Reviews

Denver, Colorado

March 16, 2000

Fillmore Auditorium


[Brandon Zwagerman], [Bob Clasen], [Buteogalus@aol.com], [Magnolia]

Review by Brandon Zwagerman



    Wow. This was the first Dylan concert I have been to in such a small
    venue, and the best of the three I have seen, I think.
    Asleep at the Wheel were excellent as an opening act-- memorable songs
    included "Route 66", "Cotton-Eye Joe", a comical "Hot Rod Lincoln",
    and a beautiful "Red River Valley". The crowd really seemed to enjoy
    them and were generous with applause, unlike the rather cold reception
    the Brian Setzer Orchestra got at last year's show in Grand Rapids.
    After about a half-hour, the crowd welcomed "Columbia Recording Artist
    Bob Dylan"-- he walked out in a black suit with white piping,
    black-and-white boots, and a Colonel Sanders tie. Tony Garnier was
    clothed in purple with a black hat, Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell
    were in grey, and David Kemper had a white cowboy hat. Bob and the
    band kicked it off acoustically with "Roving Gambler", followed by
    "Mr. Tambourine Man". Next came one I really wanted to hear live
    sometime-- "Desolation Row". Wow. This was followed by "This World
    Can't Stand Long", and "Tangled Up in Blue", which, as always, was a
    rollicking crowd-pleaser. Another real treat, at least for me, came
    next: a brooding, prophetic "Gates of Eden". Dylan really seemed to be
    having fun and smiled a bit next during "Country Pie". Such a loose,
    fun-loving song seemed odd wedged where it was, between "Gates of
    Eden" and a masterful "Blind Willie McTell". The latter was amazing...
    it brought to some dark delta place from previous times. During
    "Watching the River Flow", Dylan changed the line "I saw someone that
    was really shook" to "I saw somebody whose goose was really cooked".
    Next was a really upbeat "Stuck Inside of Mobile...", another
    Nashville treat "Tell Me That It Isn't True", and a house-burning
    "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat". The band left for a few minutes, then
    walked out for the encore. Somewhere in here he introduced the band,
    and made a joke something like "that's David Kemper on drums, who is
    the only drummer in the world who doesn't lie unless he's in bed." He
    also called Asleep at the Wheel one of the best, and most genuine
    groups he has toured with. Ray from Asleep at the Wheel was out for
    the whole encore on guitar... that makes a total of 4, which really
    kicked in on "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Not Fade Away". "Love Sick"
    was darkly beautiful as always, and "Blowin' in the Wind" seemed
    almost strange but still relevant being played in year-2000 Denver,
    and "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35" got the crowd to join in both herbally
    and vocally as always, but the one I didn't expect at all was "Forever
    Young". I believe it is the first time on this tour he played it-- it
    was really touching, and the extended harmonica solo was excellent.
    After the 18th song when the band walked off and Tony tossed his hat
    to the crowd, I knew they weren't coming back, but kept clapping
    anyway in the darkness... Bob and the band ended their tour of the
    West in fine form, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

-Brandon Zwagerman

[TOP]

Review by Bob Clasen



Dylan ended his swing through the Western states on an awesome note in
Denver.  The electric songs were much more "in your face" guitar-wise than
on last year's tour with Paul Simon.  "Country Pie" was just amazing.  Ray
from Asleep at the Wheel played on most of the encores, and the
four-guitar lineup was incredible.  "Not Fade Away" especially benefited
from the extra guitar.

I'm impressed with the way Charlie Sexton has found a place in the band. 
I saw him at the Fillmore last June (his first show with the band), and he
seemed very lost onstage.  He is now very well integrated with the band,
taking some great solos and really cranking up the energy on the electric
songs.  I also like how Bob, Larry, and Charlie are sharing the solos. 
Last year, it seemed like Bob took almost every solo.

My favorite songs of the night were "Blind Willie McTell" and "Gates of
Eden," and the crowd's favorites were the usual "Like a Rolling Stone" and
"Rainy Day Women #12&35."  I agree with Chad's review of the Omaha show
regarding RDW#12&35.  I'm not a big fan of that song at all, and was
actually very happy when it disappeared from the setlists for a while, but
I was really getting into it last night.

Get ready, Europe!  There's a hurricane headed your way.

