Reviews

Dylan and Lesh: Old dogs, same new tricks
By Brian Beffort
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Between them, Bob Dylan and Phil Lesh have over 75 years of experience as
major movers in American rock 'n' roll. Which isn't to say there's
anything stagnant about their music. On the contrary, each continues to
entertain, surprise and inspire listeners. They proved this once again
Sunday night at the Reno Hilton Amphitheater. Dylan opened the evening,
backed by Larry Campbell on guitar, mandolin and fiddle, Tony Garnier on
stand-up bass, David Kemper on drums and Charlie Sexton on guitar. All
were dressed in conservative suits and played an aggressive, energetic
set. Despite their experience, the band seemed stiff and unpracticed,
watching each other frequently during transitions. "Actually, they're all
watching him," said Dale Burke, a "longtime Dylan fan" from Reno. "Dylan's
always changing the music and the lyrics. He plays it differently from one
night to the next. They're just trying to keep up with him." His set list
changes every night. Sunday, Dylan became a "jam band." In the spirit of
the Grateful Dead, Phish and Widespread Panic, Dylan's set was heavy on
instrumentals. Highlights were the hard rocking "Gotta Serve Somebody" and
Dylan's harmonica on "Drifter's Escape." Burke saw Dylan last year, when
he played with Van Morrison. "Dylan was good then, but he's 20 times
better tonight," he said. "That was one of the best sets I've seen
anytime, anyplace," said Dave Kettels of Winnemucca. "I've heard half
these songs many times, but it doesn't matter because he's fun." During
their set, Phil Lesh and Friends proved there's life after the Grateful
Dead. Since the death of Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia in 1995 and a liver
transplant in 1998, Lesh (former bass player for the Dead) played an
intricate and mature set of Dead-style music that drifted through rock,
blues and jazz for 70 minutes. Lesh's "Friends" were Robben Ford on
guitar, John Molo on drums and Little Feat's Bill Payne and Paul Barrere
on keyboard and guitar. My highlight was Payne and Barrere trading vocals
on Little Feat's classic "Dixie Chicken." The crowd was friendly and
joyous. One reason was the lack of reserved seating up front - making it
easier for people to mingle and dance. Another might have been the show's
chance to keep the family together. If you don't know what the family is,
it means you're not in it. But if you've been to 10, 50 or hundreds of
Dead shows, then Sunday night was a reunion. The family, of course, is the
community of Deadheads that followed the Grateful Dead until Jerry's
death. "The family is alive and well," said Kettels, a veteran of over 120
Dead shows. "We're not going to fade away." And the family is growing.
Eagerly enjoying the show from near the back Sunday was Jake Bartolic, 12,
of Davis, Calif. He's seen Phil Lesh three times solo, twice with the
Dead. Lesh and the Dead are his favorite bands, "because they're loud," he
said. Even Lesh made it clear that part of the fun is the people. "This is
such a wonderful community," he said toward the end of his 10-song set.
"It's been a blessing to make music with you."

