Expecting Rain

One word after four shows: Just OK not more!

1.) Mark: Ok for one time. Really boring for four nights. Why the does he play the songs 1:1 exactly as on the records. the guitars noodeling too is 1:1 the same every night. Even the few licks which are nice on bobs set are the same every day. (Things have changed is boring after one time, not only because of Mark)
The italian enthusiastic crowd was great, even on this set, but we all know the italians.
Really embarrassing are the same talks and jokes (Privateering for the first time) every night.
I saw MK two years ago. Was ok, but this set is boring.

2.) Bob: Sadly also boring most times. (Lucky I got a tape from innsbruck for my drive and found out that apart from the great setlist the performances of Shooting star, Visions and Mississippi weren't very good. I missed nothing)
His awkward moves are ridicolous and embarrassing. The performance quality is far behind the European summer shows which were also only average.
His voice: We all know how it sounds today. was as expected.
The band. Good but very much autopilot. Even Charlie is now playing the same solo on two shows and organ parts are the same every night.

At least it looks like Bob has the most fun of all and few of the "Everythingfrombobisgoodyessayers" in the first row.
BTW I arrived at every show at 8.p.m. and was everytime in the seond-fourth row in the middle.
The shows for the "cheap italian" ticket prices (€50-60) were ok but the prices in the other shows are not worth it.
I also talked with some of the yessayers, but also with some of the old goingtoevery European shows people. Some think that he was still great, but there were some who were disappointed.

In Italy many people were leaving too.
The sound is faar to loud. I never needed earplugs in the past but I had to buy some after the first show. Everyting is same loud the instruments and the voice. One big noise. Worst sound since Europe 2009. (WHY??). MK sounds absolutely perfect.


Songlist is interessting. 3x14 songs Rome 15.
All shows 9 songs
Leopard (Every single time great)
Things have changed (Good for on time)
Honest with me (New arrangement??? Bob on guitar and Charlie is playing a bit different but NO enew arrangement)
Desolation row (4 times in arow. He killed the song eveytime with his staccato)
H61 (Buisness as ever)
Thunder (ok)
Thin (Good)
Lars (Bob please no more LARS)
AATW (Terrible boring arragement)
That leaves a changing in the setlist for three!!! songs!
Three times:
Spirit (Why Bob?)
Tangled (Eeeeew)
Levvee (every day the same, even the keyboard phrases)

Two times
Forgetful heart (nice)

One time:
It aint me Babe (ok)
Don't think twice (OK)
Baby Blue (OK)
Girl of the north (Average)
Mississippi (too fast)
Hattie Carroll (like every Saturday)
Hollies Brown (like every Saturday)
Man in the long black coat (Awful)
Simple twist of fate (Nice)
Blowin in the wind (Terrible)

To end this. Ok but nothing special and better sound would be more comfortable.

"I won't come here no more if it bothers you."
- Bob Dylan

"I know it looks like I’m moving, but I’m standing still"
-Bob Dylan

He always tells the truth!

I went to three of the shows (Padova, Florence, and Milan) and I agree with most of what Maria wrote.
The highlights of the shows for me (very personal opinion) were usually Thin Man (all nights), Leopard Skin Pillbox-Hat was great as an opener, and I liked Things Have Changed in Milan.
It was nice to hear Mississippi live for the first time. Man in the Long Black coat and It Ain't Me Babe were very bad, IMO.
Forgetful Heart was better in Milan in June.
However, I think the voice was little better than I expected, especially in Milan yesterday and for most of the Florence show. I have a low quality, incomplete recording of the Florence show that I took with my iPod (songs up to Thunder on the Mountain) and I enjoyed what I heard.
In Milan, highlights were Simple Twist of Fate and Desolation Row (then, as usual, the staccato ruined everything but the first three verses were the best singing I heard him do in a while).

That's just bad , Maria .

Sorry you had a bad time, Maria. I've done well my last couple times seeing him.

He changed it back to the old one!

thanks for your impressions!



did you really perceive it that way?

"ridiculous and embarrassing" = irresistible and charming

^^ I'm with you, Raging - your definitions are spot on!

I'm with you ladies

I don't had a bad time, but I realized that something is missing.

Didn't Dylan once sing:

"If I’d lived my life by what Maria was thinkin’, the heart inside me would’ve died
I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity
Someone had to dance akwardly, I guess it was up to me"

Kidding aside: are you serious? While I have to admit that some of his dance moves look a little bit clumsy, I never got the feeling that it's ridicolous or even embarrassing. There's a 70 years old man standing on the stage, smiling, dancing and waving his arms around ... that shows me that he enjoys his music and his performances, that shows me that he has a lot of fun doing what he does. Hence, I've gotta say: I like it a lot.

I still can remember my first concert in 2009 where Dylan didn't do anything. He just stood there and rattled his songs off. Now THAT was a little bit ridicolous and embarrassing. But his current behaviour on stage - definitely not.

so maybe this mysterious difference is the reason for … doubts (my too).

Oh I think Bob does some seriously ridiculous dance moves... hahahaha

I was a bit tired out too this summer maria... I loved phoenix but then that was really enough for me.... and I didn't love phoenix for any music reasons at all.... so... I get what you are saying

people love to "beat up" on someone just because their views are not the same... that's ridiculous.... same thing happened to me when I said I didn't like Charlie... I thought he was boring.... and I still do... he hasn't changed since he rejoined.... but people jumped down my throat for it...

I never liked Charlie too. I was nearly "killed" here because I said that.



That was "normal" Bob for more than 30 years and it was great!(Except for 1995 were it was more authentic)

Well, Maria, I guess we can agree to disagree as far as his dance moves are concerned. To each his own, right?

Btw., I totally agree with your paragraph on MK. Isn't that something?

My first was also in 2009. He actually danced a bit there, a bit like now. Can't remember it all very well. But I remember the cheering of the crowd when he did some steps center stage (druing Cup of Coffee) I think.

I respect your opinions and always have. I probably haven't read enough threads to know why some individuals choose to scapegoat you. At least that's my perception. You put up with it well by continuing to reappear. Good for you! Without freedom of speech we might be in the swamp.

Now, regarding the earplugs. The day I find that I need to plug my ears for a concert is the day I stop attending them.

Remember, he's been doing this for 50+ freakin years, to put it all in perspective. What is it that we really want from the dude? And is that answer idealistic, over-optimistic or truly realistic? My expectations aren't much and I've been quite happy with the many shows that I've attended over the years. Always leaves me looking for the next show-fix. Can't say that I've known a performer or band to have such an effect for such a long period of time.

Cheers!

I enjoyed the florence gig except for when he went into 12 mode behind the keyboard. Loved the fact that he's started behaving like there's an audience out there. I like to think he's enjoying hmslef up there.