Bob Dylan - Bob Links - Review - 02/10/97

Tokyo, Japan

February 10, 1997

Tokyo International Forum



Review provided by Matthew Zuckerman

Tokyo International Forum
Feb 9, 1997

1 Down in the Flood
2 If Not For You
3 All Along the Watchtower
4 Shelter From the Storm
5 Just Like tom Thumb's Blues
6 Silvio
7 Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie @
8 Tangled Up in Blue @
9 Love Minus Zero @
10 Memphis Blues Again
11 You're a Big Girl Now
12 Highway 61

13 Like a Rolling Stone

14 Girl From the North Country @

15 Rainy Day Women

Dave Stewart did the same short set with Terry Hall on vocals and Terry
Dizley (sp?) on piano. They did:

1 Working Class Hero
2 Walk into the Wind
3 Our Lips Are Sealed (yesterday I called it Cecile)
4 Talk to Me Like Lovers Do
5 Psychokiller

The audience seemed even more warmed up than last night's -- no thanks, I'd
say, to Dave Stewart, whose performance seemed very dull. The singer (ex of
the Specials) was particularly dull.

1 Down in the Flood
A pretty good performance. A bit better than last night's, but still just
getting into it.

2 If Not For You
A gentle, routine performance.

3 All Along the Watchtower
Now you and I know that this was a special one, being the 1,000th
rendition, but to Bob it was all along just another watchtower. Of course,
that still gets pretty hot.

4 Shelter From the Storm
A new arrangement for this one, and at a first listening, not particularly
notable. It has nothing like the magic of the 1995 performances. Still, Bob
got into the last verse, so much so that he repeated it and two other
verses and started to wiggle his legs a little. I get the feeling that jet
lag and/or a few too many drinks the night before was telling on him a
little. There wasn't the humour or spring in his step from the first night.

5 Tom Thumb's Blues
A very satisfying version, the last two verses sung particularly well.

6 Silvio
Same as ever and maybe a shade less intense than last night, but a real
rocker just the same.

7 Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie @
Another surprise to have  this one repeated, but a welcome one. Upbeat and
swinging.

8 Tangled Up in Blue @
A conference with a roadie as this one started. Not quite sure what was
going on. Bucky started on mandolin but switched to dobro. Actually, Bucky
was a lot more low key tonight, as was Bob. J.J. played a little more to
pick up the slack.

9 Love Minus Zero @
A beautiful, rich rendition with fine vocals and guitar work. Faster and
tougher than the amazing versions from recent years, and -- frankly -- not
as good, but wonderful all the same.

10 Memphis Blues Again
Definitely one of the highpoints. This was where Dylan seemed to shake off
most of the cobwebs and really start to cook. No duck walks tonight, but a
few wayward leg manouvers.

11 You're a Big Girl Now
An excellent performance of this one, similar to last year's.

He introduced the band here, all except for J.J. who he introduced after
Love Minus Zero.

12 Highway 61
Another steaming version of this one. The stage rush started earlier
tonight, on this song, and the audience remained on its feet for the rest
of the show. There was absolutely no security (last night there was a
little) but no one invaded the stage this time.

13 Like a Rolling Stone
Another very good version. Second verse seemed particularly exciting. Dave
Stewart on stage again with the video camera.

14 Girl From the North Country @
For me, this was the best performance of the night, and one of the best
North Country's for quite a while. Heinrich was less impressed, so I guess
we'll have to wait for the tapes to find out what it was really like. Dylan
sang the first verse completely solo. Garnier came in on double bass in the
middle of the second verse and then the others slipped in behind him.

15 Rainy Day Women
As ever. Everyone rocking.

My feeling was that this was a good show, with great moments, but not up to
yeaterday's. However, Heinrich prefered today. WHo knows what the tapes
will tell. Many of the people who came not knowing what to expect were
absolutely amazed. A lesson to us all.

More tomorrow!

Matthew Zuckerman
zook@gol.com




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