Bob Dylan Stories: -A Tale Of Two Concerts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ธ.ค. 2020
- Bob Dylan is known for never doing the same show twice. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's less than stellar. This is a story about both sides of the Dylan live music spectrum.
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Bob Dylan
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Bob Dylan Indianapolis
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For anyone curious, Amy and I met at a Bob Dylan show at Market Square Arena (RIP). We ran into each other a couple of months later and enjoyed each other's company. She liked crunchy peanut butter, had a great record collection, knew the names of most flowers, liked wearing overalls, was super talented and easy on the eyes. It felt like someone handed her the Otis Owner's Manual. 22 years later and we're still hanging out. We celebrated our anniversary by taking a long wintry walk around a local reservoir and through the woods and then got some Indian food curbside pick up and ate it at home. Not a bad way to spend an anniversary!
Congrads-my wife and I celebrated 28 years Monday. No Dylan shows for me (as yet).
@@Barry101er Congrats to y'all, Barry!
Had the good Fortune of seeing him many times. Your story is funny in that your emotions are totally familiar :). Fwiw, where he plays seems to matter. If you have a chance to see him in Tulsa, take it. Seattle...skip it. Maybe he has friends in Oklahoma.
@@charlieherrin8827 Bob definitely digs Tulsa, Charlie! It's very cool that he chose Tulsa for his archives. I can't wait to go check it out one of these days. : )
Finding someone to share your life with is as good as it can get; everything after is seasoning or good or bad weather.
Im 38 and i’ve seen Dylan 52 times. Charlie Sexton lives 3 doors away from me. Dylan is by far my favorite artist and the most important musical artist of the last 100yrs. Fucking love Dylan!!
Tell Charlie for me that I’ve been a fan since Beats So Lonely . . . . Only ever seen him with Bob though.
@@brianbard3410 mpl?
I saw Bob Dylan at Cobo Arena in Detroit around 1965. I was 16 years old. It was a profound experience. There seemed to be more to the world than I ever imagined possible.
So lucky
Best Bob Dylan concert: Live at the rodeo grounds in Lloydminster Saskatchewan, August 10, 2012.
Outdoor... bus parked right behind the stage... kicking around in the dirt... beer available in flats ... Bob having an absolute BLAST! Just on fire... full effect. Small crowd for a Dylan concert, no assigned seating... no seating at all on the floor level... could work right up close to the stage... just unbelievable.
I love your music Otis, I've turned a lot of my friends on to you. My little brother and I saw Dylan in salina kansas back in the 90's. We were standing around his bus waiting for him to come off and sign autographs and we had brought one of my dad's albums "pat garrett and Billy the kid soundtrack" and a man next to us said he had been to 20 of Dylan's shows and he never signs autographs so I took the album back to the car then walked back to the bus area. Bob dylan came off the bus and walked straight to the crowd and started signing autographs so my little brother ran back to the car got the album ran back we weasled through the crowd got next to Dylan and he took the album and made a comment about saying "been awhile since I seen that" then used it as backing to sign other people's tickets and what not then he signed the album. You used to be able to see the impressions from the other autographs on it but not anymore. It now hangs on my little brothers wall. What a memory to have. Thank you Bob.
That's a beautiful story, Chuck and I appreciate you sharing it! : )
I've seen him 6 times and deeply regret it wasn't a lot more. He's played so many concerts. No human could rise to the occasion every night.
My brother and i seen bob at the Barrolands dance hall Glasgow Scotland.
The Barrolands is a tiny gig maybe 800 / 1000 folk.
We were about 12 feet from bob and the band
They were on top form and by there big grins on all there faces they were enjoying this.
I was on my brother’s shoulders singing along to Rolling Stone we were singing louder than the band Bob turns his head looks me straight in the eyes and gives me a huge big smile shaking head in disbelief at the crowd .
When the song finished he went down on one knee and said “ I must have played that song a thousand times and know one has sang that song like that before Thank you”
Seen bob 5 times and that’s the only time I heard him say a word to the crowd.
First time I saw him was like '74 or there about in Denver, and The Band was backing him. Pure magic.
I have been a Dylan fan for over 40 years and honestly believe that if you catch him on a good night, he is at his best when performing live. My favourite one is the last time he played Highlands in Columbia Missouri in Apr 2001. It was his 40th anniversary since his first live gig. I still love his live shows - worth the travel time and entrance fee (almost every time)
Some friends attended a Dylan concert several years ago in Texas. One musician friend among the bunch relayed this story to me afterwards. As they were driving away from the concert venue, these three huge Dylan fans were discussing the show. One said he only recognized a handful of songs among them Lay Lady Lay. His companion, another life-long Dylan fan, replied “He played Lay Lady Lay?” Upon hearing this story my envy dissolved into gratitude. Happy anniversary.
