Soul to soul, our shadows roll
Posted by Christopher Sheil on Monday, August 13, 2007
The greatest singer-songwriter of modern times has landed on our shores. Welcome back, sir. In you, my friend, I find no blame; wanna look in my eyes, please do; no one can ever claim that I took up arms against you. Two sleeps.
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Update: (Wed.) It went in a flash. Mr Dylan was in form. One minute it was “Cat’s in the Well”; the next it was “Watchtower” and he was waving goodbye. I’d call it for the new songs, which shone like precious stones – “Workingman’s Blues’” and “Nettie Moore” the most precious of all. Yet, I’m interrupted by the transcendent “Hard Rain”, and the experience of being drilled by “HW61″. The biggest surprise was “Spirit on the Water”, which has grown a second half to die for. We were privileged with “Masters of War”, and he nailed it, to the ground. For nerds, the sound was a bit muddy at the outset, specially during “Times” (a surprise!), but it cleaned up beautifully (I’d pick the moment as “Cold Irons”, which isn’t on this set list*). The lead could’ve been louder, but the bloody Entertainment Centre probably couldn’t have handled it. The band cooked, at a low boil. The only disappointment is that a Dylan concert never feels complete without “LARS”. Perhaps he’ll play it tomorrow night. Thanks Bob. And no, I’m informed that he didn’t speak when he grabbed the microphone at the end. Settle.
[*I may have this mixed up with "R&T", which the set list gives as the Bobster's first number on the organ (can anyone clarify whether "Cold Irons" was played before "R&T", or have I muddled the two?). Another controversy has broken out over "When I Paint", which immediately preceded this (my) confusion (and within which Bob cut a couple of natty quitar solos!). He definitely didn't sing "back in the land of Coca-Cola" (I noticed, cos I hate that line). I heard "back in the land of rum and cola", but others claim "back in the land of rum and Coca-Cola". Unless he repeats the number tonight, this one may have to go to the bootleg ref.]
Update: More reviews here (something was happening with “Hard Rain”, but you didn’t know what it was, did you Mr Mills?).
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Update: (Thurs.) The many splendoured Mr Dylan. It was almost an entirely different show tonight (set-list here). Very Blonde on Blonde, speaking of the devil, but country. And when I say country, you give this band a sniff and its Hank Williams and Gram Parsons all over the place. Yet the night belonged to Bob’s big canvasses – “When the Deal Goes Down” (yes “soul to soul”), “Aint Talkin’” and “Visions of Johanna” (fck!); monsters unleashed by that gravelly mango and courvesoir voice. New songs didn’t signature the second night like the first. Nor was the audience as warm – last night we were afloat in a sea of rolling applause – although the sound was better. Loved “Levee”. “Spirit” was different again – can’t wait to see where this one ends up. “Thunder” is a work in progress, fascinatingly. All the sidemen are, of course, superior; but I have to mention George Recile, who is one swashbucklng time-keeper. If I had to pick, last night was mine, but I know many Dylan fans will have preferred tonight. Short Sydney season Bob; too short, but lovely. Thanks. Hope you pass this way again before long.
Update: More reviews. As expected, the fans have gone dippy over the 2nd night.
Update: More ovations in Melbourne (and “LARS”!). Bob Dylan is in triumphant form.
This entry was posted on Monday, August 13th, 2007 at 7:46 PM and filed under Music.
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No sleeps!!
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 2:48 pm | PermalinkI know all you baby boomer types get all misty eyed over His Royal Bobness, but really? What did he do post Blonde on Blonde that was consistently any good (ok, besides tangled up in blue). For those of us who weren’t alive in the 1960′s, his wacky wannabe Woody Guthrie schtick and horrifying voice are about as attractive as a lava lamp. Get thee to emusic or another place where modern independent music is sold and let your ears open again.
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 4:15 pm | PermalinkAh David, what a unwittingly foolish self-parody you are. Sometimes it does pay to think twice, cos it might not be alright. I’m nowhere near Bob’s age, and Amanda is around Gen Y. The only people dopey enough to think BoB is the man’s last great album are in fact, yes, sad old Baby Boomers. Take a bow.
