Bob Dylan 970824 in Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap)
Subject: Wolf Trap, 8/24: country bob dylan From: Thad Williamson (thwilliamson@igc.apc.org) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 21:33:07 -0700 (PDT) Wolf Trap, August 24, 1997 1. Absolutely Sweet Marie 2. Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You 3. Tough Mama 4. You Ain't Goin Nowhere 5. Silvio 6. Roving Gambler 7. Tangled Up in Blue 8. Cocaine Blues 9. Watching the River Flow 10. Blind Willie McTell 11. Highway 61 12. Like a Rolling Stone 13. Forever Young 14. Rainy Day Women #12 and 35 Another strong show emphasizing blues and country. Vocal on Sweet Marie was outstanding, just right on, unpredictable phrasing, best electric song of the night in my opinion. Wish he'd sing all of Tough Mama like he did the last verse, at a lower pitch, no cracking. Also liked the way Bob really opened his throat and got into the "ooh-whees" on You Ain't Goin Nowhere. Roving Gambler also has new arrangement from prior editions, just moves right along, nice little lick between the verses. Dylan very much into Tangled tonight too, knees bouncing just before delivering a lyric. The Montague Street verse was a gem, again very fine use of off-balance phrases. Most verse ended up "Tangled Up In ....Blue" with blue decidely on the offbeat. Cocaine blues is a gem. Blind Willie about the same as last night, which is to say pretty magical. Moved down some for Hway 61 and LARS before the security crunch, so not much to say about those, just wanted to see the man a little closer. As they were pushing us away I told one of the 20 year old crew cut ushers to "listen to the music, you might learn something." Actually, I wasn't sure this was true but Dylan bailed me out by playing a very very fine Forever Young. Lots and lots of smiling in RDW. Alan Lomax was at the show and introduced by Bob. I ventured down near his spot afterwards, ran into him and his entourage--he's past 80 I think, doesn't hear too well, walks with assistance. Anyway he looked right at me, I said "How did you like the show? " and he smiled and said "it was pretty good." then later again in the parking lot I notice he entourage pulling out, yelled "Alan rules", and the driver invited me over to say hello again. I told I would go get his cd collection and he smiled appreciatvely and the people in the car were clearly thrilled. Looks like he doesn't get out so much and this was clearly kind of big deal, to go see Dylan. Some folks down close had a nice 8 foot sign with the Nashville Skyline picture, earning compliment from Bob's crew afterward. Hard Rain was an alternate listing for Forever Young, otherwise nothing interesting on the cue sheet. About 30 people gathered around a very bad but good spirited Dylan imitator with guitar and harp just outside the gate after the show. Now we now what 30 21 year olds singing "Times are a changing" and "it takes a train to cry" all together sounds like. Watching all this our friend Moe could be heard commenting on the contrast between this and when Dylan played a lackluster date in a half-full Constitution Hall back in '90. times have changed indeed. Good show, good spirit. Ani DeFranco did "Most of the Time" again, more polished but with far less emotional force than Saturday. Thad
Subject: wolf trap 8/24 From: Peter Stone Brown (peterb@erols.com) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 1997 03:48:15 -0400 What a great, great show! Easily the best of the 3 shows I've seen this summer (other two being Hershey and Philly). Dylan was ON IT from the 1st note of "Sweet Marie" and did not let up with the same kind of energy he had in Philly. There was no messing around of any kind, between songs and during songs. I haven't seen him do a show, so crisp, clean and concise since I saw him at the Supper Club. And Dylan kept his guitar solos to a minimum for the most part and made the most of them. Where his solo on this at Hershey was pointless noodling that went nowhere, tonight he played a cool little almost Chuck Berryish riff for one verse that fit right in and served as a good counterpoint to Larry and Bucky's country riffs. Very cool also was the second tune, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You," with Campbell playing the Charlie Daniels lick of the original version. Dylan left the guitar work up to Campbell. "Tough Mama" was really intense with Dylan really leaning into the words. First surprise was "I'm A Rovin' Gambler" which I've had for years on an old Jack Elliott album. They did it in a bouncy country version with Campbell and Baxter singing harmony on the last line (which repeats) and added a neat stop there too, with fine bluegrassy guitar from Larry. Dylan's version is longer than Elliott's with additional verses about a poker game and a murder. It was superb. "Tangled" followed and though it was the same version they've been doing on this