Reviews

No guitar, no harmonica, yet this was a really fine Dylan concert. The
‘Tempest’ songs were a revelation, Pay in Blood, Soon after Midnight,
Long and Wasted Years, the band were astounding, as usual, not a blemish.
But what’s this? Dylan’s voice so ringing, true and clear, I could
hear every word, he even toyed with the lyrics of Lovesick and Tangled up
in Blue, making this one night a night to remember. Admittedly the
“Sinatra Songs” for want of a better word, slowed things down a little
and interrupted an almost perfect flow of some of Dylan’s strongest
recent work. I went to Bob’s last Easter Trilogy, 2009, all three
nights, when he would mix up the set lists and surprise us each night.
This time round it seemed pretty pointless to spend 300 euros on 3
identical shows. I’d leave that to the devoted. It was good to see many
youngsters there and also good not to see an ocean of annoying mobile
phones. Hats off to the Afas Arena for hosting one of the best Dylan shows
in recent years.

Amsterdam number II. 

Nothing much happened in the afternoon. 
Bobby and the Band made their sound check as usual. 
The weather had been an April sort of weather in a northern country; cool
and rainy and shiny. 
All is quiet around the Arena as there is no soccer game today. 
I appreciate a strong cup of coffee in the afternoon. 
A young woman comes to me and hands me a ticket. 
At first I don’t check but then I realise it is a 4 th row centre seat.
Whoa! 
A miracle again! 
It appears that this young woman is a ‘Bobcat’ and we met before
somewhere at a Bobby’s show. 
Thank you Sandy from Vienna . You made my day! 
God bless and keep you always. 
I move in and take my seat early. 
It is time to relax. 
The seat next to me is empty and will be empty during the entire show. 
I have an exceptional view on the front mics. 
3 of them just good enough for … nothing or nothing at all. 
Bob is dressed in a suit black with red sparkling, shiny embroidered, a
sort of red/pinky fancy shirt and his jacket is open. He is slim. 
So far he never took his hat off. 
Looking good, though … as pale as a ghost. 
Have you ever seen a ghost??? Na! but you heard of them. 

1 Things Have Changed (Bob standing at piano) 
2 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Bob sitting at piano) 
3 Highway 61 Revisited (Bob standing at piano) 
4 Beyond Here Lies Nothin' (Bob sitting at piano) 
I would like to stand up and dance but no, this is not the ‘season’. 
The public is polite now a day! 
The Band is preparing for something and Bob doesn’t move to the centre
stage. 
Oh!oh! 
5 Stormy Weather (Bob standing at piano) 
In the middle of the song Bob turns his head and clear his voice (kind of
spit on the side of the mic). 
He must have a cold for he will also blow his nose on the side of the
stage at times. 
6 Pay In Blood (Bob standing at piano) 
7 Melancholy Mood (Bob center stage) 
8 Duquesne Whistle (Bob sitting at piano) 
9 Scarlet Town (Bob center stage) 
instead of Love sick 
10 Tangled Up In Blue (Bob center stage then sitting at piano) 
11 Early Roman Kings (Bob standing at piano) 
12 Spirit On The Water (Bob Bob sitting at piano) 
13Love Sick (Bob center stage) 
instead of Scarlet Town 
14 All Or Nothing At All (Bob center stage) 
15 Desolation Row (Bob standing at piano) 
16 Soon After Midnight (Bob standing at piano) 
17 That Old Black Magic (Bob center stage) 
18 Long And Wasted Years (Bob center stage) 
19 Autumn Leaves (Bob center stage) 
Blowin' In The Wind (Bob sitting at piano) 
Ballad Of A Thin Man (Bob standing at piano) 

A stage rush during the short break will end in a sort of fight with
security at the front. 
The Fans are standing up but they don’t touch the stage or look at Bobby
under his nose! 
Excellent show as usual with a little surprise to make Fans keep on going,
going on. 
The venue is slowly but surely emptying. 
Franky from Prague will entertain the crowd with Dylan’s songs until
late in the night. 
He is playing what people expect and Bobby doesn’t do anymore. 
You know… 
‘One more cup of coffee’ or ‘Mister Tambourine Man’. 
The Legend is bigger than the Man.