San Diego, CA -- October 24, 2012

I've seen Dylan many times in San Diego, and for some reason, he always seems to deliver. Tonight was no exception. Smiling and laughing, Bob repeated the verse "pick up your money and pack up your tent" over and over during "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" as if he was fond of that line. Bob declared, "It Ain't Me Babe" from the baby grand piano then went center stage for "Things Have Changed." Bob's little song and dance on this song has become nothing short of theatrical, strutting back and forth on the stage emphasizing key lines like "I'm in love with a woman who doesn't even appeal to me." The tone is dark and comical at the same time. More theatrics with "Tangled Up In Blue," and Bob was clearly having fun changing the words up and laughing to himself like it's an inside joke. Back to the piano for "Cry A While" then an unexpected and quite superb "Joey." Bob articulated every word. Mark Knopfler embellished "Summer Days" with some good lead guitar. And then "ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're trying to be so quiet," the materpiece of the night, "Visions of Johanna." I relished every word. Couldn't ask for a better performance. After a rockin' "Highway 61," another center stage highlight, "Forgetful Heart." Bob's really proud of this song and delivers it so well every time I see him play it. The line "forgetful heart, why can't you love like you did before" always does it for me, and Bob always emphasizes those words like he really wants the audience to hear them. The rest of the show went without a hitch, and closed out the best show for me in recent memory. In fact, I just checked, and it was ten years ago, October 11, 2002 in Berkeley at the Greek Theatre. That was the last time a Bob Dylan concert had such a profound effect on me.

San Diego, California Valley View Casino Center October 24, 2012

1. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

2. It Ain't Me, Babe

3. Things Have Changed

4. Tangled Up In Blue

5. Cry A While

6. Joey

7. Summer Days (with Mark Knopfler on guitar)

8. Visions Of Johanna

9. Highway 61 Revisited

10. Forgetful Heart

11. Thunder On The Mountain

12. Ballad Of A Thin Man

13. Like A Rolling Stone

14. All Along The Watchtower (encore)

15. Blowin' In The Wind