Keep on keepin' on,
Bob

[TOP]

Review by Buteogalus@aol.com



The great thing about Dylan concerts is they're all so different from each
other.  The first one I saw was the last performance of the Rolling
Thunder review in, I believe, 1976.  Very mellow for the audience,
although it seemed like there might be weirdness on stage.  Anyway lot's
to see.    

Tnen McNichols, with Dylan wearing sequin lightening bolts, I think was
next. 
 Kind of show biz, but also very mellow. He even danced a little.  

Next the Slow Train tour at the Rainbow Music Hall.  Speaking of
weirdness.  Not Dylan and his people, but the born again crowd, speaking
in tongues and shouting "Save me, Bob", while he kept trying to tell them
it wasn't him who could do that it was God, or Christ, but not him.  Poor
guy.  But the music was good, he was sincere, maybe they were too, but
what did they want? 

Next I saw him at Red Rocks, with Tom Petty.  Terrific music, and of
course RR is always beautiful and peaceful. 

Finally, I saw him at Fiddler's Green with the GE Smith band.  Again,
great music, and Dylan seemed to have fun while we all sang the choruses
of "Like a Rolling Stone" for him.  In every case the atmosphere and the
music was its own thing, tied to its own time.

Missed the Santana tour, but I heard it was good.  Oddly, I saw him at the
airport the next day.  Small world.

So, now the Fillmore concert last night.  It was amazing and fabulous and
wonderful, etc.  The band was tight, and Dylan seemed very much more a
part of this band than any other time I've seen him.  They cooked from the
moment they walked out.  We were already to go, thanks to the hot opener
from Asleep at the Wheel.  Loved "Red River Valley".  Anyway, I danced
more at that show than any Dylan show I've ever attended.  It's not
usually a big feature of the evening. Which is strange, because there was
actually no room to dance at all.  Plus normally I hate being packed in
like a sardine, especially since I'm 5'2", but there I was, having a
wonderful time, anyway.  The thing is, I didn't expect people would pack
in so close.  I don't recall them ever doing that at one of Dylan's shows
before, but maybe it was the lack of seat thing, or the rock star
atmosphere.  I don't ever remember that particular flavor before, either,
although I understand it was that way when he toured with the Band.  Well,
it was pretty wild there on the floor.  Finally, I bailed at encore time,
heat, thirst and crooked neck having finally won.  

So what was my best moment?  During the encore, when they played "Like a
Rolling Stone" which is a personally significant song for me, while I
sipped a nice cool white wine, then right into "Forever Young".  It was an
oasis of mellowness in a hard driving kind of concert.  I'm not
complaining about the excitment of the rest of the show, but it was that
old feeling, for a moment, that I remember from his other shows, peaceful
and warm.   

Dylan looked like he was kind of exhausted by the end, and no wonder,
considering the schedule they've been running.   So, I hope he gets a good
rest before Europe.  It's so great that he is writing and touring again. 
I've been listening to his music for so long, its like letters from home. 

[TOP]

Review by Magnolia



Knowing Bob the way I do, it was easy to see that the boy was tired.  I
really just tried hard to give him some of my juice, cuz I know he needed
it.  The attention and time he gave to everyone there that night was
stunning.  He gives his life and strength to a bunch of strangers every
time he performs, and it always leaves me feeling overwhelmingly grateful,
but a little greedy.  Always mind-blown.  He's sad, but accepting that
This World Can't Stand Long. Love Sick was as good as I've heard it.  Even
a spaced out, dropped version of Blowin' was  awesome, just cuz it's his
child.  Pill Box Hat got my "'favorite of the evening' award.  I had a
couple of songs on my wish list that did't come through, but it doesn't
even matter. Bob has taught me that something you do over and over again
can only get old if you're not having fun. He seems to mostly have fun,
like he's made that choice. Like love.  I get a great voeuristic buzz
watching through the eyes 'newies', the people who are getting their Bob
cherry popped for the first time. The deer-in-headlights thing is always
there, like they're seein' Moses fresh off the mountain and the glow is
too much to grasp. I found it very interesting and revealing that he told
us that Ray and the rest of AATW are the "most genuine" band he's ever
toured with. Fairly potent statement, considering past company. Till we
meet again on the avenuuuu

Magnolia

[TOP]


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