I figured that I had said goodbye to the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour in
March of 2024 after the Florida run of shows. But last night found myself
in Pittsburgh for the penultimate show of this leg of the R&RW tour. The
show started just before 8:10 PM and Bob got us started with a long guitar
intro during I'll Be Your Baby Tonite and It Ain't Me Babe. The sound
mix on the former didn’t favor Bob's voice but the issues appeared to
be fixed by the time the latter rolled through. But, just as this tour
commands us to understand, "things aren't what they were" and minor
sound mix issues seemed to plague more of the show. Despite issues with
the sound, Bob gave us a great performance. Masterpiece was complete with
a long intro on the harp which was delightful and the combination of Black
Rider>My Own Version of You were first half highlights. While Desolation
Row was delivered with care, To Be Alone With You fell victim to the sound
issues I mentioned earlier with Bob's vocals not entirely audible. The
highlight of the night was a stunning rendition of Baby Blue, sung almost
entirely without the assistance of the band and with a scorching solo on
the harp. Bob again picked up the guitar for Watching The River Flow, an
appropriate song in the city of Three Rivers. It appeared that Bob gave a
quick visit to the electric keyboard during this tune, which was
positioned to his left. That was great to see. The show ended with a
flurry of R&RW songs, each sung well with his voice loud. Every Grain of
Sand is always a welcomed way to end a night with Bob and his harp solo
here remains with me now. Overall, a great show made average by a poor
sound mix. But, I will say that I was impressed by Bob's guitar work and
his piano playing continues to surprise. If this is it for the R&RW
chapter of the Dylan Continuum, I will bid it adieu with a satisfied mind
- 10 shows across 4 years and each one a separate highlight and memory.
Off to Outlaw summer tour with an all star lineup, none shining brighter
than Bob himself. Thanks for the good time and see you somewhere down the
road.

DD 

Baby Tonight - rough beginning with band getting warmed up and voice too
and even the sound guy trying to dial in the vocals

Ain't Me - much better, love the headliner on guitar (though he was kinda
facing backwards while sitting down), pretty straightforward chorus (which
is fun)

Multitudes - love this song yet this version didn't really work, the words
deserved far better treatment

False - blues slog despite really good lyrics

Masterpiece - fun and imaginative arrangement, first standup bass tune and
a pleasure to be able to hear the acoustic guitar and the mallets really
added something, unbelievably good

Own Version - despite some fine words this was a little too spoken
word-ish, the tune where you reached for the cell phone only to find a
yondr pouch

Alone with You - fun mood, delivered fairly well

Rubicon - another slog

Desolation - interesting treatment, kinda sped up, sung pretty well, drums
superb, would lose the piano on this one (and why not turn the lead guitar
loose on a rhythm like this?)

Key West - not a fan and felt like a performance piece that was trying too
hard (some cool lyrics though)

Watching - know it's played every night yet always feels like a tribute to
Pittsburgh, really good version, guitars tremendous, a real treat

Baby Blue - amazingly good, think this is the one where the bow on standup
truly elevated, harp splendid, maybe lose the piano on this one too

Made Up My Mind - nothing special, would much rather hear one of his
Christian numbers involving piano (When He Returns? Pressing On?)

Muses - well done, it got a far better treatment than Multitudes

Jimmy Reed - OK, feels like this spot is being wasted

Every Grain - nectar closing number, sung quite well, harp solid,
wonderful gift to send people home with

- not sure what I expected (last show Nov '21), this was interesting and
fun - loved being able to hear the acoustic guitar at certain points,
really nice sound that fits his music - every time things sounded perfect
I noticed standup bass, acoustic guitar, and drum mallets were involved -
a few of those tunes call out for some tasty lead guitar but he never lets
it off its porch - at one point (after introductions?) he said something
like, 'This is a really nice place to play, no, it really is' - Best tune
was Masterpiece

After witnessing what appeared to be the finale of the RRW tour at the
Royal Albert Hall I, like many, was surprised at the resumption of the RRW
tour with this jaunt through the mid west. For myself and my son the
wheel landed on Pittsburgh as the destination to take in another show.

The show began with the opening notes of I'll Be Your Baby Tonight.
Unfortunately it seems the sound crew wasn't prepared for the start of
the show and first several verses were barely audible. Bob fiddled with
his ear monitor and made several glances to his left towards the crew.  

The show from this point on ebbed and flowed with some high points
standing out such as Black Rider and a towering Baby Blue with a harp solo
that was pure magic. Honorable mention goes to My Own Version of You,
Mother of Muses and Key West. As always the show closer of Every Grain
of Sand was rapturous. 

For me I simply cannot warm up to this current version of Masterpiece. I
was present at the debut of this arrangement and for me it simply has not
gotten better.  Rubicon suffered from some of the sound issues and seems
to have lost some of the intensity of 2023 while Jimmy Reed seems to be
missing the pep and joy it enjoyed during the early runs of the RRW tour. 

The highs and lows aside, another cherished evening with Bob. Plotting a
trek for the Outlaw tour where Bob showed on last year's run that he
gets looser with his setlist selections.