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Bob Dylan 951025 Rockford, IL



Date:    Thu, 26 Oct 1995 02:09:13 -0500
From:    Sandy Ramer (ramer@SSC.WISC.EDU)
Subject: Rockford Rocked

Coronado Theater, Rockford, Oct 25, 1995

1.  Crash On The Levee
2.  Lay Lady Lay
3.  All Along The Watchtower
4.  Under the Red Sky
5.  I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
6.  Silvio
7.  Tamborine Man (a)
8.  Gates of Eden (a)
9.  To Ramona (a)
10. Jokerman
11. Shooting Star
12. Obviously 5 Believers
13. West LA Fadeaway  (encore)
14. The Times They Are A Changin' (encore)
15. Rainy Day Women #12 and 35  (encore)


I think that's it.  Somebody correct me if I'm wrong (I know you will).

What can I say? It was fantastic. Wonderful old former movie theater.  We
were very close to the front.  The audience was fairly reserved, which I'm
sure helped the tapers.  I was sitting next to one (will mention no names)
and almost went crazy trying to be still.

Bob started out seeming a little tired and automatic on Crash on the
Levee--but doesn't he always take a little warming up?  It didn't take long
before he was seriously into it and stayed that way for the rest of the show.

He looked great.  The hair was light again, mostly gray, I think.  Shaped
just like in Don't Look Back!!!  I was stage left and saw a lot of the
profile.  So nice without the shades.  I was staring at that nose and carried
way back in time to when I was listening to Greatest Hits (the first volume,
kids) and gazing at the record album cover.  He has recreated that "look."
Well, not exactly.  There were no irridescent white jacket-type shirts like
tonight.  The shirt had french cuffs, large cuff links.  A silver chain hung
down over his pants, which were the black ones with the white stripe and some
buttons near the bottom.  (Tony had on the black pants with the white shells
all down the side--aren't those Bob's pants?)  No spats tonight.  Bob wore
plain black boots.  J.J. was all in brown (I think--the lights and the
incense cast a haze).  Tony wore a dark jacket over t-shirt.  Winston Watson
was back there pounding away on the drums, hair flying, and wearing a dark
shirt and light beige pants.  Bucky Baxter's outfit was a bit strange--a
"Captain and Tenille" type hat (Captain, actually) and a very long red
jacket.  Maybe he planned a cruise on the Rock River later.  Don't remember
the pants, but he was wearing some.  So was everyone in the audience, as far
as we knew.  No Biloxi Lady in White.

Back to the real stuff.  Don't get me wrong about Crash on the Levee.  It
was good.  In the context of a 93 or 94 show, I would have said it was
terrific.  But things are so much better now.  :-)  Lay Lady Lay was Lay Lady
Lay.  They really started smokin' for All Along the Watchtower.

Did I mention loud?  They were loud!

Under The Red Sky was nicely done (just not one of my favorites).  I'll Be
Your Baby Tonight, a rousing version.  Silvio was powerful!  Featured great
extended jam with J.J. that came to a thunderous crescendo that had the theater
security guy nearest me holding his head in pain.

Then they went acoustic.  Tambourine Man was beautiful, made me cry--or was
it the incense.  We got our first harp solo here, and it was a fine one.
Gates of Eden--I think I gasped out loud. I was trying so hard to be quiet,
but it was an incredible version, every word carved out, as distinct and
beautiful as the intricate carvings everywhere in this theater.

Jokerman and Shooting Star were both great.  And he makes it look so easy
these days.  I'm kind of glad he junked the harmonica holder.  His movements
are so much more fluid now.  During Shooting Star I noticed some of those
"guitar legend" moves people are talking about.  :-)

Also during Shooting Star, the young couple in front of me got up and left.
She was very pregnant and was holding her back.  Maybe she went into labor!
Imagine telling your kid you went into labor while Bob Dylan sang Shooting
Star.

Bob was full of "thank you"s tonight.  And he introduced the band with a few
comments about where they were from.  Winston was from Chicago tonight.  I
didn't catch the rest.  Then he said, "we aren't going to be here much
longer, were just going to try this, then be on our way."

