Bob Dylan 990614 in Eugene, Oregon
Subject: June 14, 1999 - Eugene, Oregon - subjective review From: Leonard Coop (coopl@bcc.orst.edu) Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 13:54:39 -0700 Warning: contains naive gushing (only show of the tour I got to see this year; this was ca. my 20th Dylan show since 1978; in case you start wondering I had just 2 cups of coffee as my only stimulus that day). First I just want to say how grateful I am to the kind fellow who sold me his two tickets at face value ($30 each) in front of the venue, when dozens of my ticketless brethren were actually chanting "$100 for a ticket" as I showed him the way to will-call (I just happened to approach him first as he walked up). That man obviously knows that a Dylan experience is not about money, but much higher goals indeed. I was so happy at my good fortune that I was shaking and didn't even check to look in the envelop he handed me when I gave him the cash (it was 2 tickets to see Dylan!). The least I could do now with my one extra ticket (rather than conduct a bidding war as had already started for a ticket earlier that evening), was to miracle the kind and patient woman (Kathleen) whom I had first commiserated with about the nature of ticketlessness just 30 minutes earlier. She too went into a state of shock, and I trust her concert experience was as life-reaffirming as mine was last night (didnt run into her after that). Anyway, I queued up happy and with heart pounding and within 10 minutes was inside, sitting on the floor, dead center, 25 feet from where Bobby would soon be. Great "seat" in a venue that I had come to really enjoy recently (I actually saw the Clash there about 1983 before it was acoustically refined). At 8:14 pm they started, played until 10:00 sharp, for the best Dylan show I have ever been to. I always believed, that the smaller the venue, the better the Dylan show, which is why I skipped the Portland Rose Garden when I thought I had a chance at the 1000 capacity EMU Ballroom (should have done both). But that postulate of mine was proven more true than I had ever suspected... 1. Cocaine Blues (acoustic) As a warm up song this worked well - started rough, but got everybody into a fun and relaxed state. In general for the night, the band (or some members) could be pretty darn ragged to exceedingly tight sounding, depending partly on familiarity. I think that only Tony Garnier on bass was ALWAYS playing on track and on key, he was my favorite band member by a mile. The sound was not concert hall quality, and tapes may suffer from the boxy echoness of the EMU ballroom. It was also too loud for me towards the end, even with my hifi earplugs. Next time bring the foam ones too. 2. My Back Pages (acoustic) (Bob on harp - Larry on Fiddle) This was nicely done with mostly clear vocals, getting the crowd to pay attention to new meanings to this 35 year old song. Harp solo was circa 1963, fiddle was off at times. 3. Boots Of Spanish Leather (acoustic) This was a bit more rowdy and driving than I expected; vocals not as clear. Nice version. Dylan was sweating profusely now and for the rest of the night. I loved seeing him jerk his head over to Tony and count the drops flying! Bob's new weight loss program! 4. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (acoustic) This song was a huge highlight with the band mostly spot-on. I have to say that the Eugene audience IS worth Dylan going out of his way to play for. I was loving the crowd and the way they respected and dug the band and the music. 5. Love Minus Zero/No Limit (acoustic) Another favorite gem done well. 6. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic) (with harp) This song was so nailed by both Bob and band that I was beginning to break down in joy and tears - I felt that Dylan was 22 years old again, as I repeatedly "got" throughout the evening. This guy is having fun, in fact a blast! I can no longer regret never seeing him pre-1975. Now it is like I have been there. Yes I am serious. 7. Down Along The Cove Now this was TRIPLE GREAT - I was so overjoyed at this first full electric song, I continued to struggle to compose myself. The band was even tighter, now in their true element, and the song boogied and bounced like CRAZY and, for many I am sure, added a couple years to our life expectancies. This was a dream come true that I personally connected with, like he knew *I* had always wanted to hear this one live, and like he appeared to wink at me personally when I (only 25 feet back), regularly watched him through the binoculars. But he was interacting with the ENTIRE audience this way, making eyes and smiles and ticks and swaggers in cahoots with the audience. We were all connected like I have rarely experienced with ANY performer. This song was a peak experience from beginning to end. 8. Blind Willie McTell This brought me back to earth with struggling at first to hear them play *together*, and catch the lyrics. But the song built steadily and mid-way turned out to be quite a good rendition, and the crowd was right with them by the end. 9. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) Back to ecstasy land with this one - here it was sealed that no one would walk out without knowing that Dylan makes Rock and Roll a BE HERE NOW experience. This was truly a circus on wheels. 10. Simple Twist Of Fate I thought this was also very well done, but I was in recovery mode from what had just happened and didn't notice much else about it. 11. Can't Wait This one had me struggling to understand, not already knowing the lyrics. 12. Highway 61 Revisited They nailed it, BIG TIME FUN CITY in Eugene tonight! (encore) 13. Not Dark Yet Soulful and well done. I need to listen to that album more often. 14. Like A Rolling Stone Romping and tighter than I expected. Another gift to Eugene. 15. Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic) Also excellent. Played with attention to detail and topical relevance. 16. Not Fade Away My god Dylan knows the spirit of Jerry lives in Eugene and we are invoking it tonight! Best way to end the show that I can think of. After that the only thing is to grovel for a tape of it! My good buddy in Portland didnt even get in to see that one, so I mainly want a tape to send him in consolation. I could tell that this whole tour must be a hoot, but again I feel triply lucky that this was the one I got into. Whew! -- Leonard Coop Eugene review at pauserecord.com
