Bob Dylan 2000.04.04 in Omaha, Nebraska

Subject: Omaha Nebraska Show
From: Tandbdylan 
Date: 05 Apr 2000 12:07:48 GMT

Well, no one else said anything about it besides posting a setlist, but damn
was it a phenomenal show.  That's the first time I've ever seen Dylan, and it
was magical. 

Moments--"Tangled Up In Blue," acoustic, was incredible and spectacular. 
"Lonesome Death...," "Desolation Row," "This Wheel's on Fire," and "Stuck
Inside of Mobile..." were big, pleasant surprises--for me, anyway.  "Like a
Rolling Stone" was it, though.  Yeah, I know it's a standard and all, but when
I was at the show last night, and I realized what I was seeing--Bob up there
wailing "HOW DOES IT FEEEEEEEEL?!", I was in another world.  Amazing stuff,
man.  Amazing.

Dylan May



Subject: Review of Omaha, April 4th
From: Chad Schuldt 
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 14:22:03 -0500

To understand this review of the Omaha Bob show last night, you have to
understand the Sioux Falls show only three nights previous.  I've attended
ten Dylan concerts in the last four years, all around the country, and the
Sioux Falls show had the least engaging crowd by far.  Bob and band did
their best to keep a smile on their face, and their performance was
definintely worthy of a more enthusiastic response.  First and foremost the
problem at the Sioux Falls show was the overzealous security.  It began
during Asleep At The Wheel's set -- a couple was in the aisle swing dancing
(very well, I might add) and security came over to sit them down.  After
seeing that, I had a very bad feeling about how they would handle people who
came to see Bob.  I had attended several concerts at the Sioux Falls Arena
over the years, and I had never encountered such strict rule enforcement.  I
understand the need to enforce rules like cigarette smoking, but the
security at the Arena had a far too much "in your face" attitude about them.
I felt like they were agitating the crowd more than doing their job.
Anyway, that said (I needed to get it out) I did enjoy Bob, but I felt like
the whole lack of crowd enthusiasm coupled with the bozos in charge of
security had an effect on his and the band's interaction with the audience.
I want people to behave how they see fit (to a limit, of course) at a Bob
show, but I genuinely believe that Bob and his band feed off a high energy
level from the crowd.

Moving on to Omaha ...
Talk about a change of pace!!!  I was a little disturbed by the lack of
initial response at the beginning of the acoustic set, but things quickly
changed ....

Roving Gambler was the standard arrangement from the last couple of years,
with the harmony vocals and all.  When Bob came out for the opener, he kind
of swayed his way to the mic, and I knew he was in exceptionally good
spirits.  I kind of grew tired of this song after the 97 and 98 shows, but I
have come to appreciate it again.

The Times They Are A-Changin' received a warm response from the audience,
and was pretty straight-forward, similar to Unplugged.  The vocals were
crystal clear, and Bob sang the hook "the times they aaaaarrrrrreeeee
a-changin!"

Desolation Row was a very nice surprise.  I have to admit I've been waiting
to hear It's All Right Ma in this slot (at both Sioux Falls and Omaha) after
hearing the November version on bobdylan.com.  Desolation was very nicely
played, same arrangement as the November version, kind of bordering on
12-bar blues, but not as bluesy as the version I heard on the Paul Simon
tour last summer in Shakopee.

The Lonsesome Death of Hattie Carroll was the highlight of the night for me.
Bob and band hit everything nearly perfectly on this one.  I had never heard
this one live, and that only adds to the joy in my reflection of this
concert.  The lyrics were sung very deliberately and concisely.  From what I
heard, Bob's only focus was on singing this song correctly and giving it a
just treatment.  On the ride home from the concert, this performance gave
way to an interesting discussion about the poetry of the lyrics as my friend
and I slipped The Times They Are A-Changin' into the CD player.  As I'm
coming down off the high of the concert, I have to say this performance
stands as one of my favorites of all the songs I've heard Bob perform live.

Tangled Up In Blue ... not much to say here.  Played fast like most
performances of this song the last few years.  The crowd was really into (as
usual).  My only comment (a personal criticism) is that I don't really care
for the emphasis on "taaaaangggllleed", but that seems petty.

Rock of Ages.  I don't know a lot about this song, and the two times I've
heard it, I don't really care for it.  It is nice to have Charlie and Larry
step up to the mic for harmony vocals though.  I have to plead ignorance
here.

Country Pie was fast and furious.  Charlie plays a great solo during this
song (as many others).  The arrangement of the song is very true to the
Nashville Skyline version, except louder and faster!!  It really got the
crowd into the concert experience, and it was evident that Bob and band
(Charlie especially) were having a good time playing it.  I just wish this
song was a little longer (like most of the Nashville Skyline songs).

