Expecting Rain

One Night!
21 June 2017
Wednesday

Providence, Rhode Island


Providence Performing Arts Center
Showtime: 8:00
Capacity: 3,100


This is the 35th show of the 2017 Never Ending Tour


PPAC is a nice little venue.
Boston Area Bob Fan liked it too.
Her presence is dearly missed!

Previous 2017 shows:
28 Europe
06 North America
----
34 Total 2017

---
BOB DYLAN & HIS BAND at PPAC!

Nothing more needs to be said.

https://www.ppacri.org/events/detail/bo ... his-band-1

I predict he'll play Series of Dreams tonight. You heard it here first

I'll be there with my gf. Last summer show for me after the first two nights in Port Chester.

Abe

I don't have a ticket, but I'll try to find one there.....

Have a great time everybody going. I hope he dusts off Mississippi!

He is going to play Born in time. and/or God knows.





I don't know where that Jolene went?

I wish, I wish!

I would love it, but i don't think so

Maybe he'll play Mississippi. Nightingale's code is amazingly good at predicting songs.

I don't post much, but I always check out the 'live feed' which hasn't been so live lately. I like the Sinatra stuff musically, but I'm not a fan of Ballad of a Thin Man as a closer. The lyrics are kind of %&^*$. I mean they're great in a way, but as a song ... it's just snarly. I love Bob. A song like Gates of Eden would really make you think. I guess Mr. Jones is Trump. Maybe it's a political thing, but the song doesn't really make me 'think' and doesn't 'inspire' me at the end of a show. His voice sounds fantastic though and the band is stellar. I love most all the songs on the setlists. Some variety would be encouraging. Sorry if my post doesn't belong here. There are so many great closers to choose from. LARS, FY, AATW, I know are greatest hits, but are better closers than BOATM.

Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Performing Arts Center
June 21, 2017

1. Things Have Changed
2. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Bob did not play guitar)
3. Highway 61 Revisited
4. Why Try To Change Me Now
5. Summer Days
6. Love Sick
7. Duquesne Whistle
8. Melancholy Mood
9. Stormy Weather
10. Pay In Blood
11. Once Upon A Time
12. Early Roman Kings
13. All Or Nothing At All
14. Desolation Row
15. Soon After Midnight
16. That Old Black Magic
17. Long And Wasted Years
18. Autumn Leaves

(encore)
19. Blowin' In The Wind
20. Ballad Of A Thin Man

Thanks to Susan & Al and Ed & Michelle for the phone calls.

Set lists, reviews, and information on
upcoming concerts can be found on the Bob Links
Tour Infomation page located at:
http://www.boblinks.com

Bob Links Main Page:
http://www.boblinks.com

Thanks Bill! Looks like we've definitely settled on a setlist

I thought it sucked and the band was tired. Front row with gf.

Just got back from Providence, two songs stood out: Desolation Row was HUGE!!!! Big cheer from the crowd when it started, and Stormy Weather was extremely well done, got a huge cheer as well, oddly enough. Summer Days was awesome as well, with new bluegrass arrangement. Everything else was ordinary, IMO

You literally couldn't see Bob's face from the front row (sitting) unless you stood, which is hysterical and perverse.

Could the same be said for people sitting behind you?

so sorry abe!! so glad you got to Chester though.

Woah! I just want to talk about the setlist. Lol1

BOATM Again!

When the ppl behind us pay $310 and we pay $435, guess who dictates the standing

The truth is it is a good show. It's a short tight set and a very good way for Dylan to present his songs. Tonight's show in particular was solid. Not a barn burner, but enough bright moments.

The venue itself is perfect for what Dylan is presenting. It's a beautiful old theatre, but quite small. The acoustics were nice if a tad echoey at times. Dylan's choice of lighting was quite a bit darker in the theatre compared to when I saw him last year in Forrest Hills. I could not clearly see Dylan's face at any point in the show. It does set the mood though, I will give him that.

The audience was wonderful. The cell phone ban worked well. Almost no one pulled one out. Even better, the staff barely emphasized it when we came in so it did not feel put upon as other shows experienced. As a result of the ban and a setlist that did a lot with what it had, the audience was engaged and often quite into the songs - even the standards. Lots of cheering for the chorus of songs like Why Try to Change Me Now. Lot's of excitement for BOATM, Standing ovation in the balcony at the end.

The setlist? Boring. But why do I think that? A good few changes since I saw him last, especially for how often he plays and how old he is, that many changes should be exciting. Yet... Part of the answer I think is this website. Knowing exactly what to expect. Hearing the arrangements on YouTube 100 times before and often in better renditions (see the Desert Trip BOATM). If I had not done all that, I think the show would be more of a blast. Yet, still it deserves criticism. D Whistle and Summer Days are fun songs, and they liven up the set, but really... those lyrics. There is not much there is either of them. It's Alright Ma, they are not. With such a storied career, it's a shame songs of such little depth are what need to be relied on to keep the show moving. And why drop Tangled when it almost always worked?

Some of the renditions in the setlist though are killers. Things Have Changed still works for me after so many listens. It just sets the mood musically right of the bat. It's statement song. It says don't x with me. Don't Think Twice is a perfect gift to the audience. Short, sweet, and playing it straight. It's a beautiful compositions performed well. Glad to hear it.

Highway 61 was a killer. Again, short sweet and performed well. Lot's of gusto from Dylan on that one.

Desolation Row was powerful. He inhabits that world. You inhabit it with him if you listen closely enough. You can peek out to Desolation Row. What a treasure.

Pay in Blood. Wow. Tempest was for a while my favorite Dylan album and in fact was the album that got me into Dylan. I love this song and his rendition tonight was sharp and heavy.

BOATM. Dylan seethed in the vocals. Again, he transports you to that world.

Love Sick was haunting in all the ways it should be. And the yearning Dylan summoned in the final chorus was deeply felt.

That was it for the killer songs. As for the rest...

ERK is losing steam with the new arrangement. Still the lyrics are great and well delivered.

Soon After midnight was a snooze.

Long and Wasted Years is a powerful number and Dylan did it well, but it needs a rest.

Blowing in the Wind with a great arrangement, but not much there on repeated listens.

The standards were mostly dull. Except Why Try to Change and Autumn Leaves which were both wonderful.

Overall it was a good mix with some standouts.

The band is good but is so held back by Bob. He should let them blow. Charlie kills it in his little moments and the crowd ate it up (like in Highway 61).

Bob is old and has a lot of songs he could present. We get a good set of them that suit his age and voice and they are performed with power and emotion. Listen carefully and there is a lot of beauty in there and we saw a lot of it tonight in Providence. We should treasure that. Beauty is no small thing.

Hey! Your gf said the same thing to me during the show. She leaned over and asked, "Do they look tired?" I agree it was a bit lacking. All my other friends there said the same thing. Actually I mentioned you both bc we went across the street to hang out for a while and another friend said exactly the same thing your gf said to me. If I had known we were going to hang out for a while, I would have asked you both to join us. Bummer.

Well at least you could see his hair for $435.

Insane. Wallingford was just as bad.