Bob Dylan in Concert
Les Schwab Amphitheatre, Bend OR, August 27, 2010
From Lynette Sheffield
Bob Dylan on stage in 2009
Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Bob Dylan's performance (after The Dough Rollers and John Mellencamp opened) had the feel of a worship and adoration service. The moment he took the stage, the evening became one of unforgettable music. Some were overcome by it all, screaming "Dylan!" or "Bobby!" or even "[extremely bad word]-ing Bob Dylan!" repeatedly.
And they each seemed to really mean it.
Short on Length, Long on Dylan
The short show (due to the local curfew) of one hour and 40 minutes went without break from song to song, but was anything but mechanical. Every Dylan concert is unique and each seems to be less of a performance and more of a jam session that just happens to have thousands of people in attendance.
The band – Tony Garnier on bass, George Recile on drums, Stu Kimball on rhythm guitar, Charlie Sexton on lead guitar and Donnie Herron on electric mandolin, pedal steel guitar and lap steel guitar – never took their eyes off the master, lest they miss a clue as to what was coming next.
Dylan himself played lead several times, as well as rhythm guitar, keyboards and, of course, to the great delight of the swooning crowd, harp. He even smiled.
More than once.
Really.
Despite the legend of the gruff and rugged Poet Laureate of Rock and Roll, the strict security against taking photos of the concert, and extreme reluctance to give any kind of interview, Dylan seemed to really be enjoying himself. He encouraged his congregation to sing along during "Just Like a Woman" and "Highway 61 Revisited" and the faithful did respond.
Somehow, through a trick of the light and the influence of a most awesome moon rise (with the help of local wildfires) the stage lights seemed to only cast Dylan's shadow of Dylan on the back wall of the stage. It was startling how different the shade appeared compared to the other people in the band.
How was it done?
Does it matter?
Just one question that matters need be asked after a Bob Dylan concert, though.
How did it feel?
It felt very good.
Dylan's Custom Set List
"Rainy Day Women #12 and 35"
"Positively 4th Street"
"Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"
"Just Like a Woman"
"Honest With Me"
"Spirit on the Water"
"Cold Irons Bound"
"Simple Twist of Fate"
"Highway 61 Revisited"
"Love Sick"
"Thunder on the Mountain"
"Ballad of a Thin Man"
Encores:
"Jolene"
"Like a Rolling Stone"
0 comments:
Post a Comment