnie Herron's banjo
was an important part of the arrangement which may be the best one for this song
yet, giving if the feel of a New Orleans street band. The closing harp solo was
exceptional with two false stops.
As usual "Highway 61" was all about the jam, with not bad organ from Dylan.
The high point of the night was a beautiful "Simple Twist of Fate," tenderly
sung and played. The tone on Dylan's guitar seemed a bit softer, more in
keeping with the feel of the song and he played two well thought out guitar
solos, the one at the end getting softer and softer as he brought the song to a
close.
"Thunder on the Mountain" rocked hard with Dylan singing every word loud and
clear saving special relish for the line, "Shame On Your Greed," shame on your
wicked schemes. "Ballad of a Thin Man" was equally good and again the best
vocal parts were on the bridge with the emphasis this time on "tax deductible
charity organizations."
People started leaving before the encore probably to beat the parking lot chaos.
But tonight "Like A Rolling Stone" was simply really good. He sang it as if he
remembered why he wrote it.
Dylan these days is as much about the music, the band and the interplay between
the musicians as it is about the songs and the lyrics. And this band at this
point in time is one of his best in terms of backing and also in terms of him
playing with them. They've mastered the dynamics of holding it back, bring it
down then turning it on at the right moment.
While tonight didn't have the hit you in the gut intensity of Asbury Park, it
was a solid satisfying show.
Review by Jason Blakeley
I know that you fellow Dylan die-hards have seen the setlist…..a group of
songs that even the most ‘seasonal’ Dylan fan would dream of seeing in
unison. It’s damn near perfection, almost a modern-day 'greatest hits',
if-you-will. In fact, there was a time when I questioned whether or not
I would continue to attend Dylan shows on a yearly basis, but after tonight,
after my 25th Bob Dylan concert, I no longer have to ponder this question;
from here on out, i'm in. In other words, I'm going to see Bob Dylan and
his band every single time that they come anywhere near my hometown,
for the rest of his performing life, so help me God.
Would you believe that after all of this time I finally saw Bob and the band
perform Blind Willie Mctell, the song that I've pined too see played live for
more than a decade. How was it? All I can say is that this is the type of
stuff that dreams are made of. For real. Magical, mystical, out of this
galaxy, dreamlike, dusty and damn beautiful is what it was. It was
downright dangerous. And so was Ballad of a Thin Man. Haunting.
Absolutely with-out-a-doubt bad to the mother""""""" bone. Not like
the studio version that I love so much...a different arrangement. Somehow,
someway, just as magical. One thing that I feel needs to be stated:
This band that Bobby plays with each night.......they're the real deal,
the cream of the crop, the mash potatoes AND the gravy. It's seems
impossible for Bob to be matched, but these fellas are literally the perfect
backing band for his show. Anybody who knows anything about music
would agree. They're perfect for their leader. And that's another thing,
that's right folks...I called him they're leader.
Believe me when I tell you that these fine musicians and men are very
much under the control of their higher ranking and commanding officer, Mr.
Robert Zimmerman, the Warlord of Words. He may not stand alone these days
playing songs with his acoustic guitar and stunning the audience, but there's
absolutely no question that he is in control of each and every movement that
this incredible 'force' brings forth. In fact, he IS the force. The force his
him. Mr. Soul himself. Amazing.
If you are reading this review, and if you've ever considered seeing Bob Dylan
in concert....then please do yourself a favor and pick up a ticket for his next
show in your area. Yes, his voice is better some nights than it is on others
(but aren't you, yourself, a better human being on some nights than others?,
aren't there days that you, yourself, knock them dead at what ever it is that
you do, and other days that you merely float-on through, and maybe even
drag a little a""?). Let me say this, I don't see Bob every night. I see him
every year or so, and I won't lie, there were nights over the past 15 years
that I considered the show I was attending to be my possible 'last' Dylan
show....but something always kept me coming...and in recent years, I
became more and more motivated to continue attending, in fact, I’m now
certain of it. Nowadays, I no longer ask this question....I know that I will go
to every show I can for the rest of Bob's life. He's more aggressive, more
possessed, more articulate than he was 10 years ago. The show, the tour,
the legend....is actually getting better.