They "tried" Obviously 5 Believers--and it really rocked.  Someone stood up to
dance near the front.  Security-man-with-a-headache rushed over and grabbed
him and forced him to sit down. J J looked very concerned about this.  As
soon as the security fellow had gone back to his perch, J J motioned, "come on
up."  We did. Seemed like it was me and mostly a bunch of Deadheads. Ha.
And my friend the unnamed taper had said he wasn't worried that I would make
too much noise, I didn't look like the type.  It was clear Bob was having a
ball playing to those Dead fans.  Maybe it is his inheritance.  West LA
Fadeaway.  There was a rail around the orchestra pit, and the security guys
kept people from getting inside there.  I was off to the left, about as close
as I could get.  Achingly close.  But there were no handshakes or autographs
tonight (at least at the stage) because of that railing.

The Times They Are A Changin' was not boring at all!  Acoustic guitar duel.
Well, Tony was involved in this exchange, too.  So is it still a duel?

(Lord, I've got to go to bed.  :-)  This will be embarrassing to read in the
digest tomorrow, no doubt.)

Rainy Day Women.  At home I'd push the skip button.  But, in person, what
fun!

Enough said.

Sandy Ramer
ramer@ssc.wisc.edu

Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 00:58:15 -0400 From: SLOTH9318 (sloth9318@AOL.COM) Subject: 10/25/95 Setlist (Coronado Theater, Rockford, IL) 1. Down In The Flood 2. Lay Lady Lay 3. All Along The Watchtower 4. Under The Red Sky 5. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight 6. Silvio 7. Mr.Tambourine Man (acoustic) 8. Gates of Eden (acoustic) 9. To Ramona (acoustic) .'10. Jokerman 11. Shooting Star 12. Obviously 5 Believers 13. West LA Freeway 14. Times They Are A-changing 15. Rainy Day Women, # 12 & 35 A great show in a wonderful theater, about 2500 seats. Audience was very responsive, Bob was great--show was even better than in Mpls last night and Bob did one more song than he had listed on playlist (which I was barely able to read thru binoculars from my balcony seat). Great as the show was, it could have been better--Bob's unplayed alternates on the playlist included Desolation Row, Every Grain of Sand, Love Minus Zero/No Limit, She Belongs to Me. As always, he leaves us wanting more. Ah, well--on to St. Louis and Springfield!!!
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 1995 00:53:38 GMT From: Ken Kleber (k-kleber@STUDENTS.UIUC.EDU) Subject: Re: 10/25/95 Setlist (Coronado Theater, Rockford, IL) sloth9318@aol.com (SLOTH9318) wrote: >1. Down In The Flood >2. Lay Lady Lay >3. All Along The Watchtower >4. Under The Red Sky >5. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight >6. Silvio >7. Mr.Tambourine Man (acoustic) >8. Gates of Eden (acoustic) >9. To Ramona (acoustic) >.'10. Jokerman >11. Shooting Star >12. Obviously 5 Believers >13. West LA Freeway >14. Times They Are A-changing >15. Rainy Day Women, # 12 & 35 > Are you sure it wasn't West LA Fadeaway??
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 1995 03:42:51 -0400 Reply-To: SLOTH9318 (sloth9318@aol.com) Subject: Re: 10/25/95 Setlist (Coronado Theater, Rockford, IL) Of course it was, that is the sort of error I make when I type in stuff early in the morning in the vain attempt to please the curious quickly.
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 11:08:57 GMT From: Mark Troyer Subject: My Rockford Ramblings (long) "Pay for your ticket and don't complain" -- Hunter and Dylan First of all, let me say that this may be rife and riddled with errors. It's 5:07 AM in East Lansing, Michigan U.S.A. in the Michigan State University 24 hour computer lab. I have just driven back to here from the best concert I may ever see, and I am so strung out on caffeine (pills, coffee, you name it) that I even enjoyed Mariah Carey's new single which was playing on the radio while driving through Chicago. (Woo, wee! Pretty scary!) I've only got about an hour and a half before I have to take a shower and go pick up a take-home midterm exam in Econometrics (as boring as it sounds, trust me!) so this will not be in as much detail as I would like. But I want to type it in now, 1) because I won't go to sleep tonite anyway because I'm so caffeinated 2)while it's fresh in my mind 3) if I don't do it now it'll be another week before I have time. First, let me add on a bit to Marty, Sandy and SLOTH(?)'s excellent accounts. Then, I shall give a bit of a personal response. (following the journalistic technique of truly interesting stuff first and expendable later, apologies to those getting the digest!) Yes, this was a hell of a show. No holds barred. A couple of interesting things: The country flavor of the show: Lay, Lady, Lay, UTRS, Baby Tonight, Shooting Star, and Times all played pretty much as straight country-western numbers (well, rockabilly-tinged CW). During especially UTRS and Jokerman (and maybe others) Bucky coaxed some very, very organ-sounding riffs out of his lap-pedal-dobro-steel (whatever