Ouch! : )
That's funny ! Not comparing / contest ing, but I've never missed a tune the second it starts. But I've been listening for 50 years, and playing them for 40,.... There's fans, and then there's fans
@@magustacrae All three of my friends attending that particular concert are/or were professional musicians of your approximate vintage. Older I would guess as they are mostly early seventies now. Dylan remains their idol. He stopped being mine after I heard the hoodie rule applied to even Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. Even generational talent is a poor substitute for manners.
Thank you Otis for another great story. I first saw Bob Dylan in 1965 in Seattle with Joan Baez. I was a 16 year old guitar player and his words moved my world. He was on point and meant every word he sang that night. I think I sang every song he did that following week to any girl that would listen to me for 2 minutes!
What a fantastic story thank you
Great story, thanx Bud
The wife and I saw Dylan in Oct 2019, and his harmonica playing was outstanding! I’d never heard a harmonica sound so good!
I saw him in December 2019 and it was one his best shows I've ever seen (my first show was in 1978).
Awesome memories!! Thank you for posting 😃
Can listen to bob Dylan stories all day and night
Friend... I was at that same Dylan show at the Murat. I had never known of Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Thirty some years later and I have many of his CDs and listen to him weekly. One of my all time favorites. I remember when he took the stage... the crowd was almost uncomfortable.. wearing that Nudie type suit...not knowing wtf this guy was all about. Then he started singing and the place erupted! Never forget that. Amazing voice and songwriter. In my safe I have the CD Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock live from Australia that I bought the next day. Its one of those "lost on a desert island and you only have one album" deals. Thanks for letting me re-live that memory.
I saw Bob at the Lakeland Civic Center in Florida back in 1976 during his Rolling Thunder Revue Tour white face paint and all. I didn't see him again until Oct 20th 2018 (41 years to the day of the Skynyrd crash...the killer Street Survivor Tour that stopped in Lakeland 2 days prior to that fateful day.) at Ruth Eckerd Hall here in Clearwater Fl. Both shows were superb. I have a better half named Amy also; we aren't married in the traditional sense either. Going on 24 years this coming Feb, 3 kids, mortgage, etc. I agree, that's as married as it gets. Going to see Marty and his Fabulous Superlatives in our anniversary month of Feb at the Capital Theater in downtown Clearwater. Cant wait! Keep up the great posts Otis, I could listen to this kind of stuff all day.
Saw Dylan '64 Town Hall Phila. me and my mates were agog.. first time we heard some of the tunes from his 'soon to be released' ALBUM...
We waited by the stage door on the side of the theater and out popped bobby into the limo and back to NYC... anyway as he says (and i think all here will agree) 'first among equals, second to none'... he got the life i was supposed to have (i was about 5 years too late)... i've seen him many times since (except for a lull there in the middle - life gets in the way sometimes)... have seen him twice in the last 2 years and he is as good as ever - but still have to try and hear some of the lyrics before i catch up to the song he's playing (a little game we play)...WE LOVE YOU BOBBY ! Thanks for everything.
Thanks for sharing. I've only been able to see him once. I regret not having an opportunity to meet him. Also, I 💕 it when he plays with The Band.
Happy Anniversary to you both. Long happy life.
In 1983, When I was in high school my friend Tim had me over to listen to a “new” album he’d heard about. It was “Bringing it all back home “ by Bob Dylan. I was utterly blown away by it. It was like nothing I’d ever heard. He actually let me borrow the album and I must’ve played it a 1000 times and it took him 6 months to get his record back.
Flash forward to 1988. I’d moved from LA to Sacramento working for tower records and I was given tickets for two Dylan shows. One at cal expo on I think a Friday and one the next night at the Greek in Berkeley.
So my buddy Tim and I (who had turned me on to Dylan originally) go to cal expo. Dylan comes out and plays this show and it was ok but he plays like 63 minutes and ends the last song leaves the stage and flies off in a helicopter from behind the stage. In the crowd we just watched him fly off.
So we debated going the next night but did and we were happy we went he played a much longer show. It felt like 3 hours and Neil Young came out and joined him for a few songs.
Definitely the tale of two shows.
