Reviews

I have seen two concerts of this tour, in Milano and in Cagliari. Well, it
is rather difficult to say which one was the best. In Milano, Dylan played
(wonderfully) a couple of songs from TOOM (Not Dark Yet and Cold Iron
Bound). The Cagliari show was entirely based on the old material. Only
songs from the sixties, with just a single exception, Tangled Up In Blue.
So, we missed songs like Love Sick, but we had the chance to hear Mama You
Been On My Mind, This Wheel's On Fire and Drifter's Escape (in a very
energetic version). Since 1984 (first Dylan's italian tour, with Carlos
Santana) I have seen Dylan on stage six times, but I had never heard these
songs, and it was a real pleasure. I'm not a musician, so I can't really
judge the band's performance: I can only say it sounded pretty good, and
Dylan was undoubtedly in great shape. The only thing I didn't like was the
slow version of Like a Rolling Stone, delivered in an uninspired way. The
grand finale consisted of Rainy Day Wom! en and Blowing in the Wind, that
sent people on cloud nine. As usual, no greetings, not a single word
uttered between the songs, not even a "thank you, goodnight".  But it has
been wonderful anyway. 

Just got back from lovely Sardegna and memories of an amazing show (and
not only that) still are with me and will remain with me forever. The set
list was not so adventurous, but the performance was very good You might
think Bob knew it that people there have not had in the past any chance to
see him live, so probably his choice of greatest hits from the '60 was due
to this acknowledgment...who knows It was the most enthusiastic crowd I
have ever witnessed at a Bob show in recent years. And one of the
youngest, at least in Europe. 9000 people were on the docks in a warm
starring night by the sea 1000/2000 I think on the bleechers with reserved
tickets, mostly vip of the Island The others standing tight on the
pavement. People sang along with Bob (?) Just like a woman, Like a rolling
stone and Blowin in the wind The stage was close by a Nato navy base, and
two war ships were on the side of the stage so that you could see them
from the venue, with actually navy people seated on the upper deck looking
a the show and clapping all night.
 "Master of war" was indeed very appropriate.
I think Bob was very impressed by the crowd, expecially, I guess, because
on the front rows there were mostly teen agers or people in their
twenties. Add the fact maybe that was the last show of the tour and he was
so happy, so you get a very unusual thing just after the show You have to
consider that the stage was put in the middle of the dock space, and to
exit from backstage he had to go through a big open space that from the
docks goes to the main road in the city. The very same way all the people
had to walk to exit the venue. So when the first hundreds from the crowd
were actually exiting the venue, they decided to stop at the backstage
exit, that was very bright lighted. I stopped by too. A Mercedes was just
out of the exit, and a Mini Van was behind it inside the backstage area.
Police cars and other vans has just left, so nobody knew if Bob was still
inside. All of sudden you could see Bob walking to the van and trying to
go in. Then he decided to get out, then again he got in and eventually
maked his final decision to get out and began to walk....outside the
backstage area  and TOWARD the crowd that in two lanes was expecting him
to pass through with the Mercedes. But he did not go to the Mercedes,
where was Garnier back seated, he instead kept on walking toward the crowd
in the spot light. After that I remember a moltitude of people, arms,
heads shakings, trying to stand in front of him holding everything they
got with them where to make him sign an autograph. Securities at the
beginning got crazy, but after a while things got relaxed, Bob was very
calm and he alone, just his presence signing autographs, make to stop all
the pushing (with some help from his bodyguards, actually) The real weird
thing was that suddenly a small photocamera materialized on his hands, and
with his arms up the head, he started taking photos of the crowd and the
people in front of him! With a flash!! Then he went to the other group of
people who were standing 10 meters behind him on the other side, and
continued to sign autographs I really never witnessed a thing like that
after a show, with so many people around him and him taking photographs.
After some minutes, maybe ten, was time to go, so he finally headed toward
the MInivan and got in. But on his way out he appeared on the windows
sending kisses with his hand to the people...!

Was very nice to see him happy and so relaxed to be confindent to stay in
the middle of a crowd of foreign people. I think was a nice way to say
thank you to the Cagliari audience that waited so long to get to see him.
Grazie mille Mr Dylan