Bob Dylan 990619 in Mountain View, California

   June 19, 1999
   Mountain View, California
   Shoreline Amphitheater

Subject: Re: Concord Setlist
From: Martin Grossman  tgg@slip.net
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 09:28:56 -0700

Hmm... 
Glad I was a Shoreline last night rather than at Concord the
night before. Last night the band was tight, Bob's singing had
both punch and subtlety, and the sound system was one of the best
I've heard, making both Paul and Bob's sets sound better than
most live recordings. Bob's "Not Dark Yet" was alone worth the
price of admission. Only the opener, which seemed short and
perfunctory, lacked fervor. The bluegrassy "Don't Think Twice"
was one of the best I've heard him do. It was also great to hear
him play harp more often, too. All in all, a great show.



Subject: Mountain View 6/19/99 review
From: LAWRENCE J HAYES  LARRYJHAYES@prodigy.net
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 18:18:31 -0700

Here are some of the highlights of last nights show at the
Shoreline Amphitheater.  I missed most of Paul set, he was just
torture.  Dylan came on for the duets wearing a gray Pokka-dot
shirt, no tie, and his black patented leather shoes.  During
"Sounds Of Silence" Dylan went for his harmonica to play his
usual solo, he played a few notes and then realized something was
wrong with his harmonica, I guess a reed was broke.  Dylan looked
extremely disgusted by this but continued to play the solo
anyway, which sounded fine.  "Konckin on Heaven's Door" when done
with Paul's Band is done in a reggae fashion.  The duets with
Dylan's band (last night in Concord) sounded a hundred times
better.

Dylan came on for his main set wearing an all black embroidered
suit, a white satin shirt, a black tie, and black and white
cowboy boots. "Hallelujah I'm Ready" had Larry on Mandolin and it
was good to here something new.  "Mr. Tambourine Man" included a
nice harmonica break at the end.  Next was "Masters of War" which
doesn't change much night to night but is still great, just a
little stale.  Dylan leaned over to Tony and being very close to
the stage I read Dylan's lips, he said "One Too Many Mornings". 
It was a very good version, and include this word change: "I gaze
back to the ROOM the sidewalk......"

"Tangled" was not just another average version.  Dylan couldn't
control himself, entering the last verse with amazing vocal high
notes.  Then he took his guitar off, grabbed a harp and went into
another extended solo. "All Along The Watchtower" didn't change
much from the nights before, still very good.  I remember "Just
Like A Woman" being a way above average version, the best I've
heard in a long while.  "Stuck Inside a Mobile" has generally
been great every night in the Bay Area.  Larry really shines on
this song, taking all the guitar leads.  "Not Dark Yet" was just
too much to handle.  The way Dylan emphasized the word "Pain"
could have been the highlight. I have never seem anyone ever get
into one word as Dylan did with "Pain" during Not Dark Yet",  he
looked like he was about to cry.  The Sacramento "NDY" was
probably a superior version none the less.

After "Not Dark Yet", Dylan's road crew informed the ushers in
front of the stage to move and allow a stage rush(they have done
this every night in the bay area, so watch out for it later on
the tour, it is planned this way) Of course knowing this, I lead
the rush and ended up being closer to Dylan than anyone else.

During "Highway 61" and though the encores Dylan really started
hamming it up.  I have never seen him so animated in all the tons
of videos and concerts I have been to.  He was winking, pointing,
shaking his head(all semi standard) but what surprised me was the
laughing.  he always smiles alot, but Jesus-He was uncontrollably
laughing out loud.  He was going mad! I love being close to Dylan
when he is performing because you can get him going.  When you
yell at just the right times and dance along with him, it just
makes him go crazy, my brother, girlfriend and I where doing this
and where rewarded with 90% of the points, winks, and all the
laughs.

The highlight came when during "Love Sick", Dylan played this
guitar lick after a line.  It was an amazing lick, my brother,
girlfriend and I recognized the lick as being genius, so we gave
him furious cheers immediately following the lick.  Dylan look up
laughed and then continued to play the lick for us throughout the
song.  If we had not been there the song would have come off a
lot different.

During "Rolling Stone" Dylan's eyebrows raised with every single
line, usually he raises then a few times a song, but this time it
was every line. As I said earlier, he was out of control.

