Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 22:12:12 GMT
From: "Sorabh Saxena; Masters" (ssaxena@COE1.ENGR.UMBC.EDU)
Subject: Atlanta (10/11/95) Review (Long)
ATLANTA 10/11/95 -- Late Review
I am sorry for the lack of synchronocity between the
show and the review. The only positive outcome that
I can think of is that for all the review-addicts,
the last week or so seems to be a dry period so
hopefully this might help.
-------
I was scheduled to meet Gary Parker in front of the grand Fox
Theater around 7:00 pm. I glanced at my watch, there was
enough time to quell my sudden desire for a beer. I
headed down to the lobby and found myself a "seat with a
view" at the bar. As the first few gulps made their way
down my throat I couldn't help but feel that the beer
was to feed a certain family of butterflies in my stomach
who live in my innards like chrysalis, dormant, breaking out
of there shells only when they *feel* a Dylan concert appearing
on the horizon.
Out in the open, the sun showed that it was still able enough to
take care of its business, though ever so exhaustingly. I got into my
rental car, turned the radio loud; I have to say this about Atlanta radio
stations -- I've lived in the D.C. metropolitan area, Los
Angeles and now I am living near NYC but I found Atlanta's
radio stations to be the best!
For no reason in particular, I was beset by a feeling of serenity,
as if this time the fleeting moments of joy will be forever.
I drove into the first parking lot near the Fox Theater.
The Fox Theater isn't much of a sight from the front, but just
step to the edge of the street and cast an askance look
at the theater -- its gorgeously ancient! A palace out of the
Arabian Nights (I think that's how Gary described it). Waiting
for Gary, I saw a familiar soul crossing the street, so I ran
and caught up with him. Stpehen Scobie greeted me with his usual
warmth, and invited me to join him and his companion on their
mission. They were heading towards the Holiday Inn across
the street. Right at the end of a corridor on the 3rd floor, we
entered a room bustling with festivity. Stephen introduced me
to the rest. Only after I had been in the room for a while it
dawned upon me that the short, stout, half-bald guy with very keen eyes
and a happy countenance, whose name had escaped me at the time of
introduction, was none other than Glen Dundas! And there was
Michelle, a bird very much belonging to the flock in that room,
from Chicago, and Glen's wife whose name escapes me even now. We
all had a few drinks and headed down to grab a bite before the
show. I took leave and waited in front of the theater for
Gary.
Without a shred of doubt in our minds, both Gary and I recognized each
other instantly, eventhough we had never seen each other. Gary and I
strode towards the nearest eating joint and had a wonderful time sharing
our experiences.
Gary and I took our seats, which were in the first row of the
balcony, promptly at 8:00. The Fox Theater is magnificiently ornate,
and the effect is even more pronounced if you happen to be seated
in the balcony, for the ceiling is fully covered with a mural,
beautifully depicting the sky with scattered clouds, on a cool,
serene summer's night out there somewhere in the wilderness, with
the stars blinking at you naughtily. Alongwith are domes and minarets,
painted golden, standing erect at every edge, throwing you hundreds of
years back into time, and in the process taking away all your *present*
worries.......all in all, leaving you with a very soothing and
uplifting feeling.
8:20 pm, the band of Drifters' stumbled unto the stage and immediately
tried to Escape. A very solid rendition of Drifter's Escape
indeed. Bob's vocals were clear right from the beginning.
The acoustics at the Fox Theater were also pretty darn good.
Bob was wearing his Hall of Fame golden jacket.....looked almost
like a king trying to proclaim his lost dynasty. The crowd was
still pretty stiff as the evidence offered didn't really cut
through the layers and layers of negative impression formed
by reading the "good books" of present times -- the Newspapers.
"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" -- well its up to you
to believe him or not, but if all he meant was that the
memories of tonight will linger on lng after the show --
Bob hit a bull's eye. In the no. 2 spot, i think, Bob always tries
to fit in a soft song. Its almost like within the crashing waves
of guitars of the first song, and the rythmic musings of the 2nd,
he's tested out the mood and alchemy of the band on any particular
night. The pensive crowd was more at ease at the conclusion of this
song, for the softness of the music made it easy for the crystal
clear enunciation to be heard.
And then the multitude joyously danced "All Along The
Minarets."
"Under The Red Sky," was a personal highlight. After all the dust
kicked by AATW had settled down, this was a subliminally ecstatic
tune. Bob seemed to be intensely involved, sang it almost as if it
was a hymn, and I think for the length of this song he forgot that
there was an audience. The band was perfectly complementary, and even
Winston Watson, who on occasions, has been targeted for overzealousness,
was almost imperceptible, except for his *togetherness* with the
band. If asked to recommend only one person to accompany Bob on
this song, I'll pick Bucky.