Blessings on your family Otis. Happy Anniversary
Bob's gonna Bob! : )
One of my best friends was bassist Tim Drummond who played on Dylan's "Slow Train", "Shot of Love", and "Saved" albums. He was also in his touring band at that time. Some of the first concerts when Dylan played his "Christian" songs, he was booed and some folks threw things at him on stage. In San Fran, Tim saw someone throw something towards the stage at Dylan and Tim stepped in the way and blocked it from hitting Dylan. Dylan leaned over and said "Thanks, Tim" and Drummond said "That's gonna be an extra $1000 a week, Bob". Tim had some really great stories to tell. I miss him every damn day.
That's tremendous! : )
Whoa! It don't get any better than Tim Drummond. Dude played with both James Brown and Neil Young. What's that James Brown story about him? Somebody asked Brown, "Who's that white bassist?" Brown replied, "What white bassist? That's my
bassist."
Yes, Tim caught a lot of flack being the only white guy in James Brown's band. They talked about it a lot. After one gig when Tim was verbally attacked by a few fans, Tim suggested to James that it would be better if he quit the band. James said "Don't listen to those mo'fer, you're my Ace Boon Coon". The funny thing is: It was Tim that came up with the riff to "I'm Black And I'm Proud" and some other tunes. After James got out of jail, they had a party for him and Tim was invited. James told Tim: "I never did give you any writing credits, did I?". Tim said "No you didn't, you S.O.B!" They laughed...
When people throw things, then you know Dylan was doing something right.
I agree!
Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing these stories. You made me laugh with the openers!
Thank you kindly! : )
Otis...you ARE the man....great video !!!
Great story Otis. Dylan is my absolute favorite and I have seen him live16 or 17 times. Though the shows can be inconsistent, there is always something sublime at each one. My favorite show was in 2000. The band that featured Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell on guitars was something to see. His voice is shot, but the history of American music courses through his veins and he is a showman of the highest order. Long live Bob.
Definitely, long live Bob! : )
My favorite Bob Dylan show was July 10th 2013 at the old Midway Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota. Richard Thompson Electric Trio, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco were the openers. I got in line 5 hours early to get a good spot since it was GA. My bone-headed 16 year-old self didn’t put sun screen on that day and I was extremely sunburned, but nevertheless I ended up standing right against the rail for the entire show and Dylan was on point that night. He did a mixture of his old and new songs, and he even gave a little speech about how he used to live in Minnesota.
The first time that I heard of Bob Dylan I was around 14 years old & I was visiting my older cousin whose husband was an old time Dylan fan. I walked into their house & Mr. Tambourine Man was on the turntable. I was awestruck. I thought to myself, "I have been waiting all my life to hear this music!"
I love listening to you Otis, you are a great story teller
I took my oldest sister to see Dylan in Barrie Ont. back in 2017. My only Dylan concert but her second. She grew up listening to him when she was a teenager so she was always a fan. I got into his music later on. That was great evening of music and we totally enjoyed the show. I cant remember but i don't believe he even said one word to the audience throughout the show but that was fine for us. We have a great time sharing him and his music since then. Thanks Otis.
I saw Dylan in ‘95 at the Roseland in New York City and it was phenomenal. For the encore all of the house lights came up and Neil Young & Bruce Springsteen play in about five songs -for them in that tiny space. It was one of the finest rock ‘n’ roll experiences I ever had- Neil and Bruce playing with their hero… But the highlight was Bob singing Mr. tambourine Man accompanied by his band on acoustic instruments playing quietly in gentle semi darkness…
I’ve seen a lot of Dylan shows since then but they were mostly pretty rotten- phoned in.
What a great story!!!
I saw Dylan perform in Boston a few years ago with Mavis Staples. I took my daughter, who would have been about 20 at the time. It was such a joy to experience it with her, and she was gracious in enjoying the music I loved when I was about 20. Neither of us could have ever dreamed that night that she would die not long after. Music allows us to remember in beautiful ways, and the music of that concert brings her back to memory in some amazing way.
Saw Bob along the banks of the Cuyahoga river in cleveland. Bob slayed it. Thanks man
Great Story telling Otis - I’ve seen Bob Dylan about 15 Times from the 80’s thru the Early 2000’s - some of my favorite shows were Dylan with Willie Nelson, Santana, Tom Petty and the Grateful Dead on various Tours and I also have seen him as the only Act of a Show in Philly, Indy,Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem ,etc and it’s always been a fun Time - Ice seen a couple of klunker shows but even then there are always a Special moment or song or two to Enjoy- He always has a good Band
I saw Dylan before the pandemic at the Beacon in Brooklyn. Sat up in the balcony and left after about 40 minutes. I could see Roger Waters sitting down below me which was cool & then ran into an old friend in the bathroom on my way out. He was raving about the show and I didn't have the heart to tell him I was leaving hah. I still love Dylan though. He's my favorite songwriter, but I couldn't handle how much he re vamped his songs.