IT WAS A VERY ODD NIGHT FOR WEATHER IN RENO ON SUNDAY WITH A FEW DROPS OF
RAIN PRE-SHOW AND A WIND THAT HIT HEAVY ON THE BORDERLINE THAT DIED WHEN
BOB WENT TO  THE ELECTRIC SET. WHAT AN OUTSTANDING VERSION OF SOMEBODY
TOUCHED ME TO OPEN THAT WENT INTO MY 1ST LONG BLACK VEIL I HEARD LIVE NOT
COUNTING A COUPLE OF GARCIA/GRISMAN SHOWS.A STANDARD MASTERS OF WAR
FOLLOWED BUT THE CROWD REALLY GOT INTO IT ESPECIALLY THE LAST LINE A ROAR
WENT UP. PROBABLY THE MOST POIGNANT MOMENT CAME WITH BOB LEANING INTO A
HOWLING WIND TO SING GIRL/ NORTH COUNTRY ONLY TO COMPLETELY CAPTURE THE
AUDIENCE WITH A SPIRITED TANGLED THAT LED TO A WONDERFUL READING OF DON'T
THINK TWICE. I'VE ENJOYED COUNTRY PIE TO START ELEC. AND IT WAS GREAT TO
HEAR SERVE SOMEBODY WITH THE BONO,MADONNA AND CHER REFERENCES. CHARLIE HAS
BEEN IMPRESSING MORE DURING THE CALIF. SWING BUT I STILL LIKED BUCKY FULL
TIME WITH LARRY STEPPING UP WHEREAS HE HAS TAKEN ON THE SUPPORTING ROLE
QUITE ADMIRABLY MAYBE EVEN BEGRUDGINGLY BUT HIS MANDOLIN PLAYING IS TOP
NOTCH. LARRY SHINED ON STEEL ON BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT AND I WAS GOING
BONKERS WHEN THEY LAUNCHED INTO I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WHICH I CAN'T EVER
HEAR TOO MUCH. I JUST LOVE DRIFTER'S ESCAPE>PILL BOX HAT TO CLOSE ( I'VE
SEEN IT IT A FEW TIMES IN 2000) THE SHOW.

THE 1ST ENCORE WAS THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND WAS WELCOMED BY THE THRONG AS
BOB AND THE WONDER BOYS BURNED AND RUNG EMOTION OUT OF THIS GREAT NEW
SONG. A CROWD PLEASING ROLLING STONE AND A STUNNING TIMES ARE CHANGIN' HAD
THE MASSES BOWING TO THE KING AS LARRY TRIED TO LEAD THEM TO A QUICK EXIT
STAGE RIGHT BOB JUST MILKED UP THE APPLAUSE AND STRAPPED ON THE ELECTRIC
TO CARRY EVERYONE ON THE STILL CHURNING WAVE TO A FITTING EVERYBODY MUST
GET STONED ( EVEN THOUGH IT'S A FELONY IN NEVADA TO PARTAKE) WHICH I
NOTICED SOME DOING. I HAVE SEEN BOB FOUR NIGHTS OUT OF THE LAST FIVE DAYS
AND WHEN I WON $ GAMBLING IT JUST HAS TO GO DOWN AS TO SOME OF THE BEST
TIME SPENT LIVING AND BEING PART OF THE NEVER ENDING TOUR. MAY BOB STAY
FOREVER YOUNG CUZ LIKE WINE HE SEEMS TO JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER WITH AGE.

LARRY LANGFORD

I don't review shows often but here goes..my typing isnt very good today
either...

I see lots of Dylan shows each year. (28 last year) but I havent seen
Dylan since Newark Delaware in Nov 99 (the last show of the last
millenium) I went from NYC to Reno and Vegas I wasnt sure if just seeing 2
shows and not very many recently if my view of the shows would be biased.

Solid spot on performance. Standard setlist. I saw 3 songs I never saw
before (Long Black Veil/Country Pie/Things Have Changed) which is a feat
considering the number of shows I've seen....most likely over 200).
Somebody Touchjed me was much tighter than I had seen it last summer and I
found myselgf grinning from ear to ear. Long Black Veil was much like the
other time he had done it in 97 I think. He really sang it with passion
Master of War (not my favorite song) was energized. I really like Country
Pie but thought the band needs to work on the ending. Serve Somebody's new
arrangement was cool. At first I thought it may have been a re-worked man
of peace.....I dont Believe U was really strong. The new arrangement for
Drifter escape worked very well....Things have changed-> (the live version
really sounds like it was on Time Out of mind) just made my nite.

The show was outside in a parking lot. The sky was all shades of blue and
gray with a strong wind blowing right at Bob making his hair blow back
from his face exposing lots of his far head......The MASTER looked
great...The show was far from sold out...genral admission...very ;laid
back crowd and you could have walked up to the front easily.......