March 16, 2010
Review by Kathleen
The wind was whipping around at like 20 miles per hour and it was freezing
prior to the show. Some guy in a polyester leopard print tight shirt with a
leopard skin Uncle Sam (cat-in-the-hat) hat came running up to where I was to
exclaim that Cat’s In the Well and This Wheel’s On Fire were soundchecked.
That’s how it all started. Very good versions both.
I don’t have something to say about every song, though all were
entertaining. I think it was a pretty mellow night overall. Bob’s voice
sounded a little rough at the beginning of the show, I thought, but got
better. All the songs that were firsts for 2010 were slightly different
arrangements or had extra improvisational sections, but nothing way out and
wacky like Shelter. Just fine rock n roll.
So, I can hear the griping about Summer Days in spot three already, but it
was fun and it worked just fine. No, it’s not the glory days version with
Bob, Charlie, and Larry all on guitar that got faster and faster until we
were all dizzy, but it’s upbeat and well-played all the same. It’s now. When
Bob did the “I’m leaving in the morning” verse, everyone went wild because,
well, we are all leaving in the morning, after a week here.
It was wonderful to get Forgetful Heart tonight.
John Brown was good, a stop-start version. Donnie could be heard well on
all his specialty instruments tonight (and he has made it fine onto the
recordings, despite my worries.) So hooray for it also sounding so balanced
tonight in the hall.
The crowd loved Under the Red Sky and recognized it right away.
Highway 61 had some ultra unique parts. Bob was on the end of his keyboard with
his back to Donnie for some of it, pushing his hands down the keys toward the
audience. Bob did some call and answer stuff with Charlie and all sorts of
other little fun licks. It’s hard to get bored of this song as Bob’s enjoyment
of playing it is infectious.
Poor Boy was lovely. Bob did a terrific job. Charlie sounded smooth.
Thunder on the Mountain is truly the new Summer Days. Jump dancing version,
builds and builds. Tonight it just went on forever, which was not long enough.
Not much to report on for the encores as I was back in the crowd, thankfully not
squished.
Bob was Mr. Keyboard tonight. Tony was doing a lot of bowing on the stand
up bass. All were focused again, though Bob had a few audience smiles and
the band seemed to be having quiet fun. Charcoal pin-striped suits with
black velvet on the collars and pockets for the guys. Bob had red
accessories.
Some things I’ve been meaning to say: Every time the eye logo came down in
Osaka, there was this collective “woo” which was almost childlike. It’s been
fascinating to be in a country where everything means something. (As opposed,
of course, to nothing means anything.) Everyone likes the 50s warm-up music.
And it’s pretty wildly held among the people who saw all the shows that the 12th
was THE night. Oh, and Baron is alive, I finally saw him, so that’s a relief.
But still the crowd was good as gold and security wasn’t busy at all.
Several people near me were reading books prior to the show each night. When I
got in my spot, amidst all the quiet people, I sighed, “I’m so happy” and
probably like 20 people around me started cracking up. I’m sure they are all
thinking I’m soooooo American and commenting like I am commenting on Japanese
culture. Hopefully I haven’t been too oafish.
In keeping with my chant to try to keep myself as humble as possible, “it’s not
our country”, I was finally successful at putting people on the rail in my spot
for the encores, which I had been trying to do the entire week. People were so
honorable, no one wanted to go there. But tonight we did some good shifting and
finally got some short people to the front. I know what it’s like not to see.
And besides, I am so lucky to be from the same country Bob is and always get to
see him. It is different though, not seeing. All of us have numbers in like
the 1000 vicinity the rest of the shows, so I consider the end of tonight
practice for our next experience.
I did a couple extra reviews this week because of my extremely good luck at
getting such unobstructed views all but the first night in Osaka and to do a
little service for a community that has done so much for me. Peace and love to
my benefactors the past two nights who brought me from second to first row even
before we bonded over our mutual love of the Reverend Gary Davis, beautiful
guitars (that’s redundant, isn’t it?), and our families’ thinking we are crazy.
Good company and ecstatic dancers, you are. Friends forever.
You know I’m not a Facebook girl, my life is very private. And if you spend
lots of time writing about your life you aren’t out there living it. I have
bullet trains to ride, museums to see, spas to enjoy, mountains to view, people
to meet, and hot yoga classes in Japanese to attend. Look for the rest of my
reviews in the ether. They’ll be there.
Thanks, Japanese friends. Thanks, Bob.
Comments by Sonny Boy McFitzson
Kathleen. I'm the leopard skin Uncle Sam guy.
Yes, I heard them soundchecking "Wheel's" & "Cat's" Both were played interruptedly
and dully just like soundcheck. Singing on "Wheel's" for sure was Bob. Following "Cat's"
was instrumental. I made sure at the time one more violin song is coming.
-----
In addition to Kathleen's
2. This Wheel's on Fire - Just astounding on center stage. But Bob sang verse 3 twice,
verse 1 missing.
5. Forgetful Heart - Bob's been teasing us but we were so glad to hear this
unforgettable performance at the last show in Osaka. 7. John Brown - NYC,
17Nov09 version was a totally new arrengement. But this was the turned-back
"Jack O'Diamonds" version, except stop-start as Kathleen mentioned.
13. Thunder on the Mountain - Charlie suddenly made a flashy surprized face to the
crowd. It took a while to figure out what happened; his guitar feedback.
15. Like a Rolling Stone - Tonight's biggest highlight. Bob failed 2nd "How does it
feel?" in the 1st stanza because the whole crowd shouted it together. In following
verses Bob kept a happy smile to the crowd and sang along to them
"How-Does-It-Feel/ To-Be-Without-A-Home/ With-No-Direction-Home/
Like-A-Complete-Unknown/ Likarolinstone" The crowd failed of course
"To-Be-Without-A-Home" and "Likarolinstone", except ME!
16. Jolene - Charlie's 2nd surprized face due to another feedback.
Musta been the happiest hours for Bob during these 5 Osaka nights.
Thanks to:-
Kathleen for writing reviews, English-speaking & Japanese-speaking friends
acquainted there, Pablo.
Special thanks to:-
Manabu & Yuta at jerrys.zero-city.com for taking a pic together.
Heckel & Akiko
...and to F from Italy:-
May God Keep Your Health, May Lady Luck Give You a TIC everywhere you go.
We laughed and had a good time you and I.
Sonny Boy McFitzson
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