Review by Dan Wylde
Traveled down Hwy 61, following the Mississippi and passing the Walls of
Red Wing on my way to the La Crosse show. The arena was nearly filled, the
stage unadorned and the lights only partially dimmed as the night kicked
off with a rolling To Be Alone With You.
The lights stayed up in the arena for the darker Man in the Long Black
Coat. Bob wore a hilarious windbreaker jacket, hooded, that kept him and
his black outfit covered all night. The first three songs were a
highlight, topped by a tight and groovy All Along the Watchtower.
The lights had come down, only slightly, on a pared down I Contain
Multitudes. Amusingly, False Prophet started with a false intro. The band
started to play, but Bob had forgotten to turn the page in the lyric book
and opened with the first few lines of I Contain Multitudes before jumping
back into a strong rendition of False Prophet \ Black Rider \ Love Sick \
Goodbye Jimmy Reed \ I Can Tell.
Bob was using two mics, and switched between seated and standing, jostling
with the mics and the sound booth on and off. The sound was part of the
night’s experience but Bob’s vocals were strong and could be heard all
night. You even heard Bob’s frustration with the audio issues. He
muttered — Jesus — to himself in the middle of I Made Up My Mind to
Give Myself to You. LOL. His only remark, aside from introducing the band.
The crowd was a little rowdy, a little rough and largely reverent all
show. It helps to know what to expect from a Bob concert, and to have
seats with a closer view. 90 minutes without a phone can be a Nervous
Breakdown for some folks, but it makes for an attentive audience.
Forgetful Heart and When I Paint My Masterpiece were highlights. As was
Doug Lancio on acoustic guitar.
Great vibes tonight. Thankful to catch another R&R show and another Grain
of Sand.
Bob released Murder Most Foul six years ago today. Hell of a song, and
like he shared back in 2020…stay safe, stay observant and may God be
with you.
Dan Wylde
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