Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 13:28:59 -0500 From: Michael Feuerstein Subject: Electric Factory, 12/16/95 I'm posting this for a friend of mine, Michael Perlin, who wasn't able to post to r.m.d. Philly, Sat nite... What a concert! First, the setlist Down in the Flood I Want You All Along the Watchtower Shelter from the Storm Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues Silvio acoustic: Mr. Tambourine Man acoustic: Masters of War acoustic: Love Minus Zero/No Limits acoustic: Dark Eyes (w/ Patti Smith) Maggie's Farm Forever Young encore: Alabama Getaway encore.acoustic: Hard Rain's Gonna Fall encore: Rainy Day Women 12 & 35. Wow! My 3d Bobconcert in 14 months, and the best voice he was in by far. Band smoked (this is no ordinary backup band... this is a near-perfect meshing of band and lead singer, collaborating flawlessly, propulsive, energetic, dyunamic), and Bob was as strong 2 hrs after he began as at the opening of the set. Some observations: Flood: good beginning, tho, in retrospect one of 2 songs that probably didnt add that much to the evening (had same reaction when I heard him do it @ M'lands in June). I Want You: a fave, that I'd never seen in person before. His arrangement is now the Sophie B. Hawkins version (w/ the ascending chords) rather than the first recorded version, and that adds to the tension. Makes me weep. When this first came out, I thought it was a reflection of the side of Bob that only wanted to be a "top 40" musician. I was wrong, of course. I loved it. Watchtower: he segued right in from the last note of Want You, and the crash of the A minor chord is still like no other opening in music. Terrific guitar work, not only by Bob but by JJ and Tony as well. Shelter: Never seen in person before. Totally reorchestrated from the Blood on the Tracks version, and, in effect, a "new song." Liked it lots, but need to hear it more done this way to get a better feel. Tom Thumb's: Yes! One of my faves of all time (listen to Neil's version on the Tribute album). It cooked (Bob blew the first line of the 2d verse (ending in "...my fingers are all in a knot", his only lyrics gaffe of the nite that I picked up), and the audience *screamed* along on the "I'm going back to new York City/I do believe I've had enough [or... "e-nuuuuuuufffffffffffff"] coda. GREAT version of GREAT song! Silvio: Preceded by a short dedication to Jerry. VERY strong, much stronger than at M'lands. Slite change of emphasis on the "silver and gold" line. Searing guitar work, and Winston's drumming was unparalleled. Tambourine: Wow. I'd think by now, I'd had enough of it (and in fact was a bit disappointed that he chose that over Tangled, listed as ther alternate on the set list (which we could see from where we were standing, more on this infra), but what a strong performance. Beautiful acoustic guitar playing and superb uke by Bucky. Bob crescendoed on the "one hand waving free" and crowd responded in kind. I heard the "it's ony the shadow he's seeing that he's chasing" line differently last nite than in the 20,000 times I've heard the song, and it turned me inside out. Bob played (hand-held) harmonica for a couple of choruses... his only harp playing of the nite. Masters: My one goof. I heard the opening chord and thought it was gonna be Thin Man (shh... dont tell anyone . Again, as powerful a performance of this as Ive heard in years (band was playing almost an ostinato chord pattern behind him: strummm strummm strummm). Bob snarled the "All the money you make/can never buy back your soul" as if he were still 22 (his age when he wrote it). A knockout Love Minus: Another fave, a beautiful love ballad that he could sing every concert and Id never get bored. Chills from first to last note. Dark Eyes: Duet w/ Patti (more on her infra too). She took the verses, he joined for the choruses. Beautiful haunting version, and they truly are a perfect vocal match for each other. What an experience. Maggie's: A hard-rocking/driving version, but, there are about 250 other songs of his I'd rather hear. Interesting moment, tho: he introduced it by saying, "This is about the slave trade" (for Bob a major speech). Forever Young: Ohmigod. I heard the intro chords, thinking, could it be, could it be, could it be? It was. I was in tears the entire time [We used the last verse of FY as our message to our daughterin the yearbook ad from when she graduated middle schl (jr hi) and I've never heard it sicne w/out going misty). His voice was purer for this than in any other number all nite and it could have gone on forever. I will never forget it. And to be there w/ Linda [my wife] and share it with her was even more of a bonus than I could've hoped for... Alabama Getaway: It sizzled, and Bob's guitar work --strong all nite -- was stronger than ever. He actually reminded me of the kind of running back who, after his 25th carry of the afternoon, is stronger than when the game began (mentioned this to 2 frineds subsequently... separately, they each said, John Riggins! I think they're right....). Hard Rain: A stunning surprise (Back Pages was on the set list and I was ready to hear "Crimson flames..." erupt, but, he had a last minute change of heart). Perfect intonation and articulation on one of his wordiest songs (*u* try to sing "the executioner's face is always well hidden" after 2 hrs on stage and see how well *u* do), and an astonishingly long song for an encore [Linda turned to me, and said, 3/4 jokingly, What's he gonna do for the next one? Johanna? Sad Eyed Lady?]. Superb RDW: Yeah, I was hoping for something else (ANYTHING else!), but it's a fan pleaser and a way of sending everyone home happy (tho LARS wdve been also, but...). In short, a terrific concert. Patti S, btw, was an experience. Started w My Generation, ended w Not Fadeaway, did Dylan's Wicked Messnger, and the rest was her stuff. She reminded me of Janis, and Linda of Mick Jagger. Her guitarist (Lenny Kaye) was a classmate of mine in college and the last time I saw him sing before tonite was in 1966 when he led his then band (Link Cromwell and the Zoo) thru his one single (Crazy Like a Fox) at the Rutgers Ledge (old student center). Deja vue and a half. Patt's raw energy made Melissa Ethridge sound like Mariah Carey... wow. Venue: Electric Factory, 6th & Callowhill, nondescript industrial neighborhood. Great acoustics and site lines. We were standing next to the soundboard, so got to see the set list close up wh was way kewl. All in all, a fantastic concert. Oh yeah ...My legs are *killing* me this morning.