August 19, 2010
Review by Bob Edwards
In Ontario, I experienced a short, slow-moving at the beginning show. It was
enjoyable once it started cooking after Tangled. The first few songs were far
from groundbreaking performances, but most of the audience seemed to be excited
just being in the presence of the man who wrote such great songs as RDW, Love
Minus Zero and Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again. There was as
much audience participation in the Just Like A Woman sing along as I've ever
heard from a US-American crowd. Tangled was intensely performed with new (to me)
arrangement and most of the verses dropped. The arrangement and energy were
cool, the dropped lyrics were not. Things picked up with High Water and Love
Sick through Ballad Of A Thin Man which ended the main part of the show with
some strong vocals. I moved to the back and gave my seat to a friend for the
encore which was nothing special, but again really appreciated by most in the
audience. The crowd loved the whole show as far as I could tell. I talked to
three Dylan concert virgins who said they really liked it and wanted to see more
shows in the future. Not a lot here for the hardcore fan who wanted an unusual
setlist, but still a fun show for me. Guess I'm easily pleased. Where I was
standing (4th row, a few seats audience right of Zimmy) the sound was great.
Keyboard was high in the mix, and while he's no Jimmy Smith, Dylan sounded
better skilled than in the past. Very few total fuckups and for the most part he
provided interesting and complementary playing. He was smiling a lot, working
the crowd up front with broad Pavarotti-style arm gestures, especially when he
stepped out front with mic and harp. As to the opening acts, I think John
Mellencamp mainly appealed to people of a certain age who watched a lot of MTV
in the 80s. For them his classics were a nostalgia sound track and they really
liked it. People either really dug him and rocked it or sat bored through his
set. (I'm nervous writing "dug" after the above "dug" digs, dig?) The Doughboys
were interesting. Two very young men, dressed up Thirties-style, playing old
school guitar and singing country blues in a Howlin' Wolf/Tom Waits/ Johnny
Rotten hybrid voice. Love and Theft, indeed. I guess every generation some kids
get the blues revivalist bug. Nice to see. All in all, I'm glad I went to this
show.
Bob Edwards
San Diego
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