Thanks to Gunter Valentin for the following review: Review of Dylan's appearance at ROCK IM PARK (actually not a park but a soccer stadium), Nuernberg, 05/31/98 audience: approx. 40.000 Well, only few surprises in tonight's setlist, though there were several changes from last night, as Carsten predicted in his review of ROCK am RING. One is the reappearance of 'Tough Mama' at # 3, the other surprise was that not one TooM song was played tonight, seems that this happened for the first time since the end of last year's summer tour... Otherwise - as to be expected at a festival show - an evening filled with greatest hits. But don't think it was a usual show tonight. It was very special, mainly because of Dylan's vocal performance. I've never heard him singing with that much enthusiasm and passion before. On the other side the band still had some problems with finding a common sound, for instance Dylan had to change the tempo at the beginning of TUIB... # 1 To be alone with you What a great opener!Warmly welcome those changes at # 1 with Maggie and Marie. The band was not always at the point from the beginning and also throughout the entire show. Anyway, hundrets of hands in the air from the first note on. Dylan quite fashionable tonight in his black suit with a gambler's tie, only beaten again by Larry Campbell who wore a long, dark-red (satin?) coat, black pants and shoes. There were 2 huge video screens at each side of the stage which provided a nice close look at everyone in the band. #2 Lay Lady Lay showed the direction of the evening: straight, uptempo and very rocking as every song tonight. There's always a very nice special kind of drumming by Kemper at this song. #3 Tough Mama The first appearance since the UK mini tour last October, if my memory serves me well? Sounded pretty similar to the last year's versions. I don't like the song that much, would have loved to hear Cold Irons Bound instead... # 4 I'll be your Baby tonight IMO the highlight of the show, though you might consider it to be a crowd pleaser for all those who are not familiar with Dylan's work. But you should have heard Dylan singing the chorus, even shouting to the audience: " I'll ........ Hey, I said Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'll .... be your Baby toniiiiiiiiiiiiight". WOW! Never heard this before!Really great. # 5 Silvio Well, business as usual. But even with this old warhorse they had problems keeping the beat in some moments. Several nice jams though. # 6 Friend of the devil Another highlight - als a great vocal performance by Dylan on this one. And then, towards the end an extensive (appr. 2 min.) harp solo, which caused heavy cheerings from the audience. Quite surprising this resonance as I still suppose that most of those festivalers heard him for the first time... # 7 Baby Blue I always loved this one because it has been played very slowed down and laid back in the recent years, but tonight even Baby Blue was uptempo styled with some heavy drumming by Kemper. Also not too bad actually. # 8 Tangled up in blue During 'Tangled' the audience in formed a long queue and walked along in front of the stage hopping up and down. Quite amusing for the band - they all smiled a lot. Dylan reacted with his own very special dancing style, bending his knees almost to the floor. # 9 It takes a lot to laugh This one came also with heavy guitar riffs tonight, reminded me of the version they played at Woodstock. BTW, as I drove home I tuned in to the local radio station which broadcasted the whole event just to hear that Dylan is the only one of 80 (?) artists who played at the festival who did not permit to record and broadcast his performance. Well, actually we should be used to his extravaganzas and fears of being bootlegged but I guessed that he could have left that behind as so much live material appeared on bobdylan.com recently... # 10 Highway 61 Also a crowd pleaser. Really rockin tonight, as usual. Caused standing ovations from the people sitting at the balcony. As the band disappeared they brought them back onstage for the encores with 'La Ola', the mexican wave... encores: Don't think twice, RDW The show lasted approx. 1h 10 min. Very inspired performance by Dylan though the band still needs some shows to rehearse and find together again. Seems they had too many days off in a row before hopping to Europe ;-) That's all for now - good night - see you all in Berlin!? Let's hope that at least a few songs from TooM will reappear... Gunter
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