I last wrote a review in 2021 and felt the need again tonight after
getting home to list a few thoughts on tonight's concert in Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio.

The Band:

I had perhaps mistakenly read in former reviews of recent concerts that
there was some criticism of the band / their makeup & Jim Keltner (?). I
could not have enjoyed how tight and great they sounded on every song.
There was a certain twang to the guitars that throughout the night I felt
sounded perfect on several of the songs. Folks I talked to afterword
specifically said they also thought the band sounded great with Bob.
Totally agree.

The Sound / The Venue:

In retrospect, I should have known that sitting on the lawn of an outdoor
venue might not be the best place to listen intently to someone singing on
stage and that unfortunately proved to be true. For almost 2/3 of Bob's
performance, people behind me were talking loudly, not paying any
attention ever, and on the softer songs like A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
and Can't Wait it effected me being able to hear him properly, in my
opinion. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall is one of the most important and
poingnant songs he has ever written and not hearing it as well as I would
have liked made me sad and somewhat annoyed.

Comments on some specific songs:

1. All Along the Watchtower (Bob on piano)

I was expecting Silvio or not sure what, but I was not expecting All Along
the Watchtower. Right as they entered into the song, I knew what it was
completely and I was both surprised and overwhelmed. I am truly hoping
there is an audience recording of this night because this performance with
the band and Bob together was quite special. If you want to consider this
the song of the night I would not say you are wrong. (Although see later
Shooting Star Comments) I was not expecting this!

2. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (Bob on piano)

In looking back, this should have been expected, but I tried to not look
at set lists too much before my concert and this went over wonderfully.
Bob and the band sounded great on this and the crowd took to it too.

3. Shooting Star (Bob on piano and harp)
This is one of my favorite songs of Bob's, but I did not anticipate the
harp music too, and it was wonderful and sublime. In my personal opinion,
Bob's harp on this song was the greatest part of this night. Even more
than AATWT which was also amazing.

4. Love Sick (Bob on piano)

I knew this might be coming and he and the Band sounded amazing on it as
if it was back in the TOOM times. Wow it was good.

6. Mr. Blue (Bob on piano, Tony on standup bass)(song written by DeWayne
Blackwell)

I don't know a lot about this song, but as it went along Bob's voice and
the lyrics blended together wonderfully

8. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (Bob on piano, Tony on standup bass)

Realted to the outdoor venue, I wish I heard this song from Bob better, he
and the band did a great job with one of the great songs he has ever
written. I was so pleased to listen to it tonight again.

9. Under The Red Sky (Bob on piano and harp)

I have always liked this song for various reasons, but Bob adding the harp
to it I was not expecing and was extremely pleaseant and sounded
wonderful.

10. Things Have Changed (Bob on piano)

When the song started I was not sure what it was, then quickly I did,
because I knew it might be coming too. As it went on, I totally
appreciated what I saw as a new arrangement and enjoyed it more and more
as the song went on.

15. Soon after Midnight (Bob on piano)

I knew this was probably coming and I have always adored the song and was
a bit worried with Don Herron not there it might lose something. While I
think that Bob and the pedal steel work greatly together, this version was
quite nice.


16. Simple Twist Of Fate (Bob on piano) (Mickey Raphael on harp)
17. Ballad Of A Thin Man (Bob on piano) (Mickey Raphael on harp)

Both of these songs were presented very well with someone (Mickey) other
than Bob on harp, but it is difficult to review them unfortunately for me
since during BOTH songs people behind me did not ever stop talking and it
make it difficult to hear.

Overall:

I tried not to to enter the night with too many expectations, but I left
feeling the first half was way more than I expected with the second half
only marginalized because I was sitting on the lawn with others that were
not as attentive to Bob as I would have liked them to be.

I saw my first Bob show at Blossom in 1988. I was 17. Since then, I've
seen him at least 60 times. I've not gone much since 2001 because much
of the excitement and energy of the 1994-1998 band (JJ / WW) was, in my
opinion, missing. I went last night to "say goodbye" to Bob and
Willie. I'm not intimating that either will no longer tour, but I have
seen/heard enough over the last 36 years. 

I won't do a song by song breakdown, but here are things that stuck out
to me:

The band was rather sloppy. They often seemed confused regarding chord
changes, solos, etc.. I'm not sure who's "in charge" of
arrangements and execution of the musical passages, but I feel like there
were MANY missed opportunities for intensity and drama (we ARE dealing
with some of the greatest lyrics ever written). 

The song selection was interesting (to me) and would have been better
suited for a headlining appearance in a smaller venue. So many of the
beautiful, artistic, quiet moments were lost on a NON BOB crowd.

Bob sounded fantastic vocally (for the year 2024). I also enjoyed his
haphazard piano work. Like Willie, they both do whatever they want on
their instruments, as they should.

I really enjoyed my time with Bob last night. If he reads these reviews 
he may want to consider a scaled down (perhaps just a duo) tour in 
theaters.
THAT would be cool.

All Along Bob's Watchtower

(Cuyahoga Falls, 9/12/2024)

Bob and his band were firing on all cylinders last night. Surprising 
everyone when they went into a fire and brimstone version of "All 
Along the Watchtower." Clearly Bob was having none of John Mellencamp's
version of Watchtower during his set. Bob made it quite clear whose 
song it was. I'm not always the biggest fan of "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"
but it really smoked last night. Pun intended. I was really hoping for 
"Shooting Star" and I wasn't disappointed. The feeling he put into every 
word; every syllable was quite evident as Bob took us on a trip on his 
magic swirlin' ship. "Little Queenie" and "Mr. Blue" were so perfect 
back-to-back as the crowd was transported to a Moondog Coronation Ball. 
I didn't quite understand how it would work live until I was there. It 
delivered big time as I wished I'd worn a poodle skirt. Following with 
"Early Roman Kings" was a stroke of genius, as Bob put us all on trial 
in a Sicilian court. I've seen countless live versions of "Early Roman 
Kings" but never have I witnessed one with such vitriol as Bob spit out 
the words like his life depended on it. "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" was 
a seminal moment at a seminal show. Anyone questioning what these songs 
may still mean to Bob would have had their doubts silenced as Bob 
delivered the words like he had just written them. He clearly knows that 
our democracy is being threatened as the poet shows up to deliver his 
dire diagnosis. The entire concert was like that, one standout 
performance after the next because Bob Dylan never phones it in. He was 
fully present last evening as he and his band burned like the Cuyahoga 
River sometimes has a tendency to do. Mickey Raphael on harp on the last 
two songs was brilliant as Bob pounded on that piano like Little Richard.  
I've never seen better versions of "Simple Twist of Fate" or 
"Ballad of a Thin Man."

Charles Cicirella