David Sinclair at SECC, Glasgow
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He is a legend, a genius, an elder statesman of rock and all the rest of it, but Bob Dylan is not a very rewarding performer. Stuck on a stark, undecorated stage at this vast exhibition centre in Glasgow, he and his backing group lounged around with a minimum of fuss in the distance. There were no screens but Dylan was identifiable as the man in the white hat leaning over a microphone. The others wore black hats.
Seating was provided, but the great majority of the audience, some of them in their sixties (like Dylan), elected to stand for the entire two hours of a performance that meandered through songs from last year’s acclaimed Modern Times album, together with a selection of heavily disguised old favourites. Dylan began with a guitar in his hands, his voice croaky and quavering as he mangled the intricate lyrics of Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues and It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) into barely recognisable shapes. The musicians maintained the deceptively casual air of a bar-band, as if playing in front of 10,000 people was really no big deal, and certainly nothing that called for any particular showmanship.
Switching to keyboards, Dylan tackled The Levee’s Gonna Break, a lively jump blues, and When the Deal Goes Down, a waltz-time tune with a wheezy, fairground organ part to accompany his wheezy vocal. Both were songs from his new album, but sounded more ancient than the ark. Dylan stayed put behind the keyboard for the rest of the show, occasionally pulling out a harmonica, but offering little variation in his delivery from one song to another.
Now that we have heard his Theme Time radio programmes, we know what a droll and entertaining communicator Dylan can be. But nothing was volunteered between songs, save for the most perfunctory of introductions to the five band members right at the end.
“You think I’m over the hill/You think I’m past my prime,” he sang in Spirit on the Water, prompting a rare moment of engagement with the crowd, some of whom yelled their sympathetic disapproval of any such idea. Even so, with the best will in the world, it was hard to equate the spluttering rendition of Like a Rolling Stone with the incisive sneer of the original. They closed the show with a noisy romp through All Along the Watchtower, ending a display of genius that could be described only as deeply erratic, at best.
Tour continues tomorrow at Hallam FM Arena; at Wembley Arena on Sunday and Monday; and the NIA, Birmingham, on Tuesday, April 17
Musical influence
— Dylan has sold nearly 100 million albums during a 45-year career
— His comeback began in 1997 with Time Out of Mind, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year
— Modern Times entered the US chart at No 1, making him, at 65, the oldest living person to top it
— In Britain it entered at No 3
— He was listed as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century
Source: Times database
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I attended the Birmingham NIA show on 17/4/07 and thought overall it was a good performance, better than Cardiff last summer. Highlights for me were Hollis Brown and Ain't talking which were delivered in chilling fashion. I had goosebumps on my arms during these renditions. The downside was not provided by Mr Dylan, but by the people sitting on the flat floor area who decided to stay standing for the entire concert. My wife remained seated and didn't see anything for the whole concert! I think most real fans thoroughly enjoyed it, but you still had the element who turned and expected him to sound like he did in 1965 and the other general ignorance to his achievements and the style of his current performances. This was summed up by a guy next to me who asked me disdainfully during 'working mans blues' whats this?? I suggest he sticks to his 'essential Dylan Cd and stays at home!
Nick, Bristol,
It was my fourth live Dylan concert, and four decades since the last. I took my undergraduate son to the Wembley Arena (15 April), hoping hed experience a little of the Dylan greatness that had been a seminal influence in my teens. With a serious lack of large video screens, much of the audience will have struggled to see the tiny figure in a white stetson. The sound system seemed over-driven to distortion, although the omnipresent rock treatment given to many of the established standards made them unmemorable and unintelligible, with the famous voice reduced to a discordant rasp. Dimming of the stage lights between numbers was a pointless irritation. Pockets of the audience were restless and ill-tempered, a constant stream of people leaving and entering during the whole performance, presumably to seek alcoholic solace? I never expected a 60s-style Dylan but Im sorry Bob, it seems that, like me, youre in danger of being just one too many mornings and a thousand miles behind
Malcolm, Norwich, UK
I went to the NIA in Birmingham on 17 April and I must have seen the same show as David Sinclair saw in Glasgow . I was very disappointed . Dylan showed absolutely no engagement with the audience . His voice was croaky and a broken octave lower , almost faux baratone , and he appeared out of sinc with the band that was otherwise tight . The lighting , staging and lack of theatrical effect was economical in the extreme leaving an impression of rampant minimalism that could and should have been saved by the Dylans' genius but was not . Old favourites were hashed and almost unrecognisable . In my view Dylan has lost it .
jp deggens, shrewsbury , england
Saw the show at Wembley last night and it was magnificent. Dylan must have taken notice of what David Sinclair said about last weeks show; he and his backing group didn't "lounge around", he didn't "lean over the microphone", his voice wasn't "creaky and quavering", he didn't "mangle" the lyrics, he didn't offer "little variation in his delivery", and he didn't give a "spluttering rendition of 'Like a Rolling Stone'".
