Bob Dylan 980828 in Darwin, Australia
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 03:42:51 +0200 (MEST) From: Carsten Wohlfeld (happyjaq@gmx.net) Subject: August 28, 1998 - Darwin, Australia - a review > Bob Dylan & Patti Smith > Darwin, Australia, August 28, 1998 > Darwin Gardens Amphitheatre > A review by Carsten Wohlfeld Before I tell you about the Darwin show I wanted to share a little funny story with you... In April 1995 the New Musical Express ran a story on people following Dylan (in with our friend the famous Ray WorldWideWebster got quoted as well) and I thought following Dylan was the coolest thing you could do, even though at that point I didn't even dream about doing it myself. The article mentioned that Dylan had played 620 shows since 1988 and I told my friends if there ever was gonna be a 1,000th show, I'd be there, no matter where it would be held. Now the 1000th show took place the other day in Perth, which is arguably the most isolated major city on this planet and I still was there... now that's what you call commitment, eh? :-) Anyways, Darwin was the start of the new millenium so to speak and since the previous shows in Oz had been all every good and professional, it was the real exceitment that was sadly absent. If that was gonna change at all on this tour, Darwin was the place for it to happen. Beautiful nice town, great beaches, palmtrees, swimmingpools, and 34 degrees C in the shade. Quite a change from the rainy and cold south. The show was definitely one of the highlights for the people in Darwin (the local NT News called it one of the biggest shows here - ever!) and the venue was a very nice, well, not Amphitheatre, but a nice hill with green grass and a pretty huge stage. Thanks to the Sydney crew and to Graeme and Hania and Bob from the DEC the waiting for the gates to open was a lot of fun and I didn't have trouble getting my ticket either... This was a perfect venue for Patti Smith and so at the soundcheck we were treated to perfect renditions of "Summer Cannibals", a laidback "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry" (Hank Williams Sen.) and - for the first time - "Gloria". At 6.30 they finally opened the gates and we got the best "seats" in the house, front row next to the rail. Now everybody likes to tell their mates that they got the front row center spot, but for Patti's set it was really me who stood about one and a half meters away from her... it was quite freaky to have her look at me so often I have to say. Patti followed a well reveived set by Walker and Davies who seem to get better and better every night (or maybe they just get used to the large venues) at 8.10pm. Starting with "Wicked Messenger" she got the crowd started right from the beginning. "Dancing Barefoot" was next, as good as it ever was and yes, Patti took off her shoes and socks again. After those two songs I already was happy as can be and I thought: "Now there's really only one song she can play to top this..."Free Money"'. And she did. I truely believe that this were the best five minutes I ever spend at a rock and roll concert and I've seen a few! Words fail me to describe the power and energy Patti and the band put into this song! The rest of the set was just as good though. Patti largely ignored her latest two albums and gave us the first Oz-rendition of "Redondo Beach" as well and mindshattering rendtions of "Rock And Roll Nigger" and the closing "People Have The Power". She talked less than on the previous nights, but the music siad it all! One of the best shows I have ever seen. Too bad that it only lasted for 50 minutes. Bob and crew came out at 9.20 to perform with a rented setup. Not one single amp was the same, the mics were new, even Kemper's drumskit was different. Tony didn't even bring his double bass, playing the acoustic bass guitar during the first acoustic set as well. Weird! The soundcheck had given us ramshackle versions of "Mr Jones", "Dear Landlord", "All I Really Wanna Do" (with vocals by Bucky) and "Sweet Marie" amongst others and that was an indication that he was ready for a change. And after patti's set he really had to do *something* to top her! Well, the first thing he did was ignoring the cuesheet's alternates "Pillbox" and "Serve Somebody" to open with: > Maggie's Farm With was nicely done and of course more than just well received. Bob was smiling from the first line on and even though I couldn't hear him sing too good from my spot his voice seemed to be in good shape tonight. > License To Kill Took me about a microsecond to figure out this one and I was very happy to hear it again. If Bob plays a song twice in three years and you get to hear both renditions you can consider yourself lucky, right? It was a baaaaad version though Bob didn't really know what to do with the words and Larry almost ignored the changes on the bridge altogether just basically strumming the same chords as before. "I Want You" was also on the cuesheet. > Can't Wait Great version, perfectly sung and yet another chance for Tony to show us his qualities as a show dancer :-) I really like his dancing... > It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry "4th Street" was the only song on the cuesheet in this spot, but Bob and crew chose to continue with a very powerful bluesy rendtion of this magnificent song. First time I heard it in two years, also the first rendition with Larry and David and I liked it very much. Doesn't sound much different compared to the old band's version. > Under The Red Sky Fitting song to play at an outdoor show in Oz of course, even though the sun had long gone down. Wasn't on the cuesheet at all, "Takes A Lot To Laugh" and yet again "4th Street" were though. Usual nice rendition, but I don't like the song enough to get really excited about it. After the song Tony went over to Bob and asked "Cold Irons Bound?!" which was the cuesheet's only choice for #6. Bob didn't seem to like the idea and so we got: > Silvio Great version, much more energetic than previous renditions in Australia. Guess it's a good idea not to play it every night :-) > Stone Walls And Steel Bars (acoustic) "Don't Think Twice" was on the cuesheet instead. The usual countrified version... most people didn't recognize it and so it scored mighty low on the clap-o-meter. I liked it a lot though. Bob and band really seemed to be into it as well. > Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic) was "don't Think Twice", uninspired harp solo at the end. "Times" and "Desolation" were listed on the cuesheet instead. > Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic) was "Tangled", which these days means it was one of the highlights of the set. > Knockin' On Heaven's Door (acoustic) Great version and a major singalong as well. I might be wrong but I don't think Bob sang the "new" third verse tonight. They messed up the endding again with some endless "ooo-ooo-oooos" from Bucky and Larry. David just kept on playing which looked pretty funny. > This Wheel's On Fire Great choice even though most people seemed to be unfamiliar with the song. I just love the backing vocals so I for one was very happy to get to hear it again. > 'Til I Fell In Love With You Followed the band intros and a little speech on how nice Darwin is (or words to that effect, I believe). Bob also picked up something one of the Aboriginals in the crowd had thrown onto the stage. He really seemed to appreciate it, whatever it was. "Til I Fell" was "Til I Fell" and featured the usual goofy poses that always grace the last songs. > (encore) > Love Sick One of the best versions I ever heard, miuch more powerful than usual with great singing and an amazing twin geetar solo courtesy of Bob and Larry. > Rainy Day Women 3 12 & 35 was played as well, Tony on backing vocals. After this song a girl jumped on stage and ran over to Bob talking to him for about three seconds before security guys took her away. > Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic) Yet another crowd pleaser, done in the usual style. Strangly enough the roadies came out again with the electric instruments straight after this one (the cuesheet had ended with "Rainy")... > Highway 61 Revisited followed and was almost as breathtaking as at the Mercury Lounge. One of the best renditions of this song over here. > Forever Young (acoustic) Even more! Yet anotherr very nice version of this wonderful song. I didn't like it all that much the last couple of times but this was a very enjoyable rendition. Soooo, 100 minutes later we just had witnessed the best Bob (and Patti) show in Oz so far, probably even one of the best gigs this *year*. Around 7,000 people in attendance seemed to be genuinely happy and that's all you can ask for, right? Next up is Townsville n sunday, stay tuned! Carsten Wohlfeld -- "love can be suicide" (beatles)
