Bob Dylan Tour—-They Are Crazy and it’s Great

I'll be at Rochester and Proctors. Front row in Rochester for 132$ was still a pretty good deal imho....

here's the 2nd KC show. 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w4fI-iKqLbE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A...

Those 7 dates have now been announced, I believe:

Nov. 24 – Baltimore, MD @ Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Nov. 25 – Baltimore, MD @ Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Nov. 27 – Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
Nov. 29 – Roanoke, VA @ Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
Nov. 30 – Huntington, WV @ Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center
Dec. 2 – Richmond, KY @ EKU Center for the Arts
Dec. 3 – Evansville, IN @ Old National Events Plaza

https://americansongwriter.com/bob-dylan-adds-dates-to-2023-rough-and-ro...

^^^Yes they have now, but when tour started on 10/1 the unannounced dates were only discovered as listed on the T shirt that night . We've all been waiting on the rumored last leg announcement and that's how it was rolled out, the merch stand lol. Official announcement came the next day

Chuck Berry on Bob Dylan's mind when he pulled into his hometown of Saint Louis. Maybe we get some Muddy Waters in Chicago?

St Louis…Johnny B Goode opener, That old Black Magic wild card, Nadine closer. No Watching the River

last Nadine in 88....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VjUevnYMatI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A...

Watching Dylan sing cover tunes is like seeing Shakespeare performing Cats.

Dave.. you should check him out doing Weir-Ritter tune, Only A River. It moves mountains. There is only one Bob Dylan and we should all be very thankful to have lived through his times. 

>>>>Watching Dylan sing cover tunes is like seeing Shakespeare performing Cats.

Almost spit out my lunch.  Instant classic

Full report to follow tomm 

For now...

Stella Blue....

Ok, Rochester....I was surprised to find the pit had a seating arrangement that wasn't numbered but was the first one up front so tried them all and picked the one just to the left of his baby grand as it angles to the right.

the show was fantastic, the only footing lost was during Serve Somebody which fell apart tempo wise and they didn't get it back, a bit of a train wreck in an otherwise well played set.

He really kicked it up a notch after the train wreck tho, a small discussion with Tony and he was on fire. he seemed motivated by it, and the remainder of the show was as animated and interactive as I’ve seen him in 40 years…I even got a wink and a point at the end. 

Highlights for me were ALL of the RARW songs, they all sounded great, even Mother. Jimmy Reed was outta this world, I thought Key West was perfect and the groove in My Own Version was fantastic(along with that famous crooked smile that I haven’t seen in a while) Rubicon Multitudes and Prophet deserve mention but really thought they all shone. He really has invested alot in these songs and it shows. A bat flew out from backstage at one point and circled above the stage for a bit before disappearing, adding a nice seasonal touch

I thought the Stella was beautifully executed, it’s a perfect song for him. 

when he said “these guys can play” after the band intros, he paused and added the “sort of” comment with a smile and a glance back at the band…. Every Grain of Sand was sublime and with some well received harp work. I've not seen him this engaged with the crowd in a long time. 

The Bat trick was cute. Only wished it happened during My Own Version. I walked to the buses alongside Tony and was able to chat for a minute, a great way to end the show. Gosh, imagine  the stories he could tell....

You're getting me excited, fishcane!
What a great show you got!
The record is fantastic, and I have no issue with him leaning into it so heavily.
I'm still surprised at the covers he's smattering in here & there!
We will be seeing two in a couple weekends.
Got nice central 15th row for Providence, which is a beautiful theater.
Managed to get 2nd row center for Waterbury, CT. Never been to that venue.
I do get the feeling that this may be our last chance to get shows like this...of course I've been saying that about Phil for years

Yea there is plenty to be excited for. He really dialed back the stage setting, opting for curtains up on the backdrop, with the ladders and equipment boxes all stacked behind, lending a dark industrial feel and putting the emphasis on the music. This is a rough and tumble(or is it rowdy?) band and with laser focused eyes on Bob throughout, he is able to lead better than ever from his baby grand. His voice is very strong and clear.  Its amazing that the last few times I've seen him rank as some of the best I've ever seen, he really is in a late renaissance, go to the show, he won't be around  forever...

