Live Dylan: Cardiff 2002
date: 2002-05-06
location: Cardiff Wales
boblink: http://bobsboots.com/CDs/cd-c06.html
opener: Humming Bird
personal favorites played: Tangled Up In Blue, Things Have Changed, Moonlight
Bob factor: This is one of those nights when Bob just wants to get through things. The performance isn’t bad, but he prominently features the trick he described in his Chronicles book of rushing up to the 3rd beat of the measure. We’re used to it, and apparently so is he. But in some places in this show, it gets in the way as he stumbles to keep his vocal in rhythm.
performance: This version of the band featured two highly competent sidemen, blues guitarist Charlie Sexton and multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell. They start out with an acoustic attack that is sharp and bright, if perhaps a little too neat. This runs into a very album-like 60s take on “It’s Alright Ma” that gives no hint of the blues burner it would become later in that summer. Whatever else might be wrong with the performance, punters certainly got their money’s worth. The program runs almost 2 and a half hours without resorting to filler from other shows.
recording: Another liberated bootleg. I’ve never figured out why all the soundboard recordings seem to come from Europe these days. Perhaps American venues have tighter security or something. Regardless, this one is in fabulous condition. The acoustic guitars are jarringly crisp at times, but everything is fairly well-balanced.
highlights: The early 80s song “Solid Rock” is a seldom heard gem. 2002 is the year when “Tangled Up In Blue” came to full fruition. “Wicked Messenger” is a nice rocker and a pleasant surprise.
lowlights: Back-to-back 7-minute versions of shelf stock “Positively 4th Street” and “Lonesome Day Blues” are a bit wearing, even if the sound and musicianship is top-notch. As much as I love “Visions Of Johanna” 9 minutes pushes even my patience.
decision: Another great show, in great quality.
June 9th, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
Live Dylan: Zurich 1999
date: 1999-04-23
location: Zurich, Switzerland
boblink: http://www.bobsboots.com/cds/cd-m12.html
opener: Cocaine Blues (more…)
May 15th, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
Live Dylan: Dallas 2008
date: 2008-02-21
location: House Of Blues, Dallas TX
boblink: http://boblinks.com/022108s.html
opener: Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat (more…)
April 3rd, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
Live Dylan: Harvard 2004
date: 2004-11-21
location: Gordon Track and Tennis Center, Harvard University
boblink: http://boblinks.com/dates22.html#1121
opener: Rainy Day Women
personal favorites played: High Water (For Charlie Patton), John Brown
Bob factor: This was the last show of 2004, and Bob seems to be in a good mood. He gets the audience to sing along with Rainy Day Women, and while he mumbles and rushes the lyrics more than I’d like, he does pick out some nice melodies to offset the more annoying quirks of the evening. (more…)
March 25th, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
Live Dylan: Sweden 2003
date: 2003-10-15
location: Göteborg, Sweden
boblink: http://boblinks.com/101503s.html
opener: Tombstone Blues
setlist oddities: five songs from Highway 61 Revisited
Bob factor: Bob was in good voice for most of 2003, as I recall. Here, his voice is a little rough, but he makes up for it well. He sings rather than barks, picks out melodies rather than deadpanning, and seems quite into the performance. (more…)
March 11th, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
Live Dylan: something to talk about
Write what you know, they say. I’ve collected Bob Dylan live recordings in one format or another for 16 years. These days, my box of cassettes sits unused while most of my collection is in MP3 format. A quick glance through my music folder shows me I have over 40 live shows or sets of live shows, and there are probably more tucked away in other places.
So I’m going to start listening to them and maybe, in the process, start to filter some out that I don’t really need anymore.
March 11th, 2008 - Posted in Live Dylan | | 0 Comments
