Bob Dylan 2000.09.22 in Sheffield, England

Sheffield Arena, Broughton Lane
Capacity: 12,231

From: "Derek Haworth"  derek@dhaworth.fsnet.co.uk 
To:  webmaster@expectingrain.com 
Subject: Dylan in Sheffield
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 16:21:16 +0100

Dylan in Sheffield
 
Friday 22nd September 2000
 
Bob kept us waiting last night. The scheduled 7.30 start didn't
actually take place until around 8 o'clock. By 7.55 I was
begining to get a little worried. I am used to Bob being ten
minutes or quarter of an hour late, but not nearly half an hour.
Was he ill, had he been delayed, had he fallen out with someone,
or what? The good thing was that the arena management didn't seem
worried and continued checking equipment, security carried on as
normal and the men on the sound desk sat there waiting to start
their work. I needn't have worried as a few minutes later Bob and
the Band arrived and it really was worth waiting for.

As two nights ago Bob was wearing his black and white pointed
shoes. He had a on a dark grey suit with a white stripe down the
trousers. This may or may not have been the same suit he wore in
Birmingham but the six-button jacket seemed to fit slightly
better last night. He was wearing a white shirt and again Bob and
I were both wearing ties unlike most people in the arena.

I think they must have been warming up as we were waiting for
them to appear as they seemed to be fully primed-up right from
the start tonight, unlike in Birmingham two nights before. To be
fair to Birmingham, earlier in the week I was still suffering
from the effects of a cold and not quite as musically receptive
as usual. Last night I was more-or-less back to normal. It will
be interesting to hear how other people think these two concerts
compare.

Bob and the Band were buzzing even on the first few numbers and
'It's Alright, Ma' was very enjoyable. 'Tangled Up In Blue' was
loud and exciting, complete with harmonica solo, just as it
should be. 'All Along The Watchtower' was excellent with my son,
as usual, making comparisons with the Jimi Hendrix version and
saying what a good song it is considering that it is musically
quite simple. 'Like A Rolling Stone' was well done and a crowd
pleaser as usual. 'Mr Tambourine Man' came next. I think I have
grown-out of this song. I always thought that this was one of the
few Dylan songs that other people could do better than he could.
I used to rate the Byrd's version of this song as one of my
favourite tracks of all time. The bonus was that we got another
welcome burst of harmonica playing. 'Forever Young' is not really
my type of song but I have to admit that it was really well done
last night and the people around me seemed to love it. I like
songs that rock and move and swing and build up to some sort of
climax, the type that just when you think it can't get any better
Bob comes in on harmonica to put the icing on the cake and blow
your mind. One song I have missed this time is 'It's All Over Now
Baby Blue'. I really love this song and it can be played in so
many different ways and still sound good.

Ther were very few parts of this show that I didn't really enjoy
and i would rate it as excellent. My daughter was travelling home
from Edinburgh to go to this concert with us but unfortunately
missed her train and had to spend a further £45 for her rail fare
direct to Sheffield but still reckons it was worth every penny.

Security at this concert seemed strict, as it should be, where
safety was involved but I didn't have any difficulty taking
photographs of Bob and the Band and one man sitting across the
aisle from me was openly using an SLR camera aquipped with one of
the longest telephoto lenses I have ever seen. I am sure someone
will be able to supply me with a tape or CD of this concert in
the near future.

This was an excellent concert and the cost of the eighty mile
journey to Sheffield plus the price of the tickets was money well
spent and I look forward to seeing Bob again during his next
British tour.
 
Derek Haworth



From: notdarkyet@eircom.net
To: "Karl Erik Andersen" ,
        "Bill Pagel" 
Subject: Sheffield review by Markus Prieur
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 16:28:55 +0100

This was a good show. Our vantage point was a bit different than
our first row center position in Birmingham. The huge arena was
filled with chairs, but during the show everyone one the floor
stood up. We sat quite comfortably on the tiers, first block -
left side - 9th row up, which gave me a good view (especially
with my binoculars) and one of the best sound mixes I can recall.
Bob's voice was so crisp and clear, doing all kinds of vocal
gymnastics on that sound carpet the tightest band in history
keeps rolling out for him. It was nice sitting down for a change
after standing for six shows since Dublin. I also was reminded
that those vast crowds come out to see Bob but once in a tour,
and we crazy freaks, who spend our holidays going to multiple
shows are only a small percentage of the audience. So we should
not be surprised when Bob repeats like 13 songs from the previous
show at times. They all came to hear songs like "TANGLED",
"ROLLING STONE", "BLOWING IN THE WIND" and "H61" (where the shoe
strings were sold even twice last night). But even the serious
Bob aficionado only has to ask himself: How would I view this
setlist (or any setlist) if it would be my first (or even only)
date on this tour?

