Reviews
Berlin, Germany
Verti Music Hall

October 6, 2022

[Laurette Maillet], [Werner Kehl], [Michael Brenner], [Bernhard Roth]

Review by Laurette Maillet

,

Berlin II. October 6th.I wake up early but stay in bed reading my book and
starting the couchsurfing requests for the UK tour leg.I will meet with a
friend in the afternoon for a cup of coffee.Then meet with Marie for a cup
of tea.By 6 pm fans start pilling in front of the Verti.We are few looking
for tickets.But I manage to get in. All the way up on the balcony. The
view on the stage is clear :)Bob starts right on time. Straight at the
piano.No long piano solo : He's right into the lyrics."When I paint my
masterpiece" is a must.I dance into my seat as I am on the aisle.I
am  oblivious of the crowd tonight."Black rider" starts strong when
suddenly Bob stops (so the Band). He mentions someone "filming" or "taking
photos". "We won't play...".Oh no! Again!I don't see anyone with camera
but a fan with binoculars. Could that be the problem?But after the show
fans told me there was someone taking photos with a flash! Shame on you!
Particularly that those photos are personal, not even shared. So stop
being selfish and disturbing the show!And security should be more vigilant
:(Bob start again "Black rider" but the magic is gone :(Nonetheless He
will move center after the song. And three times more. By "Key west" he is
jacket free. His shirt is tonight the red/burgundy one.He will say "thank
you" maybe 5 times , including "thank you Art lovers" after "Masterpiece".
And mumble few more words I don't catch.The presentation of the Band is
simple though he mentions now Donnie Heron on steel guitar....and
violin.That was a good show. With again an excellent sound. Somebody told
me about the echo on "Black rider". I believe it's on purpose.A Fan tried
to reach Bob after the show, to deliver him a bunch of flowers.He left in
a black car with tinted windows straight from inside  the garage.I
sale a couple of my paintings but I'm not as successful as in the States.
Thank you good Samaritans :)Good night Bobby. See you tomorrow

[TOP]

Review by Werner Kehl

,

Things have changed dramatically in our world since Bob Dylan last performed 
in Berlin in 2019, unfortunately not for the better in so many ways...
 
What definetly is much more positive is the change in venue; three and a half 
years ago he played the enormo-drome next door and it seems like my 
desperate plea in my last review from that show had been heard that he ought 
to play in a place more suitable to his and our becomings.
 
Verti Music Hall (at least to me) is somewhat reminiscient to Mitsubishi Electric 
Hall in Düsseldorf (great shows by Bob & Band in both in 2015 and 2017): a 
relatively small and very modern arena that is tailor-made for performances that 
aim for an optimum in sound.  I think I can safely assume that the musicians & 
technicians involved in the Rough & Rowdy Ways Tour have been absolutely 
thrilled with their workspace in this state-of-the-art auditorium.  Of course the 
same applies for the concert-goer, he or she is part of that equation too.
 
A couple of people I know attended wednesdays show, other friends are 
going tonite (friday).  I decided that the night in-between worked best for 
me.  Without a ticket in hand I headed to MB Platz and much to my surpise 
saw that they were still selling tickets at the box-office.  They did´t have 
that many tickets left but they did have a few in section 201 which is where 
I was hoping to be as I knew it was going to enable me a very decent 
position from where I could see Bob very well (by the way, yes t´was me 
with the binoculars as a few have pointed out in their reviews).
 
The show started a couple minutes past 8 p.m. and to be honest I found 
the first half-hour to be quite dull (the second song I found especiall tedious, 
i.m.h.o. it´s a clunker and Bob should toss it and replace with whatever!).  
And then it happened:  he started Black Rider and after a few seconds he 
stopped, explaining that someone was filming and taking photos and that they 
weren´t  gonna go on until the person stopped.  Everyone in the auditorium 
held their breath, you could hear a pin drop.  Bob re-started the song and 
after a few seconds again stopped, re-iterating what he said before adding: 
"KICK THIS GUY OUT OF HERE".  He then went on and played Black Rider like 
it was aimed at that guy, absolutely knocking it out of the park!  That was 
the moment that the momentum of this gig changed completely, it was the 
spark that was needed to change this - until then - lackluster show around. 
After the song ended, Bob got up from his piano and went to the center of 
the stage to take his usual stance, this time with this look in his eyes as if to 
say `Don´t you dare!´, pretty much everyone in the house got up and gave 
him a rousing round of applause!!
 
And from here on, the show progressed magnificiently.  The songs from the 
last album were played in an absolute stellar way and the new arrangements 
from the older songs were great too, whether it was Baby Tonite or To Be 
Alone With You which immediately reminded me of the sublime way Maria 
Muldaur recorded it a few years back.  And then at last we even got some 
harmonica playing on Every Grain Of Sand, kinda like the icing on the cake...
 
So all in all a hugely enjoyable evening and something to deeply cherish in 
these awfully troubling times!

[TOP]

Review by Michael Brenner

,

So this was Bob Dylan 2022, maybe my 60th or 70th show. I was thrilled as
was my younger companion for whom it was the first Bob Dylan concert. The
sold out show had a great atmosphere and an enthusiastic and obviously
knowledgeable audience. No one ran out after two or three songs because
Bob Dylan wasn't playing Mr.Tambourine Man in the 1972 version. Outside
the hall, a young couple sang inspiring songs by Bob Dylan from the 1960s
and 1970s for a long time before and after the show, plus Woody Guthrie I
will post a video of this on YouTube tonight. It was a great evening.

We did have one problem with the blue spotlights shining into the audience
from the direction of the stage. They blinded us  and some audience
members around us unpleasantly. 

The touching and intense highlight of the show for me was the gunshot part
of Every Grain of Sand, when Bob played harmonica for the first time that
evening. After that, it was closing time. A brilliant dramatization.

After the show, I exchanged some friendly words with Laurette, who writes
most of the reviews here on the forum and who visited me via couchsurfing
a few years ago when Bob Dylan was performing in Hamburg.  

[TOP]

Review by Bernhard Roth

,

More than three years without a Bob show since 2019 in Stuttgart. The 
pandemic is to blame.
So I was happy to learn that he again finds a way to Germany. Although the 
cities on the tour list are pretty far away from my home I didn't hesitate to 
plan to visit one or two. Especially because I'm more flexible to travel due to 
my recent retirement. Yes, I morphed into an old guy since my first Dylan 
show more than 44 years ago.
Anyway I booked an apartment in Berlin for eight nights and bought tickets
for two shows. With the intention to do some sightseeing before, between 
and after them.
I was pleased to see that the venue really is well suited for musical 
performances, in contrast to sport locations. The sound was great. I have 
to admit that I'm not yet too familiar with the new songs and therefore 
had my difficulties to recognize some of them and to make a judgement. 
Nevertheless, my favourite of this group was Key West. And from the old 
songs I liked Masterpiece the most, although the new arrangement caught 
me by surprise.
And Bob? Most of the time only his head was visible. He showed up several 
times center stage and the first time I saw him stumble there I was 
shocked! So fragile! I'm really wondering whether we will see him again in 
the following years.

Anyway, if he manages to continue touring in Germany I'll be there.
 
Bernhard Roth

[TOP]

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