Bob Dylan 960413 at Drew University, Madison, NJ
From: cazzual@aol.com (Cazzual)
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
Subject: April 13 Madison
Date: 14 Apr 1996 01:18:38 -0400
Just back from the show -- some wrinkles to note:
- Bob sang the first two songs (opened with Crash on the Levee, for those
of you trying to guess these past few weeks) with the microphone (Vegas
style) only - no guitar;
- JJ, sporting a new, closely cropped do, sang harmony on several numbers.
- only one new one ("we're going to play something new, at least new to
us") in the whole set. This Wheel's on Fire from Basement. Sounded good,
and included aforementioned harmony from JJ.
- Bob came out in his gold Hall of Fame shirt. I thought he looked a
little heavy
- maybe a little rusty -- sang the same verse twice during Tangled Up in
Blue -- no one seemed to really mind.
-- I guess the Garcia nod continues with Silvio and Getaway
- good crowd, pretty young, got it. I sure can do without general
admission, standing only, though. Sell me a seat for heaven's sake...
Caz
Shedding off
one more layer of skin
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 01:51:11 -0400
Sender: The Bob Dylan Discussion List (HWY61-L@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu)
From: Ray Schweighardt (rainman@CYBERNEX.NET)
Subject: Madison, NJ 4-13-96
The '96 tour is underway, and it's, well ... the same thing, only different.
1 - Down in The Flood - What a bummer way to start the show. Nothing
against the song, or the performance, but hopes were high that this would be
something new. Bob does the guitarless lounge lizard bit. Unplayed
alternative was ... (it's a shocker!) ... Drifter's Escape.
2 - I Want You - Lounge Lizard, part 2. Zimmy still doesn't pick up the
guitar, and really pours emotion into the vocal. Unplayed alternative was
If You See Her, Say Hello.
3 - Unknown Song - something about a joker, a thief, and some businessmen.
Seriously, the perpetual song #3 was given a (slightly) different
arrangement, reminiscent of the '92 versions.
4 - Just Like a Woman - Rainman is thinking at this point "c'mon Bob,
surprise me!" JLAW was done at slightly slower tempo, with a small bit of
backing vocal courtesy of JJ.
5 - Watching The River Flow - same as it ever was.
6 - Silvio - Looks like a yawner (it's been in the 6 hole for quite a while
now), but there's a great new arrangement, complete with a new verse (or was
Bob making it up on the spot?) and some major vocals from JJ. The cue sheet
called for, believe it or not, SEVEN DAYS!!!!
7 - Tangled Up in Blue - performance was a bit rusty compared to superb late
'95 versions
8 - Masters of War - fine performance, though a tad rushed
9 - Don't Think Twice - this was an excellent version, but geez, I'm
thinking "where the hell are the different songs?"
10 - God Knows - exquisite performance, great harmonica at the end
11 - Bob says "We're gonna try a new song. New for us anyway", and we get
the first live performance ever of
THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE! Words can't describe, but I'll try. Wonderful,
fantastic, terrific. JJ and
Bob harmonize on the choruses.
12 - Obviously 5 Believers - Best Zimmy lead guitar of the evening
13 - Alabama Getaway - Lots of lyric flubs from Bob, but a real cooking version
14 - Girl From The North Country - a good performance, BUT the cue sheet
calls for Visions of Johanna!
15 - Rainy Day Women #'s 12+35 - same as it ever was
I can't say I was overwhelmed like I was at the "Paradise Lost" shows, but
then again my hopes were pretty high that there would be a lot of change in
the set, and there weren't. The band on the whole (especially Bob on
guitar) was a bit rusty. Bob's harmonica playing was excellent throughout
the evening. THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE made the evening, and if we would have
gotten Seven Days and Visions of Johanna too this show would have achieved
mythical TLA status.
A side note - there were metal detectors at the door to enter the venue.
This may have impacted the ability of folks to tape, though I sure hope not.
rainman
-------
"This wheel's on fire,
Rolling down the road ..."
From: Robin Jatko (rjatko@umabnet.ab.umd.edu)
Subject: Re: 4-13-96 (A Sign From RMD?)
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 19:26:46 -0400
Drew University
Dylan was wearing that somewhat garish HoF belted gold satin shirt and
loose black pants with a silver stripe down the leg, and the ubiquitous
black boots. TG was in his usual outfit, WW looked the same behind the
plexi, BB was hatless and his hair was extremely blond, but he was fairly
animated, waving at the crowd and smiling (he was up front playing the
mandolin for the acoustic stuff), JJ was hatless, short-haired, goateed, and
wearing what looked an untucked-in shirt and jeans--he looked...comfortable.
