page by Bill Pagel
Review by Juan Hoben
Cairns is in tropical Far North Queensland. Bob stayed at the Palm Cove resort
just up the coast from the city; heat, humidity, crocodiles, bananas and the
Great Barrier Reef. The people of Cairns are laid back. The Convention Centre
is a nice venue for really laid back people who like to watch a show sitting
down and without moving during the performance. Sounds dull, but then "Ladies
and gentlemen, please welcome Columbia recording artist, Bob Dylan! " From my
terrible seat in the second row, front and centre, the day of waiting
disappeared.
Duncan and Brady opened the set and I realised that the sound in this venue
was really good. My Back Pages, It's Alright Ma followed by It's All Over Now,
Baby Blue. Bob was relaxed and boy he did look great. His voice really does
sound better than ever. His singing conveys great meaning and emotion, he
obviously feels the words he sings, even when he re-writes the songs, which
he did a few times this evening. Tonight the band also played an interesting
new arrangement of Cold Irons Bound, which sounded fresh and energised to me.
The highlight of the show came at the end of the first song of the encore,
Things Have Changed. This was Bob's first appearance since the Oscars two
nights earlier. Towards the end of the song Darren Mitchelson, from the Sydney
Jumpers team of Dylan fans who attended all the shows, ran past the sitting
audience and threw a replica Oscar up to Bob. Well actually, he threw it on
stage and Tony Garnier picked it up and waved it in the air. Bob creased up
with a huge smile, the band all laughed and the crowd went bananas, a perfect
moment.
The plastic Oscar later appeared on stage at both the Brisbane and Ballina
shows, on Bob's amp, right behind him. Proof that Bob really does have a sense
of humour and appreciates his audience.
The rest of the show was like a happy dream with a blinding version of
Watchtower and a beautiful I Shall Be Released. The Wright/Anglin song
Searching For A Soldier's Grave was an unexpected pleasure, but the laid-back
audience never got too excited and never stood up for more than a few seconds.
There was no rushing of the stage. Don't these people know it's rock'n'roll ?
The next day, Dylan Gang member, Billy "you're so far away from" Home, met
Tony Garnier at Cairns airport. Tony told him that Bob was "tickled pink" by
the Oscar being thrown on stage. I hope I am right in saying that there are
not many guys around that have tickled Bobby pink.
billp61@execpc.com
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