Bob Dylan 2001.11.09 in Detroit
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: Cobo Observations From: Matthew B Young youngmb@qix.gpcc.itd.umich.edu Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 05:12:15 GMT Quick notes from tonight's show (I'll leave the setlist posting to others who do it properly): 1) The crowd, from where I was standing (on the floor, about 15 people back from Bob) was the worst I have ever experienced in 16 Dylan shows. For instance, during Sugar Baby - as the crowd fell silent - this hollow-headed fool near me dials a number on his cell phone and proceeds to shout "Hey Buddy! Guess where I am? AT a Bob Dylan concert! Whooo Hoooooo!!" I was too stunned by his staggering display of bad taste to say anything at first, but fortunately his friend next to him grabbed the phone from his hand and hung it up. Then there were these two macho guys who came busting up through the crowd elbowing people and stepping on feet and pushing to get up front...I've never wanted to hit someone so much in my life. I'm not a violent person. But I found myself actually kicking my foot out and pegging one of these assholes right in the shin. And it felt good. These were the type of guys who beat up gay people on the streets but can't wait to slap eachother with towels in the shower room at the gym. The world would be a better place if they would just come to terms with their repressed homosexuality. 2) Bob saved my mood by being so seemingly happy himself. Which I wasn't expecting. I'd be mentally preoccupied plotting the destruction of those around me, mood sinking, when I'd look at Bob and see him laughing and smiling and dancing and my mood would improve tenfold. 3) Anyone else who was there: What in the hell is Charlie singing during the chorus of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"? I watched him everytime he stepped up to the microphone on that one, and the best I could tell his mouth was saying "wacka wacka wacka heaven's door." It was CERTAINLY not the word "knockin'" that he was singing, though Larry was. All in all a strange show. One of the oddest I've been to. I'm still trying to stop wishing harm to those idiots around me in the crowd. Hopefully tomorrow will be a normal (read: great) crowd. And hopefully I'll get to hear Mississippi. Thanks for letting me vent, Matt -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "World Wildlife Fund is a good cause, I support them, and am proud to lend my music to this effort. Early on, animals were the only ones who liked my music. Now it's payback time." Bob Dylan, May 2001
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: Detroit 11-09-01 - The One That Got Away From: Bob Doisneau stiffle@yahoo.com Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 05:33:15 GMT Tonight's show at Cobo had metal detectors everyone had to go through. Several tapers including myself never made it past security getting in. I gave the old college try before I finally fessed up and took my rig back to the car. First time I couldn't get my gear in a Bob show. :( This will obviously the show that got away recording-wise unless some crafty taper made it in. ???????
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: Re: Detroit 11-09-01 - The One That Got Away From: Matthew B Young youngmb@pacman.gpcc.itd.umich.edu Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 14:25:44 GMT Don't you worry, Bob. This show was safely recorded - not only by Dylan's road team, but by "certain" audience members who held their breath going through the metal detectors, got through without a beep, and RAN FULL SPEED to get lost in the crowd at the stage. I myself didn't even think the metal detectors were on. Did it actaully beep on you? Because I didn't see it beep on anyone - only the security guy on the other side of the detector was picking people out for random wand detector searches. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your failed attempt. Good try, though. Matt
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: Burgundy Bob at Cobo From: Brandon Zwagerman bzwagerm@NOumich.eduSPAM Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 12:04:14 -0500 After I got out of work yesterday at 5, some friends and I hit Interstate 94 to Detroit from Ann Arbor. We made it to Cobo around 6:30, and were directed down an escalator to the floor line, which was already relatively long. After standing around a while and getting arm-banded, we were whisked through metal-detectors (surely not all recording devices would set these off?) rushed for standing space. I ended up around ten-rows back, dead-center. Excellent. Then the hour of standing around talking, the crowd seemed to have a good number of young people, which is always good to see. I worry about my peers often, nice to see that thousands of them actually do have decent taste in music. Finally Aaron Copland comes on and the lights go down, the reserved seating looking only 1/2 - 2/3 full at this point."Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan" and band step out. Bob was wearing a burgundy suit with an olive shirt (is this a first?), and the rest of the band is in black and grey as usual. Bob's hair seemed whiter than ever also. "Wait For the Light to Shine" is a kind of nice, upbeat old-time gospelish song. From where I was, I could clearly see every facial expression. From the get-go he was raising his eyebrows often and throughout the show seemed to be close to smiling (or maybe that is a full smile for Bob). This was the first time I've heard "It Ain't Me Babe" live-- it was very subdued, I thought it might have been "Girl of the North Country" at first. It was a truly beautiful arrangement, more sad than harsh, sort of in the vein of the New York Sessions "Idiot Wind" or "Sugar Baby." The best part was an amazing harmonica solo that ended the song. Just when I thought he was going to end it, he started up again and kept going. "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" was excellent, I don't think he pronounce "hard" the same way twice-- Bob's phrasing and shaping of words is one of the best things about seeing him live. I'll admit "Searching For a Soldier's Grave" didn't do a ton for me, it didn't seem very excting or impassioned, plus, I was really looking forward to "This World Can't Stand Long." Oh well. "Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum" seemed to be quite well-recognized by the crowd, and it was pretty driving, much like the album, although the guitar didn't seem to be as loud in the mix this time. I really couldn't figure out what