My cousin hated it when he heard Dylan play live. I couldn’t believe it. And now you. I’m glad the second time hearing Dylan was great. I’m sure glad youtube delivered your videos into my life and stream of consciousness. Thanks again. I sure look forward to more.
2007 at Stubbs BBQ in Austin, Texas. Opened with Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat, guitar in hand. I loved every minute! I don’t mind the changing of arrangements. I figure he is performed those songs especially for me! 🤠
Damn Jay, that would be a great place to see Bob! : )
‘Twas Epic, Otis!
Saw Dylan in Louisville, KY at Freedom Hall..., early 1980's... I was fortunate that it was a great show... the one and only time I saw him...
I saw Bob with my girlfriend, we've been seeing each other 15 years and we're finally having a solid live-together relationship, we go see Bob in Hershey, PA. I've always wanted to see him, but never thought I would. Long stories, I've bought tickets 2 or 3 times and it never happened, but this was perfect. I've been to many good shows, and met some heroes, but this was special with my girl, and Bob, whose last record was fantastic.
I have seen Bob a number of times, and I'd be delighted to go with you to a Bob Concert ! Just Sayin' ...... I think the one concert tour Iv'e always regretted that Iv'e never seen the 1974 Tour with The Band ! Saw Bob in 86 with Tom Petty and the True Confession Tour .....Best Show Ever! Saw him in 89 with the Grateful Dead..... That was o.k. also saw him in 1988 with The Alarm , and that went by way too fast! Lol.Saw Bob in 1995.....in a small setting , at The Palladium in L.A. That was good ! Thanks for the Insight . ~~~Marc B.
My friends and I caught our first Dylan show on that Alvin/Mitchell and Bob tour. I’ve been to about 35 Dylan shows since. South Bend IN was a good one. 2 performances in one night at the Park West in Chicago. Unbelievable. Small club. About 3 shows at Purdue University. A great set in Evanston. The best show at the Springfield State Fair. We didn’t expect much at a fair, but it was one of the best gigs I’d ever seen. One time I went alone to the United Center to see him and had to meet my buddy at the Empty Bottle (Chicago) to catch Billy Cihildish doing a late night gig. We all hung around and talked with Billy. You can imagine going home that night after taking in a Dylan show and then meeting Billy. I don’t know, Bob never let me down. One night, he had the great Richard Wright come out and tell a few jokes before Bob went on. You never knew what you’d get. That was the fun of it all!
That's great that you got to meet Billy Childish! I 'm a big fan of his paintings and his work in general.
Thank you so much Otis always enjoy your stories never got a chance to see Bob Dylan but I always enjoyed his music nice little story about you and Amy thank you so much Otis
Thanks, Terry!
I've seen Dylan live 3 times. I've been listening to his music for 24 years. I can relate.
That’s the Dylan experience. On a good night it will take your breath away and on a bad night, not so much-but even then, he always has a great band. Overall, the good nights are so good that i will endure a mediocre night so as to not miss the good ones. He is a certified genius and he won’t be with us forever. Btw-his new album is pretty amazing
Still have my moms tickets for that last Elvis show . Enjoying the stories at work ( good ol Tod 😉
Happy anniversary to you and Amy!
I saw Bob in 1998 in Bozeman, Montana and he was on fire! Must have been a fun tour for him.
Grew up on a steady diet of Dylan, all from my older brothers. I was 7 in 1965 and loved playing all those songs of Bob’s on the RCA record player. First time I saw Dylan was in San Diego at the sports arena in 1978. Excellent! Then I saw him in San Francisco at the Warfield theater doing his Christian stuff and I went to two shows there. I also saw him perform with the Grateful Dead, and later w tom petty. Great shows; all of them.
Only Saw Bob Dylan once in 1986 with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in Brisbane Australia at an outdoor Stadium Show During massive Thunderstorms. Was The Craziest Concert ever. Flooding Rain Thunder Lightning And Tom Petty and The Heart Breakers playing for many Hours straight through their own set and Supporting Dylan as his backing Band. Most amazing Concert ever.
True Love Tends to Forget. ♥️💋❤️😍😎💙💜 The sun still shines and your true fans will always love you.
Happy anniversary my friend God bless you enjoyed hearing you talk about Dylan godspeed take care
Thanks, Rodney!
I've seen Dylan about 15 times. Once I got to stand 3 feet from the stage for the whole concert. That was amazing!
