I made my pilgrimage to see Dylan last night, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
I call it a pilgrimage because first, I am in awe of the man, and second, my expectations in terms of entertainment are modest. He does gruff these days \u2013 very gruff. That\u2019s how it is, and you have to get over it or not go.<\/p>\n
I started my evening with a drink at the Prince of Wales, a traditional pub in the middle of Birmingham\u2019s urban desert. It felt very much as it did a couple of years ago when I last saw Dylan. Mostly older fans, and many of the ones I spoke to had not seen Dylan for years; 1978 in one case. I did meet a hard core fan though, who had already seen Dylan at Sheffield and at the Roundhouse in London. Sheffield was better, he said.<\/p>\n
Dylan\u2019s new CD is just out. I asked the tour veteran if he would play anything from it. \u201cNo chance.\u201d Why not? \u201cBecause he\u2019s crackers. He really is\u201d.<\/p>\n
I turn down a programme at \u00a312 and a poster at \u00a37. I still want a souvenir, so I pick up a free flyer instead. My ticket is an eticket, which lacks soul; I found myself picking up someone else\u2019s discarded ticket at the end as a memento (I still have my Earls Court ticket from 27th June 1981; great memories).<\/p>\n
I am seated in the middle of the stalls, just in front of the soundboard. It is a good spot for sound, but my advice if you go to see Dylan is to get as close to the front as possible. Otherwise, you will be surrounded by chatterers, as I was. Pleasant people I am sure; but I did not spend my money to hear them. One woman tried to engage me in conversation during Stuck inside of Mobile. She saw me taking notes and said, \u201cAre you putting all this on Facebook?\u201d<\/p>\n
All this highlights the problem with this kind of concert: Dylan is out of sorts with his audience. He plays keyboard most of the night and faces sideways across the stage, maybe signifying lack of engagement. I enjoyed the concert, mostly, and at times it was outstanding. Gruff Bob works best on songs like Workingman\u2019s Blues and Ain\u2019t Talkin\u2019. Mystical and powerful. But many of those present do not know these songs and do not respond. Unfortunately, the songs they do respond to, like Mobile, or Highway 61 are all too often performed as throwaways; enjoyable, but much less than Dylan is capable of.<\/p>\n
Dylan\u2019s fairground keyboard conveys a cheery mood \u2013 almost too cheery for my taste. I prefer my It’ Ain\u2019t Me Babe or Man in the Long Black Coat dark and intense. His voice is still powerful though. I am convinced that at the right moment Dylan can be as utterly transcendent in 2009 as ever in his career.<\/p>\n
Desolation Row \u2013 not a great performance, but I love to hear this song. The lyrics are endlessly fascinating. The big acoustic bass works well.<\/p>\n
Towards the end we get Watchtower, a favourite of mine. \u201cNobody knows what any of it is worth\u201d, sings Dylan. The point is reinforced when I pass a couple of fans on my way back to the station. \u201cI\u2019m sorry it wasn\u2019t very good\u201d, one says to his friend. I say nothing of course, but I am surprised by my internal reaction. What do you mean? YOU JUST SAW BOB DYLAN.<\/p>\n
The set list:<\/p>\n
The Wicked Messenger
\nIt Ain’t Me, Babe
\nHigh Water
\nStuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
\nMan In The Long Black Coat
\nDesolation Row
\nHonest With Me
\nWorkingman’s Blues
\nHighway 61 Revisited
\nBallad Of A Thin Man
\nMost Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
\nAin’t Talkin’
\nThunder On The Mountain
\nLike A Rolling Stone<\/p>\n
All Along The Watchtower
\nSpirit On The Water\u00a0\u00a0
\nBlowin’ In The Wind<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I made my pilgrimage to see Dylan last night, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. I call it a pilgrimage because first, I am in awe of the man, and second, my expectations in terms of entertainment are modest. He does gruff these days \u2013 very gruff. That\u2019s how it is, and you have … Continue reading Bob Dylan in Birmingham, April 2009<\/span>