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Bob Dylan 970425 in Olean, New York


Subject: April 25, 1997--St. Bonaventure
From: Barrie Grozier (FALT87A@prodigy.com)
Date: 26 Apr 1997 06:31:33 GMT

Just thought I'd share my observations about tonight's show with you.

  First, I'd like to relate a bit of a conversation I overheard outside 
the venue after the show which I think aptly describes the evening.  
While walking to our car, I overheard a guy telling a friend that he 
"always thought of him (Dylan) as a writer and a singer, but I didn't 
know he could rock like THAT!"

That, my friends, summarizes another wonderful night.  As for some 
details, the night began rather ugly,  "Absolutely Sweet Marie" was 
marred by sound difficulties--they were corrected during the song, and 
for the rest of the night the sound was good, but not great.  "Senor" 
smoldered and "Watchtower" really jammed, but the first real highlight of 
the night was "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," which one erudiate, but 
plastered, concert-goer loudly exclaimed was "f!@#ing awesome!"  It was 
followed by a rolling, countrified version of "Watching The River Flow" 
and a "Silvio" that had some really neat dissonant  guitar breaks in it. 


The acoustic set was superb, containing a very traditional reading of 
"Roving Gambler," and a start/stop version of "It's All Over Now, Baby 
Blue."  These were followed by an incendiary version of "Tangled Up In 
Blue," which lasted forever and featured some superb staccato guitar 
lines from Bob mixed in with some stageplay with the audience, who on 
this number were dancing in the aisles.   Let me mention another amusing 
anecdote.  His singing on this number, while energetic, was a bit rushed 
and somewhat incomprehensible to the point where I thought he may have 
sung a verse I never heard before.  When I mentioned this after the show, 
one person said he had, in fact, left out a verse, and someone else 
chimed in that he sang one verse twice the night before:-).   I should 
mention that Bob seemed very energetic all night, moving quite a bit 
around the stage, cueing the band, who were also very hot, and posturing 
with his guitar. 

After "Maggie's Farm" and "Born In Time," the set closed out with a 
killer, steamroller version of "Highway 61 Revisited."  The encores were 
hot;  "I Shall Be Released" contained some of Bob's best singing of the 
evening, "Don't Think Twice" was also done with a country feel, and 
"Rainy Day Women" was its usual raucous self, this time however featuring 
some really cool band interplay, particularly between the guitars, which 
was very reminiscent of John Mayall's "Bluesbreakers."

Again, just a rocking, grooving night!