Nice review, fishcane. I wish Dylan would announce some west coast shows.

Here's a nice press piece. 
https://www.newyorkupstate.com/concerts/2023/10/bob-dylan-surprisingly-s...

Here's Stella Blue from last night 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nyJhmteEkaQ&feature=youtu.be

That recording is really sweet and clear. Sounds like whoever recorded it was really close to the stage.

There is some speculation out there that tour ending in Evansville is designed to correlate with the opening of the Heavens Door Distillery and a rumored appearance afterward.... 

https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/bob-dylan-to-open-160-acre-heavens-...

Mike that along with the rest of the show was recorded in the front row

That's some of the best Bob Dylan I have heard in a long time. It got to the point for me, anyway, where you couldn't pay me to see Dylan. This is really great to hear . 

Songwriting tips from Bob. But what does he know?  LOL  http://email.americansongwriter.com/lt.php?s=aceda9ab77fccef2c217a8c4835...

> Mike that along with the rest of the show was recorded in the front row

It's a big improvement from some of the recent stuff I've heard that's been muffled and remote. This latest recording even captures the space between the players.

I saw Dylan last night in Schenectady at Proctor's. It's an old vaudeville theater built in 1926, beautifully restored.

Great show, came on at 8:00 sharp, played until 9:30 or so, no encore. Played behind a baby grand piano all night, plays pretty good too.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, sometimes standing up while playing. His band, as always was top notch. Vocals sounded stronger than I expected.

And, we got Truckin'! I was pretty happy about that, and Bob sang the lyrics with gusto. And he didn't forget them like that other Bob guy.

I liked the tunes from Rough And Rowdy Ways too, it was a good night out.

Also, first show I ever went to where they locked your phone in a pouch. I'm not crazy about the idea, but it was refreshing to go to a show where everybody actually payed attention the the music.

And Bob is worth paying attention to.

>>>Also, first show I ever went to where they locked your phone in a pouch.

So how does that work do you have to line up to get the pouch unlocked on the way out?

I was there also, another great show. 
 

there are reps all over to unlock the bags and you just drop them in a bin. The entire process is very smooth and doesn't add much time or congestion to the enter/exit process at all

I like that the reviews from a wide variety of folks are about as consistent as the set lists.

Still no west coast dates though.

Here's Goodbye Jimmy Reed from Schenectady 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bPOgmo0ppqM&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A...

From a review by Jim Shahen Jr. of The Times Union:

"But his finest work, and the highlight of the show, wasn’t even on one of his own tracks. After a lovely take of “I’ve Made up My Mind to Give Myself to You,” he motioned to one of his guitar players. Some instructions were whispered and the band launched into a raucous cover of the Grateful Dead classic “Truckin'.” The band rocked and Dylan sang his ass off, sounding better than Bob Weir did when Dead and Company played it at SPAC in 2018. The audience rightfully went bonkers."

He was also very complimentary of  his piano work in that review 

Anyone attend the Cap last night? Hitting tonight with the esteemed VTHead.

General admission on the floor. The last GA Dylan I recall attending where the rip roaring Santa Cruz Civic shows, back in 2000.

Footlights from last night

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=hreIz6nd9HQej2R6&v=_W21orYplw0&feature=yo...

I'm going with my better half tonight.  Looking forward to this.  

Port Chester, New York
Capitol Theatre

November 8, 2023

1.Watching The River Flow (Bob on baby grand piano)

2.Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I'll Go Mine)
(Bob on baby grand piano)

3.I Contain Multitudes (Bob on baby grand piano)

4.False Prophet (Bob on baby grand piano)

5.When I Paint My Masterpiece (Bob on baby grand piano)

6.Black Rider (Bob on baby grand piano)

7.My Own Version of You (Bob on baby grand piano)

8.I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob on baby grand piano)

9.Crossing The Rubicon (Bob on baby grand piano)

10.To Be Alone With You (Bob on baby grand piano)

11.Key West (Philosopher Pirate) (Bob on baby grand piano)

12.Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on baby grand piano)

13.I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You
(Bob on baby grand piano)

14.That Old Black Magic (Bob on baby grand piano)

15.Stella Blue (Bob on baby grand piano)

16.Mother of Muses (Bob on baby grand piano)

--Band introductions

17Goodbye Jimmy Reed (Bob on baby grand piano)

18.Every Grain of Sand (Bob on baby grand piano)

----

Listening to Cap night 2, a perfect example of why mostly static set lists can be deceiving... a completely different vibe than night 1. Even the 2 shows I saw, Rochester and Schenectady were night and day from each other. 
 

here's Stella from last night

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=_s5bB0wadfin8ekH&v=wZP-UhnLDnw&feature=yo...

