Bob Dylan 2001.05.02 in Dalton

Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 08:02:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Adam Selzer adam1117@yahoo.com
Subject: Dalton Review
To: webmaster@expectingrain.com
Cc: billp61@execpc.com

This'll just be a brief review; I'm working on a
really long essay about the shows I'm seeing (it's
getting to be nearly book-length, actually), so it'll
include a more detailed review. E-mail me
(adam1117@yahoo.com) if you want to know when it's
done.
 
 We got to Dalton really early, and found that the
arena was a neat little place in the mountains -
literally. From the bottom of the mountain, you could
see it perched about halfway up. Did the traditional
milling around talking to other fans for awhile before
taking our pretty-good seats.

 Bob walked out a few seconds before the intro, and
the band launched into a wicked Duncan and Brady. I'd
expected Tambourine Man next, but when Larry grabbed
his fiddle I knew we were in for "My Back Pages," and
we got a great version, complete with harp.

 On into "Desolation Row," which was the same,
rocked-up-but-still-acoustic arrangement it's been for
some time now. Lots of neat vocal playing here.
 The electric started with a strong "Crash on the
Levee," which was a joy to hear. The bass line was
supercool. About midway through, I noticed that Bob
had been taking all of the solos himself - Larry and
Charlie weren't getting much. This continued all the
way through, and the solos weren't just two notes. 
 "Tell Me That It Isn't True" was presented very
straightforward, with Bob playing the Actor. The
vocals that were demanding and nervous at the same
time. ("I need you to tell me RIGHT NOW...but oh
goodness, what if you say it's true??")
 "SIOMWTMBA" was a fun arrangement, with the guitar
sound going all sorts of places. One minute it's this
way, then it's that way, and then back to this way,
and it's all seamless, and Bob is playing up the jokes
in the vocals for all he's worth.
  The next acoustic song started out sounding like
"Don't Think Twice," but then comes that first line,
"Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat" and I
about jump out of my skin. "Mama You've Been On My
Mind!" (y'know. Don't Think Twice Part II). It was a
straight-up, melodious performance, complete with a
lovely,
walkin-down-the-long-lonesome-road-kicking-a-stone-and-whistling
sort of harp solo.
  There was a brief conference between songs (there
was one between about all of the songs - I think
they're up to something), and then "Fourth Time
Around!" Bob used the original tune, but the emphasis
was on the story, sounded like he was saying "I've
heard your version, buthere's exactly how it
happened." It went by quick, ending with somebody
playing the sitar riff from "Norweigan Wood" (ha!)
  "Tangled" was it's usual fun self, and I figured
that'd be the end of the acoustic set - but no! They
came back for a fine "Searching For a Soldier's
Grave," and man, oh man, can Larry and Charlie sing
back up!

  "Standing in the Doorway" was similar to the album
version, and just as powerful. But then came the song
my roommate called The Coolest Thing He's Ever Heard.
  "Cold Irons Bound" ROCKED but HARD! It was close to,
but not quite, the 2000 arrangement. Similar, but
rocked even harder. He'd sing the chorus line once,
with a bit of a meanness, then again, with even more
bite, followed by a wicked guitar riff that kicked you
in the brains. All the while there was a light show in
the back, focusing on the shadows (first you'd see
Bob's silhouette, then Larry's, then back to
Bob...with the lighing on the band never changing) all
in sync with the music. AWESOME. 

  "L-SPBH" was, after that, a little anti-climactic,
but cool anyway, with band intros in the middle, with
the band still playing. Reminded me, in a good way, of
BB King.

  As I said, this is a shortened review, so I won't
get into the encores, except to say that it was great
to notice the Oscar (the real one?) sitting on an amp
behind Larry (My, he must be proud!), and the new
arrangement of Knockin, with Larry and Charlie
Oooh-oooh-oohing, led to the best version of "Knockin"
I've ever heard.

   Yeah, I got a tape of most of it. But I'm missing
Fourth Time through Pill Box, and what I have sounds
pretty crumby indeed. So, yes, I WANT A GOOD
RECORDING. Getting mp3s up on line would be extra
super. I have much to trade. adam1117@yahoo.com

  Thanks,
  Adam Selzer

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