As the evening sky grew dark (6/28/25) Bob Dylan took the stage to a
standing ovation from the throng gathered at the St Louis stop on this
summer’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour.

Thankfully, the oppressive St Louis heat of earlier in the week had eased
a bit by showtime, making for a pleasant evening at the Hollywood Casino
Amphitheater, where Dylan and his band went on a heater of their own
playing a highly enjoyable 15 song 70 minute set sampling selections from
near the entire breadth of Dylan’s 60+ years body of work.

Dylan opened the show with a blues tinged truncated version of Gotta Serve
Somebody, and followed with the Samuel Smith classic, I Can Tell. Next,
Forgetful Heart, with Dylan in great voice and playing an energetic piano.

From the get go it was evident that despite the expansive outdoor venue,
the sound system was up to the challenge, as was the mix, allowing
Dylan’s vocals to be heard clearly and distinctly amid and above the
band’s guitars, bass, and drums.

The show was strong throughout, with several numbers in the set providing
particular highlights, including:

+ Bob Britt’s and Doug Lancio’s spirited rock n’ roll guitar playing
+ on Axe and the Wind;

+ Anton Figg’s steady insistent drumbeats backing the Muddy Waters like
+ Mannish Boy guitar riff supplying the foundation for Early Roman Kings,
+ which included Dylan’s emphatic delivery of the “my bell still
+ rings” lyric;

+ Dylan’s beautifully quiet vocal of the deep catalogue enigmatic Under
+ the Red Sky;

+ Outstanding extended harp solos by Dylan on several songs including To
+ Ramona, Desolation Row, and Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right; 

+ All Along the Watchtower, most notably Dylan’s delivery of the
+ chilling lyric, “Two riders were approaching and the wind began to
+ howwwwl”;

+ Dylan’s phrasing and vocal styling on Desolation Row evincing elements
+ of a rapper’s melodic flow; and,

+ A spare and stripped down version of Love Sick enhancing its lyrical
+ strength and impact.

Dylan closed the show with Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right. On this
night, at this show, no one had to think twice, everything was all right,
and so much more.