^ did you have to lock up your phone?

everyone does, in an amusing circumstance before one of the shows last week, we couldn't figure out what time it was as no one had a phone.lol. It's refreshing to be in a crowd with no phones out

I attended a show last week. During the show I received several important texts, to which I had to respond.  This may force me to dump my tickets. 

You still have access if needed... for instance, wear a watch that gives you the message, if it's important, proceed to the lobby and they will unlock it for you to respond. For me, There's nothing so important on my phone that I can't set it aside for Bob for an hour and a half. 

2 nights in portchester 

https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/two-nights-in-port-chester

I do not own a smart watch. Unfortunately, i must sometimes respond to messages.

At the Boston Orpheum, smartwatches had to go in the bag too.

Interesting, my garmin didn't I had on in Schenectady...guess they didn't know it connected... either way, everyone was assured access as needed during performance in the lobby in case of emergency 

^Nobody is coming to my seat to inform me of incoming texts.

Pretty sure vibrate function still works. It's a soft bag. You keep your phone with you... 

interestingly enough phones in many venues, once full of people, don't send and receive very well  and they become cellular dead zones anyway. This might be a better solution to guarantee receipt in a busy venue 

The world will literally end if I can't look at my phone during a concert. 

Cool, that's big.  Thanks 

Fuck off, Ateix.  

The most amusing part is watching people struggle with the concept of disconnecting from their phones for 2 hours. It's a struggle for all of us 

I'm as thrilled to be seeing Bob Dylan as I am to be in a concert setting where goober boomers are not constantly fiddling with and being befuddled by their electronic devices. 

Please dump your tickets if you can't handle being separated from your external brain for two hours. And they say millenials and Gen-Z are the snowflakes. Wow. 

I'm so sorry that you won't be able to receive up-to-date NY Times alerts about Donald Trump's most recent bowel movement during your live music performance, Orange County Lumber Truck. I can only begin to fathom the immense psychic pressure you must be under. 

>  we couldn't figure out what time it was as no one had a phone

I did find that a bit unnerving when I saw Dylan at the Pantages last year, but somehow I managed just fine. I guess I had forgotten what Dean Moriarty (aka Neal Cassady) blurts out periodically in On the Road: "We know time."

As i stated, i needed to respond to texts during a show just last week.  I understand that you might not any responsibilities beyond yourself. Go fuck yourself, asshole. 

Like I said, it's going to be a breath of fresh air to not be surrounded by nabobs who think that the world spins upon the axis of whether or not they can stick their face into a three inch screen. 

"Fun fact: Nothing typed by someone's thumbs has ever been important."

https://youtu.be/RmoR4ZAuzMw

I'd gladly give up my phone every show, given the stellar experience from last night. It was fantastic not to have to peer through a sea of jerkoffs holding their phone over their heads.

The texts i responded to were medical related, they were important.

So again, go fuck yourself,  Ateix!

Very good. Have a great time holding on to your phone and sitting at home.

Responding directly, and forcefully, to a passive-aggressive asshole is rational.

Also, dealing with the issues at hand has left me little patience for snide criticism. Especially from those with no knowledge of my situation. 

And I don't care for you.

Nice little edit, Ateix.

Black Rider last night

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=n7aAiiDMHUH9SmBi&v=3bJv6Fj1hsk&feature=yo...

We all have the choice of how connected we are going to be; sometimes we have responsibilities to others for which we have to be available. If you've never been in a situation where the need for communication is critical (like health related stuff) you have been lucky. I get it, OCLT, and I get the lack of patience.

ateix, I hope if you are in a time of stress and difficulty you receive support, rather than derision.

