Review by Stephen Brooks
Bob was in great voice on his final of three nights in Swansea. Behind the
piano, surrounded by instruments and band members he wasn't easy to see
(and I was middle of the front row!). But at 84 Bob has arranged things to
suit himself, and it works musically, switching between piano and guitar
while seated and keeping to the same setlist each night. Somewhat
amusingly when Bob did stand (several times), he did so with his back to
the audience facing the drum kit or, at the very end, he stood momentarily
peering at the audience from the rear of the stage. No speaking, no
introductions, no encores, no phones... you could say Bob's reinvented
the live music experience!! It feels like he's there doing his thing
regardless of the audience.
Bob's piano playing is quite unlike any other. I've heard him play
various forms including quite brilliant piano solos at the RAH last time
around, but last night it was predominantly his one note at a time
noodling approach. Same on guitar. I guess he thinks it fits the music,
maybe it does? The rest of the band are constrained of course and keep to
a structure so the dissonance of what Bob does is prominent in the mix. In
any case there's something wonderfully accessible about Dylan's
freeform piano and guitar.
For me the most noticeable thing last evening is the extent to which, over
time, Bob has improved every song from Rough and Rowdy. Through replaying
those songs, with their extraordinary deeply personal lyrics, they've
become much more interesting compared to the original recordings. If he
returned to record Rough and Rowdy again today I think it would sound more
powerful than ever.
Conversely though, I felt most of the songs Bob played from earlier albums
sounded like they'd been played too much. For example, I don't know
how he could improve on Every Grain or Masterpiece compared to the last
European tour and now he's jollied them up to a point that the emotion
feels less strong. I remember too he performed better versions of
Desolation Row and Baby Blue last time around (at RAH), although these
were both well received by the Swansea crowd.
I visited Dylan Thomas' birthplace the following morning (it seemed rude
not to!). Off now to catch Bob in Coventry.
Stephen Brooks
London.
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