"Don't Think Twice" had a guitarless Dylan on Harp, he gave
everyone a point with his free had at the end of the solo.

"Not Fade Away" is the perfect closer.  It included the most
vamped up Dylan.

I have read reports of Bob not dancing around that much during
this tour, well last night that was NOT the case.

    Randy Hayes



Subject: ***Bob at the Edge of the Millenium :-)*** Heike C. Strand
From: "Heike C. Strand"  paradox@FRAZMTN.COM
Date: 21 Jun 1999 15:02:37 -0700

...like a three year old waiting to embark on a beautiful
carousel, with all the sounds & colors and whirlwind images that
mesmerize a child's heart, I leave my world of "Financial
Analyst", of trading the free spirit self for security and hit
the road to Concord & Shoreline...it's been so long (1 1/2
years), the images & memories are not as vibrantly recalled as in
the past...but I know that I will be reawakened, and for most of
us, the reawakening of spirit, in whatever form or doses we Find
it--is a Very Good Thing.... :-) A road trip in itself gets the
blood moving, signs flash by...the trip counter
moves....suitcases block the rearview, anticipation is, I
believe, an essential part of such endeavors.

...pulling into Concord, the familiarity sparks my spirit, hours
pass & I find myself in the front row hearing that kind &
infamous voice boom, "Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen...."  Bob
meanders onstage in classic style, always reminding me of the
young man who stood hard & true, just to be himself and
accidently changed the world....

Concord moved my spirit, Shoreline exhumed it...the playfulness
of Bob's performance & energy fused through the audience like
fire...I do not critique the songs, but only experience
them...Bob dancing with his guitar, the intensity of the
harmonica solos...I find joy at the genuine pleasure he seems to
feel, it is easy to see that Bob is moving into the millenium
with us, strong in spirit, still the troubadour, still just
trying to be himself...

That is what I always wish for Bob--the virtually impossible,
that he can share himself in life, without the responsibility of
being Bob Dylan, without being dissected...the kind of thing we
all take for granted.

It was spectacular, tantalizing....joyful...Thank You Bob....

Now, I sit in the mountains, my dogs at my feet...the tall Pines
of home a comfort, wondering how I might somehow manage Vegas
next weekend!!!  What we all seek in life...the Sparks that moves
us...for whatever reason, they are what define our spirits....all
with a story to tell.

:-)
Heike C. Strand



Subject: Shoreline Comments
From: Gary Dispoto  gary_dispoto@hpl.hp.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 14:32:48 -0700

Hi everybody,

I'd like to offer a few comments of my own regarding Saturday's
show in Mountain View, CA -- nothing I'd call a review, just some
observations.

Overall, once again I was blown away by Bob's performance. The
years and years of touring are really showing -- in the best of
ways. I was especially pleased by the return of the harmonica to
many songs. Generally speaking, the harp solos were really good
-- not of the noodling variety.  As others have mentioned, Bob is
taking most of the guitar solos and his soloing continues to
improve.  Larry took a few and even Charlie had one or two
somewhere along the line.

The three guitar attack works considerably better than I had
expected it would.  Charlie and Larry manage to stay out of each
others' and Dylan's musical way.  At this point, Charlie does
seems to be mostly strumming rhythm for most songs.  He was
playing acoustic even for much (most?) of the electric set.  In
fact, he did the opening chords of the electric set's opener,
Watchtower, on his acoustic.

I was pleased that Bob included One Too Many Mornings in the set,
as I wasn't expecting it. Tangled was particularly inspired. The
singing on Not Dark Yet was unbelievable.  I'd have never thought
he could pull that off live the way he does on record, but it is
even better.

After Lovesick Bob said something like,  "That was a love song. 
They're all love songs.  We love them all."

Someone else mentioned Charlie's tall, dark, and handsomeness. 
It's true.  It is kinda odd seeing Bob flanked by these handsome
young men. But, they are fantastic guitar players and they are
great ensemble players.  At no point did I find myself missing
Bucky's pedal steel, which was surprising to me.  What a band!

By the way, has anyone actually ever seen David Kemper's face? :)
?  I mean, every show that I go to, from any angle I've ever
viewed him at, his face is completly blocked from view -- this
time by his cymbal.

Regards,
Gary