Bob Dylan 980602 in Leipzig, Germany
Messehalle
Capacity: approx. 11,000
Showtime: 8 PM
General admission, some unreserved seats available
Ticket price: DM 64.00 (including booking fee)
Tickets through Tickets per Post/Frankfurt
Tickets per Post/Frankfurt phone number: (0)69 94 43 660
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 13:53:42 +0200
Bob Dylan
Leipzig, Germany, June 2, 1998
Messehalle 7
A review by Carsten Wohlfeld
I have to admit that I was happy to see Nürnberg's somewhat disappointing,
cause to me it was quite clear that it could only get better in Leipzig and
indeed it did! After taking the nighttrain to the former East Germany
(still hate it, so still so run down, it probably my least favourite place
on earth and if it wasn't for Bob I would come here for a million bucks,
but anyways), I spent most of the day sightseeing before meeting up with
Christian and Tom to drive to the venue at around 4pm. The Messehalle is a
huge and ugly place and unforunately the promoters hadn't sold enough
tickets so they had up chairs in order to make it look better. But even
before the show started the lush security allowed a stage rush, so we go to
see Bob up-close anyways... THe show started at around 8.10pm with...
Maggie's Farm
Much better version than Saturday's, probably they had a proper soundcheck
this time. Bob's vocal delivery was okay, but not great yet, Larry played a
few riffs I hadn't heard before (don't know if they were actually new or just
higher in the mix) and Bucky managed not to break a string. All band
members looked pretty happy throughout the evening, except for Bucky, who
seemed to be a bit tired.
If Not For You
A nice surprise, even though the version was a bit rushed and sounded a bit
too hard and egy. I have to say that I liked the JJ/Winston version better
I last got to hear about three years ago. Bob was starting to feel really
great though and but a lot into the vocal delivery.
Cold Irons Bound
Way above average version, mostly due to Bob's inspired singing. But: I'd
rather like to hear "Can't Wait" in this slot any day still.
Shelter From The Storm
"She Belongs To Me" was on the cuesheet as an alternate, but Bob decided to
do this one, hard to spot from just the intro. Yet another different
arrangement and probably the best I've heared yet. Nice phrasing too, as
Bob raised his voice at the end of every line and didn't lower it, was you
might have expected him to do. Bob played all the solos on this one himself
too.
Silvio
Still smoking although saturday's version rocked even more.
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (acoustic)
Great surprise, beautifully performed, especially since everybody was
expecting another cover version. Stephen Scobie thinks that he played his
as way of a political comment - it certainly wasn't because of the
weather... I guess Stephen was right, cause the unplayed alternative in
this - unusual slot - was "Masters Of War". Larry joined Bob for the
chorus, Bucky didn't at first, cause he was standing playing his mandolin
(in other words: he wasn't sitting at his pedal-steel where his mike was),
but after Larry had some trouble following Bob, Larry went back for the
subsequent chorusses to sit down and sing along. Weird.
One Too Many Mornings (acoustic)
Seems to be one of his favourite songs lately, and he always gets it right.
As an extra bonus we got some harp playing at the end (seemed as if he
couldn't stop ...made Larry laugh) and he seemed even more animated during
that, holding the guitar with his right amd, playing the harp with his left
and still finding time to point at people - Elvis-style. Amazing! I don't
think that anybody had seen Bob as animanted as tonight in at least 20
years: He was constanly moving around/walking/dancing on stage and pulling
faces more than ever. For most of the show he was actually laughing, not
only grinning occasionally. He had so much fun, sometimes I though: 'Hey,
this isn't the same guy I saw in America a few months ago'. Maybe it was
due to the fact that the biggest German music TV channel called him a
'grumpy old man' after Rock Am Ring?
Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic)
Great version of this song, yes really. Not much more comment needed, I
guess, a huge crowdpleaser that Bob enjoyed *alot*, so I don't think
there's a chance for all the people hoping to see "Tangled"'s retirement
rather sooner than later.