Subject: Concert Review- 4/26 From: JGreen3103 (jgreen3103@aol.com) Date: 27 Apr 1997 02:56:30 GMT Bob Dylan Concert Review- 4/25/97 St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY The show was really great, although it may have not been what I expected. When I bought tickets for the show I was expecting basically a Phish-type crowd with songs such as Tambourine Man, Blowin' in the Wind, and The Times They Are A'changin'. The crowd was somewhat what I thought it would be, a bunch of college hippie burnouts and some old dead heads. The music was more done on electric guitars than acoustic and there were a lot less lyrics in these 'Dylan 2000' songs. Bob didn't have his harmonica, much to my surprise, and he had a large group of backup instrumentalists. These backup musicians played various instruments throughout the show. For example, you may have seen the keyboarder playing a ukele on a song or two. There was a lot less marijuana than I expected and the venue did not permit smoking at all. Only on the last song, the only one I recognized, did good old Bob play Rainy Day Women and all the hippies whipped out the trusty old joints. Well, that was the show, and I hope you enjoyed this review. Ps: anyone who wants please feel free to write Bob Dylan and tell him that dancing was not permitted in the aisles during the show and security guards for no reason stopped people from moving to the beat and becoming one with the music. ***Jeremy Green***
Subject: Olean review... From: "M. Cakebread" (cake@IONLINE.NET) Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 13:31:49 -0400 Hello folx!!! Well, here's the poop on Olean: Absolutely Sweet Marie- I was surprised that it wasn't a Crash opener, considering the last two nights Bob opened with this. The first minute was a little muddy, but they noodled around at the PA and found the levels (I thought the venue wasn't very acoustically inclined). Great song to start the evening off!! Senor - Another surprise, considering this was also played the night before. Strong powerful vocals!! The rest of the band was on from the first note. Nice little jams compared to some of the shorter versions from last year. Watchtower - Bucky started this with an acoustic intro. Great rockin' version. Bob and Larry traded some sweet licks during their jams. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Woo!! Glad I got to see this live. It was great to see one of the *new* (you know what I mean) songs in the repetoire. Acapella ending and all. Watching the River Flow - Wow, no smooth flowing river last night. It was rockin' rapids from the word go!! Highlight of this for me was the "Big River" teaze at the end of the song. J. Cash, Sun recording flavour et al. Bob and Larry are starting to work off of each other very nicely. Silvio - Uggh, I wish I could have fast forwarded this one... Sorry folx, this one's wearing a little thin for me. Roving Gambler - Another *new* one in the repetoire. Bob looked a little p.o.'d about half way through this as he looked over at Tony and mouthed, "pick it up." I thought it was a great version, obviously Bob didn't, because when they finished the song he and Tony looked like they had a few harsh words and Bob turned his back on him and started directly into... (I'd like to note this for you who get this on tape, listen to Bob's intro to the next song!! Wholly rip the strings right out of the guitar, very heavy, frustrated intro). It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Sweeeeeettt!!! That frustration turned into artistic beauty. Another highlight of the evening for me. Very soft and sweet phrasing, with an acidic intro. Tangled Up in Blue - This had all the kids in a frenzy. Up beat, bouncy pace. Very fast and elongated phrasing. I yiked it. Nice little noodles here and there, extended ending. No harp. {8^( Maggie's Farm - I saw it at the edge of town and was hoping Bob wouldn't go there (if you catch my drift). Another one I could do w/o. I think I've seen this at almost every Dylan show I've seen in the last 11 years. Ughh... Born In Time - Ahh!! Another highlight for me. Beautiful!! Sweet, sweet, sweet. I love this song. Words just can't describe it... Highway 61 Revisited - You can really see Bob and Larry starting to hit it off at this point. Great ballsy version. I Shall Be Released - Beautiful, from what I remember a soulful, uplifting version. It was nice to hear something other than the usual LARS as of late. Don't Think 2x - Another song I seem to have had my share of through the years. I'd prefer something else like 4-ever or Heaven's Door, but it was a crowd pleaser for sure. R.D.W. # 12&35 - With the house lights on and all the kids who were passing around make-believe joints {;^>, I'd have to say this was another powerful ballsy version. So far from what I've heard of Larry Campbell I think he's a welcome member to the band (don't get me wrong, I loved J.J., but I was afraid of another Gibson playin' G.E. Smith - no fears of that now!!). Nice jams, swinging tempo, a great way to end the show. Even though I have to admit this is another one that gets fast-forwarded more often than not. I had a great day, I went down with a friend I hadn't seen in 5 years, who arrived in Toronto early in the morning after a 2 day bus ride from Estonia to Paris, a flight to Toronto w/ a stop over in London (it seems Canadian decided to stop flying direct from Paris). Lots of road stories and battle scars to reminisce about from past journey's to Dylan and Dead shows. Oh well, I won't bore you with that... Mike
Subject: thoughts on Portland through Olean (sans Indiana) From: Christine Consolvo (consolvo@ix.netcom.com) Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 03:17:14 GMT Some Thoughts on Portland Through Olean (sans Indiana)- A Review by Josh Nelson To do this right, I should have setlists in front of me, but I do not, so we are gonna wing it. I promise to try not to confuse one show with another but you have to understand that when you have seen the exact same gym/hockey rink/indoor squash court complex at what seems like 100 different colleges in the last three weeks it all begins to blur together. Anyway, so we shall start. Portland was, well, not The State Theatre but a very nice show none the less. The first You Aint Goin Nowhere is still, in my mind, the best so far. Just the look on Bobbys face as he sang that last chorus acapella was worth the price of admission. When he finished even Baron and Kramer could be seen clapping on the side of the stage. The band was laughing, Bobby was smiling with that Jesus Christ I can do something other than Just Like A Woman well smile and the place erupted. All