Reviews

Jackson, Wyoming
Snow King
July 15, 2003


[Bob Nilmeier] [Steven King]

Review by Bob Nilmeier



Jackson, July 15, 2003, It was quite a day.  I arrived early to watch
Kathleen Edwards' sound check.  This Rounder recording artist sounded
great.  Bob, then came out with the band.  They were on the stage for
about 90 minutes of rehearsal and contemplation while a little league
baseball team played in the field behind them. Bob was dressed in Levis, a
"bowling-type" shirt and cowboy hat.  The session was more of a practice
than sound check.  Dylan didn't sing at all.  He took turns standing front
of each musician leading them as they played.  He spend the most time with
Freddie Koella.  Dylan was very animated marking time for Freddie by
moving both arms to accent the beat.  After the long practice, Bob moved
to the side of the stage to sit on an amplifier and look up on the ski run
that would be filled with fans that night.  He spent minutes in quiet
contemplation.  The whole group then left the stage. I moved to stake out
a spot near the stage as fans started to enter the amphitheater.  Snow
King is a beautiful venue.  Seating is on the side of the ski run with a
beer garden separating those close to the stage from those fans who fill
the side of the mountain.  As thousands of people began spreading out
blankets, I thought how this must have   been the way it looked at Newport
back in '63, '64 and '65. Kathleen Edwards took the stage while thousands
were still in line waiting to enter.   Most in the audience did not seem
aware of her work , but they warmed up to her "Lucinda William's Sound" by
the end of the set. As the sun set  and the sounds of Copeland filled the
valley, word spread that Roger Daltrey and other current members of Who
were backstage.  Roger was drinking a cup of tea.  I didn't see them, but
knowing they were there added to the excitement.   The volume of the
Copeland music rose as Bob and the Band took the stage.  Dylan was dressed
on his black rhinestone suit with red tie and moved (shuffled) directly to
the piano where he stayed  the whole evening (except for a couple of
shuffles around the stage) .  After a slow start on the first two songs. 
Bob and the boys played some fine "kick-butt" rock.  There was more
acoustic stuff when I saw him in  2000, but this was more like hearing the
Dylan of "65 and '66.  The rock was there, the nostalgia wasn't"  Towards
the end of the set, the audience was in the palm of his hand.  Dylan
seemed almost giddy.  He told jokes.  "Larry bought a pig lately.  I asked
him where he was going to keep it.  He said 'under the bed'.  I said 'What
about the smell?  He said 'I'm sure the pig won't mind'."  When
introducing George Recile, he called him "the best drummer on this stage."
 Just before doing a great version of Bye and Bye, he took center stage
for what could only be called a "Karate-shuffle-dance."  While awkward,
this was the most I've seen him move in five concerts, Berkeley in 1964,
Peace Sunday with Joan Baez, with Tom Petty in the 80's , Visalia in March
of 2000 and, now, Jackson  2003. When Bob and the boys came back to the
stage after what seemed to be minutes of  a wild ovation, they kicked in
to "Like A Rolling Stone." This was the generational moment.  This was why
parents brought their children and grandparents brought their
grandchildren.  With thousands of arms swaying in the air and singing to
the chorus.  The audience and the artist met somewhere in time.  A "forget
Jimi Hendrix" version of "Watchtower" ended what was  truly "A Dylan
Experience."  I'm glad I was there. Bob Nilmeier

[TOP]

Review by Steven King



Bob Dylan just went by my house!! I followed them over Teton Pass.
"Lilly , Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts" started on the radio after we
started to climb and was over before we reached  the top. Big ass hill.
Then they sped off into the night. Bob had the town rockin'. He played
piano and a lot of harmonica. He looked good in his silk western shirt
with rhinestone swirlies and a maroon neckerchief. He got things going
with "Maggie's Farm" and kept us on our feet till the end. "Standing in
the Doorway" and "I believe in You" were well done and powerful. He came
out and gave a high kick during "Highwater". When he introduced the band
he said George Recelli was the best drummer on the stage and then
proceeded to crack up. Larry was great, I can see how Freddy wore the
paint off that red Fender, Tony did plenty of smiling . The locals and
outlying folks all came out of the woodwork for this one and everyone
seemed pretty darn pleased. Great crowd, great set of songs, Bob. Thanks
for stopping by, we're be talking about this show for a while. Bob rocks!!

Steven King

[TOP]

page by Bill Pagel
billp61@execpc.com

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