On the Dylan Show

Saturday night I attended my first ever Dylan concert. When telling friends and family over the last several weeks I've received a variety of responses. Some (typically more familiar with his newer work) expressed excitement and envy while others warned me about Bob being 'washed-up,' a shell of his former self.

Before I write a proper review, I must state my position. Yes, I like newer Dylan records as well as the classics. Yes, I tried to lower my expectations before the show because I fully recognized that I was seeing a 68 year old man in concert. Yes, I had fun, but no, I probably won't go again. No regrets, though, honestly.

Bob moved gingerly around the stage, spending the majority of the night clinging to his keyboard as if it were a walker. His physical deterioration, however, didn't take away from the radiant enjoyment performing continues to give him. Dylan transitioned effortlessly from song to song, moving from newer songs to classics and all those in between. The band sounded great, albeit excessively loud to shift the focal point away from Bob and toward the band itself, this is also apparent in their stage formation.

After a shaky start, it became clear where the nights' highs and lows would be placed. Dylan plays his newer work with gusto and clarity. Some of my favorites included 'Cold Irons Bound' and 'Jolene.' However, his performances of classic Dylan selections left much to be desired. Some were so disheveled I needed to repeat the lyrics back to myself just to identify the song. See 'lay lady lay.' Others, 'Like a Rolling Stone' in particular, were painful attempts to recreate original recordings. During this rendition, Xtina and I had simultaneous feelings of being trapped inside a pbs fundraiser where living members of one-hit bands from the '60's are reunited to play staggered versions of their hits to adoring blue-haired fans.

Despite the upbeat performance, I feel saddened when I think about his lost abilities. I don't feel that Dylan could physically sit on a bar stool and play 'Mr. Tambourine Man.' His voice simply doesn't have the dexterity it once did. The few times Bob picked up the guitar Saturday night, it was for songs with only the simplest chord changes. This deterioration must be happening quickly. One of my favorite Dylan albums is this years release, 'Tell Tale Signs,' an album of b-sides and outtakes from the last decade-or-so of albums. And while you can tell the difference between a 90's track and a recent track on this record, I can't imagine present-day Dylan performing anywhere near this caliber.