Newsletter
Subscribe to our
FREE newsletter now!

Find out more...

19/11/2005

Best-in-a-lifetime No Direction Home show in Birmingham last night

The Dylan Daily is indebted to Bernard McGuinn, the bearer of very welcome news from last night’s Birmingham, England, show.



“I hate it when people say ‘that was the best show since.... ‘, and I wasn't there. But tonight was the best Dylan concert I can remember. Ever.

“Birmingham NEC, a giant arena, is usually a woeful venue. Last time I was there the show was very average, with a preponderance of TOOM tunes. But not tonight.

“Maggie’s Farm kicked off, yet again, and I'm thinking ‘this is a good opener if, by now, a little predictable’. The band is in the groove straight away, and Bob's vocals are clear and mixed above the music.

“Second song in is an outing from Nashville Skyline, Tell Me That It Isn't True, done pretty much in the spirit of the original, but with a voice that's aged somewhat. It’s the only time tonight when Bob ventures out from behind the keyboard to play harmonica centre stage.

“Watching the River Flow, the first Dylan single I ever bought, has sentimental value, and fits well into the blues vibe of this band. My mind drifts back to the days of Pan’s People dancing to this song on BBC TV’s Top of the Pops. The concert is settling down well, and I'm happy: this is going to be a pleasant evening.

“But then, a bolt of lightning struck the NEC, and Bob transported us to Dylan Heaven. He’s not known for plugging his latest releases, and who would have thought that No Direction Home would be promoted, but tonight we were to be privileged to hear no fewer than nine performances of the recent CD/DVD material.

“Tom Thumb was great, and I'm loving it, and marking mentally that this will probably be the highlight of my evening, when the band launches into Ballad of a Thin Man. Ecstasy!

“And then comes Hwy 61, as good as it was in Manchester, stretching band and singer. I'm reminded of the great late-1990s performances of the fabled Workshop by the Van Morrison band: with three Hwy 61 album tunes already off the reel, I'm already conquered in my seat. If only he'll go the whole way, and continue with Desolation Row!

“ ‘Please, Bob’, I say, ‘do Desolation Row’. ‘No Bernard', replies Bob, ‘I've a better idea: how about the best Tambourine Man you've heard in years, and then a Memphis Blues and a Chimes of Freedom, and I'll control my voice and minimise the up notes? And just in case anyone doubts just how masterful I can be, let’s just throw in an exquisite Visions of Johanna!’

“What else does this great man need to prove? Well, for the old timers, lhe did a moving rendition of Hattie Carroll.

“All in all, Birmingham 2005 was the most complete Dylan show I’ve seen. Utterly ravishing. And this was just the tour of the provinces – a mere prelude to the five night residency in London next week.

“At the end of this magnificent performance, Bob held up his two harmonicas, in a Churchill-like V sign. Yes, Bob: victory indeed.

“God Bless Bob Dylan!”

[Archives]

[The Dylan Daily Update]

Search entries:

[Daily Update]

[Archives]

Previous entry:
[Dylan’s first three UK shows: all you need to know, in ten seconds]

Next entry:
[The first London show, tonight: “spellbinding”]