July 2, 2011
Review by Anders Tidström
Mostly forgotten small town of Borlänge is already on the map this year as
the place where the world famous opera tenor Jussi Björling was born - a
hundred years ago. Joan Baez put a flower on Jussi´s grave here the other
year. He´s in fact been her favorite since childhood. But it seemed like Bob
had nothing of that in mind when in town. Or was opening act Rainy Day Women
("everybody most get stoned") dedicated to Jussi? Last concert on the
European leg of Bob´s current tour.
Thanks to Carsten Molt, Pittsburgh, USA, my two hours by car to the concert
was the most suitable starter. An old boot leg from the 1966 Stockholm
concert followed uphill and downhill through the Swedish wilderness. A shadow
from Bob´s debut in Sweden and my first step into journalism, reporting for
my hometown newspaper. Bob was 24 and I was still a teenager. He´s always
been a young old guy. When listening to yesterday´s Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
it´s true humor, swingin´ rock ´n roll and very well sounding. The spirit of
Bob.
Borlänge? No, festivals are not "my cup of tea"! I could have a party another
day in another place with other fellows. Add it´s proudly entitled Peace &
Love - a little too much of everything. Nevertheless I headed for Bob at this
spot for once. Soon it appeared that when Jussi had to listen from six feet
under I was lucky to capture my claim fifteen yards front stage. Promising.
Well, an hour before entrance the crowd of 50 000 kids finally was mixed up
with all kind of Bob-fans. All shapes, all ages, all looks. A two hundred
years old guy predicted Bob´s opening with Rainy Day Women just a few minutes
in advance of fact. There were of course hopeful jugglers and clowns around.
A real riverboat captain expected rain. Absolutely sweet Marie waved her hand
to a sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands in sight. The funniest thing was a bunch
of gay football players, happily here on the command of a jealous monk. Tell
me who wasn´t there. Rumors said Mona-Lisa didn´t smile tonight as she had
had no highway blues recently. But another rumor mentioned Swedish ex prime
minister Mona shamelessly entwined with Tom Thumb throughout the show. Story
teller: Mr Jones. Thus nice crowd for a show - maybe. A newcomer had to
rearrange several faces and give them all another name. The only sure thing
was Bob Dylan on stage.
Though Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat never showed up the set list was loaded with
other good stuff and Bob enjoyed the show from the very beginning. Smiling
now and then and also taking several dance steps center stage. One and a half
hour, fifteen songs and a constantly good response from the audience. An
even and good show and Bob almost succeed in taking the festival out in space
(not only on the tenth song:Tryin´to get to Heaven). A show where Dylan was a
little more dominating instrumentally than usual . or was the band unusually
laid off? He was stuck to the keyboard less than half of the time. Bob in
focus center stage singing, along with his guitar and harp. Several inspired
harp solos (especially Things have changed as the third song and Blowin´ in
the Wind as a passionate final good bye).
There were some highlights in the first part of the show: a sensitive Simple
Twist of Fate, a thoughtful Beyond here lies Nothing, a pounding Thunder on
the Mountain, a mystified (echo effected!) Ballad of a Thin Man. The encore
was a true crowd pleasers: a bumpy Like a Rolling Stone, a true rocking All
Along the Watchtower (thanks once more George Recile for your swirling drum
exercise) and finally Blowin´ in the Wind free from sticky nostalgia.
When I on my way home passed midnight a line from Dylan´s New Morning (1970)
sneaked into my mind: "so happy just to see you smile, underneath the sky of
blue"!
The steel plant of Borlänge continuous to produce the hard stuff, Jussi
Björling is parked on the graveyard and 70 years young Bobby Dylan is back in
the land of Coca Cola. Things have normalized. Thanks for the Saturday night
show!
Anders Tidström
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