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Bob Dylan 2000.03.13 in Lund


From: Mattias Davidsson (mattias.davidsson@telia.com)
Subject: Lund review
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 00:06:07 +0200

Hi there!

"Here are the results of the Lund Jury..."

Well, here is the review of the first of my only two concerts
from this leg of the tour, the one in Lund. Three people joined
forces to write this down, apart from, me Hynek Pallas (let's
hope I can interpret his handwriting) and Tobias Levander (the
guy who did NOT meet Dylan at a pub in Uppsala .-).

First a few things about Lund, my hometown.
This time of the year it is a beautiful town from the 10'th
century. However, the venue, "Olympen", is possibly the ugliest
buildings in the world, housing both a concert venue, student
housing (Hynek lived there at the time of the concert, and we
also use to write exams in the actual concert hall..), a
resturant etc etc. In short it's just a pretty surreal thing for
him to play there. I sure hope that he got to see other parts of
Lund, otherwize I'm not sure he'll ever be back. Around 1500
tickets were sold (more than all of them basically) and we were
lucky not to miss the beginning since there was some confusion
about the anounced time of the concert. I should also mention
that there were speculations that Bob would join Van (the so
called Man) on stage in Malmš afterwards, since he was playing
there (at basically the same time, but taxi drivers from Lund to
Malmš drives fast as I learned from experience). However, Dylan
and Van was only seen having Lunch at a Hotell in Malmš, and not
on stage.

At around 19.45 Bob hit the stage together with the band and we
were lucky (event though it was really no major acchievment) that
we got to stand right in front of the stage perhaps two meters
from the stage. There was no preassure whatsoever, and one had
even room to stretch your legs.

"Roving gambler", the sound was great already from the beginning,
at least thats what I thought. Tobias thought the drums were to
high, but comparing with other concerts I found it great. Not to
much more to be said, Roving is just Roving.

"The times they are a changing". Now we were to hear what would
set the tone for this concert namely the, what I found, inspiring
new, sometimes perhaps weird, but in all great prashing. The
chorus line was sort of delivered, as "cold matter of fact",
going up on "chaain..", and then sinking low down on "..ging".
Hynek found it strange but then chewed on it for some time, and
later (after a few beers) he also found it a fine piece of work

"Masters of war" seemed to suite the mood Bob was in, really
concentrated. Sexton looked scared to death, like as if he's
heart was soon to fail him. He must have gotten the evil eye from
Bob for some reason.

"Mama you been on my mind" was stained with some lack of timing
and a bit of mumbling, ie. not the best of versions, but still a
great experience since it's not really the worst song eer
written. The band messed up the ending and Bob had the look that
could kill.

Just like with Roving, "Tangled" was it's good old self, but this
evening it was, in my opinion, clearly above the average
performance (something that I suspect the tape will clearly
tell). Some harp (...) with the guitar on the side followed by a
really ragged emphasis on "Tangled". A brilliant vocal delivery.
From this point the Band, Bob and the crowd fastened their seat
belts, and Elvis never left the building until the show was over.
This was the rocket blast.

At this point it was quite clear that the audience knew their
Dylan (apart from some goonies with requests as likely to be
fulfilled as ... (can't find anything to compare with here.).

"It's all over now Baby Blue" was simply (here I cannot identify
Hynkes superlative used, but anyway I agree with him) great. Or
in Hynek's Words "mhhh - monk". Nice solo from Bob, and the
beatuful steel from Larry).

"Country pie", was good old fashion clean fun, really rocking,
and we now start to realise that this Sexton guy is some
guitarrist. After swithing to electric guitar Bob was now often
seen holding the guitar pointing upwards like a worker on a
Soviet propaganda poster holding his tool. But bob was instead
carrying a baby like a proud father, a mischevious all over his
face, even though it was sometimes hidden below the surface.

"Shelter from the storm" (the cement coloss venue could most
probably stand a nuclear blast) was a slow, gentle version.
Simply brilliant. During the guitarr solo Bob started taking eye
contact with several members of the audience, especially a blond
woman in the front row.

"Down along the cove". Blazing guitar playing and really fun to
hear, just like it looked like Bob and the band had a great time
playing it.

"Just like a woman". Never get tired of hearing Bob sing this
song. Bob once again noticed the blond woman in the front row,
and delivered the line; "I was hungry, and it was YOUR world"
looking at her with an undiscribable expression on his face.
Pretty good harp playing too.

"Things have changed" was quite like on the cd, even though I
personally found it better. Hynek wrote "autopilot" in his notes.
He must have felt obliged to sing this one since people had been
shouting for it a few songs back, and it is after all a single
over here .-)



"Leopard skin pillbox hat". Now all the lights were on the
audience and the best bluesrock guitar-playing you can imagine.

(at this point I would just like to add that on the tv the
swedish king just tapped Bob's shoulder during the Polar prize
cermony, pretty surreal I must say, Bob sort of smiled.)

The encores started with "Love-Sick", wihch you directly could
tell would be a smashing rendition of the song. clearly above
average but perhaps below the real peaks Solid as a rock.

Now "LARS" entered the stage. Once again a super solid version of
a well known song.

"Forever Young". Tenderly sung. Really beautiful, although Bob
messed up a few lines.

"Not fade away", now we were all evaporating. Bob was about to
turn us into hard boiled eggs. The place was cooking. Simply
great rock'n roll.

"Don't think x2" was like it usually is, and surprisingly it
turned up at the same concert as "Mama". Maybe the reaction to
the intro to that song made Bob want to play this one.

On a sunny day like this you need a "Rainy day Woman" to cool
off. But that didn't work. This was by far the rockiest and
loudest version of this song I guess anyone of us have heard, and
when we thought there was only the soloing left, Bob approached
the mike and his voice was completely drowned by the whisteling
of guitars and Larrys steel. Pretty amazing in it's own way
actually.



At some point it might be worth to mention that at one point
during the encores one guy from the crew (the stage manager?)
came down to have a chat with the Blond woman in the front row.
What was said? Well not too many knows I guess. She was seen
outside after the concert talking to her friends anyway.



Right now I'm too tired to proof-read this, and the spelling on
this darn machine is not workling. So good night, and have a nice
concert tomorrow in Helsinki. The guy providing me with a tape or
other format from this concert will be heavily rewarded .-).



If I find the time tomorrow I'll get back with a "review" of the
polar music prize award ceremony, and the following banquette
(without Dylan though..)



"...Bob 12 points".



/mattias, Lund.




2000: March - April - May

Tour