This Wheel's On Fire
Nice new arrangement, beautifully done with Bob mssing a line or two
causehe had to laugh out of loud (dunnowhy). Bigsmiles from Larry and Tony
for that. "Wheel" wasn't on the cuesheet at all, "Mobile" and "Watchtower"
went unplayed instead.
Make You Feel My Love
In the new organ-free version that is way better than both the album
version and the kitsch organ version from New London. Somebody said after
the show that he's trying to convi«ce us that this is really a good song
and so he slowly tries to improve the arrangement. My opinion? Not great
yet, but it's getting there. On the cuesheet were "Not Dark Yet" and
"Released", no "Feel My Love" at all. Band intros followed quickly.
Highway 61 Revisited
Cooking beyond believe. Bob had great funplaying it, visibly enjoying
thefact that he audience was into it quite a bit, too! Instead of just
leaving straight after the song he stayed for a minute or so to take a bow
and enjoying the audience going nuts.
(encore)
It Ain't Me Babe (acoustic)
The unlikely alternate on the cuesheet was "Love Minus Zero", but the fact
that Bob played yet another cool harp solo at the end saved this one for
me.
Love Sick
Tom was afraid that he'd skip "Love Sick" and would do "Rainy Day" straight
away, but luckily for us, he did play another "TooM" song. I've heard
better versions of this song already, but this was pretty cool still.
Rainy Day Women Nos. 12 & 35
Same as it ever was. Bob took a bow again and then they were gone. The
guitar roadie had put all the guitars away during this song as usualand
after a few seconds Tony's roadie came out, unplugging his bass, turning of
the amps, taking away Bucky's madolin. The lights comeon, music is played
over the PA. People: Still nuts, just won't leave. After about a minute,
the lights go down again, the roadies quickly pu the instruments in place
again (Tony had to play his electric bass, while the others picked up the
acoustic guitars). Then they really started yet another song! Hard to tell
what it would be really, the intro sounded like "Boots", "Don't THink
Twice" and a couple of others all rolled into one, but it actually was:
Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)
He didn't play all verses and it ended with a rather rapidly, but it was a
great singalong and a very nice bonus nevertheless.
After the show we had a few beers and *everybody* thought it was a
staggeringly good show, that lasted about 105 minutes. Not one real
lowpoint, especially since Bob was so great to watch. The only question
that remains: Can he go on on such a high level or can he even top this?
Maybe we'll get the answer already tonight in Berlin. See y'all there.
--
carsten wohlfeld
"the light at the end of the tunnel is a train" (unwound)
Subject: Leipzig 2 June 98 - another review, this time by Christian
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 13:49:49 +0200
It is pretty hard to describe what went on yesterday, but I'll try. The
show was so terrific, so awesome that it ain't easy to find the appropriate
words. Most of you will already have read Carsten's review, and there ain't
much to add, but anyway, here are my impressions: Bob's voice was clear and
hot from the first lines of Maggie's Farm on, and it was then when I knew
we were in for something special. He was like he probably always is during
the opening number - very concentrated, not looking into the audience, not
moving around a lot, but his singing was already very very strong. I like
the new arrangement with Bucky on the acoustic.
If Not For You - I seem to function as a magnet for this one. He's played
it at almost every show i've been to during the last five years, and yet
it's not an often performed number. Wonder if that means anything... But
hey, i like that song! Liked the arrangement too, a bit more uptempo than
in 93 and 95, very concentrated singing.
Cold Irons Bound rocked like hell, and Bob's vocal delivery was extremely
blues shouter-like. Strong, energetic, you name it. Gee, why is it
sometimes so hard to say it in English?...
Shelter. Oh yeah. Never heard this one at a show before, and i loved it.
This song developed quite like his harp solos do: he started out very very
smooth, delivering the first two verses with a voice that we seldom hear on
newer tapes, sweet and lovely, think of several Sugarees from 96 and you
might know what i mean. Later on in the song he got more and more into a
powerful delivery, stretching the lines, getting louder and louder, making
the song ring in your brain. Phew - a tape, a tape, my kingdom for a tape.