Bob Dylan came to Salinas, Ca. A Brother military buddy bought 2 tickets. I was the only one with transportation. A motorcycle! In the dead of winter! We were both 18 years old, huge Dylan fans, and headed to the Middle East before the weekend was over. Two US Marines on a motorcycle, we rode 20 miles in a snowfall! Saw Tom Petty open for Bob Dylan! Great concert! RIP my Brother. Fair winds and following seas. Semper Fi!
Otis, glad I found you - - - you are a terrific story teller! thanks much
never saw Dylan much to my regret.
Thanks, David!
My best friend went to a Dylan show in Halifax 10 or 15 years ago. He sat at the piano, back to the crowd, and didn't engage in the least bit. A good example of never meeting your heroes I reckon.
Saw Bob in 93 at the beacon theater, greatest concert of my life. Hair on my arms stood up , magic! 8 months latter I saw him at Monmouth college and I walked out 5 songs in ....
Otis you are great. I have seen him 9 times. Saw the '91 tour and it was stinky. Saw the '98 in Milwaukee and it was great. My favorite was Street Legal, '78 in Chicago, because it was my first and Bob was still youthful and powerful. He knocked me on my ass.
Thank ya kindly, John!
Mr Gibbs - I enjoy the stories and Happy Anniversary. I seen Bob Dylan in Portland, he toured with Merle Haggard and I expected to hear a laid back session that evening. Bob Dylan came out in a force, which totally surprised me. All the hits were Rock N Roll, it was amazing. I'll never forget it, he had an aura I could see from the cheap seats.
aww that maybe the sweetest dylan story ever. congrats you two....
Thank you! : )
@@otisgibbs your welcome ...best wishes
My only Dylan concert was almost the same as the first one you went to, guessing it was the early 2000s. Mine was in Racine WI. If there was an opening act, I don't remember it. As you described, you couldn't recognize any of his "rearranged" classics. Dylan never left the keyboard. I couldn't wait to leave. I would never take another chance. I still have my records and CDs, but most of all I listen to him on youtube. Grateful to have had such great music in my youth.....
Love your channel mate
Thanks, Alex!
Thanks for another great story Otis! I've seen Dylan 3 times, two were excellent, one not. Last time was in 2018 in Macon, GA. Bob played piano, but stepped out to sing a few songs - like a lounge singer in a brocade dinner jacket! Band was great! What struck me at this show was the amount of young folks there. After, I talked to one young guy - he was a big fan and very knowledgeable about old music. Made my night!
Saw Bob around 85 in Knoxville with that GE Smith band, very indifferent show.
My best Dylan show was back in 74 in Atlanta's Omni. Ticket sales were by mail back then - we got the money order together, put it in the mailbox at the post office near the Omni the night before the first accepted postmark date, got seats 4th. row center. Show was with the Band, they were in top form. I watched closely, seemed no set list, Bob would strum a chord, the Band members would know the song, nod, and begin. It was like Dylan was in total control of the whole arena. Amazing show!
Happy anniversary!
Thanks, Mike!
You are a master storyteller Otis. I sure hope you all are appreciating each other completely. It sounds like pretty good arrangemnt to me.
I would love to see Dylan live. I'm a huge fan. He's a big influence on my song writing. My favorite time period is when he was with the Band.
I' d love to hear @Otis Gibbs take on The Band... one of my favorites ;-)
I saw Dylan and The Dead at RFK in DC in June of 95. It was incredible to see Garcia and Dylan on the same stage doing Rainy Day Women #12 & #35! What an awesome memory! Your channel has become one of my favorites, Otis! Keep on keeping on, man!
Thank you, Chip!
Great story
Thank you!
I was hoping that was the story you were telling. I remember hearing you tell that story back then and it's good enough that I've told it second hand a couple of times.
Great story, Otis. All the best to you and Amy.
Thank you, Andrew!
Chastain Park, Atlanta, NO Jazz Fest with Dickie Betts, Midtown Fest Atlanta, SaengerT heater New Orleans. Thanks foe the stories Otis.
Thank you, Arch!
I saw Dylan twice. The first time was the tour with the Band in '74 at an arena in Seattle (I think it was the Kingdome). It was fantastic. The second was a the Slow Train Coming tour at the Paramount Theater in Portland in '80. I went with my girlfriend.We got married a couple of months later. Bob wouldn't play any of the old tunes so people booed and left and we left the balcony for great seats on the main floor. It was also fantastic.