the various instruments he plays are called and whichever one he was playing at the time, I believe the dobro). In fact, I kept looking for the organ (even though I knew it wasn't there) especially when I came up front at the end of the show. Shooting Star and Times were exactly the "Unplugged" arrangements, though Star was the Unplugged arrangement played w/ electric instruments. Shooting Star was hauntingly beautiful. Bob sang the "sermon on the mount" section over again to close the song, and really leaned into it. Brought chills. Coming right on the heels of "Jokerman," I have a feeling he wanted us, if not to "repent and be saved," to at least give such matters a thinking over. But could just be me. And of course Times had the wonderful harp solo (wondeful? more than that!), whereas the "Unplugged" track, I believe, had no harp. Of course, in the state I'm in someone could probably tell me that John Brown --er, I mean Dark Eyes appeared on Unplugged and I might believe them. I used to not understand why "Tamborine Man" meant so much to so many people (I think growing up only hearing the truncated Byrds version is partly responsible) but recently I have developed a fondness for it. And the rendition tonight literally brought tears treaming down my face. This, quite simply, was Bob Dylan the performer at the height of his art. Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky. . . Bob's comments: J.J. from Memphis, Winston from Chicago, and Bucky is "the former mayor of Bluefields (?) West Virginia." Band intros were *before* final song, and I heard the comment about "Obviously" as something like: "Well, we won't keep you here too much longer, we just wanna try this last one." (from memory). The Coronado is a beautiful theater. But it was nowhere near full! In fact, where my seat was there was a whole section of basically empty seats to my left! One bartender said he didn't think the concert was all that well promoted, he hadn't really heard much about it. O.K., now on to my personal story. I wish I had the time to give you more background, because my conclusion won t make much sense. But, I ll give you a sketch, and maybe it ll come together. I left East Lansing at 6:30 AM Wednesday morning (almost 24 hours ago). Many long stories tied up in the time from then till concert, but the gist is: had to serivice car, long drive, tried to study at coffee shop and too excited (and strung out) to do so, hassle procuring red rose, and visited many local bars looking for other flower wearers (I did try!) Locals (and bartenders) with racist jokes, made me feel ashamed of coming from the part of the U.S.A. (Midwest) that I do. No one with a real high opinion of Mr. Dylan except as an object of derision. Assumptions about my sexual orientation (because of the flower), the only Dylan in the jukebox is Budokan..... It s too tangled, I m sorry (hey, I did drive past a Montague Street in Rockford) So the point of that is, I arrive at the concert, as a by-product of my fellow-rmd er searching, with 4 beers in me. Not a real good thing, but I am not drunk (I m a reasonably big guy) however am a bit tipsy. Fortunately, concert starts 20 minutes late so I have time for several frantic restroom trips. So during the concert I am, um, active. I try to take care not to whoop and applaud while Bob is singing (I think I succeeded), but I do greet some solos, and phrases, with that appreciation. I am also moving to the music (remaining seated) and standing up to applaud after each song. (I believe everyone did after at least Watchtower, Silvio and Tamborine). I think the people behind me (a couple with an 11-year old son) and next to me (a relatively older couple) understood (I had told them from how far I had come), and I genuinely felt the need to be active -- this was the concert experience of my lifetime. But maybe they were a bit concerned about me having partaken of a bit more than beer (I hadn t and haven t). And I m afraid now I may have made an ass of myself, especially in what follows. During an instrument break for Ramona, I ran to the restroom, planning to run back and wait in the lobby by the main aisle for the stage rush (I was expecting God Knows, and remembered a mass of humanity at Columbus 8/21/94, my first show). So I stepped inside the door for the end of Ramona, but heard, instead of the God Knows opening, Jokerman! Which made me very happy, especially when I heard the performance of it which flat out blew away any other version of this song I ve heard, ever (I know, all 7 of them, but still. . . .) However, now is the conundrum of: return to seat? Try to intiate a rush anyway? Of course, there was an empty row of seats right there, so I sat down at the end of the row and enjoyed the song. Then, Shooting Star: I almost felt the moment was right after the final repetition of the "sermon" verse, but I would have been alone. So still I waited. Incidently, the beer had completely worn off by now, whatever I did was not chemically-induced. . . . Then the