As the 99-degree heat fades to high-80s, with a breeze, you can't beat a
rouser like Highway 61 for an outdoor concert.

But the opening line of Dylan's classic Highway 61 is now a puzzling

"Abe said man, you must be puttin' me on"

See, the audience joins the song in progress as it emerges from the
fanfare music intro and the dusky dark greyness of the virtually unlit
stage.

From my deluxe rental lawn chair at center rear, I appreciated that Dylan
wore a light-colored shirt because that's about as much detail as was
revealed. After a few songs, some kind of techno-enhancement seemed to
manufacture light for the big TV screen images that wasn't detectable on
the real stage.

But still Dylan's face was barely distinguishable.

Bob was in very fine form, singing with nuance and bite, and for me,
having seen four Rough and Rowdy shows, it was so engaging and fun to
adventure through this new setlist. Especially since it included several
songs really special to me - 

Like Shooting Star. "It's the last temptation/ the last account/ last
time you might hear/ the Sermon on the Mount/Last radio playin'"" Sung
with presence and a light touch, fragile, intimate.

Love Sick. Rawness of the song came through strong with the electric
guitars cranked. Showcased Jim Keltner's drumming.

We left Dylan's musings to veer into Chuck Berry rock'n'roll with
Little Queenie, sounding so natural and up to date.

On Mr. Blue, couldn't help filling in the big inviting space for a vocal
Wa Ooh Wa Ooh.

Can't Wait. This one really worked with a transformed vocal - not so
much a melody as a lament, with the original swagger excised.

Under The Red Sky. How does he invent so many kinds of songs? Songs that
stay fresh for decades even when they've never made any sense? (Had to
wonder how parents and little kids nearby were hearing the lines clearly
repeated, "one day the little boy and the little girl were baked in a
pie.")

Things Have Changed. He's retooled this amazing piece of work - but
for me it dragged a bit.

Stella Blue. The heart of the show. Postmodern psychedelic form/emptiness
that would surely have made Garcia proud. What a melody, what beautiful
playing. I've heard Dylan's cover several times from last summer's
tour, but this night I thought the band took it all the way home, boring
deep down into the riff following "dust off those rusty strings just one
more time." Sublime.

Then whiplash, straight into country music with Six Days on the Road. And a
perfectly timed standalone joke: "Six days on the road? Only six?"

Soon After Midnight - some kind of mood music I guess.

Then back to postmodern times with a scorching Thin Man that had me
hearing the lines about going to see the geek in a new way after so many
listenings. He poured his soul into this vocal. None of that distracted-ness
that infected some recent shows.

And the first shall be last: After hearing him open with it a time or two,
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight does make a good closer, especially when the
Willie Nelson show is coming right up.

Beautiful, well-organized venue where you walk fifteen purifying minutes
from your car, climb a steep levee-like embankment, and enter a bowl full
of humanity. Amphitheatre setup really makes for clear outdoor sound. (but
please dump every ad and the garish static screens between sets).

Excellent show!

Richard Genz