This Wheel's On Fire.  I wasn't expecting this one!!   Anything of the
basement tapes is a welcome addition to any set, and this certainly filled
the bill.  The arrangement is identical the the one used since 1997, though
it seemed a little faster.  One comment on the harmony vocals -- since Bucky
left the band, they seem to play a more prominent role, and Charlie is very
enthusiastic to step up to the mic, and it seemed especially clear on this
song.

Watching The River Flow.  A highlight of the electric set.  Bob played quick
and ferocious blues, and it brought the house down.  I haven't heard any
version of this song since the 1994 version, so comment would be that it has
slowed down since then, but still very fast.  There were several extended
solos, and Bob moved around quite a bit, moving his guitar up and down.

Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again.  This was another
electric highlight.  The crowd loved it, and the band played off the energy.
Several more extended jams between Bob and Charlie excited everyone even
more.  The arrangment (I hadn't heard it since 96) is true to the Blonde on
Blonde version.

Not Dark Yet.  The focus for Bob was on the lyrics, and getting it just
right.  Pretty much the same as the Time Out of Mind version, but the live
performance lets Bob emphasize the words he want to on any given night.  The
crowd recognized the song from the beginning, giving me faith that many of
them owned that great album (or they had seen the video on MTV!)

Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat.  A nice surprise for the regular set closer.  I
was not expecting anything other than Highway 61 revisited here.  My wife
wanted to hear this song so badly in Sioux Falls, and couldn't make it to
Omaha ... she was disappointed she missed it, but was happy I had the
opportunity.  This song worked the crowd into a frenzy.  By this time, they
were letting everyone to the front of the stage, and I secured a place on
the railing.  I think the band really enjoyed this one (again a testament to
the crowd's energy!)  There a couple of points where I thought Bob was going
to direct Kemper to bring the song to an end, but instead, they just borught
it up a notch each time.

Encores
Lovesick.  Three observations here.  One, I always thought the peda steel
was used on this song (at least in Bucky's days), and it wasn't last night.
Two, the lyrics were delivered with extreme deliberation.  After playing
this song how many times the last two and a half years, you would think this
song has run its course.  After hearing it twice in the last week, I would
contend it is just getting better, and probably will evolve even further.
Three, I noticed a slight lyric change -- "I feel plowed under" instead of
"take to the road and plunder".  Great performance on this one Bob!!!!!

Like A Rolling Stone.  Not much to say here.  I love this song live, and I
don't think there's any real reason to comment here ... the crowd loves it
and Bob does a great job of performing it.  Nuff said.

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right.  A little slower than I remember it from
previous years.  It still has that country-feel established in 93-94.  Bob
played the harp (the only time) on this one, and it drove the crowd wild.
As he held it to his lips with his left hand, he stuck his right arm out and
did a little jig, which the crowd obviously loved.

Not Fade Away.  Great Song.  Great Perfomance.  Loud with a
three-guitar-attack on this classic.  Bob and Charlie were the focus here,
going back and forth.  Bob would play a (very) short solo, then move toward
Charlie and point to him with the handle of his guitar, passing the lead to
him.

Blowin' In The Wind.  Same arrangement as the last two years.  Once again,
the harmony vocals sound very nice, and Charlie enjoyed singing on this one.

Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.  I'll be upfront and say, like many who have
seen Bob live multiple times, that I do not under normal circumstances like
this song.  Last night was not normal circumstances.  Bob and band attacked
this song like I've never seen them before.  Bob sang the first two verses
(usually only two in concert) and the boys began playing around with this
one.  Tony (he seems like such a nice guy!) even got in on the action,
moving around stage a lot.  At one point, I thought the song was going to
end, and Bob stepped up to the mic and made up a verse (something about
taking a bath) and the frenzy of music began again.  I was very pleased (for
once) with this song.

All in all, one of best performances I've seen by Bob and band.  I'm looking
forward to seeing them again, should they pass through the midwest late
summer or fall.  Best of luck to everyone who is seeing Bob in Denver or
Salina or onto Europe.

Chad



Subject: Re: Review of Omaha, April 4th
From: Tandbdylan 
Date: 05 Apr 2000 20:31:49 GMT

Just to respond, I enjoyed the show enormously also.  I'm 17 and I was with a
few of my friends, and this is the only time I've seen Bob.  I've more or less
got every album (Vinyl and/or CD) that he's ever made and I thought last
night's show was so magical.  I think I caught a really good one.  However, in
today's paper there was a review written that was not very kind.  They said
that Bob's oral presentation (as in stage banter) was "as exciting as a
hangnail." Well, first of all, this article was by some Gen X kid, apparently,
who probably knew less than nothing about Dylan and his music, and besides,
isn't that what you're supposed to be there to hear?  The music?  I love Bob
but I came to hear him sing, not talk.  He's not a comedian or an orator.  He's
one of the most influential musicians of this age (or any age for that matter)
and I think that we should be damn satisfied with that.  That's just me.  But
anyway, yeah, great show!  

Dylan May