intros, and an unbelieveable 5 Believers kicks off. That did it. That performance demanded more than an audience sitting on its hands. I walked down to the front inbetween two sections of the front row (which was right up against the railing, so only in that space could people fill in unless the railing was jumped) and crouched down, wondering what to do. Then, I saw one lone guy in the front row , several seats over from where I was crouched, dancing away. Now, I m a small-town rural Ohio boy with no clue about how to dance. None. But I was going to be damned if I wasn t going to show this band that they were moving at least SOMEbody in that theater. So I remembered my last show, (6/25/95, Dylan opening Grateful Dead) and noticed a high Deadhead contingent in the vicinity. So I dusted off my best imitation of a Dead fan really digging the music (based on, admittedly, only one previous show) and moved for all I was worth. Yet now it s just us two. Evryone else is. . . seated! And, I see the security guard hassling the other guy. I know it s big trouble unless it s more than just us two, so desperately I motion to everyone else to get on their feet and mumble loudly and incredulously about the immensity of the performance we are hearing. Sadly, the words I choose are on the uninspired order of "C MON! This is ROCK N ROLL!" I get back uncomfortable smiles which say, essentially, "So exactly how high ARE you?" Now my memory is a bit fuzzy on this next point, but somehow everyone in front did finally join in. (Actually, this whole post is probably selective memory. . . .) Then I noticed a few people over the railing up next to the stage. Here we go, I thought, more room for dancing, more people up front. No sooner did I jump the railing, though, than did a security guy shove me back, knocking off my EDLIS rose which lay there right in front of the railing for the rest of the show. Oh well, but I had thought I had read that dancing was at least tolerated at the end of other shows on this tour? Now I am screaming applause after songs (through the three ! encores), dancing for all I m worth, etc. trying to get a response from the band or their leader (a smile, eye contact, or a peformance of Delia) . At least the band were quite responsive to the audience, and when Bob Dylan took his final bows, though quite solemn, he did seem somewhat touched. But I am afraid I was just plain annoying. After the last encore, I tried asking security if I could have one of the cue sheets. I got ignored, even after shouting, "just say no, and I ll understand." The woman next to me suggested stepping over the railing to ask to make sure I was heard. As soon as I did, the security guy ran up and shouted, "You re going to go to jail!" Now I was pissed off. I almost wanted to see if he could make that stick (there probably is a town ordinance, but the show was OVER!) but I had the sense to step back. Then I yelled (Freudian? slip), "At least do me the dignity of giving me a response!" He then said, "well you would have to ask that guy at the side of the stage." He paused and added, "And he says no, because then everyone would want one." (Half-remembered paraphrases.) Now I understand security is essential, and I do realize I was an ass this evening. But even so, the whole security attitude seemed to me to be a bit over the top. So, the conclusion I made (I had a 4 1/2 hour drive to think this over) is, paradoxically, the greatest concert I may ever see has convinced me I must reduce the Dylan content in my life. If this man s performances consume me to the point where I m making an ass out of myself, going multiple days without sleep, neglecting large parts of my life (i.e. as a student), and abusing my body with caffeine and junk food (that s what I ate on this trip), a change has gotta come. Don t get me wrong: tonight was a wonderful performance and I will be forever glad I was there, but I feel bad about having detracted from other people s enjoyment. . . . I m gonna cut back on Dylan and listen to a little more Mozart, spend more time on important relationships, and maybe even study a bit. I l still buy any new album, see him when he s performing within a reasonable distance, and even check in on r.m.d. now and then, but it is safe to say I won t be helping Krogsgaard write the next edition :-) I need balance in my life. Time for my shower. Would appreciate any advice people who ve confronted similar issues have, and also if you were there tonight I d like your perspective (I was wearing black jeans and and beige, long sleeved shirt). Thank you for reading this (if you re still doing so) and sorry for the bandwidth consumption. Mark
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 17:42:48 +0000 From: Tiernan Henry (HENRY.TIERNAN@UCG.IE) Subject: bob in rockford setlist Hey Bobfiends: from a Madison-based buddy, last night's set list... Crash On the Levee (Down In the Flood) Lay Lady Lay All Along the Watchtower Under the Red Sky I'll Be Your Baby Tonight Silvio Mr. Tambourine Man Gates of Eden To Ramona Jokerman Shooting Star Obviously 5 Believers West L.A. Fadeaway The Times They Are A-Changing Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 FALL CLASSIC '95 Coronado Theater, Rockford, IL 10/25/95