Both BB and JJ sang backup at times--mostly JJ though.
There was some incense on stage , but it wasn't overwhelming. I was
standing slightly to the right of center stage and was close enough to
see the blue of his eyes--he was no more than 12 feet away (sigh). There
was only one person in front of me, but he was a big guy and I couldn't
wriggle in--I didn't even try. The crowd was a motley lot, as ever, with
little kids, teenagers, grandparents, and everyone else between.
We got there about 3 hours before the show--maybe 30 people were in front
of us. Having been unsuccessful at reaching any other rmders, my plan was to
hold up this sign while standing on line that said "R M D" and see
what/who it pulled in, which I did. I got a lot of funny looks (I can't
understand why ;-) but I did get to meet some rmders, *plus* I held the
sign up facing the stage at the end of each encore, when the spots lit up
the people up front and Dylan was facing us and bowing etc (no pointing
this time, thank goodness--what *was* that?) and he looked right at it--I
don't know if he could read it, his vision being what it is, but he did a
double-take and squinted at it. Tony Garnier looked at it too (probably
wondering what the hell R M D means). After the show, a fellow rmder asked me
if I noticed Dylan doing a double-take, looking at my sign. I sure did! So
now I want a *bigger* sign, except the people behind me might not be too
pleased. My friends were all somewhat mortified, but I have no shame--I'm
from NY and don't know any better ;-) I had a *great* time--I much prefer
the GA shows--my feet hurt, but at least being persistent and early pays off!
1. Crash On The Levee--no guitar, mike in hand lounge-lizard
style. Harp solo (no harmonica holder)
2. I Want You--no guitar, more aimless lounge lizard wandering around.
Two long excellent harp solos.
3. All Along The Watchtower--the Strat is back.
4. Just Like A Woman--great harp solo.
5. Watching The River Flow--Dylan played very nice lead guitar on
this (not that endless 2 note stuff, thank goodness), and actually smiled.
6. Silvio--JJ and BB singing backup.
7. Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic)--he sang the Italian poet verse
twice, and quite nicely too! It was the 15th century and the poems were read
to him. Also, some were truckdriver's wives, this time around. There was
long and wonderful harp solo--he's really been wailing on that thing!
8. Masters of War (acoustic)--This is similar to the one I heard
last year, somewhat ominous. His voice sounded strong.
9. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic)--He did a good job
on this and seemed to get into it--he actually smiled mid-song.
10. God Knows--Another good job. He went over and picked up a harmonica
and looked down at it for a bit of time, but then put it back down
and continued on with the guitar. A couple of minutes later, he wandered
over and finally played a harp solo--I guess he just hadn't been in the mood!
11. This Wheel's On Fire--well, what have we here? "We're gonna try
something new...new for us anyway." He wandered around quite a bit during
this song,, holding the mike and smiling a few times. The band was smiling
too, even BB. Actually, the band seemed to be having a great time the whole
night. He finally put the mike back and stayed put after the harp solo.
12. Obviously 5 Believers--Hmmm. Very interesting. No harp solo on
this one.
ENCORES
13. Alabama Getaway--JJ and BB sang backup, but this song doesn't do
much for me. The Deadheads seemed happy about it though.
14. Girl Of The North Country (acoustic)--Nice job with a long harp solo.
15. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35--Well, this rocked, but I wouldn't mind
seeing it retired for a while. He played a harp solo and smiled.
These were the soundcheck rumors I heard about--some not to be
believed, but I will dutifully report them. BTW, there were no reports of
Dylan singing at the soundcheck.
1. Seven Days
2. Down In The Flood
3. TUIB
4. Don't Think Twice
5. This Wheel's On Fire
6. As I Went Out One Morning
I sure wouldn't mind some more new songs in the set list though, but as
long as he keeps playing...
Robin
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 07:04:43 GMT
From: Tom Favata (tbuick6@IX.NETCOM.COM)
Subject: Drew U. 4-13-96 This Wheel's On Fire!
With all the guessing around here on what the opening song of the
new tour would be, leave it to Bob to wait until the 11th song of
the night to pull one out of his pill-box hat. First things
first. Dylan and the boys came on at 9:20 and opened
with......"Down in the Flood". Starting this year's tour exactly
as he started last year's in Prague, Dylan was guitar-less. He
remained so for the next song as well, a gorgeous "I Want You"
with lilting harmonica between verses. Dylan would play harmonica
often and with great emotion all night.
Anyone expecting a surprise in the 3 slot should know better.
