July 21, 2011
Review by Bill Felsher
I saw a top notch Dylan show at the Hard Rock Pavilion in Albuquerque last
night. The setting was very nice with cool weather, light attendance and outdoor
seating looking into a gorgeous sunset. About 2/3 of the seats were filled.
While the crowd was sparse, it was appreciative. There was no warm-up act. The
band was in sharp looking grey suits with hats. Dylan wore a white broad brimmed
hat and black suit with red stripes on the pants.
Dylan's performance had frequent rough spots, but when he and the band hit the
highlights we were treated to some amazing moments. Tangled Up in Blue - Very
Good. Visions of Johanna - performed as a true love song with Dylan showing off
his crooning - I could tell that he was really warming up - then -- BAM!! Summer
Days hits like a slingblade chopping weeds on the side of a Mississippi highway.
Followed by, Sugar Baby -- maybe my newest favorite song after seeing this
version performed live. After Sugar Baby we took a trip down Highway 61 (very
well done) and Simple Twist of Fate (with Dylan on electric guitar). The band
was doing something wonderful and subtle with the chords that I couldn't pin
down. Simple Twist was the most original arrangement (in a good way) of all the
songs in this concert.
Thunder on the Mountain was done in a way that made it sound almost exactly like
Summer Days. A low point.........But the absolute highpoint immediately followed
with Dylan at the microphone, holding his harmonica in one hand with eerie
lighting on his face as he performed a knock-out Ballad of a Thin Man. Do
you.... Mister Jones? With a very simple stage and lighting, Dylan and his band
were able to transport the audience to the dark side of a carnival sideshow.
The times that Dylan came to the microphone armed only with his harmonica
were the best (Visions, Sugar Baby, Ballad...). He really put on a show with
meaningful gestures, dance steps (well, for Dylan at least), facial expressions
and vocal phrasings.
After the obligatory Like and Rolling Stone/Watchtower encore we were gathering
our things to leave when Dylan came back to his organ for a wonderful and chill
inducing rendition of Forever Young, made even more poignant by Dylan's voice
which sounded extra harsh and raspy.
Don't miss Dylan this summer and I hope that you all stay, "Forever Young,"
Review by Steve Dossey
Sorry to say that the venue was only about half full. Nonetheless this was an
unique and inspired show. Dylan has taken a different approach to his
performance than in past recent shows. There is a focus on well formed, tight
arrangements and articulate vocals. Many songs sung at the pace of the original
recordings. Dylan's harp playing was incredible. On Highway 61 his harp
dominated the playing and ended in a crescendo I have never heard before.
Amazing! His keyboard playing was outstanding and bold. All Along the Watchtower
was a radically different, low key arrangement; tho lacking the country flavor
from the original album its pace was more consistent with that version. Simple
Twist of Fate was the best version I have heard live. We also got to hear a
third song in his encore, Forever Young. A very pleasant surprise. This concert
totally redeemed Dylan's last outing here.
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