Review by Emily Ferguson
We were running through the doors of the stadium in Seoul as we heard
the band opening with Rainy Day Women: Epic. I spent the entirety of
the song dancing in the aisle, not wanting to interrupt the moment for
anyone, particularly me.
The band rocked. Bob was working the crowd from the end of his
keyboard, and I tried my best to sing along. I couldn’t stop smiling
during “I’ll be your baby tonight”. Bob and I may have shared a moment
singing together, or at least we did in my stadium. I loved every second,
apart from the moment I was told to shut up by a nearby spectator.
Startling, yes, but the majority of the crowd seemed to agree with him
for the first half of the show. The stadium was surprisingly quiet for a
larger venue. People seemed less inclined to partake, more to watch,
attentively and silently.
Not wanting to lesson anyone else’s experience, I kept my singing voice
checked at the same rock-show-appropriate volume it had been at since
the beginning of the show.
In some way, I understand our quiet but not speechless friend. This show
was exceptional in Korea. The scene here doesn’t tend to attract the
international artists that frequent Japan, but that’s also why Dylan’s show
was so amazing for me. They rocked=I rocked.
Highlights:
Just Like a Woman: guitar and harp. yes.
Desolation Row was amazing. My head was swirling back and forth between
trying to figure out where Bob was in the lyrics and rocking along with the
band.
By the time Highway 61 came along I was riding high along with everyone
else in the crowd. It was impossible not to be moving during that song.
Climax of the set.
Thunder on the Mountain: Pretty sure I was head bobbin’ out of necessity.
Ballad of a Thin Man: especially appropriate ending to an epic set.
In between the end of the set and the first encore, the entire house got
on its feet. Everyone wanted more. As for shutting up, I’m not sure what
happened to our dear Mr. Jones, but I hope he allowed himself a lyric or two.
A chorus was definitely heard during “Like a Rolling Stone”. The second
encore was a surprise. Somehow the stadium felt more intimate. Everyone
was up and singing at the same time. Everyone, except for Bob.
Awesome.
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