I see people in the park, forgettin' their troubles and woes
They're drinkin' and dancin', wearin' bright colored clothes
All the young men with the young women lookin' so good
Well I'd trade places with any of 'em, in a minute if I could
This is so out of date- I've seen him 7 or 8 times now- great everytime and I can't wait to see him again! I'm going to have to dig in my journals for the shows.
Well, I plan to write about the numerous times I've seen Dylan. I'm not going to be too formal 'cause there are way too many Bob pages out there that are so serious.
Favorite song: Nobody 'Cept You.
I've had the good luck of seeing Bob three times. The first time I saw him was September 5, 1992 at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Ne. It was undeniably the best concert I've ever been to. My mom also went, she's a Bob fan, too. Main floor row R- not the greatest seats, but there are no bad seats at the Orpheum. The people attending the concert were an interesting variety: from looking hippy-ish, to casual, up to fancy as if going to the opera (this is the Orpheum- very classy place.) Ages were mixed, leaning towards thirties and older.
I've never felt more anticipation before a concert. It didn't hit me until after Mom and I were seated. When he first came out I could hardly breathe. He wore a black and white striped shirt, a black vest, black leather (?) pants, and a pair of boots.
He and the band started into a rock song, he started to sing... and I couldn't understand a single word!!! I honestly couldn't. I glanced at Mom, she asks me "what's he singing?" I started to panic internally: what if the whole concert is like this! what if I canít ever understand him! and (worst of all) what if my older brothers find out- they'll tease me so much!!! He started into the next song- thankfully I recognized it- "Lay Lady Lay" and once I became accustomed to his voice I had no problem.
The other songs he performed in addition to "Everything is Broken" (the first song and one with which I was unfamiliar with at the time) and "Lay Lady Lay" are:
Everything Is Broken
Although I didn't see this (I was watching Bob, not the drummer), Mom was really struck by "Ballad of a Thin Man." She was watching the drummer and she said the way he drummed and made extra flourishes was nearly hypnotizing while listening to the song. What I loved was the acoustical "Boots of Spanish Leather." It was one of my extra-favorite songs at the time (and still is a favorite) and the it was so inexpressibly beautiful. For his acoustical section he was out on stage all by himself with his guitar.
Another thing I wouldn't have believed until I saw Dylan on stage was his incredible PRESENCE. He had more presence than anyone else Iíve seen including Paul McCartney. When he was up there I swear the audience didn't move. Definitely no one made any sounds. All of us in the audience were very attentive.
One more thing, during the concert he never spoke a word to the audience. Hey- who cares- he's Bob Dylan.
Something that nearly makes me sick now is that at the time I didn't know any of his songs from Oh Mercy so I couldn't appreciate "Everything is Broken," and "Man in the Long Black Coat" (groans)- I also didn't know "Unbelievable" at the time. Another was "Little Moses"- one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I'd love to find a recording someday.
The second time I saw him was on April 27, 1994. Again, Mom and I went this time to Lincoln, Ne. to the Lied Center (it is pronounced "Leed" btw). Again the anticipation (to quote from my journal) -BOB. DYLAN. What will he sing, what will he wear, will he be as good as last time? To see BOB twice!
Well, he wore a suit, dark brown w/pinstripes, a necktie, and boots. He had a four piece band with him. Plus I was able to understand him the whole time this time. :-)
He sang fifteen songs:
This time the crowd was a bit younger, probably because Lincoln is a college town. For the last two songs I went up near the front- so neat. This concert wasn't quite as good- he didn't do any acoustical songs alone with just his guitar, instead he did them with his band. I can't complain too much- after all "Masters of War," "Jokerman," and "Every Grain of Sand."
What a concert!!! Bob Dylan is just unbelievably good. He came out dressed in a suit that looked remarkably similar to the one he wore on the Frank Sinatra Tribute. It was of shiny silver, looked to be a couple sizes too large and he wore a cowboy hat! He looked and seemed younger than he did at Lincoln. It was his attitude and everything.
He started out with "Crash on the Levee (Down the Flood)," "I Want You" (a little slower, but a rock version), "All Along the Watchtower"- pure electric r'n'r! Next was the beautiful "Simple Twist of Fate," -he sung that song with such emotion in it. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,"-real bluesy sound to it, then "Silvio"- during this song I went closer up front. I stayed there through the acoustic "Mr. Tambourine man" and "Masters of War." Such a powerful song, so much emotion in it. During it I had to go back to my seat. The final acoustic of the set was "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"-another one so beautiful. He went back to electric with ěGod Knows" and "I & I" and finished with "Highway 61." Talk about energy! He then came back and encored with "Like a Rolling Stone," "It Ainít Me Babe" (acoustic) and "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" of which he only sang a verse or two because he actually let about 8 or 9 young (college aged) girls get up on stage with him and dance. I had to see it to believe it. He never spoke a word like at the other two but seemed much more animated and relaxed. He actually high-fived some of the crowd and pointed at them. It was fun seeing him sing and smile and enjoy himself.
This concert was down in Columbia, Missouri. Hey, it was only a 300 mile drive. :-) Well worth it. The concert was at the Stephens College at the theater. The theater wasn't much to look at- but who cares. Now this audience was mainly college age students. This was Bob's most rock and roll of the three concerts I've seen. Before the concert I got an advertising poster of the concert from a local record store-nice people there.
Waiting to see him again...
Lay Lady Lay
All Along The Watchtower
Under The
Red Sky
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Simple Twist Of Fate
Silvio
Little Moses (acoustic)
Boots Of Spanish Leather (acoustic)
John Brown (acoustic with band)
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic with band)
Unbelievable
Ballad Of A Thin Man
The Times They Are A-Changin'
(acoustic with band)
Maggie's Farm
Man In The Long Black Coat
Highway 61
Revisited
It Ain't Me, Babe (acoustic)
Jokerman (!)
Senior (Tales of Yankee Power)
All Along the Watchtower
Tangled Up in Blue (!)
Every Grain of Sand (!!!)
I Donít Believe You
Mama, Youíve Been on My Mind (!)
Masters of War (!!!)
Boots of Spanish Leather (!!!)
God Knows
I & I
She Belongs To Me
Maggieís Farm(!!!)
(encores)
What Good Am I (!)
It Ainít Me Babe (!)
This last review (well hopefully not the last) is (pretty much) from my journal on November 15, 1996.
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