I've been to so many Bob Dylan concerts through the decades I never dislike one Bob Dylan concert
Loving the stories Otis.......My dad was a big Dylan, I grew up hearing his LP's. Just recently I heard a song of his that I hadn't heard before "Walking Down The Line" performed by Sierra Ferrell. Great song. Great version. Boy would I like to "hang out" with Sierra! Lots of love from the UK
What a cool story. My wife and I met at a N.A. meeting and we celebrated 10yrs of marriage yesterday (7/30/11-7/30/21) still clean and best friends.
Happy Happy Anniversary and Many, Many more years of hanging out together!! ❤
Thank you! : )
Good on you Otis,
cheers to you and Amy...
Thanks, Ian!
I saw Dylan five times and he was great every time. The first was in Pittsburgh with Joan Baez back in the mid ‘60s, before Bringing It All Back Home was released, when I heard Gates of Eden and Mr. Tambourine Man for the first time. A year or so later I saw him in between Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde with a full backing band. I didn’t see him again until about ‘78. My expectations were not high, because his recent albums had been relatively mediocre. But once again, he was fantastic. As I came out of the restroom at one point, the chords of Like a Rolling Stone came crashing out. I had not thought of it as a favorite, and was surprised by the excitement and joy that filled my body. In this gigantic arena everyone was seated but one woman I came upon dancing alone in a shadowy corner where concrete tiers rose above us. I joined her-she wasn’t exactly welcoming, so I kept my distance-and danced ecstatically for that one song before returning to my seat in the highest tier. I saw Dylan again perhaps two years later at the same venue. He opened up with a powerful acoustic version of Masters of War sung with conviction, and stayed in good form throughout. The last time I saw him was 15 or 20 years ago, same ugly venue, somewhat smaller audience. I was far away from the stage, but the music sounded good. Dylan was playing a lot of lead acoustic guitar, and playing well. The friends I was with moved close to the stage at one point and said they were disillusioned by Dylan’s affect, that he appeared to be mocking his own songs. But it didn’t sound that way from where I stood.
Happy Anniversary 🎉
Thank you, Ronnie!
It's a testament to Dylan's greatness that even though fans criticize him on certain occasions, they keep coming back because they know they will be rewarded yet again.
My Dylan experience was much the same as your 1st but I was happy to be there because it was Bob Dylan! ... my wife was like 7 months pregnant and stood in line for tickets cause I was out on a ship ... I was home in time for the concert together... In Halifax - Scotia Square... when he came back out for the encore ... she said (when it was over) “I can’t believe he didn’t play blowing in the wind” ... blowing in the wind was the encore song. I was able to recognize it barley because he changed it up and he was hard to understand but ya ... that’s Dylan. I thought he was cool as hell. Had some of the guys from Stevie Ray ‘s double trouble with him in the band.
"That's Dylan" pretty much sums it up, Rusty! : )
Hey Otis, I’m actually just getting into Dylan now…I came into music from the traditional country side…I mean really traditional…accompanying Fiddle players. It knocks me out what a great musician he is, he plays some very cool but subtle guitar, like in “It Ain’t Me” …if you don’t listen close you miss it, and until now, I missed it. Then there is his poetry - I love Bukowski…he kind of changed my life - and Dylan is as good as any of the Beats. Anyway, that’s the beauty of recorded music - it’s timeless and music is a school you can keep learning from. Happy Anniversary! When I got married the second time, friends asked me “why not just live together?” I told them , if you split up after living together for a bunch of years you will find out you have, in fact, been married, once you start dealing with the financial part…so…Happy Anniversary!!!
Love your channel, Otis. You do a great job. I too love Dylan, but have actually never seen a 'good' performance of his. I've see him three times. The first was in 2004, and twice in 2006. The last time I saw him he did Tangled Up In Blue, one of my favorite songs of his, and it was literally 2-3 minutes into the song before I even knew what he was playing. It was a completely different arrangement and he was just mumbling the lyrics. That's his thing, as you said. He's been at it for 60 years and I feel like most of the time he entertains himself by NOT doing what you/me expect of him. But, it's Dylan and each time I went I was glad I did just because I'm glad I've seen him. Keep doing what you're doing, and happy anniversary.
That's rough, DC! : )
I was lucky enough to see Dylan four times: with The Band, in Atlanta in 1974; with the Rolling Thunder Review (II) in Mobile, Alabama in 1976; in Lakeland, Florida in 1980 or '81; and in Atlanta again in 2001.
I saw Dylan live 5 times between 2002-2004. There were a couple bad ones, but when he did his fresh Love & Theft material he was amazing. On Halloween in Chicago, 2004, he did a version of Things Have Changed in which every verse was performed in a different style-blues to country to rap to rock etc... wish I could remember it better, but it was a great moment.
