Expecting Rain

Anyone ever advised someone to not go see Dylan? I love Dylan shows. I know the music and appreciate or "get" the voice. However, the last 2 times I've seen Dylan, I've found myself in a few separate conversations with friends or acquaintances advising them to not go see the show. I knew they would hate it. I'd ask them if they'd ever seen him before, and they'd say "No, but I like his songs, blah blah," and I'd have to explain to them that what they hear on the radio is a far cry from what they're going to hear at the actual show. They always seem confused when I explain this. I have a cousin who insisted on going with me to see him in 2007, and I tried so many times to tell him he was not going to like what he heard. He didn't believe me, and by the 3rd song, he was ready to leave. Anyone else experience this?

You hear Bob Dylan on a regular FM radio? Where the hell do you live?

This was my first thought too!
I've never had this experience, I'm the only one I know of among my friends and relatives that actually like Bob.
If I ever stumble upon someone asking, I'd say download a few concerts (or youtube) and listen before they decide to go.

Yep, I have tried and failed to warn friends in the past. This basically happens to me every time he comes to London.

Anyone who only knows his pre-90's stuff is going to be checking their tickets to see if they're at the right show. The combination of a different voice singing the lyrics to different music must be pretty confusing.

I told some of my college friends a few years ago that I would be seeing Bob, and two of them said they would like to go. I stressed that Bob's "new" voice is rough and is almost an acquired taste. They still said they'd like to go.

It was a 45 minute drive, and almost the whole trip I was telling them that he won't sound like he does on the hit songs you've heard and kept stressing how rough his voice is.

After the first song, they both said that the voice wasn't that bad at all and after the show they both said that they enjoyed it.

So what do I know?

I think they were lying to protect your friendship

I tell people that all the time. Nothing is worse than going to a concert with people who hate it & are having a miserable time. I never try to talk anybody into being a fan of Dylan or anybody else. It's a total waste of time, & in the long run I don't care what kinda music other people listen to or don't listen to.

The exact same thing happend to me last summer. My buddy loved the show, and we all had a great time.

All of my friends love Bob Dylan...But I'm the only one who listens to albums he's released after Desire. So I have had to advise a few of them that they might not enjoy it. Not just because they wouldn't like the voice, but because he wouldn't play any of the songs that they actually want to hear.

That happened to me in 1993. Yeah, I know it seems like the good old days now but at the time some folks thought his voice was unspeakably bad and had declined to the point where nothing he did was would ever be worth listening to again. Believe it or not...

That said, I'd much rather go to a show alone than with someone who won't enjoy it and might drag me down.

Very well could be!

Oh yeah.. Florence last year. I advised an acquaintance who expected it to be the acoustic folk protest Bob not go. So he didn't. Later I posted a U-tube clip of Forgetful Heart which I liked but he thought was awful! He made the right decision and so did I.

My wife likes Bob a little. She asked me to make a mixed cd once for her. She actually listened to it occasionally. And quite loved a few songs.

I brought her to see Bob in 2006. After the concert she turned to me and said, "I'm sorry, honey. But that sucked...I love you."

I went to see Bob again in 2008. She wasn't asked back. I went alone. It was much less stressful.

You almost have to warn some of the uninformed. If they are used to going to the "regular" concerts from a classic rock era act, they expect to hear the hits, and I warn people they might not hear, Blowin' in the Wind, Rolling Stone or Watchtower, and that half the show might be, gasp, new stuff. I tell them if you are looking to be transported back to the 60's or 70's forget it. Funny thing is, these are the exact reasons I enjoy going. As someone posted earlier, it is a real drag to go with someone who doesn't like the show, or worse, completely lost. I'd rather go alone. Now on the other hand, I do encourage non Dylan fans who are real music fans to go, and they tend to love the shows.

All my friends love Bobby-O, but all my friends have been seeing his concerts for years.

you are fortunate JP~~ i have taken people to see Dylan with me..to have them have a bad time tryin to figure out what he was singing and making me frustrated with their poor attitude. I now go alone.. and even better for me now as i have met some VERY fine die hard Dylan friends in the lineups.. pple that im sure are on this site.. people that im sure ill see again..

Wow, thanks for the responses. Glad I'm not the only one. I always thought I sounded weird telling people to NOT go see my favorite musician. Good to see that some of y'all brought people who apparently did have a good time. My cousin had an awful time at that show in '07. He looked like he wanted to scratch his ears out and kill himself.

Ever tell people to NOT go see Dylan??

Would never dream of it but I do tell them if they don't listen to a lot of current shows I can almost guarantee they will hate it. Too many people have their expectations dashed because they only know what they heard on a record and with Dylan, of all rock artists, that will lead to a baffling, confusing, frustrating disappointment.

Live Dylan has always been an acquired taste.

Unfortunately, there's a big difference between the old days when it was olives, caviar and marmite and the current ModBob smorgasbord of razorwire, dogshit and sundried toe cheese.

If it's a crappy festival like Hop farm, I'd advise anyone not to bother..

At least with festivals you have a chance of hearing some palatable music.

Surrounded by unpalatable people drinking unpalatable beer.

I tell many and all people as often as possible that they should make it their civic duty to see him as soon as possible. especially if they live in different places than me, so they could tell me what it was like in so and so.

but i rarely ask someone to join me. that usually requires a background check. actually saw a few shows after 03 when i wasn't really following, but i was known as 'that guy who liked dylan' so whenever someone in our friendship circle had a ticket for some reason (once we went with her parents) i'd hop on for the ride.

but these days - when the moments are so precious. the guest list is short. my wife has been to a show. it was a great show we both enjoyed. i frankly wouldn't want to risk anything next time around. my brother still has a standing invitation. i'd like him to experience it. also i can leave him to move my way to the front if i felt like it.

oh and my friend in italy - hopefully we'll see a show in europe together. Germany, Italy, or Norway would be nice i think.

i've seen him alot by myself. but i have yet to spend a day waiting in line for the rail. perhaps i'll do that and bake some edibles to pass the time.

I advise folks to have zero expectations. Wipe your mind clean if you can, please. It's not going to be what you think. If anyone is with me I make it clear up front that they are on their own once the doors open. I intend no offense, but the focus for me will be the show, period. Before and after, anything goes. And I agree with smoke and untrodden as well.

I've taken my wife to see Dylan twice... She hated it so much the second time (a NET show, nonetheless! ) I'm fairly certain that if I tried to take her after she died, her ashes would revolt. She wasn't much of a fan, knew only a few songs and we were on the rail between Dylan and John Jackson. It just never sunk in for her.

I took my oldest son in 2005. He loved George Recelli but not Bob. George cut loose on Cold Irons Bound and All Along the Watchtower and he was amazed... but Bob? He simply didn't get it.