I'm always pleased to read anybody's comments about a Dylan show, & it certainly does look like you saw a great one, Hank. From the Pittsburgh set list, I woulda gladly traded "God Knows" & "It's All Right Ma" for "Absolutely Sweet Marie" & "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," in which case that show just may have ranked among the greatest concerts I'd ever seen in my life.

The funny thing is, Joe, that I read a set list from earlier this month and saw that Dylan opened one show from early November with "Absolutely Sweet Marie." So when I nestled into my folding chair on the Stabler Arena floor, I was secretly hoping (generally a losing proposition at Dylan concerts) that this particular song would kick things off in Bethlehem. When the band hit the ground running with "Leopard Skin-Pill Box Hat," I was just as happy as that song also gets rarely aired by Dylan these days. But when Dylan started pounding the piano keys and the band launched into "Absolutely Sweet Marie" it was like getting a "two-for-one." You knew it was just gonna be one the the good nights!

According to a letter to the editor in our local paper (take it for what it's worth), Dylan no longer plays the guitar due to an arthritic condition.

I also understand that's why he walks a little funny.

I've heard that as well Joe, don't know the truth though. I do have copies from this current tour where Bob plays guitar on an istrumental version of Summer Days (10/13) and a Blues Instrumental (10/14).

Very nice to hear since he rarely picked up the guitar live since October of 2002.

Christian

On Page 145 of Dylan's autobiography Chronicles, the bard does mention a hand injury in 1987 that "had been ungodly injured in a freak accident... ripped an mangled to the bone..." Of course, Dylan continued to play guitar on every tour since 1987 until about mid-2003 when he did seem to finally abandon it for good (with some notable exceptions as on the occasions mentioned above and on Willie Nelson's Outlaws & Angels TV Special. But on September 27, 2004 writer David Gates conducted a webchat as a follow-up to his Newsweek feature article that heralded the release of Dylan's Chronicles. Gates told the audience that Dylan told him that he now played piano on stage as the guitar didn't give him "the fullness of sound he was wanting at the bottom." Gates added that Dylan also told him that he still "wants to tweak the sound some, because he's not satisfied with how the guitars and keyboards are sounding together..."

Hi Guys ... as I can see you know tons and tons about Bob , Im a huge

BOB and " THE BAND " fan , of course Bob was reworking his songs year

after year , even the lyrics . My fav. is " Knockin' on heaven doors " , but

what of the so many versions do u most like ? . Well my pick is w. Tom

Petty from the Album " Hard to handle " live in Australia ...his long

Harmonic intro is fantastic and the final chorus is great .

But you like Bob or not , who folksinger never played a Bob's song ?

Regardin' " The 30th Annivers. Concert " how do u like it ?

J.C.Mellencamp , W.Nelson , T.Petty , N.Young , The Band and of course

Johnny and June C. Cash ....... were AWESOME .

But guys , I would like Arlo , Joan Baez , Emmylou Harris to have been

on the stage too ....... What d u think about ??

SEE YA ................................. OZZy

Some good questions I never considered before...I guess my favorite version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is the original one, but I do like the one from Hard to Handle.

I liked the 30th anniversary concert a lot. I watched it on paperview & recorded it. On the day that George Harrison died, I pulled out the tape & watched George's performance over & over again. I wondered if there'd be a 40th anniversary concert.

I never thought about whether I wanted to see Arlo there, but I suppose it's good to see Arlo anywhere. I don't associate Arlo with Dylan much, really. The 2 glaring omissions from that concert, in my opinion, were Joan Baez & Ramblin' Jack Elliott. They both really shoulda been there. Anybody know whether they were invited?

Hi Joe , I see we agree .... I love George Harrison , when he died I felt

so much affected that I couldnt see that great video at final 30th anniv.

Dylan's concert where everyone played together " My Back pages " ,

I guess Johnny Hiatt , Steve Earle , Dan Bern , Indigo Girls , David

Crosby , G. Nash ... were played and outstanding performance too... but

they had needed , at least , a six hours show !!!

The only one perfom. I didnt like was the way R. Havens played " Just

like a woman " , that beautiful song ....... the most that I like is the

original from " Blonde on blonde "...

Best Regards ............... and see you around