Bob Dylan - Bob Links - Review - 09/05/98

Reviews

September 5, 1998

Wollongong, Australia
Wollongong Entertainment Centre



Thanks to Carsten Wohlfeld for the following review:


The last show in Australia took place just two hours south of Sydney, in
the industrial town that is Wollongong. We went down there in a mini bus
with 20 people which was lots of fun (thanks Darren for the nice idea)
and the people from overseas got to see a bit of rainforest on the way
too. The Entertainment Centre was brand spanking new, in fact this show
was the first ever there, with about 4,500 attending.

Matt Walker & Ashley Davies impressed me once again, especially with
their last song (sorry, still don't know the title), which kinda reminds
me of the Stones' "Midnight Rambler". A great bluesy rocker.

Patti took to the stage at 8.00pm and got into a big discussion with the
local securitry straight away cause the security guys wouldn't allow
anybody to stand up and get to the rail. In the end Patti and the
audience won, which was nice to see. Her set included "People Have The
Power", yet another "Spell", a rare "Don't Say Nothing" and an amazingly
intense "Horses"/"Gloria" to finish with. Even the security guy in front
of the stage was allowed to sing "GLORIA" with her, which made everybody
smile. It was hard to believe that Bob would be able to follow her
terrific set, but indeed he did. I simply think it was the best show
this year, Ray Webster called it the best show Bob played in Oz - ever.
Yes, it was that good!

> Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat

The usual bluesy jam, Bob didn't move an inch but was striking poses
straight away. Bucky didn't wear his hat during this song, and he looked
kinda silly.

> I Threw It All Away

Much better than the night before. Bob's vocal was excellent again, hut
this time the band didn't fuck up the song as band as the previous
night. Very nice to hear indeed.

> Cold Irons Bound

Average version.

> Every Grain Of Sand

Without a doubt the highlight of the whole Oz tour and arguably the best
performance of 1998. He got the words right, the band was playing
perfectly and Bob was smart enough to leave the guitar solo to Larry who
put in a wonderful solo indeed. One of the best live performances I've
ever heard from Bob. Too good to be true.

> Can't Wait

Yet another real highlight. Slightly different phrasing that fitted in
perfectly. Larry put in some extra guitar lines as well. Great stuff.

> Silvio

Not quite as smoking as the night before, but better than most 1997
anyways.

> Roving Gambler (acoustic)

Nice to hear this one again. The usual stop/start arrangement that I
liked a little bit better in Melbourne, but the backing vocals from
Bucky and Larry on the chorus are always good to hear.

> One Too Many Mornings (acoustic)

Earned Bob a well deseserved first standing ovation of the night.
Slightly slowed down, he sang it beautifully and the band didn't make
any mistakes either. Perfect, you may call it.

> Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic)

was "Tangled" and the short harp solo at the end wasn't worth
mentioning.

> The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll (acoustic)


Yet another highlight! Yet again, almost perfectly done, very nice
phrasing, great cresendo on the "six month sentence" verse.

> To Make You Feel My Love

The usual. Dreadful song, very nicely done. Doesn't change a bit though.

> Til I Fell In Love With You

The band intros concluded with "Tony just played his first show. He just
came out of rehab" (!?). "Til I Fell..." was okay, but wasn't a standout
track as usual.

> (encore)

> Love Sick

As good as it ever was

> Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35

Yes, that one was well. Most of the people in the wings boogied their
asses off. Bob was having a great time as he did all throught the set.

> Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)


Slightly tired version that was - of course - very well received by the
people. Another standing ovation in fact.

> Like A Rolling Stone

Nice to hear that he dropped "Highway" in this slot and even though most
people are sick and tired of "Rolling Stone" as well, it has to be said
that this was an excellent version with nice new phrasing all
throughout. And I wasn't the only one who loved it!

> Forever Young (acoustic)

Same as with most of the "TOOM" songs and "Rainy": It hardly changes
from night to night and is nice to hear at almost every show but isn't
necessarily a smart choice for an encore. Great finale for a stunningly
strong show nevertheless.


So there you got it, a bit rushed ($10 per hour at an internet cafe make
you type faster) but hopefully you'll get the idea. It was awesome! Do
yourself a favour, and get a tape! The Oz tour is over now, Ray and I
travel on to NZ and will keep you updated. Thanks to the Jungwirth
family, Stephen, Ed, John G., the italian crew, the Sydney Jumpers, Ray,
Tini and co. and all the other nice people I met here. It was a pleasure
travelling with you. Apologies to Shane, sorry for getting your name
wrong the other day, I was just too tired. See ya!

Carsten Wohlfeld
--
"your girlfriend can leave you but the rolling stones are there forever"
(alan mcgee)


********************************************


Thanks to Stephen McLennan for the following review:


The venue:  Very much a scaled down version of the Sydney Entertainment
Centre, so straight away I'm worried.  Basing a venue on the Sydney
Entertainment Centre is perhaps akin to building your ocean liner off
the plans of the Titanic.  


But no, I told myself, this is only 1/2 as big so it should be ok.  