the next song was, but once he started singing, realized it was "Every Grain of Sand," which made me happy, as it is a song I've always wanted to hear live. The bulk of the crowd didn't seem to know what it was (I guess "Shot of Love" and "The Bootleg Series" aren't the first Dylan CDs most people get around to buying, eh?). I am not sure what I think of this arrangement, but I was grateful nonetheless. "Floater" was next, it wasn't one I desperately needed to hear, but it is great to watch and hear him deliver some of these lines! He had a little trouble with the Romeo and Juliet line, but he quickly corrected himself. I saw Larry get handed a banjo and then yelled out "High Water!" I don't know if those around me actually believed Bob was listening to my suggestion or that I was psychic, but that doesn't matter, because this song was on fire! "Throw your panties overboard!" -I can die relatively content now that I've heard Bob utter those lines. "Don't Think Twice" was bittersweet and well-received as always, and "John Brown," while not well-recognized by the crowd, was great to hear in these times. If that isn't an anti-war song, I don't know what is. It was great that he played "Tangled Up in Blue!" It is the single show I've heard him play every single (6 now) show I've been to, but it is the one I don't get tired of. "Summer Days" was really swinging of course, the crowd bopped along and continued the moving that began during "Tangled." Next, was the highlight of the show for me. Eerie swirling lights were projected on the curtain behind the band, and the crowd fell into silent respectful awe during "Sugar Baby." This should have won Best Male Vocal Performance-- you could hear every single word so clearly, and every subtle instrumental sound. Utterly amazing and beautiful. The recording is a must to get ahold of if only for this song. Breathtaking. Truly wonderful. "Cold Irons Bound" was bloody great as well, this live arrangement is excellent, what a beat. The lights were also very cool for this song, alternating giant silhouettes of Bob and the band members appeared on the curtain behind the stage. If I had known it was the debut of harp on this song, I would have payed more attention, because I can't for the life of me remember how the solo went and where it was in the song. "Rainy Day Women" did its usual job of getting the crowd to yell "Everybody Must Get Stoned!" out of sync with Bob's own singing. Bob introduced the band during this song, and he told a David Kemper joke! Has he done this lately? It was something like "If you are wondering what is written on his boots, those are footnotes." Haha. The guys stood and basked in applause, and Bob gave a little bow and gave a 2-fisted point to the crowd before they exited into darkness. I love that guy. My friend had noted that he wanted Bob to play "Love Sick," so I yelled out "Things Have Changed!" as the guys came back out, just to spite him. And also becuase I wanted to hear it more than "Love Sick." And I got lucky! A great version again, followed by the always crowd-pleasing "Like a Rolling Stone," with the spotlights on the crowd during the chorus. I looked up into the stands and spotted this old guy (70?) in a suit and tie and his probable wife standing up clapping along. That's great. I hadn't heard "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" live before, except as a duet with Paul Simon. This version however was much different. Larry and Charlie sang haunting "oo-oo-ooo"s for the intro and conclusion, and joined in on the chorus. Excellent. Sweet, "High Water" just came on the radio as I am typing this (following Iris DeMent's "Wasteland of the Free"). I love this station (http://www.wcbn.org)! Anyway, back to last night. "Honest With Me" was another rollicking jaunt down to Memphis or somewhere. An obligatory "Blowin' in the Wind" closed out the first encore, and finally an "All Along the Watchtower" that admittedly seemed to have a different, and not as good, arrangement than versions I've heard from last year. But it was still very good, and the crowd loved it. It seemed like he went through all the lyrics twice to prolong the song. I waved goodbye to Bob, and they left us in the dark for several minutes in order to make their great esacpe to the freeway. I walked out of the arena on the Detroit River side, the beautiful skyline on Windsor glowing in the darkness, and then Detroit's even more impressive downtown coming into view as we walked around the arena. It was a great night, Bob seemed to be enjoying himself in his glowing suit, and I surely was. I had just gotten my twice-yearly Bob fix and was smiling. This capped off a week and a half of 5 concerts by various artists for me. I love my life. Peace, Brandon
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: My first show: Detroit (11/9/01) From: LEAHWARSHA leahwarsha@aol.com Date: 10 Nov 2001 21:44:17 GMT Okay, first let me say that I was way up along the side of the arena (B3) and looking at the stage sideways and from above. Like a lot of people, I had people talking through the entire concert behind me (just to confuse all stereotypes, this was a middle-aged couple as well as some twenty-something women). Still, after the couple of songs it took Bob to warm up, this turned into one of the most amazing concerts I've ever seen in my life! His vocals and the guitar solos came together and sounded tight and wonderful, and like other people have mentioned he seemed like he was having a fun time. He appeared on stage in a red suit and white shoes and had a (I'm assuming characterteristic) laid-back performance style, but every so often would lean over into a guitar solo or twist one of his shoes against the floor in a subtle little shimmy. It was really the vocals that got me, though. Love and Theft is his most impressive album in a long time and what he did live at this show blew the album performance away! After a while I could ignore the peons in the crowd, the fact that I was so far away and the somewhat sterile feel of the arena show and got tunnel vision to the stage. Seeing Dylan live was my second best concert ever (first was Patti Smith at Saint Andrews, directly in front and leaning against the stage), and I can't wait to see him again at a smaller venue. Next time, I'll spring for the expensive tickets (how much was floor, BTW? I paid $35 for nose-bleed seats), get there hours early and plant myself in front. Even so, I'm not sure how he'd be able to top what he did last night. -Leah BTW, no college-aged "grunge" stereotypes, please. I'm 21 and a loving fan.