in all, a strong show. Other highlights included Friend of the Devil (perhaps the first with the fiddle). Durham was the only hockey rink I have ever been at with really good sound. According to the promoter (my soon to be wife), Bobby arrived at the show, looked out at all the seats on the floor, and asked how he could get one for his bus. In exchange for signing the dressing room wall, he now owns his own, comfy blue seat. Anyway, this was the first Peggy-O. Basically, if Bobby played this song and this song only for an entire tour (OK, one night he would have to throw in Maggies), I would go to every show. It was beautiful and a great surprise. This was also the show with Queen Jane, Masterpiece, and Lenny Bruce as the first encore. All had the same arrangements as 1996, but worked very well regardless. Also, this was the only show with the acoustic encore of Heavens Door. All in all, another strong show. Bob was perhaps more animated in Portland but, hey, it had Peggy-O. Bentley was pretty bad. It turns out that George Harrison was actually planning to play with Bobby, but that fell through. Anyway, as the promoter promised me before the show, the sound was awful. Not to mention the fact that Zimmy didnt sound so hot himself. Just a brief note for anyone planning to go wait on line for endless hours to get the spot in front of Bob, given the new sound all you will probably hear are the instruments. It is really difficult to hear Bobby from front row center. Also, they pump up his acoustic guitar so loud that, in Bentley at least, he could not be heard during the acoustic set! A sort of new arrangement to 5 Believers and a very new arrangement to Pillbox were, for me, this shows only highlights. Oh yeah, the drive home through the noreaster was fun too! Wayne was another strong show. Another Peggy-O (go Bobby go) and You Aint Goin Nowhere...after four songs, we really couldnt ask for more. I am not sure if it was my spot or Bob, but everything sounded much better. BTW, for those interested, Bobby has developed a tendency to follow Nowhere with Riverflow. However, if you head to the bar directly after the last note of Nowhere, you can easily down three drinks before the end of Silvio. Back to seriousness, however, means that I should take a moment to mention the new arrangement of Real You. While it has been going on all tour, they seemed to really get it right in Wayne. Yes, Stephan, it was good! Also, a very slow Hard Rain was a lovely surprise. Oh yeah, I feel obligated to mention Born In Time. Always one of my favorites, the arrangement is slightly different than the Jackson era. It seems both slower and the lead guitar is less pronounced. Anyway, it just makes it easier to get the vocals. Northampton was John Brown night. The JMG was a lovely theatre and, though I could not actually see Bob from my front row seat, he sounded very good. The acoustic set was the strongest part of this show. A lovely Friend of the Devil (it seemed that this was the first show where Larry really soloed on the fiddle), a VERY SLOW John Brown (with no Banjo and Bob playin the intro, the main/three chord lick after each line, and the ending), and a fast, rocking, smoking (that one's for you Christine) Dont Think Twice. Visions was the cuesheet alternate to John Brown but none of us actually wanted to hear that one...yeah! Anyway, though I have heard Sadie say otherwise, I will say it was another strong show...the tapes will tell. Providence was my first and probably last time on a guest list...and I milked it for everything it was worth! I loved this show (though others, including a certain British EDLIS agent who was right next to me) didnt feel it was so hot. I went back and watched a video of it, but that didnt really shed any new light. Bobby didnt wear his hat until during Rainy Day and Rolling Stone finally fell. Tonight Ill Be Staying had the same arrangement as the Jackson days and Bob played a harp intro. on Big Girl. My highlight was a great Never Gonna Be The Same. Coming after a Take It Easy Baby, Everything Is Broken (which this same British man referred to as the worst ever...he was obviously not in Essen in 1991!), Never Gonna Be The Same was, in a word, perfect. It is also slowed down and it no longer has its soupy intro. Get a tape! Albany was the best show of all that I saw (with the possible exception of Moncton). Just an awesome setlist and a great performance. Most Likely had an arrangement that seemed to be a mixture of the Smith and Jackson versions. It was faster than the Jackson version, but had the well known GE lick. After hearing Campbell play the first two chords of Thin Man, a whole section of us groaned (probably too loudly). Anyway, it appeared that Bob paused and looked over at us (we ducked fast). Anyway, he then went on to play a great Thin Man and we, of course, applauded (right Homer). All in all, just a rocking, animated show from start to finish. Who woulda thunk it? Hartford was CRAZY. Security broke down before the first note and Not Fade Away was such a surprise. From my spot I could barely hear Bob (I moved after the song) but, unlike when I heard him soundcheck it in Newfoundland (yes, it is ONE word) he did not scream out the chorus. Roving Gambler has so many verses and is, in my opinion, the greatest thing since Idiot Wind. Really, it is the ultimate in country rock. Also, Wheels On Fire was nice to hear. However, with the new, drums ultra apparent arrangement, Bob played his guitar and did not do the well known Wheels on Fire prance. Monmouth was crowded, hot, and boring. We left during before Rainy Day to beat the traffic. Oh yeah, the extra amp. on stage was for Bruce. Whether or not he was there is a horse of a different feather. Indiana- not there... Utica was another real strong show. Sweet Marie has a new, slowed down, vocals very clear arrangement and it seems to really work as an opener. Senor was my highlight while the return of Roving Gambler (with Campbell repeatedly playing a new lick) was, of course, most welcome. It was in an old theatre so, as expected, the sound was very good. Lets see, well I gotta run, but Olean was good, but probably a step down from Utica. Never Gonna Be The Same was excellent again. Oh yeah, for each night, the cue sheet listed Alabama as the electric encore. While Bob played Released each night. I know how this alternative is making certain fans cringe. Oh well, we shall see. IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEW YORK RANGERS PLEASE ADDRESS THEM TO JOSHUAN@PANTHER.MIDDLEBURY.EDU DO NOT SIMPLY HIT RESPOND!!!!!!!! DANKE DANKE DANKE ALL NIGHT!
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