The problem of my tickets being in section 23B was averted when I
walked into the venue, and simply walked straight to the front
unquestioned.  Thankfully I only had to loiter for 1 minute before
Patti Smith started playing, a mini rush to the front occurred, and I
was ok.


I have to say Patti Smith has been a revelation at the 3 shows I've
seen.  I went the first night never, to my knowledge, having heard a
single song of hers.  I only recognised a few of them, including one
she played at this show ("Because The Night"?) that she "wrote with
Bruce Springsteen" and the Cannibals one from Sydney, but that didn't
matter at all.  She was fantastic and had a great presence on stage,
but it was during her set that my paranoia regarding the sound began to
grow.  I was right at the front, and whist the guitars and drums were
nice and clear, her voice was a bit muffled.


At one stage, she interupted her set to castigate the moronic security
guard making a nuisance of himself between the barrier and the stage. 
Patti leaned down and spoke to him,  saying things like " I don't care
if it's your job" and negotiated an agreement with him that the people
standing at the front would crouch or sit down "just for one song". 
Fittingly she played a slow song, and as soon as the next song started,
everyone was back on their feet  (much to the dismay of the amazing
people who insist on sitting down when they have tickets in the first
10 rows.  When we sat down for that one song was the loudest they
cheered all night.  They were almost as bad as the "2WS" crowd in the
early rows of the first Sydney show.


Patti finished to good applause, and then we waited the 30 minutes or
so until Bob hit the stage.  During the wait, the security people
walked around telling everyone that "Bob wants everyone to stay in
their seats for the first 40 minutes.  After that, you can stand up". 
Perhaps as a reaction to the absurdity of that claim, the rush came at
the end of "Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat".  I ended up 2 metres away from
the barrier, just off centre.  My joy at getting to the front was
somewhat eroded due to the absolutely terrible sound.  No problem with
the instruments: Bob and Larry's guitars crackled and fizzed crystal
clear all night.  And I still can't get over the improvement in Bob's
playing. He's clearly enjoying it as well, with his constant
gunslinger-like guitar hero poses.  Garnier's bass was very clear, as
was the mandolin when used, but I wouldn't say the same about the pedal
steel.  But the most important part, was of course, Bob's voice. 
Tragically, it sounded as though Bob was singing from behind a concrete
wall.  


This was, categorically, the worst sounding
venue I've ever been to.  When you're 5 metres from the stage, and you
can hardly hear the vocals, something is very wrong.  After perhaps 6
songs, when it was obviously not going to get any better, I was
devastated.  For those who thought the sound in Sydney was bad, this
was much worse.  Even more so because I could still hear well enough to
tell that Bob's voice was in fine.



But to the show itself:

I'll leave the song-by-song critique to others.  The show was similar
to the 2 sydney shows (of which Friday was the better, mainly due to
none of the disinterested "2WS" bores being there), but did contain a
few surprises.  Included among those were "Every Grain Of Sand", which
came across very well, and a wonderul "Lonesome Death Of Hattie
Carrol".  Thankfully "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" was missing, and
"Like a Rolling Stone" was excellent towards the end.  "Forever Young"
is a nice song, but I'd much prefer the show to end with something
electric.  

Overall a good show, but almost ruined by the appalling acoustics of
the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

As with Sydney, the highlight for me was the TOOM songs.



ps: Great to meet Tricia, Rob and Mary, and many thanks to Andrew who
drove me back to Sydney afterwards.

Hope we don't have to wait another 6 years, but even if we do, that
should give someone plenty of time to burn down the Sydney and
Wollongong Entertainment Centre's...


***********************************************


Thanks to Tony Hunter for the following review:


A community feel in Wollongong with lots of people waving to each other
across the hall .The smaller venue was a relief after the barn in Sydney.

Patti Smith is as communicative with an audience as Bob isn't.Very friendly
, even mellow show.Much less fire than than Friday's scorcher .It was a bit
amusing that she dedicated Ginsberg's Footnote To Hell to Wollongong's new
stadium.Gee thanks Patti...and after all the flooding they've had too!!.Yes
the last couple of tracks hit the spot but Friday was the night.

Bob on at (9.15 and Carsten has given you the drill .He certainly doesn't
sing Cold Irons Bound with the fire of the CD or the live track thrown in as
an extra  on the tour souvenir version of Time Out Of Mind.

A stage rush now ensued resulting in 3 rows of unimpeded view if front of
me.So it can cut both ways when people leave their seats Henry!

Every Grain of Sand was a most pleasant surprise .It started with a Lay Lady
Lay type steel intro I'm sure the claps of recognition weren't for grain of
sand .Dylan's phrasing and energy on Can't wait told you  that tonight was
going to be worth the drive through Buckets of Rain and fog to Wollongong.

I was actually looking forward to Silvio given last night's performance and
again another full tilt version .

For me the show really got into gear with the acoustic set .Bob was much
more into eye contact and hey even a joke tonight.

