Expecting Rain

I would rate '79 above '80, personally.

For clarity, the Top 75 Concerts list is not my list but rather a consensus list based on voting at ER in 2007 so I can't justify Isle of Wight or Finjan or Atlanta February 2002 as I wouldn't personally advocate for any them. My personal list (which is on Page 3 of this Thread) is:

November 4, 1961 - Carnegie Chapter Hall, New York City, New York

October, 1962 - Gaslight Café, New York City, New York

April 12, 1963 - Town Hall, New York City, New York

July 26 to 28, 1963 – Newport Folk Festival, Freebody Park, Newport, Rhode Island

July 24 to 26, 1964 – Newport Folk Festival, Freebody Park, Newport, Rhode Island

October 31, 1964 - Philharmonic Hall, New York City, New York

May 7, 1965 - Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England

I like The Gaslight Cafe 62, Manchester/Sheffield/Liverpool 66, MSG 75, New Orleans/Ft Worth/Fort Collins 76, San Francisco 79, Supper Club 93, Boston 95, El Rey 97, Toledo 98, Barcelona 99, and Newcastle or Santa Cruz 00. I also think Tour 74 rocks!

Was Santa Cruz in '00 two shows or am I mixing it up with sth else? It's the one with Highlands, isn't it?

Yeah, I like that one but there are so many from 2000 that are great. One that I really enjoy even though the sound is a bit muffled, is Anaheim (evening); he seems to be trying a new approach to the vocals and it works well.

Here's my worthless .02 cents on the NET/MODBOB vs. Vintage Bob craziness (AKA Benny VS. Johanna )

I have lurked here a LONG time but I am a very new poster. Both Benny and Johanna are among my favorite posters, and believe it or not, they are more similar than they are different. It is obvious that they BOTH love BOB's music as much as anyone, anywhere. They both have a huge passion for this stuff. Different era's mind you, but it is still "Bob". And how can you not love someone who loves Bob so much?

And I "get" where both are coming from.
Johanna has great experiences seeing and listening to MODBOB. That's fantastic. I too have been to MODBOB shows and enjoyed myself immensely.

Benny is (in my opinion) a musical purist. He has heard the absolute best of what Bob has had to offer and latched on to it. Singing undue praises to anything less than the high water mark of the mid 70's (and lets throw 66 in there) diminishes just how truly magical those times were.

People say that the enjoyment of music is subjective. I believe that. I believe that someone like Johanna has every right to cherish and value her experiences with the NET. No different than Benny valuing RTR.

However, even with the personal subjectivity of music, I do believe that empirically there can be consensus on an artists "best" output. For example, Consensus among Deadheads is that May 1977 is probably the best month of consecutive Grateful Dead shows ever (always open to some debate, and there are other favorite era's (europe 72, fall 73, summer 74) but even advocates of other era's will rate May 77 near the top.

As much fun as I have had at MODBob shows (and I should also add I was at Toads Place in 90 and it was the greatest night of my life musically), I can state safely that the BEST music made in Bob Dylan's career from a Live performance Standpoint is RTR 75/76, it is not even close in my opinion. I would trade my attendance at Toads place for a spot in the Balcony in Waterbury 75, or Montreal, or Fort Worth, etc...etc... Other era's had incredible points and highlights, but nothing touches the sheer amount of incredible music being made on those 2 tours. They simply killed EVERY night!

Again, my .02....... And me saying 75/76 is the best does not diminish the experiences I had at Toads or supper club, just like Net'ers admitting 75/76 is best shouldn't diminish their NET experiences.

Plenty of Room on the RTR Express, everyone on board!!! it IS the best ever!

Hmmmmmm.

Has anyone else ever walked out on a Dylan concert because they couldn't stand it?

Came close, at a concert in the early 90's, when he was so drunk he was barely functional. I thought he was a real creep.

I walked out a few times due to overzealous security, US and Europe. I don't like being hit for no reason.

No, I mean walked out because you couldn't stand the concert.

I never left a concert in progress, but I've walked out (afterwards) telling myself I would never go back. Luckily, I broke that promise a couple years later and saw a FANTASTIC show.

May '77 is a good time for the Dead, and RTR for Bob Dylan, but "best" is in the ear of the beholder. I know lots of people who can't stand his singing in 1966, and others who feel it's the best he ever got.

No. Generally, when I went, I knew what to expect. There are some days that are better than others, but that's not unexpected either.

Everyone that stayed the distance- me included- at Hammersmith in Feb '91, deserves a second home.

Not exactly *walked out*, since I was out already
I was sitting on the grass in front of the stadium where Dylan was playing.
I was in position to see the stage perfectly well but I had paid for no tickets.
So maybe it doesn't *count*......
But yes, I walked out /went away from Padova 2011.
And I would have walked out (hadn't I paid the ticket... on Pistoia 2006.
Really awful.

^ See, this is what leaves me decidedly unimpressed. He knows he can get away with it, so continues to, rather than do the decent thing and drastically reduce the number of opportunities he takes to relieve audiences of considerable amounts of money that he doesn't need.

My mate, Ged Keilty, walked out of Hammersmith 1991 because he couldn't stand it! Gave me the ticket for the next night - I went - it was shite too! It was the one where the band started paying "Watchtower" and Dylan sang "Masters of War" - terrible, and no, not funny. I didn't see Bob again for 9 years after that one.

Me 2.

After the dismal show I saw in 91-92, I didn't bother again until he toured behind Love & Theft.

What was wrong with that (serious question)? At what point did you leave?

i used to play it nearly everyday that i wanted a pick me up, but it's been steadily wearing me down...i wonder how many would like it if all the surrounding accompaniment were removed. that part is still really good. Bonn Scott was better at shout-rock

Are you talking about Bob shows or ER discussion threads?

WTF are you talking about?

Can you colour but not read?

Oh no, no double meaning intended.... these were strictly real-life Bob shows. NYC '05 and, worst concert experience ever re venue security, Nice '10.

Well - i think that the consensus has concluded that Manchester May 1966 was Bob's best show.

I have a little story too about this one. You will all know that for years this was thought to have been recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on the last date of the tour. Years later after research by Clinton Heylin it was revealed that Manchester was the actual location. How did this come about? I hear you ask. Well I will tell.......

A friend of mine, Chris Hockenhull, lives in Liverpool and happens to be Britains Top Dylanologist. He had a number of newspaper cuttings in his archive about the Manchester show from the time (i.e May 1966). Amongst the clippings was a letter from a local newspaper (may have been the Manchester Evening News) in which a chap who had attended the Manchester show was bemoaning the fact that Bob had got such a hard time at the show and that someone had the gall to shout "JUDAS!" prior to "Like A Rolling Stone". Chris, being an intelligent chap, thought to himself "Hmmm...that's a big coincidence someone shouting "Judas" at two shows!" So he phoned his very good friend Mr Clinton Heylin at around 10pm one wet evening and said "Clinton....I have this letter..." Chris realted his theory and Clinton leaped on his motorbike and sped the 20 or so miles between Manchester and Liverpool to check Chris' evidence. Ol' Clinton did some digging and before too long the truth was confirmed. The famed "Live at Albert Hall" was actually "Live at Manchester Free Trade Hall".

Nice story eh?

See I am not really a troll who is worse than Hitler.

I don't really know what you're on about with that last line, but it's a good story.

With those shows that have been mentioned in this thread, which fit the time frame you favor, why don't you create a poll? It'd be much easier to get results.