Expecting Rain

You believe people in the US will react in the same way they do in Germany (I don't know how the situation was in other countries)?
btw: in Europe they stagerush anyway.

Hi rwasser, how are you? My point is that I like it when folks come specifically for the opening act and then leave, that's all. I really have no idea how the North Americans will react. Kinda crazy to pay and then leave halfway through, but that is a personal choice. If I see empty seats ahead of me I will try to get them. As far as stage rushing goes, many large venues here instigate, encourage, or ignore, a power-trip attitude amongst their security. Some are worse than others. Stage rushing in a seated venue isn't so tolerated, except for the encores, based on my experience.

Im so jealous of you that will go to these shows! New songs will be most likely be played!!

I'm fine, thank you.
The fact that many people have left the venues during Bob's set especially in Germany was discussed here before and I don't intend to open the discussion once again. But please let me stress that most of them - as far as I could make it out - did not leave because they only wanted to hear Mark Knopfler. They came for both acts which were announced as "Two legends on tour" or something like that and drew a lot of people who might have thought of Bob as a fine guitar playing balladeer he ceased to be long ago. But that of course was their fault.

I'm not sure if stagerushing is tolerated by securities in Europe. My impression is rather that they (still) do not expect something like a stagerush at all and then they are overstrained. And maybe in the end they are not entitled to handle such a rush (sometimes it was an occupying of the rails before the concert even has begun) with the same power securities can do in America, but this can be just a prejudice of mine.

I'm not going, I'm sitting here in Norway in jealousy of those who actually are!
We'll have to wait to next year when he visits us in Scandinavia.

I'm super-hyped for these shows. And I have no reason to complain since I'm seeing him 3 (possibly 4) times this year. But I have to admit that a little piece of me died when he announced the United Center for the Chicago show.

1. I'm saying this as a huge fan who loves everything he does, especially his newer stuff, but Dylan sounds horrible, and the United Center is a gigantic stadium with a terrible sound system and an echo that reduces any sound to a series of vibrating farts. Dylan is going to sound horrible there.

2. Seat prices. If you want half-way decent seats, you'll probably have to pony up to over 150 dollars just to get on the main floor. I'm assuming the nose-bleeds about 4 stories up and a football field length's away will cost somewhere between 40 and 60 dollars. I guess all of those general admission shows where I pay little money and get up on the stage have spoiled me.

3. Bob Dylan has a huge following, it's true. And I'm assuming so does Mark Knopfler. But can they really sell out the United Center? There are over 23,000 seats to fill. I've been to Dylan shows in Chicago, (Aragon, Riverea) where the crowd capacity is like 2,300 at most, and those shows didn't sell out.

Anyway - I like to complain, it doesn't mean I wouldn't see Bob Dylan if he decided to play on a massive pile of bile and charge us all 400 dollars for a 2 song set. Because I'd be there.

I like this.

Speaking of $400, when it came to the Santa Barbara "Hot Tickets," you're not too far off. During the presale just now, I searched for Hot Tix, which are $280 each!!! Had front row center popped up, I'd have paid Bob his ransom. But these were Rows 6, 8, 11 and the like. They were Center, granted. And I was searching for 3 seats, an oddball number. But that's insane.

I settled for Row 5, way over to the side, for the bargain price of $160. Oh well, screw it. We'll be there, and it's cheaper than my hometown Hollywood Bowl, which I'm not even going to bother with.

Seems that the regular tickets in the best category are about 120-130 USD, which is considerably less than any top category tickets in Europe or the MK tour. Also, the nosebleed seats are even cheaper than most cheap seats for the current Euro tour, and in the US you get MK and the new album as a bonus.

And stop scare the MK haters away: Yes, some ppl might not consider MK a bonus, but most of them have no clue about music besides Bob anyway.

Mark who?

Sacramento i pulled front a gazillion times. But behind him...wtf??? Im not paying 2 hundred something and paying for a flight and hotel to be behind bob....thats friggin stupid. Im pissed at this whole ticketmaster bullshit and tix thru scalpers r gonna be nuts

Behind Bob? This is a good question. Last night I was watching some recent Euro concert videos, and it seems the grand piano (and Bob) are facing to the left. From the audience point-of-view, Bob is facing/barking toward the left. Is this correct? That's where my seats are located....on the far left.

According to Ticketbastard, the top-price Hollywood Bowl tix are $215. I'm sure Hot Tix will be at least $320. Nice.

If you see him sideways at the grand piano, you're in for a treat. In Lyon, he was rolling around on his bench like a madman, throwing his legs in the air, having so much fun. Our boy's got a new toy.

Nice!

Yes, it's so cool. After 11 shows it feels like it's never been different. You'll just have to catch the right spot. In Salzburg, I couldn't see him at all from the rail, with a high stage and the small keyboard / pedal steel in front of the grand.

Johanna - 11 shows, that must have been really sweet.

I have a show coming up on the summer tour (GA). What would be a good position on the rail? Is further over to the left of center better? I think the stage at this venue is not too high, but I am just under 5', so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Depends on how high the stage is, really. If it's not so high, go towards center and you'll see him rockin' around on his piano seat. Over to the left, you'll only see his head above the piano, but he's facing that way, so you'll get to see his expressions, and he'll come center stage for a few songs, if he keeps the format he played here.

Thanks for the advice, Johanna - most helpful!

Even if you never listened to anyone else, you couldn't not have a clue because he'd make you get one, but that just as an aside....

According to the NY Times this morning, Bob will be performing in NYC the day before Thanksgiving - http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/ ... odayspaper

Sorry if this has already been posted - don't have time to search this morning -
cheers!
doomed

I'm sorry to read this. Did they place the first row of seats too close to the stage? It was a seated concert, wasn't it?

Why is Brooklyn on Knopfler's website but not Dylan's?

all of these points and concerns are valid and i empathize. - i wonder if the milwaukee venue is any better.

on the other hand, regarding point 1 - a reverberating fart echo is not unlike the technique he's been using for Thin Man lately. the combined amplification of bad acoustics and bob's controversial output could be quite complementary !!

Let's say it was some sort of general transmission. Several hundred people running and security picking me to threaten throwing out.... I got some heavy bruises on my arm where he was trying to pull me out. After that, he did the same to my friend, and then he gave up.