August 7, 2011
Review by Marc Schemansky
The night was hot and humid; you could just feel the rain was coming. The
place was filled with a mixture of old hippies, new hippies, Leon Russell
look-alikes, motorcycle mamas, anorexic go-go dancers, duded up cowboys, young
studs with their chicks in tow, dandies dressed like Hank Williams, etc.
etc. In fact the crowd reminded me of the characters right out of Desolation
Row. You could feel the energy in the air; just like old times.
Leon Russell started the whole thing off. He came out with this band and sat
down, waved to the crowd and proceeded to launch into Delta Lady... good
choice, good start. Some of the other highlights were Jumpin' Jack Flash (with
a touch of Paint it Black), the Beatles' Ive Just Seen a Face and of course the
intimate A Song for You (I've been so many places in my life and times, I've
sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhymes). He did a good job, a constant
talent. I would love to have seen him come out later with Bob and do "Wathcin
the River Flow", or It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry, but alas
it did not happen.
A quick equipment change occurred: Bob's Academy Award and beads in place, the
intro began and out walked the band. The guys in while jackets (looking like
they were stolen from Count Basie's band) and Bob in black with a white hat.
All dressed up with no place to go.
And off they went.... Starting with a great version of Leopard Skin Pill Box
Hat... this song can sometimes be a throwaway warmup, but in this case it was a
rousing rendition, the band was hot from the first note. In fact, the first
five songs were spot-on... Don't Think Twice, Things Have Changed, Tangled Up
in Blues, and Beyond Here Lies Nothing.. all excellent, complex beats and
rhythms. I have always felt that the best part of a Dylan Concert is when the
band starts a song tentatively or unsure but then finds it's groove and rides it
for all it is worth. Sometimes the interweaving of the guitars, keyboards,
bass, and drums finds a rhytm that is greater than the sum of its parts. You
can see the expression on Tony's and George's faces when this happens; both seem
to be having the time of their lives. Bob starts movin' and shakin' and the
wave of sound just gets intense. Hard to describe but a pleasure to
experience. This night had many of these moments. Talented musicians allowed
to experiment and find their way down a road seldom traveled.
Other highlights were Simple Twist of Fate, Thunder on the Mountain, Ballad of A
Thin Man, and All Along the Watchtower.
A good concert is when the energy of the crowd is palpable, the band is
energetic and inventive, and the overall feeling is uplifting. This was a good
concert.
Marc Schemansky
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