"It Take a Lot to Laugh.....," was as raunchy as it gets. Teasing
rythm, with delicate licks of the guitars, stacatto octavial
jumps. Left you feeling very rougish and salacious! It was
at this time during the concert that I noticed Bob's shoes --
reminded me of Joey Gallo for some reason. They were those
black leather slip-ons with white leather decorating the face
of the shoes. Very "underworldish."
Weeell, I made a mistake in the previous paragraph, did I say
"as raunchy as it gets?" I retract my statement. "Silvio" was
defintely *the rocker* for the evening. I say so because, its
easy for AATW to please the crowd, just like its easy for
"Rainy Day Woman," or "Like A Rolling Stone" to make people
jump and sway like monkeys. But for a totally unheard tune -- for
most in the crowd -- to grab them by their guts and make them
shake, rattle and hum is an achievement only a few stellar
performers can pull off.
The whole atmosphere set up by the acoustic set, somehow
conjures up haunting images for me. Images from the past,
to me it is as if Dylan recesses down the labryinths of
his mystical past, and is almost in a meditative trance.
The *feel* of these songs is richly sad....pregnant pathos
tied down by lilting melodies.
"Mr. Tambourine Man" seems to be the favorite acoustic
song for most RMDers. I beg to differ. I like(d) it a
lot, but it doesn't seem work for me. I think Bob takes
a good break for his singing voice, and whispers the
lyrics. Don't get me wrong, I love the way he sometimes
hisses and fades away, but the present incarnation
of "Mr. Tambourine Man" lacks any vocal range. Just MHO.
"Masters Of War" always gets through to the crowd and
till their is a *crowd* I think it will never fail to
excite them.
"Love Minus Zero" is my pick for the highlight of the
acoustic set. But then I tend to be biased whenever
zero and love occupy places in the same sentence.;-)
I think it was at this time Gary and I had decided that closer
scrutiny of "the lines on his face" was written on the
cards. We made our way straight to the front like a breeze,
only for the good part of the breeze to stumble into
"Mountain-Man Mike" (I dunno, but I guess the name is as
good as any for a security guard), who
abruptly intervened the good half of the breeze from reaching
the meadowlands right in front of the stage. Did I mention
that the bad half of the breeze (me) did satisfactorily
wind up at a pre-determined spot? And that the good part of the
breeze didn't quite forgive the bad part?;-)
"Everybody must give something back for something they get,"
and we had to give up our vantage seats, perfect for people
with journalist tendencies, and joined the loose and bawdy
crowd right at the feet of the blued-eyed son. This would
have been of no further concern to you than the frequency
of local bus service in Black Diamond Bay, but for the fact
that yours truly was much involved in the turmoil to
contribute even an excuse in the form of a review for
the remianing songs.
"GOd Knows" was a rocker, as usual, especially love the way
Bob spits out the lyrics with vengeance.
Just about this time in the show, I was convinced that
Bob half-blankly stared at me -- with the second half of the
stare being recognition. Could it be that my Asian-Indian
heritage coupled with the frequency of encounters has
left a scratchy mark on his memory?
On 2nd thoughts, naaaaaaaah......I bet everybody
standing in the first few rows is convinced by the end
that she/he is Bob dylan's new soul-mate.;-)
"Seeing the Real You At Last" was, again, highly intense,
but given a choice I'll rather hear the other
Burlesque that he's been doing of late -- "Never gonna Be
the Same Again."
"Thump,thump, thump...." and its time for the encore.
"Alabama Getaway" was weeel new for me and since,
as previously described, I had lost my vantage point -- no comments.
The prettiest and at the same time the fiercest Harmonica
blowing I've heard in a looong looong time --- "It Ain't
Me, Babe." Apart from John the Baptist's assertion that
God has renewed Bob's powers if there's any other, I'll
surely like to know!
And after a feast its time to get stoned!
We were sipping beer and discussing Stephen's
new book in a bar at the corner when Amy (?)
came up and introduced herself. She lurks around
somewhere here, and I think more than anything
else she was relieved to know that this whole
business of Internet isn't a communist hoax,
and all the people who post are not necessarily
out of job or serial killers.;-)
(Amy, from Indiana, if you are around -- drop a line!)
Glen, Stephen, and a few others decided to shift the
party to Glen's hotel room. I had to catch a flight
early next day morning and besides, I like to have
atleast a few waking hours to myself after a concert,
just to brood over matters.
Gary and I also parted ways with the promise that
we will try to meet again sometime soon.
The one thing that always strikes me about meeting
other RMDers at a Dylan concert is that we just seem to warm up
and its time again to go our own way......well such are the ways of
life.
I walked down the barren streets of Atlanta and suddenly,
it seemed to be too quiet......couldn't help but
wonder that just a moment back there was so much, and
now, well and now there's again so much (in) (silence).......
On to Philly!!!!
--
Sorabh
*******************************************************************************
"Try to be pure at heart, they arrest you for robbery,