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 17:26:56 GMT From: Victor Edmonds (vedmond@LUC.EDU) Subject: More About Rockfort 10/25/95 There have been great posts about last night's excellent concert, I have a few things to add -- my perspective from 17th row center. I thought the place was packed. Someone told me that Bob donated the proceeds from his last Rockfort concert to a local charity. He said "Rockfort loves Bob." That's the way it felt. I've heard Brixton, Manchester and Oslo from this year (thanks to RMDers Pat and Goran). To get the sound and feel of last night, take those, promote Bucky and get a few thousand miles closer to the home of country music. Bucky was great. Usually on lap guitar, also on steel, dobro and mandolin, he was lead guitar, second to Bob. Sandy was right about Bucky looking like Daryl Dragoon of Captain and Tenille -- long white nightshirt under long red jacket, cheap looking captain's hat, same place Captain took on stage. Two guys next to me sat with arms folded till they left during Times. I guessed they gave up waiting for Toni Tenille to come out for a rousing Do It To Me One More Time. JJ looked like a graduate student and has moved to the Garth Hudson atmosphere and support role formerly Bucky's. Tony was having a grinning great time wearing Bob's pants. Winston's hair was part of the drama. For Sadie's sake I got out the binoculars to identify the black t-shirt under Bob's sashed voyageur shirt. I'd say silk weight capilene with high crew neck. The sound was perfect. Of many this was the first Dylan concert I have attended where I could hear the words and each instrument. Incense smoke billowing through designed lighting effects. Bob's silver shirt taking on different colors from changing lights. I don't remember even the 78 tour being this theatrical. Down in the Flood. Good. Bucky on lap guitar. Lay Lady Lay. Bucky moves to pedal steel,uses Nashville Skyline riffs. Lighting suggests sunlight through venetian blinds. Watchtower. JJ with reflective grad student look, Bob with faraway look monotones second and most of third verse. A crowd pleaser. Under the Red Sky.I had driven a couple hours into a beautiful red/orange sunset to get there. There was a delicate slip of a moon. It was as if Bob knew this. A beautiful rendition. Soaring "Man in the Moon Went Home" which made Tony laugh. Bob and Bucky (pedal steel) with a great double lead. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. Wonderful, new life to the song. A strutting rockabilly beat with basic boogie woogie riff played by Bob. Sounds like he is getting in the mood to record with Sam Phillips in Memphis. After a while it dribbles into Who Is Lead Now but then comes back strong. Winston breaks a stick. Silvio. Blistering rocker. Dylan smiles warmly at someone in the audience. Emphasizes "echo" like you would if you were trying to make an echo. On first two solos JJ plays long guitar lines, reminiscent of Jerry Garcia. After the song someone yells "Play something for Jerry." Mr Tambourine Man starts with much restraint. Bob with disjointed guitar solo. After next verse Bob starts another solo. Bucky walks over and plays mandolin right at him, challenging him into a great double lead. Lots of dynamics throughout. Ends with slowly starting harp solo that builds to standing ovation. Gates of Eden with marching beat. Bucky on Dobro. Emphasis on "ditch of what each one means." At "there are no dreams," Bucky with spooky sounding underlay. To Ramona. Highlight of the evening. A bouncing country waltz, Bucky and much of the crown swaying. Tony smiles at loud and emphatic "Everything passes, everything changes." In the 60s I found this song so touching. It caught those dramatic tearful days of young love. Bob brought those old feelings alive tonight. Jokerman with the rolling rumbling beat that the early versions tried to find. The crowd was dancing with a kind of forward tip that fit the beat. After Jokerman a discussion group on stage. Then Dylan starts walking nervously around and continues walking into the beginning of Shooting Star. Bucky on pedal steel for blazing first lead. Big wall of sound on bridges -- firetrucks from hell all right. Band intros. Winston from Chicago which I took as a sort of acknowledgement of those who came up from Chicago (about 90 miles). Obviously 5 Believers. Here is where the drama described by Mark Troyer in My Rockford Ramblings occurs. I didn't know who he was and didn't see the rose. But Mark didn't make a fool of himself at all. He broke things open for all of us. He was a hero. From that point on the rest of the night most of the crowd I could see was up and dancin'. Mark, don't change. Mozart is great, but stay with us too. If it wasn't for guys like you, guys like me