Silvio. You know, this song makes clear why audience tapes are so limited
in really reflecting the evening. i often skip Silvio when listening to the
tapes, i bet a lot of us do. But when you're there, watching the show, you
can tell why he plays it. He loves it, he gets really warm during this,
animated, drawing faces, interacting with the audience, and the folks love
it! From Silvio on, he's really let loose. Keep the song, Bob, it does
indeed do you good. Just like the other one, three songs onward.
Hard Rain. Ooh, what a sweet sweet evening. What a beautiful performance. i
agree with Carsten and Stephen, this was probably not just randomly chosen
but a reaction on certain delevopments in, well, politics. He sang like he
exactly knew what he was singing about.
One Too Many Mornings. Bee-yoo-tee-ful. Nothing more to say. Nice short
harp solo.
Tangled. Do a copy-and-paste here, every single comment on Silvio fits this
one, too. The crowd goes nuts, Bob very very animated, joyful, doing weird
posing, drawing weird faces, and the people love it. Name me one other
artist who can do this: Just a little movement, just one special look he
gives someone in the front row, one little weird grimace - and the people
go crazy. Name me one.
This Wheel's On Fire. Cool. Maybe it's just the unavoidable difference
between an audience tape and the real event, but i thought this rocked far
more than ever before. Fine soloing by Bob. It's still the notorious
three-note solos, but they're geting better and better.
Make You Feel My Love. It took me a while before i liked this song, and
it's certainly not one of his lyrically strongest (winds of change? highway
of regrets? rain blowing in your face? hmmm.) but hey, it's beautiful,
isn't it? Yesterday's arrangement was far better, smoother, sweeter than
any of the versions I've heard before, it's like he needed some time to
work on that, and now he's got it. Women Of RMD, tell me - is this a
women's favourite? I looked behind me at one point during this one, and the
eyes of the girls behind me said it all. Lovely.
Highway 61. He knows why he plays this every night. It's clear when you're
there. It rocks like hell, he loves it, the crowd love it.
The encores: It Ain't Me Babe. Now you can say, oh no, not again, and i
admit it was my reaction at first, and Tom's face said the same. But we
quickly changed our minds. He did a lovely rendition, kinda new to us,
sweeter than before, more regretful. 'Nother nice harp solo. Hey, we got
two of 'em! :-)
Love Sick. Cool, i like that! He does That Grammy Solo (tm) regularly now,
only it rocked even a bit more than on the Grammy version.
RDW. Well, RDW. RDW.
Bob took a bow, did some finger pointing, the crowd cheered like hell -
they were REALLY enthusiastic, a lovely audience, really, and Bob clearly
reacted to that. He even walked to the front of the stage and picked up a
rose from someone. Sweet. Another bow, some pointing at us, and he was
gone.
The lights went on (in fact they already went on at the start of Rainy Day
Women), the music from tape started, the roadies picked up the guitars, the
amps were switched off, only the audience was not a bit impressed. They
kept on cheering, clapping, not a sign of tiredness, and they were
successful: When one of the roadies came back on stage and switched one of
the amps back on, Carsten, Tom, and i looked at each other in disbelief.
Another one? Can't be, Rainy Day is the last one, this is the law! But
Dylan broke it yesterday, came back out with the band, and did a fourth
encore: Blowing In The Wind. A very sweet version it was, brief but sweet.
He did all three verses, but no extended soloing like in Cottbus two years
ago. So the song lasted for maybe three minutes or so, but hey, that's
alright. It was nice to know we were enthusiastic enough to get him out one
more time than usual. After Blowing, a couple of more bows, and now he was
really gone. I looked around a bit, and the looks on the faces said, Wow,
what a night. And it was.
We managed to meet Rainer and Burkhard from Vienna, and Stephen Scobie
after the show, and we had a couple of beers together in their hotel lobby.
You'll never guess what we talked about :} We all agreed it was a wonderful
show, and of course we're all pretty full of anticipation for today's show
in Berlin. Altho it's really hard to imagine things getting better, it is
clear that Bob, after all these triple bills and huge festivals, he enjoys
playing for a mid-size audience that is his own one again.
