Note: He was not doing the soft sing away from the mic thing in Tulsa at the start of the tour. Check the tape. I’d say it happened 5 or more songs in a painful way in Toledo. But having listened, it is far less noticeable on the tape.
At first I thought it my own hearing problems, but the "too far from the mic" thing definitely was a problem. My friend, JeffT, told me he was less than happy with the show. At least his recording came out well (already available in the usual places). I agree, at least in part. I enjoyed Anton's drumming during "Masterpiece", but have seen better versions of "Key West" in previous years, especially last year in Asheville. I did love the shout during "Key West", possibly the highlight of the show for me. I did appreciate the free parking. It wasn't the worst Dylan show I've seen, but possibly the worst of the eight R&RW shows I've seen since the tour started. It was still pretty good, just not great.
This sounds like a concert I'm glad not to have paid to attend, despite the appeal of the venue itself. Partly I'm glad because Bob sounds far from at his best much of the way through, but mostly because if the godawful crowd behaviour. Clapping along is wholly inappropriate and always unwelcome, and clapping on the 1 and 3 beats is even worse (I thought only French audiences did that), and then whaaaat? People go out to get more beer in the middle of a Bob Dylan performance!?!? And worse still - they do it during a quiet song??!! And then start leaving altogether in the middle of Every Grain of Sand! Jeez. Appalling. It really sounds a good one to have missed.
I was there. This is all true. Especially the ‘too far from the mic’ thing but also the great parts. Wonderful review.
Note: He was not doing the soft sing away from the mic thing in Tulsa at the start of the tour. Check the tape. I’d say it happened 5 or more songs in a painful way in Toledo. But having listened, it is far less noticeable on the tape.
At first I thought it my own hearing problems, but the "too far from the mic" thing definitely was a problem. My friend, JeffT, told me he was less than happy with the show. At least his recording came out well (already available in the usual places). I agree, at least in part. I enjoyed Anton's drumming during "Masterpiece", but have seen better versions of "Key West" in previous years, especially last year in Asheville. I did love the shout during "Key West", possibly the highlight of the show for me. I did appreciate the free parking. It wasn't the worst Dylan show I've seen, but possibly the worst of the eight R&RW shows I've seen since the tour started. It was still pretty good, just not great.
This sounds like a concert I'm glad not to have paid to attend, despite the appeal of the venue itself. Partly I'm glad because Bob sounds far from at his best much of the way through, but mostly because if the godawful crowd behaviour. Clapping along is wholly inappropriate and always unwelcome, and clapping on the 1 and 3 beats is even worse (I thought only French audiences did that), and then whaaaat? People go out to get more beer in the middle of a Bob Dylan performance!?!? And worse still - they do it during a quiet song??!! And then start leaving altogether in the middle of Every Grain of Sand! Jeez. Appalling. It really sounds a good one to have missed.
Imagine the exploding heads if Bob, just for a lark, sang,
"Key West is the place for us,
Down by the Gulf o' Merica"
Talk about playing both sides against the middle!
Another note on Kalamazoo show. I was the only one in the audience to shout out on "Gulf of Mexico".
nope. there were MANY shouts, friend.