Having said that, yes, there were "only" three additions to this
tour last night, and both on my 28th and my 27th (B'ham) Bob
date, Bob did not perform one song, I had not seen before. But
then again, I have to go back to spring 1995 in order to recall
having two consecutive Bob dates without "RDW".

Added to this tour was a nice and beautiful "LOVE MINUS ZERO / NO
LIMIT", our first since Brussels 1996. A little surprise was the
rare "DIGNITY", which we had seen once already in Kerkrade 1995
(in B'ham I saw it on the cue sheet in slot 18, but he played
"EVERYTHING IS BROKEN"). "MR. TAMBOURINE MAN" was already first
choice for the acoustic encore on the cue sheet in Glasgow; last
night Bob finally delivered, ending it with a very fine
harp-solo-dance, laying down his guitar after starting it.

For the second time on this tour Bob performed "LOVE SICK"
(moving "THINGS HAVE CHANGED" to slot 16 this time) and the
masterful "NOT DARK YET" (which he played for the first time in
England).

The challenging opener "I AM THE MAN THOMAS" Bob chose to present
for the third time in seven shows and for the second time in a
row. (If you don't know the lyrics, do check them out on the
relevant page on my web site.)

As my sweet loving wife Catina is approaching our B&B close to
the Welsh border on this warm and sunny day, I am really looking
forward to see Bob's show in Cardiff tonight. It will be at least
a very good one!

Markus Prieur / http://notdarkyet.tripod.com / notdarkyet@eircom.net



Subject: Sheffield 22/9/00 Review
From: "paul.ryles"  paul.ryles@ntlworld.com 
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 02:14:46 +0100

I've just arrived back home, via our local curry house where they
do a fantastic chicken tandoori pizza, from the Sheffield Arena
show.  This show was extra special for me as it was the first
that my girlfriend had been to, Katie being a recent convert to
the musical stylings of Bob Dylan.

Sheffield Arena is a huge ice hockey venue, which for the
purposes of the show has seats arranged on the floor and no
standing room, more on this point later.  Maybe due to the size
of the venue the doors were opened at 6.30 (ish).  Before that we
queued outside and watched the vast assortment of people that go
to Bob Dylan shows drift by, I defy anybody to define the typical
Bob Dylan fan.  One in particular caught the attention, standing
with  piece of card that read "free ticket wanted" on one side
and "ride wanted" on the other.

Anyway, we filed in not long after 6.30, milled around the
merchandise stand for a while and then took up our seats on the
floor, still about an hour to show time and its bloody freezing
inside.  By the time 7.45 comes the smell of incense is strong
and anticipation is high, but the hall looks only part filled and
the show is supposed to be a sell out. So the 7.45 start time
comes and goes, with a brief appearance of David Kemper behind
his drum kit.  At 8.00 the lights go out, people only rising to
their feet when the band appear on stage moments later.  With the
usual introduction it's 'I Am The Man, Thomas', a fantastic
opener, I love these opening song (with a special thanks here to
Matt Reading and his web site for providing an opportunity to
hear them).

'The Times There Are A Changin' follows with fluctuating sound
levels on the vocals, spoiling the start a little, but not that
much.  'It's Alright, Ma' is next, fantastic singing, with the
band providing superb backing.  The vocals dominate with the
music reaching a crescendo at the It's alright, Ma... line at the
end of each verse.  Things slow down with a delicate version of
'Love Minus Zero'.

The harp appears for 'Tangled Up In Blue'.  As Bob picks it up he
seemed to me like the first few notes were a test, I'm not sure
if he was seeing if it was the right key, or seeing whether he
really wanted to play it or just wanted to see if the crowd
really wanted to hear it, whatever, he knocked out a pretty damn
fine solo.  Some crazy hopping going on also, great fun. 
'Searching For A Soldiers Grave' is just a fantastic song, I love
it.

The lights go down, in the gloom, we can see the band changing
instruments, simultaneously as the lights go back up 'Country
Pie' seems to roll from the stage and push back the darkness. 
There is an air of understatement to the lyrics of the chorus and
added sarcasm to "whaddo I care".

The next song up is 'Dignity', which I enjoyed very much, there
were lots of lyric changes, some intentional others not.  As the
next song is decided upon, with Tony and Bob in huddle, Charlie
seems to get caught out with no guitar, rushing to the side of
the stage where some one hands him his guitar just in time to
tear into 'All Along The Watchtower'.  Both the guitar and the
drums were really loud during this number, Bob's vocals were
sandwiched in between, a really powerful performance.