Might of been 2017 that my wife and we’re just hanging out in Asheville, NC and we noticed a sign announcing Bob Dylan Tonight. We walked to the ticket booth for tickets and were told that it was sold out. The lady said to come back an hour before the show because sometimes the reserved tickets are not picked up and we might be able to score.
We got front row seats and were not more then 50’ from Dylan and his piano. He was actually smiling and seemed to be having a good time as we certainly were.
Before that we saw him at the Tivoli in Chattanooga and it was blah.
Hi, Otis, I agree with you about not wanting to see a bad Dylan show. So when he was going to tour the world with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in '86, my brother and I were there for it. Bob sometimes seemed like he was phoning it in but Petty was awesome! When they were onstage together it was much better. Bob and his backup singers started singing a song ("Shake a Hand"?) and Petty looked surprised (but pleased), rocking along.
I saw Dylan twice. Saw him first in 2017 in Rhode Island. He was doing a bunch of old Frank Sinatra songs mixed with his own. It was fun but the crowd was dead and he said nothing to the audience. Ballad of a thin man and Desolation Row were the highlights. Then saw him again in 2021 for his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. He seemed really happy to be playing and even talked and joked with the crowd at the end of the show. He played the entire new album live, but it was still very engaging and mystical. It was the best show out of the two for my taste.
I saw Bob Dylan at the 1969 concert in the Isle of Wight - a friend of mine was the brother of the guys that organised the concert ( Tommy Farr and Ricky Farr) - we grabbed a spot close to the stage in the early hours of the morning and Dylan didn't appear till late in the evening - He looked as if he was carried on to the stage as two guys held his arms.. he was not great but he was Bob Dylan and we all loved the performance
Otis - Happy 22nd Anniversary to you and Amy! Great story of how you guys met, and of Bob, of course. Kelly and I love to hear the stories of how couple met. We often tell our story as a lead-in to a couple of songs we wrote about the experience when we perform, and that seems to be opening for folks to come up to us afterwards and tell us their own story. I never got a chance to see Dylan live, but Kelly did. I don't remember what year it was, but her daughter Chelsea was a teenager, and definitely NOT into Bob. Kelly dragged her to the concert anyway, and luckily it was a great performance, and by the end of the show, Chelsea was a convert and remains so to this day.
Thanks, Richard!
Saw him in 83 at Philly Spectrum. The show totally rocked with great organ and back up singers. Then again in Washington DC in 98, again a great show (with guitarist Tom Sexton) but all the people in my section started sort of laughing when they first heard him sing, but then we got used to it and settled down for a good show. I love how he changes his songs around. Then again with David Knopfler opening in about 2008 and that show Dylan no longer played guitar and I missed him playing guitar. I love the timbre of his voice. He does not recognize the audience much but that is just him. With greatness comes oddity.
You got most of the first names wrong here my friend 😊
Happy anniversary. Saw Dylan during his "mumbling" phase. Thought he should just give it up. Saw him later and was a crisp and stunning show.
Sept 2 1990 Hannibal Mo. I met with friends at the amphitheater on the Mississippi River and Bob came out on stage and the band played so loud you couldn’t even hear Bob sing I was disappointed but being a rock star and the Greatest song writer on the planet it was no big deal , I figure everybody has a off day and I’m sorry to say the Hannibal police gave Bob a ticket for playing to loud. Lol only this could happen in Hannibal Mo. I love Bob Dylan for all his great songs. I’d loved to have seen him with Tom Petty & the Heart Breakers as Tom was not only his opening act but also stayed on stage and was Bobs band , I love your story about you and Amy being together for 22 years as I have been with beautiful soul ❤️mate Heather for 19 years and like you guys more married than most that are. Happy Holidays Otis. 🌟
Thank ya kindly, Rusty! : )
I have him four times--1986, 1991, 1994 and 1998. The first was in Phoenix with Tom Petty and he was engaged and energetic. My experience with Dylan concerts is that what stands out to me are the surprise covers he does. In 1986 it was "Unchain My Heart."
1994 I saw him in Tokyo and it was wonderful. His cover song in that show was "Tomorrow Night", which was on his album but he didn't write it.
1998 was again in Tokyo and again he was great. His cover song this night was Elizabeth Cotten's "It Ain't No Lie" which he did brilliantly.