All I can say on behalf of the world’s initiates to those so cruelly excluded such as your poor self is that, perhaps, one day, if you are very fortunate and live a good life, just maybe you might be blessed with some idea of what the fuss was all about.
In the meantime, can’t stop and chat. Soon, I will be in His presence …
*chokes with excitement*
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 4:58 pm | PermalinkI’m not sure what’s worse cs – being old before your time and grumpy about or missing out on the now and being oblivious to it.
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 5:04 pm | PermalinkDavid, when you eventually figure out which of those two experiences that you are obviously currently going through is your biggest misfortune, you can, well …
Meet me at the bottom, don’t lag behind
Bring me my boots and shoes
You can hang back or fight your best on the front line
Sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues
Now I really do gotta go, cos I can hear the distant sound of thunder on the mountain, rolling like a drum, gonna sleep over there, that’s where the music coming from …
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 6:10 pm | PermalinkDRubie – sorry, you’re the Stalking Horse for the moment. Nobody EVER accused His Bobness of having a good voice but what a wordsmith.
Posted on 15-Aug-07 at 8:30 pm | PermalinkBoB was OK but a wank compared to Desire or Blood on the Tracks. I’ve refused to spend any pesos on his later stuff but the odd track I hear (apart from his dirges) still have the talent for words, just a pity they’re drenched in his Malboro mangled larynx.
As a reviewer said back in the early 80s, “I just felt ill listening to a third time round reheating ..(I think that he was referring to the execrable Buddokhan album)so I got up and put on the originalHighway 61, crisp, clean, everything you expect..pow!”
Also nobody ever thought him a decent human being, he had massive shares in Dow Chemicals (napalm patent for kiddies)during the Vietnam era, it’s just that damn talent for word conjunctions. Keats was a dill, Wordsworth an opium freak, Rambeau a typical french onanist but His Bobness,… sublime at best, acceptable at worst.
I’m just waiting for Bob to finally discover disco.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 5:41 am | PermalinkAh hipster music trolls, the most brain gougingly tedious trolls of them all. I have 90 emusic dowload a month, augmented with regular booster packs (and Bob is there BTW, in a duet with Ralph Stanley who is way older than even Bob. Cope.) Its the people who try to place restrictions on music who are the ones with their ears shut. I have been on the out of my peer group for my musical obsessions since I was 11 (Hawkey was PM, I am no boomer) – that Bob I got the frack over the caring so much about being cool. Try it and you might learn something.
Biggest surprise: Til I Fell in Love With You. Not expecting to be blown away — rolled my eyes a little at the start when I realised what it was — but was. Bob was a wiggly panther — predatory but a rock an roler at heart. Go Bob!
T minus nine hours for the next one. Woot!
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 10:07 am | PermalinkOne sleep only.
aah David Rubie……….
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 11:00 am | PermalinkBob dylan ticket: $165
Cuban heeled boots for concert: $200
Barely recognizing old codger in funny hat on stage from 50 rows back: priceless.
I suppose you all have Acker Bilk on frequent rotation on your ipods too.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 12:51 pm | PermalinkRubie, run along now and leave the thread to the real music fans. At the very least, if you must troll, troll with a bit of style.
Frankie, maaaate! Other random thoughts:
– the hat is straight out of Rolling Thunder, he must never take it off.
– serioius bling has appeared on both hands, I heard a very interesting theory about this at post-concert brunch which involves Ellen Barkin.
– the random finger guns are as charming as ever.
– the toreador arm salute at the end is the height of magnificence.
– the plastic oscar remains, although the Cairns original was apparently stolen in New Mexico. Remind me to tell that story again.
– the band is really hot, despite jaded tour naysayers. Stu Kimball has the best gig in showbiz. They and Bob were smirking/laughing at each other all night.
seven hours. weeee!