From: "mike frayer" mfrayer@prodigy.net To: webmaster@dylanite.com Subject: review from 11/9 Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 19:48:28 -0500 I was a little worried about going to this show. I was taking along my roommate from college who'd never seen Dylan. I was pleased with Tuesday's show, but onlyÊbecause I was fascinated at seeing the band and Dylan interact with one another. I was hoping that my friend would not be disappointed. I was pleased that I was wearing my red velvet shirt and Dylan came out with a burgundy and black trimmed suit. Great minds think alike? I'd love to know where he gets his clothes. Only he could get away with wearing 'em though. I was pretty pleased to hear "waiting for the light to shine." I hadn't heard that opener before. And it just goes on the list of songs that I've heard Bob open his show with. Waiting is a pretty good opener, just a good foot stompin' loud harmonizin' song to get people goin. I was pleased with It ain't me babe. It's always been one of my favorites. And truth be told, I was a little surprised to see it in the number 2 spot. I wasn't anticipating anything. I was secretly hoping to hear Visions. A song that has eluded me. Hard rain was done superbly. No backing vocals. All the words and phrases deliberately dragged out and annunciated. Very well done. I noted that at this time that Bob was seemingly inspired. He was posturing and doing quite a bit of noodling and soloing on the guitar. ParticularlyÊon "it ain't me babe" he played the harmonica for an extended period of time. I'm thoroughly convinced that he read my review of Tuesday night's show about how I noted that he was not playing. He had his guitar turned way up and he was playing and singing pretty passionately at this point. Tweedle was pretty cool. I have to say that this immediately struck me when I first bought the album. This song seemed to me like a song out of his sixties period, ridiculous lyrics and crazy circumstances. I'd have to say it's the song that I skip over on the cd now. But I was happy just to get something different. Floater and High Water were great to see again. In the last 2 shows, I've seen 8 of the new songs on the album. I have to say I was pleased with that. It seems that Bob is pretty proud of this album, or he's pleased with the way he can deliver the sound of the album live. I think that of all the shows I'd seen since t.o.o.m I'd only seen 3 songs off of that live and if I recall correctly there was only about 5 in the rotation. I can't speak enough of how animated and intense Bob seemed to be. Snarling lyrics, kicking out solos, sucking the audience in repeatedly through all the songs. I noted this particularly in John Brown, He's slowed it down to a point that you're hanging on his every word. It's masterful performing and showmanship. All I could do was just shake my head. For all I can say about Bob's performance, I have to say, that I am a little disappointed in the second half of the show. T.U.I.B. is a song that I don't need to see again. It was cool for my friend. But, it's a little tired. R.D.W., L.A.R.S. Knockin', Blowin....etc. All formulaic songs that are cool but tired. I think that I find them cool, because I appreciate the sense of history that goes along with these songs. I wonder during shows...."does bob recall when the guy yelled "judas" to him?" does it give bob a kick to see how the song has become an anthem? Does he feel good being right? I don't like it when my mind drifts at a show like this. And, it seemed like Bob wanted to get the show over with. He started singing a few of the songs during the musical intro. At this point my eye drifted and I caught some pretty hot women standing off to the stage right by the exit. I wonder if he was inspired because he may have had some inspiration before the show and maybe was promised more after if he did a good job. Scandalous!! At this point in my concert career, it would make me happier, if Bob hit the stage and played Visions, T.O.O.M. Love and Theft and maybe World gone Wrong. And I never thought I'd say that. But I think I'd be happier if he played things that he'd written recently. The guy who wrote blowin' is not the same guy on that stage now. Enough Philosophizing. One other thing. I'd like to apologize to any visitors to Detroit. The crowd on the floor was filled with more Assholes than I'd ever been around at a Dylan show. People on cell phones. These two guys shoving there way through the crowd. People talking during songs. I've never been at a show where people were so disrespectful. I'm amazed that you can even stare at these people or ask 'em to shut up and they don't even care. That takes guts. I just want to let all you visitors know that we are not usually like that. And, I hope you were able to enjoy the show regardless. Hope to see you down the road, Boiled Guts of Birds
