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 In Bob Dylan live, we explore what makes Bob such a wonderful live performer.  Please share you thoughts and read what others love about his live performances.

1.What makes Bob’s live performances exciting to you? If you have attended a live show please describe a favorite moment; if you haven’t, please describe a moment in a show you’ve heard.

2.How are Bob’s live performances important to his legacy (as opposed to his achievements as a songwriter or recording artist?)

3.Bob is known for rearranging his songs often, sometimes multiple times within a tour.  Share with us a time when Bob’s rearrangement of a song really made it shine.

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What makes Bob’s live performances exciting to you? If you have attended a live show please describe a favorite moment; if you haven’t, please describe a moment in a show you’ve heard.

 

Jeffrey Beck, NJ

“I first saw Bob live in 1971 a the Concert for Bangladesh and have been enthralled by the many live performances I have witnessed thereafter, in excess of 100. I love the feeling of recognizing a song from its introduction…I am never an observer at a Dylan show, I am always a participant…I cannot help but sing with him, they feel like my songs, I know them so well.”


Derek Caldwell

“High Water (for Charley Patton) is one of his new songs that has already changed live. It sounded like an apocalyptic blues song on ‘Love and Theft.’ But last time I heard it live, you could DANCE to it. It had this tempo that made you stomp your feet like you were in the south swamps…’Don’t Think Twice’ was a pretty folk ballad, but last time I heard it it was electrified, but still very pretty. And then, toward the end, it turned into this rowdy whorehouse romp that brought the house down. Bob got front and center with his harmonica, grooving to the music.”


Barnaby Nelson, Australia
“Dylan can connect with people on quite a profound personal level – when this happens with a group of individuals all together it can take on an almost spiritual quality. Favorite moment – after end of a great concert in Tamworth , Australia 2001, Dylan had almost finished walking off stage, stopped, turned to the front row of audience, covered his face with his hands and started playing peek-a-boo with the audience. Very funny moment that captured something of the ‘masked and anonymous’ theme in Dylan’s work and public identity.”

Jane
“First live performance was in London, late 70′ really ’80’s and a lot of people in the audience were calling for old songs. He stopped the musicians and said “The old songs were once new” and then they played “Dead man” – knocked my socks off. The second was in Bordeaux, 2010. At one point something happened to the microphones so the music drowned his voice. Luckily, it seemed a sound engineer realised and corrected the problem before the next song. It was the first time I’d heard “Jolene” – brilliant!”

How are Bob’s live performances important to his legacy (as opposed to his achievements as a songwriter or recording artist?)

Jane
 “I think it is great that he continues to tour.”

Heidi Whidbey
“Many memorable moments at Bob Dylan concerts but one of the most touching was seeing a fellow concert-goer moved to tears when hearing Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Sue Lobb
“When Bob performs his songs, somehow you can feel what he feels in that performance. And I find I feel it too. And basically it makes me so emotional that often I find myself crying. It’s unbelievable that one man can make me (and many many others)feel that way. He is a prophet and his work will continue to amaze long after we are all gone. Somehow I think he’ll always be around here somewhere.”

Bonnie Cole Ramba
“I have never been to a Bob Dylan concert. Unfortunately, it had not been on the table in previous years … but this July, my dream will come true in Raleigh, NC! In the meantime, I have poured over the great concert videos on the fan club page. Here is one that said so much about Bob’s kindness to his fans:
This review had been shared by Flagging Down the Double E’s, about a concert in Dubuque, Iowa in 1996. The night was titled, “Stage Diving in Dubuque”. It was never disclosed as to why dozens of fans came on stage, trying to shake Bob’s hand … some even trying to kiss him. Bob just calmly looked on, and kept on playing. He never showed any displeasure at the “free for all”. But then, there was a teenaged fan, attending her first Bob Dylan concert, named Bronwen. Bronwen, being shocked at the behavior of the stage crashers, came up with a plan. She decided that she would get up there, dance for a while, and keep people from interrupting him. The video of Bronwen, who danced on stage facing Bob, was absolutely beautiful! At the end of the song, she shyly hugged him, and thanked him. Bob told her that she was a beautiful dancer, and hugged her also! I found that this concert, came to my mind first … because of courageous Bronwen, but most of all, because of the kindness and benevolence of dear Bob towards his fans.”

Bob is known for rearranging his songs often, sometimes multiple times within a tour.  Share with us a time when Bob’s rearrangement of a song really made it shine.

 

Kait, Ohio
“When I heard the transformation of of Tryin To Get To Heaven from the album version to the version they played live in the fall of 2000 I almost lost my mind.  I didn’t know any other artist who could so artistically and beautifully transform a song into it’s version from and alternate timeline.  It was fascinating.”

Jane
“Not heard in a live performance, but a rearrangement and extra lyrics to “Lay Lady Lay” – I don’t know where I heard it (youtube? possibly) – added lyrics included “let’s quit this dance and go upstairs”- a touch of naughty humour!