Thank goodness there are such eminent music critics as Sinclair around, to knock the likes of Dylan into shape.
And to Gordon Mackett of Edingburgh: so are we mate.
Pete Breslin, Chertsey, England
I, being a long time fan agree that he should not have the number of concerts he is playing. Less is more. Will always go to see him in concert, and look forward to the new arrangements of his songs. Glasgow, the venue did not show him the respect he deserves Bob, how about smaller concerts. We would like a more intimate setting .
Love the radio show. What a fantastic gift for his devotees.
Dee, New York/New York, USA
As a fan of the great man for so many years it hurts me to say that he should give up the touring now, shows over the last few years have been frankly poor. Whoever you are you can go on for only so long without ending up disappointing those that have loved you so much - its not worth it, he should leave leave the touring there and us with our memories, glorious songs, wonderful albums and not forgetting some of the best bootlegs ever
Tony Ely,Welling,kent,UK
tony ely, welling,kent, UK
I love Dylan, have done since I was a 13 year old exposed to Freewheelin' but the 'Cult of Bob' which dare not see anything but majesty where there is ruin and 'Genius at its best' when from 'Time Out Of Mind to 'Modern Times' Dyaln has made three impressive records as the grand old man of rock, (or reinvented Bluesman if you must - first heard on 'Good as I been To You')
he hasn't come close to his first eight albums and the remarkable 'Blood On The Tracks' is just absurd, myopic, adolescent nonsense. Dylan hated the fans that made him The Voice Of A Generation' and I often wonder if today's concerts are his revenge. I still buy whatever he releases but I don't have to believe that silver is gold.
Kim Hatton, Nottingham, England UK
i was at the show and to say that bobby offered little variation from one song to another is absoloutly ludicrous and this guys supposed to be a music journalist. if you dont know what dylans about then why go and see him? i think that its the best part of seeing him live.
he very rarely plays a song the same way twice and to hear the different renditions makes the concert. the majority of the crowd know the man they know his style and they get what they are expecting.A great show, there were a few outstanding songs on wednesday night such as "aint talking", "john brown" "its all right ma" "a hard rains a gonna fall" the mans a legend and i'll be there to see him every timehe's in scotland!
chris shannon, glasgow, scotland
I wasn't there, but I have an mp3 of It's Alright from that show and he was on fire.
I love the new arrangement. It was always a rock song at heart.
Man, this ageism with the critics really sucks. How fair is it to compare Rolling Stone with the 42 year old recording?
Also, Theme Time Radio Hour is a totally different thing from a Dylan show. If anyone expects on stage patter to resemble his radio show, then they should do their homework.
Bendik, New York, NewYork, USA
I loved it. Just the fact that he played guitar for four songs made it worthwhile. The "heavily disguised old favourites" mentioned in the article are what make his live shows great, he's a fantastic arranger/re-arranger of music, just listen to his "At Budokan" album for proof of this. If you want to hear the songs done the same old way, time after time, stay at home and listen to his studio albums.
Shane Percival, Edinburgh, Scotland
glad we did not go
gordon mackett, edinburgh, uk
I think I must have gone to a different concert. Dylan was magnetic,his voice was better than in many years and his phrasing,particularly on It's All Right Ma.....I'm only bleeding was, with its articulation,bullet perfect.
The Band could have been tighter but Bob Dylan was as tight as a fist...............diving into a back catalogue over 47 years he gave us final proof of two things........when he wants to be....and right about now he does,there is no other Performing Artist that can hold a candle to his Sun......and he fully proved that the young man of 17 who wrote in his School Year Book....'To Join L:ittle Richard'....did that and oh so much more.
James Gilpin, Dumfries, Scotland