would never have the nerve to dance. We need you. Coming back for encore, small discussion. Winston starts a powerful drum riff. The band stops and looks at him like he's crazy. Tony walks over and says something to him. Then he counts off and band starts West LA. If I didn't know better I would think this was a weak BoB outtake. Great energy, spirited singing. JJ sings on chorus. Crowd loved it. The Times They Are A Changin'. Fine anthemic version, string band with drums. Rainy Day Women. Not much of a song, but it sure worked in this context. Sort of a Man Gave Names To All the Animals of the 90s. The crowd yelled out Everybody Must Get Stoned at the end of both verses. Very pleased crowd praising the show as we left. I wore a yellow mum and never saw anyone with a flower. (Wasn't early enough to search the bars for Mark.) The tour bus parked alongside had an ELVIS souvenir license plate in the window. My best concert ever. I woke up this morning wanting to listen to Carribean Wind from Genuine Bootleg. Victor
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 17:00:43 -0500 From: Jamie L Peterson (peter131@GOLD.TC.UMN.EDU) Subject: Re: Rockford Rocked Great review, Sandy! Put me right back in that Tuesday night frame of body, mind, and soul. I am getting a real kick out of this newsgroup! Have only been on board for a few months but it is great to interact with all of you like-minded folk. - No longer feel that I just don't fit. Have fun, all you lucky Bobsters who still have the rest of this tour to look forward to...
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 19:08:11 -0400 From: DALEOB (daleob@AOL.COM) Subject: Rockford setlist 10-25-95 Setlist from Rockford, Ill., show on Wednesday, Oct. 25 : Blood on the Flood Lay, Lady, Lay Watchtower Under the Red Sky I'll Be Your Baby Tonight Silvio Mr.Tambourine Man (A) Gates of Eden (A) To Ramona (A) Jokerman Shooting Star 5 Believers Encores .. West LA Fadeaway The Times They Are A-Changin' (A) Rainy Day Women Good show. The crowd was very attentive but subdued. Everyone pretty much stayed in their seats -- until John Jackson, waved people down to the stage during 5 Believers. People moved up and stood and danced after that.
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 02:48:11 -0500 From: Marty Traynor (kipple@DELPHI.COM) Subject: Rockford Impressions I just returned from the Rockford show. Impressions: 1. The weight of opinion already stated more eloquently than I can manage is true. The best advice in the world is *GO! see a Dylan concert if you can, you will not be sorry.* 2. Apologies to rmd'ers I missed at the show. (Yes, I wore a red rose... there is no describing the feeling you get when after the show a very pleasant fellow comes up and says, "excuse me, sir, but are you an rmd'er?" It happened to me tonight...well, last night, actually, as Mark Peterson from Bradley University in Peoria introduced himself. Mark is a regular reader who will figure out how to post some day. And for the record I am not really a "sir", but I suppose most gray haired guys wearing red roses look like sirs to Bradley students...this is how to feel old and young at the same time.) 3. The music was fantastic. Gates of Eden was on my dream set list, and the performance was the best I can imagine. Dylan's voice was eerie in tone, and the words were so clear and the guitars so pure...this was a masterful performance. Silvio and Obviously 5 Believers knocked out the lights with pure rock. The communication between the band members verges on ESP. A nod from Dylan, nearly imperceptable (I riveted binoculars onto him for much of the show, even while standing up and waving with one hand flying free) causes Tony to turn and tempo changes just take place. They call to mind a great jazz combo, improvising but musically disciplined. 4. The band really is great as a unit. There were moments when each of them were the indispensible extra that made the sound of a specific song: Winston on RDW, Bucky's mandolin on Tambourine Man, Tony's bass thumping into your heartbeat on Silvio, JJ and Bob trading leads on several songs (best for me on The Times, They Are A-Changin' when they did this playing acoustic guitars)...and then his Bobness' harp solos on Tambourine and Times, building from sweet licks to a total soul wail. Ah, sorry. This is an interlude while other images come to the fore. I can hear the music again :-) 5. Bob did not say a lot. He did look at the audience a bit, and it was clear that he made eye contact with audience members at least once. As he took his bows at the end of the "regular' set and the end of the encores, he seemed to want to say thanks to the audience but the words wouldn't come out. That's ok, Mr. Dylan, we in the audience have no problem saying *thanks* to you; you said enough to us with your music. That's all, folks. After driving nearly 400 miles in the day (which started 22 hours ago), I am closing up shop. ***GO TO THE NEAREST BOB DYLAN SHOW WHENEVER YOU CAN!!!***
Dates 1995
Tour