tour, Larry wasn't playing the opening rhythm quite as hard, making the song more flowing and it worked out great. Dylan was mugging and making faces and having a good time singing it. He kept cracking up Campbell both during the singing and when Dylan was soloing. They seem to be developing a real rapport with each other. I was a little sad that the acoustic set included two covers, but it didn't matter. "Watching the River Flow" followed and if there was a weak spot in the show, this was it, but only 'cause the song and the arrangement itself just weren't on the level of the other tunes tonight, though Campbell and Baxter were trading great country riffs and when they slowed it down to a blues at the end it turned the whole thing around to a powerful conclusion. In the darkness between songs, I saw Campbell trade his guitar for a bouzouki and I knew what was coming. The one song I've been waiting something like 10 years to see Dylan do "Blind Willie McTell." He does it in an arrangement that's a cross between the Infidels takes and the Band's version (as stated here before) with the added "I know one thing" No One Can Sing the blues like Blind Willie McTell as opposed to I know no one can can sing... When the Band sings it, it's slightly awkward but Dylan had no such problems. It was phenomenal! At the song's conclusion he mentioned that folklorist supreme Alan Lomax was in the audience. I wasn't able to get everything he said, but his closing comment was, "If anybody unlocked the secrets of this music, it's Alan." A strong tribute to an extremely important person to folk music. A blistering Highway 61 (a song that rarely captivates me in live versions--I prefer the humor and the beat of the original) closed the show with Campbell and Dylan both tearing it up on guitar with funky dirty licks. The show could've ended right there and it wouldn't have made a difference. "Like A Rolling Stone" followed and was almost anticlimactic. Campbell seemed surprised when Dylan threw the solo over to him and didn't quite catch the ball and they seemed to lose the thread a tiny bit. A nice version of "Forever Young" was the acoustic encore with Dylan really singing and holding the notes. He didn't seem to take his solo at the end quite where he wanted, but it didn't matter. "Rainy Day Women" was the usual with Dylan singing maybe 2 verses and the rest being a not bad blues jam. I've been seeing the Never Ending Tour now for 9 years (Dylan for way over 30) and this was one of the tightest shows of the tour I've seen him do. -- "I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity." --Bob Dylan Peter Stone Brown e-mail: peterb@erols.com http://songs.com/psb
From: "Dave Egli" (egli_d@elsva.com) Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan Subject: Wolf Trap Weekend Date: 25 Aug 1997 21:28:14 GMT What a better way to spend Saturday and Sunday evenings than with Bob? Both shows were fantastic, though I think the band was a little tighter Sunday--they really nailed the change toward the end of "Silvio", it gave me goosebumps. I was to the left of the stage both nights, so I got to hear a LOT of Larry Campbell and I must say he plays some of the tastiest fills I've ever heard. These were my 8th and 9th Dylan shows and I've never seen Bob as animated and talkative. Lots of "Thanks ev'rybody's" and nicely paced band introductions. Plus he acknowledged the opening acts both nights. The highlight of night one was definately "Blind Willie McTell". After "Memphis Blues Again" I saw the guitar roadie hold out the bazouki (sp?) for Larry--but he didn't take it. Someone behind me yelled out, "Blind Willie McTell"! I looked to my right and saw Bob and Tony huddling. They broke the huddle, Bob took a couple steps towards Larry and Larry then grabbed the bazouki! I immediately let out a yell because I knew what was coming. To hear it again the next night was icing on the cake. It appeared Bucky was singing backups on the chorus, but I couldn't hear him. The acoustic sets were simply gorgeous each night. I never thought I'd hear "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" or "Roving Gambler", but there they were and both were simply perfect. Great harmonies from Larry and Bucky. "Cocaine Blues" was another gem. As much as I like "Forever Young", the only thing that could've made this weekend better would've been to hear "Hard Rain" which someone mentioned was an alternate on the cue sheet. On a slightly different note, at one point as I watched the show Saturday evening, it hit me that Bob's hair reminded me a lot of Gene Wilder's circa "Willy Wonka". I didn't think too much of it until the next day when my girlfriend, who attended both shows with me, and I were in the car talking about the concert and she said, "You're gonna hate me for this, but you know who Bob looks like? That guy that was in all those movies with Richard Pryor." I guess we were meant to be together.