One too Many Mornings was exquisite .Careful , even delicate .I love the
strident versions a la Hard Rain but this was breathtaking .And a wry smile
to the crowd as he sang " You know this song I'm singing , you can sing it
just as well".Tangled  was untangled with a fine harp solo followed by the
another reward for hoofing it down to the Gong for the show...... Lonesome
Death Of Hattie Carroll .By now the crowd was very loud in appreciation..

Good to hear Make You Feel My Love ..why should he leave it to Garth Brooks
and Billy Joel? .Wonder why we don't hear Not Dark Yet..maybe the vocal is a
bit too challenging for live and a long tour.

Again they slip into Till I Fell inLove With You like a comfy chair
effortless and just right.


And the groove continued for the encore with a slow Lovesick again with lots
of effort ,wit and character in the phrasing.Rolling Stone was also a a nice
change from previous sets.

Show ended at 11.05.Bob's grey suit had dark patches from sweat .It was a
warm room but he had WORKED.Only the top button of the collar as a
concession to the heat Yes find a tape of this show and send me a copy.Funny
how lax they were on searching people or looking for surreptitious
microphones for this tour.

great to see the man in such great form.Given his 6 to 8 year gaps between
visits who knows when or if we will see him again.

In 2 weeks time the Wollongong entertainment Centre hosts Demis
Roussos...from the sublime to the ridiculous.


***************************************************


Thanks to Stephen Crump for the following review:


The venue:  Very much a scaled down version of the Sydney Entertainment
Centre, so straight away I'm worried.  Basing a venue on the Sydney
Entertainment Centre is perhaps akin to building your ocean liner off
the plans of the Titanic.  


But no, I told myself, this is only 1/2 as big so it should be ok.  

The problem of my tickets being in section 23B was averted when I
walked into the venue, and simply walked straight to the front
unquestioned.  Thankfully I only had to loiter for 1 minute before
Patti Smith started playing, a mini rush to the front occurred, and I
was ok.


I have to say Patti Smith has been a revelation at the 3 shows I've
seen.  I went the first night never, to my knowledge, having heard a
single song of hers.  I only recognised a few of them, including one
she played at this show ("Because The Night"?) that she "wrote with
Bruce Springsteen" and the Cannibals one from Sydney, but that didn't
matter at all.  She was fantastic and had a great presence on stage,
but it was during her set that my paranoia regarding the sound began to
grow.  I was right at the front, and whist the guitars and drums were
nice and clear, her voice was a bit muffled.


At one stage, she interupted her set to castigate the moronic security
guard making a nuisance of himself between the barrier and the stage. 
Patti leaned down and spoke to him,  saying things like " I don't care
if it's your job" and negotiated an agreement with him that the people
standing at the front would crouch or sit down "just for one song". 
Fittingly she played a slow song, and as soon as the next song started,
everyone was back on their feet  (much to the dismay of the amazing
people who insist on sitting down when they have tickets in the first
10 rows.  When we sat down for that one song was the loudest they
cheered all night.  They were almost as bad as the "2WS" crowd in the
early rows of the first Sydney show.


Patti finished to good applause, and then we waited the 30 minutes or
so until Bob hit the stage.  During the wait, the security people
walked around telling everyone that "Bob wants everyone to stay in
their seats for the first 40 minutes.  After that, you can stand up". 
Perhaps as a reaction to the absurdity of that claim, the rush came at
the end of "Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat".  I ended up 2 metres away from
the barrier, just off centre.  My joy at getting to the front was
somewhat eroded due to the absolutely terrible sound.  No problem with
the instruments: Bob and Larry's guitars crackled and fizzed crystal
clear all night.  And I still can't get over the improvement in Bob's
playing. He's clearly enjoying it as well, with his constant
gunslinger-like guitar hero poses.  Garnier's bass was very clear, as
was the mandolin when used, but I wouldn't say the same about the pedal
steel.  But the most important part, was of course, Bob's voice. 
Tragically, it sounded as though Bob was singing from behind a concrete
wall.  


This was, categorically, the worst sounding
venue I've ever been to.  When you're 5 metres from the stage, and you
can hardly hear the vocals, something is very wrong.  After perhaps 6
songs, when it was obviously not going to get any better, I was
devastated.  For those who thought the sound in Sydney was bad, this
was much worse.  Even more so because I could still hear well enough to
tell that Bob's voice was in fine.



But to the show itself:

I'll leave the song-by-song critique to others.  The show was similar
to the 2 sydney shows (of which Friday was the better, mainly due to
none of the disinterested "2WS" bores being there), but did contain a
few surprises.  Included among those were "Every Grain Of Sand", which
came across very well, and a wonderul "Lonesome Death Of Hattie
Carrol".  Thankfully "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" was missing, and
"Like a Rolling Stone" was excellent towards the end.  "Forever Young"
is a nice song, but I'd much prefer the show to end with something
electric.  

Overall a good show, but almost ruined by the appalling acoustics of
the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

As with Sydney, the highlight for me was the TOOM songs.



ps: Great to meet Tricia, Rob and Mary, and many thanks to Andrew who
drove me back to Sydney afterwards.

Hope we don't have to wait another 6 years, but even if we do, that
should give someone plenty of time to burn down the Sydney and
Wollongong Entertainment Centre's...



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