Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 22:12:12 GMT From: "Sorabh Saxena; Masters" (ssaxena@COE1.ENGR.UMBC.EDU) Subject: Atlanta (10/11/95) Review (Long) ATLANTA 10/11/95 -- Late Review I am sorry for the lack of synchronocity between the show and the review. The only positive outcome that I can think of is that for all the review-addicts, the last week or so seems to be a dry period so hopefully this might help. ------- I was scheduled to meet Gary Parker in front of the grand Fox Theater around 7:00 pm. I glanced at my watch, there was enough time to quell my sudden desire for a beer. I headed down to the lobby and found myself a "seat with a view" at the bar. As the first few gulps made their way down my throat I couldn't help but feel that the beer was to feed a certain family of butterflies in my stomach who live in my innards like chrysalis, dormant, breaking out of there shells only when they *feel* a Dylan concert appearing on the horizon. Out in the open, the sun showed that it was still able enough to take care of its business, though ever so exhaustingly. I got into my rental car, turned the radio loud; I have to say this about Atlanta radio stations -- I've lived in the D.C. metropolitan area, Los Angeles and now I am living near NYC but I found Atlanta's radio stations to be the best! For no reason in particular, I was beset by a feeling of serenity, as if this time the fleeting moments of joy will be forever. I drove into the first parking lot near the Fox Theater. The Fox Theater isn't much of a sight from the front, but just step to the edge of the street and cast an askance look at the theater -- its gorgeously ancient! A palace out of the Arabian Nights (I think that's how Gary described it). Waiting for Gary, I saw a familiar soul crossing the street, so I ran and caught up with him. Stpehen Scobie greeted me with his usual warmth, and invited me to join him and his companion on their mission. They were heading towards the Holiday Inn across the street. Right at the end of a corridor on the 3rd floor, we entered a room bustling with festivity. Stephen introduced me to the rest. Only after I had been in the room for a while it dawned upon me that the short, stout, half-bald guy with very keen eyes and a happy countenance, whose name had escaped me at the time of introduction, was none other than Glen Dundas! And there was Michelle, a bird very much belonging to the flock in that room, from Chicago, and Glen's wife whose name escapes me even now. We all had a few drinks and headed down to grab a bite before the show. I took leave and waited in front of the theater for Gary. Without a shred of doubt in our minds, both Gary and I recognized each other instantly, eventhough we had never seen each other. Gary and I strode towards the nearest eating joint and had a wonderful time sharing our experiences. Gary and I took our seats, which were in the first row of the balcony, promptly at 8:00. The Fox Theater is magnificiently ornate, and the effect is even more pronounced if you happen to be seated in the balcony, for the ceiling is fully covered with a mural, beautifully depicting the sky with scattered clouds, on a cool, serene summer's night out there somewhere in the wilderness, with the stars blinking at you naughtily. Alongwith are domes and minarets, painted golden, standing erect at every edge, throwing you hundreds of years back into time, and in the process taking away all your *present* worries.......all in all, leaving you with a very soothing and uplifting feeling. 8:20 pm, the band of Drifters' stumbled unto the stage and immediately tried to Escape. A very solid rendition of Drifter's Escape indeed. Bob's vocals were clear right from the beginning. The acoustics at the Fox Theater were also pretty darn good. Bob was wearing his Hall of Fame golden jacket.....looked almost like a king trying to proclaim his lost dynasty. The crowd was still pretty stiff as the evidence offered didn't really cut through the layers and layers of negative impression formed by reading the "good books" of present times -- the Newspapers. "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" -- well its up to you to believe him or not, but if all he meant was that the memories of tonight will linger on lng after the show -- Bob hit a bull's eye. In the no. 2 spot, i think, Bob always tries to fit in a soft song. Its almost like within the crashing waves of guitars of the first song, and the rythmic musings of the 2nd, he's tested out the mood and alchemy of the band on any particular night. The pensive crowd was more at ease at the conclusion of this song, for the softness of the music made it easy for the crystal clear enunciation to be heard. And then the multitude joyously danced "All Along The Minarets." "Under The Red Sky," was a personal highlight. After all the dust kicked by AATW had settled down, this was a subliminally ecstatic tune. Bob seemed to be intensely involved, sang it almost as if it was a hymn, and I think for the length of this song he forgot that there was an audience. The band was perfectly complementary, and even Winston Watson, who on occasions, has been targeted for overzealousness, was almost imperceptible, except for his *togetherness* with the band. If asked to recommend only one person to accompany Bob on this song, I'll pick Bucky. "It Take a Lot to Laugh.....," was as raunchy