Review by Steven Zubel
First, let me thank Bill for operating this web site and all of those who
have sent in reviews over the years. It has made going to a Bob Dylan show
a richer experience for me.
This was my sixth Dylan show and it was one of the best. Last year I was
lucky enough to see Bob on both the 4th of July and Halloween. So, it had
been exactly a year since I saw Bob and the band. But I could tell from the
previous reviews, I was in for a good time.
The Murat theater was a great place to experience Bob, the sound was mixed
just right. You could hear Bob's voice above the instruments. He also sang
clear enough to be easily understood.
1. Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat - Bob was on the keyboard. Probably the odds
on favorite to start the show. Not one of my favorite Dylan songs, but it
was still great to hear it in person.
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob played guitar and he was even
smiling as his guitar riffs rose above the mix.
3. Beyond Here Lies Nothin' - Bob played guitar and the "light show"
started on the curtain behind the band. The scene was the skyline of a city,
maybe in Mexico or the American Southwest.
4. Queen Jane Approximately - Bob played harp on this. He really did put
his heart into it.
5. The Levee's Gonna Break - This is the first time I've heard Bob's
keyboard playing way up in the mix. The "light show' switched to what looked
like clouds.
6. Simple Twist of Fate - Bob on guitar again and his playing could
clearly be heard.
7. Cold Irons Bound - This was driven by the drumbeat. Similar to, but
not as good as, the "Masked and Anonymous" version. The scene on the curtain
appeared to be a leg of the Eiffel Tower, superimposed on a factory
interior or an old time European train station. Bob was center stage on harp.
8. If You Ever Go to Houston - Bob went back to the keyboards for this
number, while what appeared to be hills were silhouetted in the background.
9. High Water (For Charlie Patton) - Bob took center stage with harp and
the background scene shifted to rain.
10. Trying to Get to Heaven - Bob played both keyboards and harp. In back
of band the picture looked like beams of sunlight coming through the
clouds.
11. Highway 61 - Bob stayed on the keyboards.
12. Tangled Up in Blue- A favorite of mine, but Bob skipped the middle
three verses, (fishing boat, topless bar, Italian poet). At the end of the
song, the curtain showed a man and a woman walking away.
13. Thunder on the Mountain - Bob and the band were not just going through
the motions on this one. They were "on." Bob even had a keyboard solo.
14. Ballad of a Thin Man. - The overhead lights dimmed and the footlights
came up, appropriate for Halloween. Bob played harp center stage, you
could tell he was enjoying himself on this one.This is one of the highlights of
the show.
15. Jolene - This was very similar to the recorded version.
16. Like a Rolling Stone - This is the best live version I've heard of
this one. Bob and the band weren't "phoning this one in."
17. All Along the Watchtower - Not one of my favorites. Yes, the band
"rocked" on this one. But, if I never hear it again live, that's fine with me.
The best thing about this one was it meant we heard 17 not 16 songs.
While, Bob's instruments could be heard and he even had some solos, it was
not his best night for harp playing.
There were two other light show effects, but I don't remember what songs
they were with. One was a scene of either: a diner, a railroad passenger
car, or a bus. The other was the over head, live action, shot of the band.
This was the best effect of all.
As others have written, "don't you miss it!" It was a great show filled
with honest music. All in all, it was a fine way to spend Halloween.
Steven Zubel
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