Bob Dylan 2001.04.21 in Topeka

Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
Subject: Re: April 21, 2001 - Topeka, Kansas - setlist
From: "gadugger@sunflower.com" gadugger@sunflower.com
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 23:52:02 -0500

I thought the show was great even though I think the sound
system distorted some of the vocals. Maybe the concrete floor
that was exposed since the ice rink was removed affected the
sound. The volume was a little high on some of the electric
numbers (its alright ma, its only my ears that are bleeding). 
Security was relatively lax so I was able to take some nonflash
photos and move up from the 15th row (my best seat ever) to
about 10 feet from the rail for the last couple of songs. It
looked like a string broke on the pedal steel as a technician
was working on it during a couple of numbers. The stage was
relatively narrow so the band was grouped fairly tightly for
many numbers so there was some good views through binoculars.
Bob still has his wispy pencil mustache and it looks like Larry
is growing a goatee.

The lighting was better than the 2000 shows I saw.I especially
liked the effect when the band was lit at a low angle from the
front and the shadows danced on the curtain as the lights were
pulsed off and on. It was a hot and humid night with storm
warnings so Bob did some sweating but not nearly to the degree
of the Sandstone show last July in Kansas. It never did seem
that Bob enjoyed himself much tonight but he soldiered his way
through the evening. I think its part of his Midwestern
heritage/work ethic - life is a job and a job is a chore (Blake,
Robert not William). After all, he is a worried man with a
worried mind.

Now if one of the tapers there will just post the show to
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.bob-dylan my worried mind will be eased.

ears still ringing in Kansas