He snarls, yes. He gnarls, yes. He's been labeled 'washed up', yes. Some
nights he sounds as if he may have swallowed a few nails before the show,
yes. But guess what, he's overcome the tough years, and he's come out
clear through on the other side, even stronger. He's persevered. He's
become a painter, a disc Jockey, and an actor in his later years. He stands
at center stage for part of the show and takes lead on guitar and harp in
those ‘all-too-perfect’ moments. He opens his heart up right there on stage
and the love comes pouring out. This is what he was born to do. He took
the bull by the horns in life. He left home and he became what we all wish
we could become. A man who follows his heart, a man who faces adversity
and pushes through, a man who believes in himself and in his purpose. A
man who knows what he has to do, and is doing it every day of his life, one
show at a time. A real life wonder. He's downright broken down and
busted....but he’s lived a legendary life, and he's earned that crooked
cockeyed snapshot growl of a voice. His dues have been paid, and he's out
there looking for you if you want to find him. These days, he's the leader
of the group. The commander of the ceremony. Doing what only a legend
does (playing 100+ shows a year for decades). He was better tonight than
he was when I saw him in 1996. Better than in 2004.
Tonight reminded me of why Bob Dylan is at the top of the heap.
John Lennon and Roger Waters look up to Bob Dylan for a reason. It’s not just
a coincidence that both of these legends look up to Dylan. He just happens to be
the real mother""""""" deal. The man of the hour. The supplier of soul. The
best there is and the best there ever was at what he does. The cream of the crop.
The mystical, enigmatic, Maniac of Expression.
So go see him. Go see him this year. Let this year be there year that you let him
in....believe me, your life will be better for having done it.
As Bob so appropriately concluded this evening in song, "There are many here
among us, who feel that life is but a joke. But you and I, we've been through
that, and this is not our fate, so let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
and it's true....The hour is getting late. I know that it's hard to believe, but given
the way our world works, the curtain will most certainly fall sometime in the next
40 years. Don't let this happen before you go see him in person. He's Bobby
Diggity Bad"ss D. The prophet, the painter, the poet, the pillar. He's out there
pouring his guts out. You want soul, then go see the Sultan. Trust me, he’s the
real deal. The Ace of Spades.
On a side note, thank you to Cute and Lisa for joining me on this adventure, I will
always remember this night. Peace and Love. And thanks....to Bob and the Band.
A truly mystical night.
Review by Stephen Trageser
Since the other reviews provide such richdetail, I will note only a few observations
in this review. From my perspective, (orchestra center, behind and slightly to the
right of the sound board) the first three songs (Pill Box Hat/Don't Think Twice/Things
Have Changed) sounded more than a little wonky. Both my friend and I mistook the
opening of Pill Box Hat to be Rainy Day Women (and we've been listening to these
songs for nearly 40 years.) No need to panic or despair, but a good time to heed the
call of nature, and grab a beer. The performance began improving with Tangled Up,
then more so with Bob on guitar for Beyond Here Lies Nothing. Mississippi was okay,
but I was more happy to experience the recitation of Desolation Row that followed.
To me this song is simply beat (except it doesn't suck)poetry set to music, and while
the voice sounds different, the arrangement was appropriately delicate and in keeping
with the original studio recording. After Desolation's flex of the mind, Levee' Gonna
Break got the 'olfeet moving, which for an overweight- middle-age- white-boylike
myself adds up to a complete workout. Blind Willie McTell was next, and it was a
completely sweet arrangementthat was as moving and enjoyable as the original, (or
nearly so, anyway.) The version of Highway '61 was not quite as rocking as in previous
years, and, as with most of the other up-tempo songs tonight, it featured a more
balanced mix of guitars and keyboard; whatever, it worked. Simple Twist followed,
with a gritty arrangement and really cool Bob guitar playing. The rest of the show,
from close of main set Thunder then Thin Man, plus Rolling Stone and Watchtower
was simply crowd- pleasing- how-could- you-have- a- pulse-and-not- like- it rock. I'll
remember this one especially for the way Bob showcased his full range of musical skills
with mouth harp, guitar, keyboard, and vocal s while collaborating withhis highly
talented band.Appropriatelyenough, his performances arenot billed as simply
Bob Dylan but as Bob Dylan and His Band.
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