So, on walked Dylan and band, not a word was spoken as they went straight into their first number, 'Maggie's Farm'. Quiet, subtle and controlled is how I would describe the set - very little visuals on stage, just the typical Dylan left leg flexing and waving during his solos. A mixture of acoustic with some electric, old with new the set was full of variations. Not a word spoken apart from short introductions of the band members towards the end of the main set, just short (seconds) breaks between songs as guitars were changed. Dylan in his black suit with white piping, black boots and white stetson started slowly with, I have to admit, a pretty low key response from the crowd. He then contrived to slowly but surely win the audience over with his sheer enthusiasm for performing.
Long gone now is that droning, monotone type singing style - now its the lilting, 'yodel' that starts deep and harsh then rises to high and soft, on practically every line sung. Slightly in the Country mould, every song is now treated to the same singing style and I think maybe that's why things got off to a slow start. Once warmed up, Dylan, his band and the audience were seemingly up for it big style. A great four piece band was his support, two guitarists, bass and drums - all well presented in grey suits and black shirts they battled to keep up with Dylan as he seemed to be flying by the seat of his pants during some numbers.
We were treated to remodelled versions from each of the four decades of Dylan gems; the up to the moment 'Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dum', 'Blowin' In The Wind' from 1962, and many classics from all eras in between, 'It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)', 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues', 'Masters Of War', '4th Time Around' and 'Tangled Up In Blue' to mention but a few. Straight through, the set lasted about an hour and three quarters (which seemed to fly by), but it was not over by a long way. Several more great numbers were given the new Dylan treatment during the encore(s), including 'Rainy Day Women No's 12 and 35', 'Forever Young' and 'Like A Rolling Stone' - all in all two and a quarter hours of great music. Still not a word was spoken as Dylan and his band left the stage for the last time, leaving thousands discussing the pro and cons of what had they just seen and I'm sure that the debates will go on, and on!
I know that I felt happy to have been there and seen it for myself. If I'd just listened to the many diverse comments afterwards (from people of all age groups) I wouldn't have known what to make of it - it was and I'm sure always will be in the eye and ear of the beholder!! It was cool for me!!
At the end of the day, like it or not, Dylan has earned the right to do whatever he likes and if some fans fall by the wayside along the way there'll always be plenty more that'll keep the Dylan thing going!!
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