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 1:36 pm | PermalinkAmanda, forgive Dave, for he obviously knows not what he is talking about; as, alas, happens to stiff old Boomers like himself, as they puddle about, dreaming wistfully of the old days, listening to Blonde on Blonde, the Beach Boys and the Seekers. There is nothing to be done but see such old farts off.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 2:42 pm | PermalinkI’m guessing dave the rube is excited he’s got his Cure tickets and his ipod is filled with the smiths and some artic monkeys stolen from his young cousin.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 3:24 pm | PermalinkI did throw a dollar to the old Koori bloke strumming his guitar outside the Coles yesterday though. Only because he had an enormous hat and I instantly thought His Royal Bobness might learn a couple of lessons off him about how to sing.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 4:02 pm | PermalinkBetter than Blonde on Blonde was he? Heh.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 4:34 pm | Permalinkcs, he does a neat line on “Knockin’ on Kevins door” which makes me laugh, and should be the Labor party campaign song:
Mama put Howard in the ground,
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 4:49 pm | PermalinkI cain’t use him any more,
A warm fuzzy cloud is coming down,
Knock knock knockin’ on Kevins door.
Lamo Davo. Try “Masters of” if you aspire to the big time.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 4:52 pm | PermalinkI read this post this morning and it started in the dunny.
“Oh where have you been my blue-eyed son? Where have you been my darling young one?”
Can’t say I could remember exactly where he’d been, but I do remember it was good. Its a hard. oh its a hard, its a hard, and its a hard. Its a hard rain, that’s gonna fall.” and so it did for a while about 5 points. Now off to find out where he’d been to make my morning complete.
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 6:49 pm | PermalinkSorry cs, Cold Irons Bound was not on the menu last night.
And I’d reckon ‘land of Coca Cola’, but his voice was pretty muddied in the first few songs. Interesting that other people blamed the sound or the mix, maybe so. I just reckon his voice takes about half an hour or so to warm up.
Other than that, a fine effort. I loved the arrangement of It’s All Right Ma (I’m Only Bleedin’). Nettie Moore was awesome, as was Watchtower at the close. And my partner thought I was an absolute dag for cheering when he dragged out the harmonica.
I hope tonight’s effort is just as fine!
Posted on 16-Aug-07 at 9:31 pm | PermalinkTks mal. I think I thought it was “Cold Irons” when it started, and then forget to cancel that thought! No mud in the second night’s show, at all: audio, perfecto. We’ll have to wait for the ref on “land of Coca Cola” – there are some strong opinions on this around the place.
Posted on 17-Aug-07 at 3:15 pm | PermalinkStop it you people. No Bob for me until next Thursday!! Don’t think I’m going make it.
I’d love to hear “Hard Rain”. I have a bootleg 1999 version which is my favourite.
My seats aren’t real flash – might have to head to the mosh pretty early.
Must pack some binocks so I can do a boot audit.
Posted on 17-Aug-07 at 6:25 pm | PermalinkThe ref is in:
Posted on 20-Aug-07 at 11:46 pm | PermalinkCoca Cola. Both occasions. End of story.
“You’re a liar”.
More proof, pls.
Posted on 21-Aug-07 at 2:02 am | Permalinkhttp://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=159033
Posted on 21-Aug-07 at 4:43 am | PermalinkAnd Beyond the Horizon for the first time evah in Adelaide. Go, Bob.
Posted on 22-Aug-07 at 8:20 am | PermalinkWow! Did Dunlop go?
Posted on 22-Aug-07 at 10:31 am | PermalinkAll I know is that I didn’t. *sniff*
Posted on 22-Aug-07 at 10:51 am | Permalink[...] ~ cs at Troppo The recessive gene pool of tone-deaf middle Australia has taken its bruised egos and banana suits [...]
Posted on 23-Aug-07 at 11:53 pm | PermalinkA NEW DYLAN ALBUM IS 2008?????????????????????????????????????????
Posted on 14-Sep-07 at 6:35 am | Permalink