as it gets. Teasing rythm, with delicate licks of the guitars, stacatto octavial jumps. Left you feeling very rougish and salacious! It was at this time during the concert that I noticed Bob's shoes -- reminded me of Joey Gallo for some reason. They were those black leather slip-ons with white leather decorating the face of the shoes. Very "underworldish." Weeell, I made a mistake in the previous paragraph, did I say "as raunchy as it gets?" I retract my statement. "Silvio" was defintely *the rocker* for the evening. I say so because, its easy for AATW to please the crowd, just like its easy for "Rainy Day Woman," or "Like A Rolling Stone" to make people jump and sway like monkeys. But for a totally unheard tune -- for most in the crowd -- to grab them by their guts and make them shake, rattle and hum is an achievement only a few stellar performers can pull off. The whole atmosphere set up by the acoustic set, somehow conjures up haunting images for me. Images from the past, to me it is as if Dylan recesses down the labryinths of his mystical past, and is almost in a meditative trance. The *feel* of these songs is richly sad....pregnant pathos tied down by lilting melodies. "Mr. Tambourine Man" seems to be the favorite acoustic song for most RMDers. I beg to differ. I like(d) it a lot, but it doesn't seem work for me. I think Bob takes a good break for his singing voice, and whispers the lyrics. Don't get me wrong, I love the way he sometimes hisses and fades away, but the present incarnation of "Mr. Tambourine Man" lacks any vocal range. Just MHO. "Masters Of War" always gets through to the crowd and till their is a *crowd* I think it will never fail to excite them. "Love Minus Zero" is my pick for the highlight of the acoustic set. But then I tend to be biased whenever zero and love occupy places in the same sentence.;-) I think it was at this time Gary and I had decided that closer scrutiny of "the lines on his face" was written on the cards. We made our way straight to the front like a breeze, only for the good part of the breeze to stumble into "Mountain-Man Mike" (I dunno, but I guess the name is as good as any for a security guard), who abruptly intervened the good half of the breeze from reaching the meadowlands right in front of the stage. Did I mention that the bad half of the breeze (me) did satisfactorily wind up at a pre-determined spot? And that the good part of the breeze didn't quite forgive the bad part?;-) "Everybody must give something back for something they get," and we had to give up our vantage seats, perfect for people with journalist tendencies, and joined the loose and bawdy crowd right at the feet of the blued-eyed son. This would have been of no further concern to you than the frequency of local bus service in Black Diamond Bay, but for the fact that yours truly was much involved in the turmoil to contribute even an excuse in the form of a review for the remianing songs. "GOd Knows" was a rocker, as usual, especially love the way Bob spits out the lyrics with vengeance. Just about this time in the show, I was convinced that Bob half-blankly stared at me -- with the second half of the stare being recognition. Could it be that my Asian-Indian heritage coupled with the frequency of encounters has left a scratchy mark on his memory? On 2nd thoughts, naaaaaaaah......I bet everybody standing in the first few rows is convinced by the end that she/he is Bob dylan's new soul-mate.;-) "Seeing the Real You At Last" was, again, highly intense, but given a choice I'll rather hear the other Burlesque that he's been doing of late -- "Never gonna Be the Same Again." "Thump,thump, thump...." and its time for the encore. "Alabama Getaway" was weeel new for me and since, as previously described, I had lost my vantage point -- no comments. The prettiest and at the same time the fiercest Harmonica blowing I've heard in a looong looong time --- "It Ain't Me, Babe." Apart from John the Baptist's assertion that God has renewed Bob's powers if there's any other, I'll surely like to know! And after a feast its time to get stoned! We were sipping beer and discussing Stephen's new book in a bar at the corner when Amy (?) came up and introduced herself. She lurks around somewhere here, and I think more than anything else she was relieved to know that this whole business of Internet isn't a communist hoax, and all the people who post are not necessarily out of job or serial killers.;-) (Amy, from Indiana, if you are around -- drop a line!) Glen, Stephen, and a few others decided to shift the party to Glen's hotel room. I had to catch a flight early next day morning and besides, I like to have atleast a few waking hours to myself after a concert, just to brood over matters. Gary and I also parted ways with the promise that we will try to meet again sometime soon. The one thing that always strikes me about meeting other RMDers at a Dylan concert is that we just seem to warm up and its time again to go our own way......well such are the ways of life. I walked down the barren streets of Atlanta and suddenly, it seemed to be too quiet......couldn't help but wonder that just a moment back there was so much, and now, well and now there's again so much (in) (silence)....... On to Philly!!!! -- Sorabh ******************************************************************************* "Try to be pure at heart, they arrest you for robbery,