"All Along The Watchtower" was next, followed by a very
passionate "Just Like A Woman". "Watching The River Flow" and
"Silvio" closed out the first electric set of the night. "Silvio"
was treated to a slight overhaul, with Dylan singing the chorus
almost accapella while the band "volumed down". The effect is
hard to describe, but it was a welcome little change. I was
however becoming impatient with this setlist.
The acoustic set (though "Tangled Up in Blue" was stunning) did
little to quiet my impatience. It's a new year! Give me something
new! (How greedy and ungrateful of me, I know. Dylan is putting
on a real Grade-A performance here, and I'm whining about his
song selection). The second electric set opens with "God Knows".
Coulda bin worse I guess, Hwy61 or "Maggies Farm". "God Knows"
what will happen next.
Dylan says, "Here's a new song we'd like to try." What? I turn to
my friend. "Did he say a new song?" My mind goes racin' 90 miles
an hour down a dead end street. "That ol' codger has been in the
studio the last few months, hasn't he.", I thought. As the
instrumental intro began to build, it sounded a tad familiar. I
realized the song exactly as Dylan was about to deliver the first
line. The words came out of Bob's mouth and mine in unison, "If
your memory serves you"
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 10:55:33 -0400
From: Skatepepe (skatepepe@AOL.COM)
Subject: Setlist: Drew 4/13/96
Drew University
April 13, 1996
Down in the Flood
I Want You
Watchtower
Just Like A Woman
Watchin the River Flow
Silvio (featuring a new verse!)
Tangled Up in Blue a
Masters of War a
Don't Think Twice a
God Knows
This Wheel's On Fire ("a new one")
Obviously Five Believers
e:
Alabama Getaway
e:
Girl from the North Country a
e:
Rainy Day Women
Great show, especially towards the end when the band really got
together. The band was on fire, which certainly helped distract
the crowd from fact that we too were hot in our way-- Drew's gym
was a sauna. Winston had a fan behind him, and a kid in front of
me fainted at the end of God Knows.
Speaking of kids, there were a lot of em (us), especially
Deadheads. Harmonica solos left and right, often with Bob laying
down the guitar. JJ came out looking unbelievably like Eric
Clapton, Unplugged-- stubble beard, stubble hair, and
Spring-cleaning clothes. There were a bunch of bonding moments
for the band, smiles exchanged between just about all members,
clearly enjoying themselves. All those attending New Haven
tonight: try to catch the new verse of Silvio.
(Jewell was an enternaining opener playing a short set
solo-acoustic. A bunch of Freewheelin'-esque social commentary
songs, and some slow ones. She also yodels.)
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 12:12:54 GMT
From: Timothy Michael Ellmore (tellmore@GWIS2.CIRC.GWU.EDU)
Subject: Thoughts on Madison
Did anyone catch what was apparently an added new verse to Silvio
during the April 13th show in Madison? From what I could tell it
had something to do with "pride" and it seemed well-developed and
not a spur of the moment lyric change. Then again I could be
wrong, but I'm sure I heard something quite different from the
many 95 versions. I'll guess we'll just have to wait for the
tapes of this one.
All in all a ROCKIN' performance! I was disappointed to read some
RMD posts whining about song selection. Come on people!! Dylan
was in an incredible mood on Saturday and all the songs were
played very well. I had no complaints and thought that the
harmonica solos were piercingly breath taking. Dylan played
harmonica on almost every song!! He even played harmonica on "God
Knows" and "Silvio." I was fortunate to be in the front row and
was also mesmerized by Dylan's apparent joy. He smiled quite a
lot and even cracked a laugh or two between songs. Lots of body
language too. I love the Vegas-style guitarless songs and the way
he grabs the cord and manipulates it while wailing on the
harmonica. There was just SO! much harmonica in this show! It
reminded me some of the harmonica on 3/11/95 in Prague. Same kind
of piercing quality and endurance.
I was quite taken with "This Wheel's on Fire." Had no idea what
they were about to play until Dylan got to the first line. A fine
performance which words just can't describe. The song began
almost chillingly and Dylan appeared to have rehearsed this one
as the words were direct and from what I heard complete.
I saw one of the setlists passed down by Tommy at the end of the
show. John Fink posted it and the intriguing part, besides the
sound-checked "Seven Days," was the mysterious "(E)" next to
"Visions of Johanna" at the bottom of the list. At first I
thought it meant "encore" but there was no such "(E)" next to
"Alabama." Could it have meant "electric?" Wouldn't mind a full
electric "Visions." Smacks of "Just Like a Freeze Out."
Well, enough speculating and dreaming.
Tim Ellmore
tellmore@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu
P.S. Any thoughts on Jewel and all that Yodelling? :)
--