Subject: Wolf Trap 8/24/97 Review From: "William C. Parr" (wparr@UTK.EDU) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 13:29:01 -0400 At last, I've freed up a few minutes to do a review of the second Wolf Trap show. Ani DiFranco -- "Opening for Bob has been different." She indicated she'd been having difficulty adjusting, and decided that this was kind of like a family picnic, and she was THAT cousin. Ani did Most of the Time again. Again, nicely. Bob's set: 1) Absolutely Sweet Marie Almost unchanged from Saturday night. 2) Tonight I'll be Staying Here With You I LIKE this song! And it's well performed. Is this a country mood night? Are we going to get an You Ain't Goin' Nowhere? Wait and see. 3) Tough Mama This one rocks. The bass throbs. Bob's having fun. Larry C. is doing a little lead. A good time is had by all. 4) You Ain't Goin Nowhere Bucky really makes this song. So much of the sound of the band comes from him. Stay healthy, Bucky! 4) Silvio No surprise. Larry Campbell does some nice work - a kind of staccato lead - got to hear this one again. 6) Roving Gambler (acoustic) My notes say "Bob is in good voice tonight." And he was. At the end of the song, Bob turns to David Kemper, and I can just see the smile on his face as he turns away from the stage. I think he's happy with the performance. 7) Tangled Up in Blue (acoustic) Much as I like this song, the only way I continue to enjoy it is the string of strong performances Dylan is giving of it. Bog has fun on guitar on this one. Afterwards - Bob says "Thanks everybody." Perhaps the first words to the audience? At least the first ones I have jotted down. 8) Cocaine (acoustic) Beautifully done. (Yes, Rich Lerner, we got a performance of this - and a nice one). Larry C.'s vocal blends in beautifully with Bob's. When Bob sings "Hey Baby" the agony reaches out to the entire audience. Volumes spoken in two words. What a sermon. 9) Watching the River Flow Larry and Bob trade leads. Energetic performance. If there's anybody who hasn't been standing up (and there were a few!) they seemed to be up now (at least in the front 7 rows). 10) Blind Willie McTell Again! "Hoot owl" - how does Bob do these things with just a couple of words. This one goes to the soul. Bucky Baxter continues to provide the backbone for the band. Bob says "Thank you everybody." Introduces LC, DK, BB (daughter and son, or was that daughter and son-in-law???), TG And then, Bob mentions that Alan Lomax is in the audience, and refers to him as "one who unlocked the secrets of this kind of music." (Quote may not be exact but it is close. I was writing furiously.) And then, with that paean to folk music, we turn (twinkle in Bob's eye - or do I just imagine this?) to 11) Highway 61 A blistering rock version. Part of it done in rap fashion (next world war part). This is the best guitar work of the concert thus far (electric, that is). 12) Like a Rolling Stone A sign was up in the pit. Couldn't read it. Bob is rocking now. He's in charge, and we're heading for the climax. A girl came up on stage. 13) Forever Young (acoustic) I love this song. Bob says "Thank Ani" and solicits applause for her. Ditto for BR5-49. 14) Rainy Day Women A strong, rocking closer. Compared to Saturday night - I'll take Saturday. This was a great show, more "rock" especially toward the end (HWY61, LARS, RDW). A good time was had by all, I hope. Glad Bob could salute Alan Lomax from the stage. Thanks for this, Bob. Bill Parr William C. Parr Phone: 423-974-1631, Fax: 423-974-2490 Email: wparr@utk.edu mailto:wparr@utk.edu World Wide Web: http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~wparr/ "Backseat drivers don't know the feel of the wheel, But they sure know how to make a fuss." --Bob Dylan