The only time I was truly disappointed was September 12, 1991 in Mesa, Arizona. This night, he rushed through his songs and gave a desultory performance. Of particular note was GE Smith, whom I knew as the guitarist who mugged for the camera on SNL, and I already had a dislike of him. Smith shredded his way through a solo of "Shelter from the Storm", and that was invidious to me indeed.
However, in this show Dylan did a great version of Neil Young's "Mr. Soul", and he seemed to have more respect for that song than he did for his own.
Dylan was in Boston around 2002 promoting the Love and Theft cd and I didn't go but I heard that he covered "Brown Sugar" in that one, so that would have been cool to witness.
So, to wrap up, I'm 3 for 4 with Bob, but each show I think he puts a little more energy into the covers than he does his own work
Edit: Here is Bob doing "Brown Sugar" in Boston. He's not playing rhythm and he's not playing lead. Seems like he's doing it for almost the first time th-cam.com/video/157lwPyRPLA/w-d-xo.html
I discovered Bob as a teenager in 1966. I had to wait until ‘74 to hear him live when he toured with The Band. Most recent time was week before last. I’ve heard him live probably 8 - 10 times. If I scored each show from 0 -10, his average would be in the high 9s. Always interesting, always Bob.
I saw Bob Dylan in Orange Beach, Alabama around 2012. The only time I've ever seen him. His set was FANTASTIC and one of the most frustrating musical things EVER. His band was playing some absolutely killer R & B/Groovin' Blues type tunes but I couldn't understand a freakin' word in the lyrics or between the songs. Were we actually in Yugoslavia? I desperately searched through Dylan archives to find these KILLER songs. No Joy. Have friends who are lifetime Dylan fans who suggested albums to search through. No Joy. Seriously wanted to learn several of these lost gems. DAMMIT!!!
Great lil' yarn, Otis...
Thanks, Mike!
Great stories, Otis !
Like you i don't have 'favorites' anymore (Used to be Jimi and EJ, mid '90s).
Most influential, that would probably be Michael Schenker, who i was lucky enough to see 3 times,
Winterland with UFO for Force It in '75, Keystone Palo Alto in '84 and The Heritage Theatre in Campbell, '14. Great every time.
Liked the bit about going to a concert alone.
I'm driving home from work in the mid '80s and a radio station mentions John McLaughlin playing at The 'Stone, SF. This was for Mahavishnu, which i loved. Like a Wed night.
Called a couple of buds,,, "Too short notice....its a week night" which i got but i didn't care. I wasn't going to miss this.
Went and the show was awesome.
some body there, "John, where's the synth axe?"
John, "I think we're getting on fine". Huge applause. Les Paul thru a combo amp.
BTW, bummer about Joni. I'd have wanted to see her before Dylan. I'm a fan.
Ya can't beat a Les Paul through a combo!
I saw one of Dylan's more recent performances in Melbourne, 2014. For a Dylan show, it was great. He sang pretty clearly and was engaged in the songs. The best performance for me was 'Forgetful Heart' off the 'Together Through Life' album. His singing of it was devastating; as if he'd measured every single syllable of the song for maximum effect to break your heart. It was incredible. It was the only time I've seen Dylan live. I'm glad to have seen a living legend in person.
Congrats to you both on your anniversary 💑 Never had the chance to see Bob play live, finger crossed he'll come this way soon. He's an unusual guy for sure, extremely talented artist but sometimes he seems to be "out docking spaceships" - I mean it's like he's got his own agenda and plan that only he understands. A very cool & eclectic dude for certain. Love to see him & hear him.
Thanks, James!
I was never really a Dylan Fan but I liked some songs and always thought that the covers are better than the originals.
It came in 2018. I was on vacation
In Switzerland and in the Hotel I saw an advertisement of a Dylan
Concert. The Concierge got me one of the last tickets.
Than the concert: I did
Not recognize even one of his old songs, it was good but I did not have the feeling Dylan liked to be on stage.
I had a strange but not negative emotion. The whole
Evening!! When it ended this feeling remained and then One day later I saw on TH-cam parts of this concert in Locarno and recognized he played - the best version ever of - like a rolling stone and of many others.
So I also recognized that I drank a
Wonderful glass of old red wine that eve. And this wine was better than ever. The older it gets!
I tried to find out on the net when I can see him again. And it was some
Months later in Hamburg Germany.
And when I Heard- MURDER MOST FOUL in 2020 Dylan was the greatest music and
Lyric hero for me ever!
I saw Bob Dylan with the Band in Miami 1973/4 ish. They played a set together. The band played a set. Dylan played a solo set and then they came back together and played a full set. I decided it was the best show I had ever seen and vowed never to see him again. I knew it was never going to be this good again. I think I was right.