Music critic Ken Shane had real press credentials last night and was close enough to see Willie Nelson's grizzle. He filed this report and photo. (REVISED)

It’s hit or miss with Dylan they say. You never know what you’re going to get they say. The talk keeps people away. Hell, it kept me away for a few years. But now I’ve been to a couple of Dylan shows in the last few months, and guess what? It’s just talk.

Here’s what it comes down to; if you love Bob Dylan’s albums, and you go to a Dylan concert expecting to hear them just the way they are on the album, forget it. Dylan’s not doing that. He’s not a crowd pleaser. He’s not request granter. And he’s not going to sing his songs the same way he sang them on his albums. He’s trying hard to keep it interesting. He doesn’t even play guitar any more. He’s switched to piano, apparently to keep himself more interested. So if you want the album versions, stay home and listen to the albums.

But if you love the idea of an artist who’s constantly reinventing himself and his songs, if you love the idea of an artist who holds tight to his integrity despite all the temptations to give it up, or if you just love a great rock n’ roll show, the Bob Dylan show is for you. The majority of the crowd that packed Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday night seemed to feel that way, but I still heard comments about how Bob didn’t sing his songs the way people wanted to hear them. Again I say, stay home.

Bob Dylan delighted a capacity crowd at Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday night with a 14 song, 90 minute set that was simply one of the finest rock n’ roll shows in recent memory.

Highlights of Dylan’s set included “Just Like A Woman”, “Highway 61”, “Stuck Inside of Mobile”, and the final song of the evening, “Like A Rolling Stone”. There were some wonderful surprises from the Dylan repertoire as well. The title track from his 1970 album New Morning, and the Highway 61 Revisited epic “Desolation Row” were among them.

Dylan no longer plays guitar, standing at his keyboard all night, with some brief harmonica forays to center stage. He’s backed by a great five piece band. His only remarks of the night were to introduce his band, but unfortunately his words were unintelligible. But it was a night for great music, and that was there in abundance. One note of caution; if you’re going to see Dylan in hopes that he’ll do his songs just like he does them on those albums you love so much, stay home and listen to the albums.

Willie Nelson, perhaps Dylan’s antithesis in that he’s a crowd pleasing, play the hits performer, opened the show for Dylan. Highlights of his one hour set included “Pancho and Lefty”, a medley of “Funny How Time Slips Away”, “Crazy”, and “Nightlife”, and his biggest hit “One the Road Again”. Nelson and his veteran band, joined by a couple of his sons on this night, thrilled the crowd with a set of good time music, played in a deceptively loose fashion.

Willie Nelson is an American icon, and when the past 70 singer/songwriter finished his set with a new song called “I Ain’t Superman”, many people in the crowd weren’t too sure about that.

PHOTO AND STORY BY KEN SHANE

June 25, 2005 in Our Favorite Diversions | Permalink