Any Aussies go to the Bob Dylan concert??? Did you enjoy it?

Hi Bobbi,

I met up with Louise and Ben before the concert. We were hoping you would spot us. (See posts on the Arlos Restaurant, When is Arlo coming to Aus thread).

It was great to see the man himself on stage, and he had a great band. But would have been fun to see one or two songs a little like the original. Or to see him do something on acoustic guitar.

As has been noted before,if ya wanna hear some of them good old Bob Dylan songs, ya gotta go see Arlo!

So it looks like the other nite, we heard more Dylan than you good folks in Oz did. LOL...

I kept an eye out for you guys, but there were so many people. I'm glad I went, however I didn't really enjoy the concert. The sound wasn't up to scratch, and although I didn't expect it to sound just like the record, I did expect to hear Bob sing- not spit the words out in a machine gun monotone. My husband leaned over at one stage and said "Where's Arlo when you need him?!!" For warmth, heart and entertainment value, Arlo wins hands down!

Well I've spent a few evenings with Bob in my time. Last time I had to drive through unseasonal floods to get there, but I made it, thanks to my '82 Landcruiser "Behemeth". This time I hobbled with a walking stick after my back, as it does every two years or so, decided to give me grief! Luckily I had my nephew with me to assist in stairclimbing. But once again it was worth it. Pain was forgotten during the several hours spent with Bob.

Now for those who were visiting Bob for the first time I can see it may have been, shall we say, not what they expected but as usual I was pleasantly surprised.

Some may have expected the opening band, The Frames, to be some sort of Irish acoustic folk group but they were loud and electric and great!!

Then the backdrop to the stage was lit purple and the music was like a sort of fanfare, like for royalty or the prelude to a musical. Then out came Bob in dark suit and grey flatbreamed felt hat. The band looked like Blues Brothers, but in black leather suits and hats but no sunnies.

I will post the sites from our paper so you can read the reviews and setlist.
But my take is.........as usual he was doing his uniqiue thing, if you don't know his songs well you would probably been confused as once again they were interpreted in a new way and he seemed to be having fun with it. He was much more animated this time and really gettin' down! He nearly did the twist while at the keyboard and was marrionettish at times! I felt Muddy, Little Richard and even expected Chuck Berry to materialize on stage!

Lay Lady Lay was probably the only song that sounded close to the original, except that smooth voice of the original was now kinda tortured in a way, that got me right in the heart, ditto for the harmonica.........so mellow it struck deep.

People behind me kept saying "He hasn't said anything, he usually says a few words at least"
And not an acoustic guitar to be seen.
Yeah I've seen a walkout or two, thats pretty normal, but hey any of you longtime Arlo fans (it's 40 years for me of Bob and adg) would you ever walk out on or boo adg just 'cos he didn't do Alice! I think not. Artist have to move on,,,,,,,,,,,keep creating or reinterprating or they will probably suffocate!

Now I always think of those words Joan sang "The sixies are over so leave him alone!"

Some have a feeling that this may be the last time we see Bob, but I hope not and next time I will be waiting with baited breath to see whats new or whats old turned new. Whatever fate throws in my way, nothing will stop me! Oh! except if Im on a Blunder somewhere!

(Sorry about spellings and stuff I'm sore and tired. My Physio fixed me up so I should be back to my strong healthy self in a few days)[/url]

Here I hope are the reviews.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22244892-5003421,00.html

That first one is my favourite, but here's another.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22241706-5003421,00.html

Oh the Blunderchooks, cats, horse, four leggeds are calling me for their dinner.........but here's one more, (it's 4:30 Thurs arvo here)

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22242934-5012979,00.html


ooppps I forgot a dot.ok it's fixed.

Great to meet you Dave! Sorry we missed you BobbiB

Here's some more, then I really gota go to bed! It's 10pm.


http://my.execpc.com/~billp61/081307r.html

well louise, is should be acknowledged that you did some amazing flying after all!

Yep I'll be back on my broom in a few days, it's high tech, turns into a walking stick when I need one.

I saw Bob Dylan in Paris, last April, during his European tour. He gave the same show. It was what I expected, even if I would have liked him to sing some old songs with acoustic guitar. He didn’t say anything except after the “encore” when he introduced his band. He played electric guitar and keyboard facing the right side of the stage.
However, I was glad to attend his show, it was the first time.


You’re right, Larry, I’ll take this advice when I can..

Great review & links, Louise!

I always enjoy the Bill Pagel site; he's the Dylan Master. Whenever I see Dylan, I have Pagel's set list stats handy for that tour, & I show 'em to the people next to us, so I can watch my wife roll her eyes. Whenever I see Dylan, my goal is to get the set list on the interweb before Pagel does. Just a game I play with myself, further proof I need a life.

I saw Bob last year when his "Baseball/Bobstock" tour came to nearby Washington, PA. I wondered if there was life after Larry Campbell, but I liked the new band's sound quite a bit.

Glad you enjoyed the show!