Next up back to back TOOM songs, I wish I could tell you what
'Not Dark Yet' was like but just as the song started a couple of
people pushed along the row trying to find their seats!!!  This
is only song ten of the set where the hell had they been??  Let
this be a lesson, it's always best to try a find your seats
before the show when the house lights are on rather than an hour
into it.  If some could let me know what this song was like when
they here the boot, I'd be most grateful. 'Cold Irons Bound' was
superb, the arrangement had Bob singing each line with the band
exploding into life at the end of them, this built into the
chorus which resembled the recorded version.  Band introductions
followed by 'Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat', excellent guitar breaks
from both Larry and Charlie.  The Formation lasted maybe a couple
of minutes with the band leaving for the end of the set.

The third TOOM song of the set opened the encore, followed by
'Like A Rolling Stone' some excellent guitar work again.  The
harp appeared for the second time of the night in 'Mr. Tambourine
Man'.  Bob started out with delicate vocals, which seemed to
weave in and out of the music and then finished up the with a bit
more gravel in his throat, good stuff. The harp solo was a little
bit special, with Bob seemly desperate to get rid of the guitar
around his neck.  Picture this, Bob with his harmonica in his
left hand bending down on one knee with his guitar in his right,
obviously not wanting to leave on the stage, until his roadie
comes to his rescue.  This leaves Bob free to do a bit more
dancing and hand waving, reminiscent of Joe Cocker when he sings.

As 'Lovesick' was first up in the encore I was a bit surprised by
'Things Have Changed' coming up next, this is just a great live
song. 'Forever Young' next with some fantastic singing from all
concerned.

During 'Highway 61 Revisited' Bob looks like he was contemplating
trying a Chuck Berry duck hop, but just stopped short, pity. 
'Blowin The Wind' closed the show, the best way to describe this
is by trying to imagine a band version of 'Good As I Been To You'
this 'Blowin The Wind' would have fitted just nicely after
'Canadee-I-O', wonderful.  The formation again and that's it.

Well a fantastic show, which Katie thought was excellent, I think
she is now forever hooked.

All the best to those going down to the Portsmouth shows and in
fact any other show on this tour.

Paul



From: "Dr.P.J.Lamont"  pjlamont@fs1.eng.man.ac.uk 
To: webmaster@expectingrain.com
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 15:01:36 BST
Subject: Dylan at Sheffield Arena

I've been reading the posted reviews of Dylan concerts for a year
or so. I remember some from American concerts where the reviewer
has gone on about traffic problems etc. and thought "is all this
really necessary?" However, after driving to Sheffield last
Friday from darkest Derbyshire with my wife, Nicky and fellow
village Dylan freak Newton, I feel I must make some comment about
the terrible design of the roads leading to the Arena and the
lack of sufficient parking spaces!!!

All this meant that we were late arriving. The only thing that
could be said in favour of the "management" was that at least
they held the start of the show until after this chaos had
subsided.

Maybe all this hassle ahead of time and the poor seats we had -
top row on the left hand side with Dylan hidden by a speaker
tower may have clouded my judgement but I was very disappointed
by the show - particularly the first 5 songs. I'd secretly vowed
that I'd never go to see Dylan again in a big Arena. However
things improved in the "electric" section including the TOOM
songs and "Things Have Changed". A special mention should go to
the lady in the lime green T-shirt to the right of the mixer desk
who danced throughout the "rock & roll" numbers!!!

Everyone went home reasonably happy after buying T-shirts from
the unofficial sellers outside the Arena and listening to World
Gone Wrong while we waited for the car park to clear.

At the weekend while relaxing over a glass or three of Rhubarb
Wine, my wife confronted me with the question of why Dylan was so
uncommunicative to the point of rudeness!! with an audience that
had followed him devotedly for nearly 40 years!!!!  I was set
aback for a bit by this, "Her in doors" is very fierce in her
cups and I made the usual arguments about it all being in the
songs etc. and that no matter what concert you go to there is
always at least one "show stopping moment" that makes it all
worthwhile. Then I thought back to Friday night and there really
wasn't one. No "Blind Willie McTell, Trying to get to Heaven or
Boots of Spanish Leather?"

I do still love the old bugger but perhaps if he communicated
more there might be more special moments!!!! My wife's a wise old
snake, so is Dylan so how about changing for next time.

Regards, Tulip