We've all got shit we're dealing with, we need to help, not tear down.

Thanks, Judit. I appreciate your thoughts.

Regarding Ateix...his response is not surprising, it's somewhat expected. 

>>>>  "Fun fact: Nothing typed by someone's thumbs has ever been important."

"Bobby, call me as soon as you can. It's about Mom"

I had the pleasure of hanging with JP(Tatters) last night and it was a great show.  We were about 15 ft from the stage and I have to say the no phone thing was fantastic.  If your phone is set on vibrate you can feel the text or call and step out to the lobby to check your phone.  But as stated earlier not having a sea of phones in your face is fantastic.  

Bob is looking his age, but sounding great. At times you could hear a pin drop.  The whole vibe, at least from our vantage point seemed like a small club, very intimate.   Seeing him sing Stella Blue was really moving.  

If you can,  catch a show.  Looking forward to the Beacon next week.

>>> "Bobby, call me as soon as you can. It's about Mom" <<<

Reading that hurt.

Our lives have so much more depth and complexity than is often remembered.

Who thumb types anymore? HIt the mic icon and talk.

The readings of Key West, Crossing the Rubicon and False Prophet were all top notch. 

Jerry Pentecost does a fantastic job as it's a difficult charter to play drums in a band that's primarily focused around Bob's lyrical phrasing. He adds the just the feel and touch. 

Like Bob points out, it's not easy playing these songs. Deceptively so...

Getting psyched for Providence tonight! And seeing fellow old zoner, J Klowan. What the heck was his old handle on here?
Oh yeah, lol, Bweir I think?

Enjoy yon show!!!

We saw last year's offering at the Providence place. A lovely gilded theater like the Wang.
No idea what to expect from the Waterbury, CT venue on Sat.
I'm not even familiar with that town, hotel was quite affordable, which makes me wary, lol...

see ya in a few Cam, you will love the Waterbury venue, cool old place and a nice little new england spot

48 years to the Day!! Waterbury 11/11/75

Good Times Great show, Ran into Cam and Jen in the 2nd and 3rd row Orch pit!!!  Always fun to see old school Zoners, Had Ole' Jonas Pond with me. Enjoyable show with out all the cell phone distractions all around!!!  I support what Bob did by eliminating the cellphones in the audience !!!   Good to see you guys... Oh we hope to survived the Hotel, We didnt want to scare you...Waterbury can be somewhat unsafe.  Drive safe!!!

Pretty good collection of covers that Bob has put together on this tour.  Don't know about New 

York State Of Mind, though.

From Jambase.com: 

Bob Dylan followed two shows at Brooklyn’s King’s Theatre by heading to the Upper East Side of Manhattan for a concert at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on Thursday night. Dylan kicked off the last show of his New York run with a partial performance of Billy Joel’s “New York State Of Mind.” 

Dylan has been altering his setlist as his Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour has made its way across North America over recent months, often covering songs related to the concert’s location. Dylan and his band covered Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love” in Montreal, Dwight Yoakam’s “South Of Cincinnati” in Cincinnati, John Mellencamp’s “Longest Days” in Indianapolis, Chuck Berry’s “Nadine (Is It You?)” in St. Louis, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s “Kansas City” in Kansas City, and Muddy Waters’ “40 Days & 40 Nights,” Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” and Nick Gravenites’ “Born In Chicago” in Chicago.

My son (17) and I caught the Beacon show last night.  I took him to a 2017 show with Mavis staples at the Beacon .   It's great to see him now that he has been "on the bus" for a couple years, really appreciate Dylan and understand his role in popular music and GD world.    Masterpiece and Serve Somboday resonated with him from Dead and Dylan and Dead recordings .  

I caught the second night at the Cap as well and Dylan seemed to have a lot more energy last night, more standing, a little more power to his voice and he played the harmonica on Every Grain of Sand.  

The NY State of Mind was just one verse but a fun way to kick of the show.

Anyway, I enjoyed the concert.

Well done!

Was a great tour. The two shows I saw were both top shelf and rank among the best I've seen him.