Yes, another very different experience. Sitting a bit too far back, I let
myself from time to time distract too much by the constant moving in the
audience. People coming late until 30 min after the show started. Security
constantly wandering around, showing people their seats, chatting. People
out in out in - to buy their obviously necessary beer during songs and,
yes, popcorn… well off with this negativity.  When finding my path to
the performance itself, the long musical intros were played in many songs.
Watching The River Flow and also Most Likely set here the mark with others
to follow, making for a a bit longer show, too, I’d guess. Very
improvised, very beautiful.Every Grain really had no harp unfortunately
and also a lyric flub right at the beginning. But reflecting what is
happening in from of me, I am so happy, that these concerts do take place,
tonight again filled with so many beautiful moments of creativity, nice
song versions, Bob singing alone with his piano play for a few lines with
the Band in (near?) silence. No „Thank you friends…“ tonight or any
other jokes like in the last shows, but two lines still banging in my
head: „How much longer can it last? How long can it go on?“ sung with
so much intensity, reflection, wisdom and, hm, sadness. So again, thank
you, Mr. Dylan and I‘m looking forward to see you tomorrow on tour.

From Magdebourg to Berlin.Easy travel with FLIXBUS, two hours and a
half!In Berlin bus station I catch a U12 and 20 minutes walk to my
couchsurfing host.The streets are animated!Petra is waiting for me. I have
a private bedroom and a large bed :)BERLIN.October 5th.Wake up with no
hurry and the sun shining.I find myself a good book among the hundreds in
the house; "Black boy" by Richard Wright.I read half of it before stepping
out to buy myself some food at NETTO.By 3pm I decide to walk all the way
to the Verti music hall. Some more than one hour.The streets are not so
clean but full of life: Many little cafés and ethnic restaurants.As soon
as I cross the bridge I recognize the WALL and I know I've been here
before. Last time in Berlin Bob played at the Mercedes Benz hall, next to
the Verti :)I sit on the stairs facing the river and...watch the river
flow, taking the last rays of the sun. By 5.30 pm I walk around the
block. The buses are parked on the street. Erik is guarding the door :)The
Verti musical hall will open only at 6.30 pm.I need a ticket so I put my
sign out.Some scalpers are buying and selling and at least four other fans
are looking for Tix :(Plus the venue is small , maybe 3000.I trust my
"good star" and I am right.At 7.15pm a man comes straight to me and asks
how many tickets I need. "Just one.". " I have one and it's for
free".Woah! I ask why free. He says he just lost a good friend and he
wants to make someone happy so he was looking for a real Fan. "I am a
real fan!".By 7.30 pm I take my seat. Good view of the stage and I chat
with my Good Samaritan and his friends. They belong to a radio station and
they know me through Expecting Rain. ???The ticket was a "comp":
complementary.The venue is small and full. The people seem to be in
good spirit. More talkative than the Scandinavians.Bob starts on time...at
the piano.But right away the public is up and enthusiastic!The sound is
really good. The drums are loud and I see Bob mentioning with his right
hand to "take it down???".There is a long piano solo at the start of
"Watching the river flow" and "Most likely".In general Bob will add some
piano in between the verses of the songs. Maybe to give him a chance to
sit ??? As he will be seated for all his solos.He moves center for "I
contain multitudes" and "Black rider".He looks better than in
Magdebourg.The public stands when he is center. And Bob can
see. After "To be alone with you" the public reacts nicely and Bob
decides to move again center stage for a longer pose without his jacket.I
see he is wearing the green/blue shirt. Nice one :)Everything is perfect
until "Mother of Muses".Then I feel his voice is less clear and he sits a
lot for more piano."Jimmy Reed" is not as good as it used to be. Too
much piano :(For "Every grain of sand" the public is up. Even some Fans
move in the aisle. But none will reach the stage.No harp on EGOS but a
long solo on piano.This is the best sound since Oslo.A more intimate venue
and a good audience.Nice people in Berlin.So Bob should be happy I
believe he was.There are two more shows here, in Berlin.Take  a
chance!See you tomorrow. And...after tomorrow.Thanks for the shirt Bobby

So, here we are in Berlin to see old Bob again. He might look old when he
walks but he sure plays the piano most brilliantly! It was a nice first
show in Berlin tonight and the Verti arena was a good one for Bob with a
nice gentle crowd (but too much people walking in and out though and that
irritated me a bit). Songs that stood out for me tonight were a bluesy
Crossing the Rubicon, a magnificent My own version of you + two great
I’ll be your baby tonight/To be alone with you. Gotta serve Somebody is
always good and I wish more songs could sound like that one. It’s very
low key and he holds his band back to let his words come in the first room
on this tour. But Why not play any harmonica, Bob? I miss your horn! 

Michael Bällstav