Bob Dylan arena tour

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Bob Dylan came to Madison on Halloween night. I attended the show in full Hunter S Thompson costume. On the way to the Kohl Center things nearly took a turn for the tragic when a girl on a bike ignored the traffic & crosswalk lights and was nearly smooshed by an elderly blue station wagon. At the parking ramp the lady taking our money in exchange for the ticket told us that some people were parking on the side of the rode, though she didnt know if that was all legal or not. After a terrible evening in Chicago several years ago I had no problem with being seperated from $5 in exchange for a safe spot in the ramp.

 

Inside the Kohl doors I saw a waifish female police officer (with a haircut somewhere between Sinead O Connor & Bob Haldeman) staring at my full cigarette holder. Walking past I allowed my head to twist backwards to maintain the stare. Stumbling back I explained that it was merely tobacco and, after she took a good smell, I was allowed to wander off towards the seats.

 

The Foo Fighters opened things up with an acoustic set that lasted just under an hour. Dave Grohl seemed to be having a genuinely good time on stage and had his usual rapport with the audience. Highlights were Marigold (a song Grohl wrote during his Nirvana days), Everlong, and some comedy...not so good moments were the hokey 'My Hero' and the weak 'Skin & Bones'. Heres the setlist as I recall:

 

Times Like These

Big Me

Marigold

My Hero

Skin & Bones

Cold Day in the Sun (With drummer Tyler Hawkins playing the role of Don Henley)

Next Year

See You (w/band intros & solos including the triangle)

Everlong

 

After waiting about 30 minutes it was time for the icon himself, Bobby Z. Dylan is always transforming himslef...grew up in Northen Minnesota, became hipster king of NYC, found Jesus, and glued himself to the road. These days he dresses like an old saloon gambler cowboy and tonight he had on a spiffy black western suit. Dylan keeps to the keyboards now but his show still brings the fun. This was a better set tha I saw from him the first time, at Bonnaroo '04. He played a few songs off the new record as well as classics. Some of the oldies were drastically reworked, Positively 4th Street was recognizable only by its lyrics. Dylan doesnt do the whole talk-to-the audience thing but there was still plenty of energy from the musicians on stage. Rhytym guitaris Stu Kimball does a dance that looks something like a hybrid of Bullet Bob Armstrong and Glenn Quagmire. At times old Bob can get a bit boring & garbled but it only slightly intereferes with the awesome. The best songs to me were Workingman's Blues #2 (best song on the new album), Highway 61 revisted, and one of my fave songs ever, Tangled Up In Blue.

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A couple more reviews here:

 

http://my.execpc.com/~billp61/103106r.html#1

 

Nice to be noticed.

[King Kamala 0]

I saw Bobby Z last night at The Civic Center here in Portland. The show was sold out and it was as hot as hell in the arena. The Raconteurs were a capable opening act, I'd say about 10% of the audience was there to see them, but everybody stayed to see Dylan. The Raconteurs did an excellent cover of "Bang! Bang! (My Baby Shot Me Down)" The old Dylan fans seemed to enjoy them for the most part.

 

 

 

Dylan was great of course. He was really into tonight's show, doing his little leg dance and whatnot. He even cracked a couple of smiles. He loves playing in Portland, every time he plays here it's a sell out.

 

 

 

Anyways, here's the setlist;

 

 

Portland, Maine

Cumberland County Civic Center

 

November 9, 2006

 

1. Cat's In The Well

2. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

3. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again

4. High Water (For Charley Patton)

5. Tangled Up In Blue

6. When The Deal Goes Down

7. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

8. Watching The River Flow

9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)

10. Desolation Row

11. Highway 61 Revisited

12. Spirit On The Water

13. Summer Days

 

(encore)

14. Thunder On The Mountain

15. Like A Rolling Stone

16. All Along The Watchtower

 

 

Highlights of the night for me were "It's Alright Ma", "Watching The River Flow", "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Thunder On The Mountain"

[Annabelle 0]

bobby seems to be changing up his setlist every night. including some neat gems from his past is a nice touch. what bob fan wouldn't go nutso for stuck inside of mobile? awesome.

[snuffbox 0]

My costume & I would have really enjoyed Mobile/Memphis.