Damn those last sentences. The hardest one to write is always the last
sentence. Carsten says, 'write, See ya in Berlin'. See ya in Berlin!!
Christian Zeiser
Subject: Leipzig 2 June 98 - another review, this time by Tim (long)
From: Tim Norford (Timothy.Norford@DSS.DORNIER.DASA.DE)
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 11:10:02 +0200
Sometimes you've gotta go through hell to get to heaven !
Due to work commitments I thought I'd miss Bob's German
tour. Then at the last minute plans changed and I bought tickets
for Leipzig.
First plan, hire a car and drive up, then Regine (my
lady) called me to say a friend of hers offered us his camper van
for the trip. Super....on the road in an old VW ! Canceled the hire
car and last Sunday went to pick up the van.
1. Flat battery
2. Second and reverse gears don't work
3. Engine held together with string,plastic and the radiator "sealed" by a
screwed up crisp packet.
Exit Tim and Regine. So how do we get to Leipzig ? Hire car centers shut, we
ended up paying Regine's brother 100 DM to borrow his car. Phew!!!
So Tuesday morning at 8.30 we set off to drive the 700 KM to Leipzig.
All is well until we hit a traffic jam and sit there for at least two hours.
We arrive in Leipzig at 1800 and spend a frustrating hour following
signs to the Messe and never finding it. I shot a red light and got
caught on camera. Big shit as I've already chalked up 9 points here.
We eventually find the messe and work our way through to the concrete
monstrosity that was Halle 7.
Chairs !! Chairs all the way to the front!! We grabbed two on the 11th row,
not bad. I necked two beers to calm down and tried to relax. I ask one
of the trained gorillas they employ as security guards if it was possible
to go forward during the concert. "No,no,no". Wanker ! Half an hour later
the "wall fell" and we joined the rush forward and ended up three from the
front. Yeaaaaaaa!!!!
Now both Carsten and Christian (sorry I missed you guys) have written reviews
of the concert but I'll add my 2p worth. Bob was wearing tight black pants,
a black jacket and neck tie, reminded me of his 1966 style. And man, he
sure looked great. Now last time I saw him was Konstanz 96 and that one
was hard to beat but this beat it for sure. Bob's singing was just a joy to
behold, he's twisting turning playing with every lyric, he's loving the words
again, concentrating, focused. I saw him in 92 and he was throwing away the
lyrics, I felt destroying his myth, tonight he took songs by the neck and
strangled them, sucked the life out of them, lived them. Simply superb.
Hard Rain was brimming over with emotion. I looked round at members
of the audience, you could see how moved everyone was. The bang as
chins hit the floor ! After the third song Bob started "mugging", I
can't tell you how funny this was. It carried on all night, very
chaplinesque, he struts round and pokes his head forward like a
chicken pecking the air, he laughed, struck every rock pose in the
book, I lost count of the times the rest of the band looked at him and
laughed in amazement. Glorious, Bob, thanks a lot. See the other
reviews for set list and performance details. For me Wheels On Fire
was a joy and TUIB which I'd got a bit bored of from recent boots just
burned, he sung life into it. See him now, don't miss this tour.
This was Regine's first Bob concert (she's not a great fan, just
patient with an old obsessive sod like me ), she loved it and said Bob
struck her as a rather sad man, she wanted to go up to him and tell
him it would all be all right in the end. We danced all night and let
others note the setlist ! AND he played "our song"........you can
guess which one.
For me he proved what he has said all along, that he's a song and
dance man, he's unique, alone in his art and I fear there is nobody to
replace him.....may he burn for a long time to come..
We were so awake afterwards we dove half the way home, slept 2
hours in the car at a motorway parking place, drove further and got
home pale and exhausted at 0800 the next day. My filling fell out and
I was straight into the dentists chair just to finish the trip off
successfully.
For all the hassle frustration and the prospect of a one month
driving ban it was well worth it...
Peace to all
Tim Norford
