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Bob Dylan - Beacon

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emr
 emr
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I got to see "His Bobness" last night; and if anyone is able to catch one of the remaining shows don't miss it. I saw the same show in Chicago a few weeks ago and the acoustics were no where near as good. I could understand most of the words. Yes he doesn't play a lot of the "old hits" Yes his arrangements are tailored to his ever diminishing voice. Yes he prances around like a little cowboy in a string - tie. But damn; Bob can still bring it - there has never been a poet like him in the history of R & R and his band is incredibly tight. Probably about 105 minutes (plus an intermission) of an American Legend.

And damn it; it is always good to be back at the Beacon

 
Posted : November 29, 2014 12:53 pm
robslob
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Of the six or so Dylan shows I've seen, some have been better than others but certainly none of them could ever be called an "off" night. He seems to always bring it. And one of them, October 2012 at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre, would have to rank among the greatest shows I've ever seen. 1987 w/ Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers as his backing band at the same venue was very special, too. I didn't go this year, just saw him last year.

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by robslob]

 
Posted : November 30, 2014 8:09 am
emr
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Saw him on his last tour (among other times) and while I liked that set list more I thought this concert was more focused; unified theme. Unfortunately (as I also saw him recently in Chicago) there was no mixing up of the set list at all. Not sure if that is an artistic statement or an acknowledgement of father time.

 
Posted : November 30, 2014 8:13 am
jcattier
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I am going on Tuesday night.

Do you recall what time the show started? I have to put my kids to bed first before I can take the cross town bus over to the beacon. Hoping 8:30 which would give me ample time.

 
Posted : December 1, 2014 8:32 am
mscott
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He has been starting at 8:00 sharp.

 
Posted : December 1, 2014 8:35 am
jmorgs12
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Going tonight.

Will be with someone who is really good friends with Tony Garnier.

Hoping to meet Bob but will certainly settle for an autograph!

 
Posted : December 1, 2014 9:47 am
emr
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He started very close to 8:00PM both times I saw himn this year. Think Bob has an early bedtime too. Think he ended 10:15 - 10:30

 
Posted : December 1, 2014 11:17 am
dadof2
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Went last night.

Magnificent.

Bob is creating something new here.This is NOT a rock concert,although the blues were most noticeable and Charlie's lead playing was stellar.His inteaction with Dylan on piano was truly interesting to hear,despite the limited sound system at the beacon.Tonys bass playing was magic last night too.The whole band.

Band was particularly tight with a range of dynamics.This was about Dylan's excellent phrasing and spot on singing,his artistic choices,lyrics that seemed to blend together to tell multiple stories all accompanied by first rate musicians.More of a performance,less of a rock concert.

We were 11 row center and as an added bonus,like the Fillmore East of old,was a quiet and respectful audience,no standing,no cell phones(!),no selfish carrying on.Everyone was there to pay close attention,and with good reason.

This is a show intended for mature audiences 😉

An honor to be in the building.As for my comments,I'm easy to please...never saw a Bob show I didn't enjoy...still recall the gospel shows,World Gone Wong,Self Portrait,all the changes,all the bitching through the years...for some reason I always enjoy Bob,changes and all!

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 7:17 am
emr
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The Beacon crowd on Friday was equally as quiet/respectful. Three weeks ago in Chicago it was unfortunately not the same. Some idiot kept screaming "Boborino" in my friends ear; and the more he was asked to quiet down the louder he got - and the more he kept repeating "I'm just enjoying the concert." MY wife got the brilliant idea of shining her I-Phone torch in his girlfriend's face every time this happened. When she yelled at my wife I just explained "Hey - this is how she enjoys concerts." Eventually they stopped.

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 8:00 am
tclawrence
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I'll be at the final show of Bob Dylan's Beacon run on Wednesday.

The man is an absolute legend and I am really looking forward to seeing him for what could be the final time (again). 😉

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 8:17 am
robslob
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This is a show intended for mature audiences

Now ain't THAT a novel idea.........

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 8:22 am
BillyBlastoff
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I couldn't get a decent ticket for the DAR Constitution Hall show in DC. I was going to try a day or so before the show, but relatives came in for Thanksgiving and the show became impossible.

I've caught him the last three years in great to mostly good shows. Seen him many times in the past.

I can't remember who said in another thread that going to see Dylan was like going to see the Pope.

I agree and will keep going whenever possible.

I would love to see him in the Beacon.

despite the limited sound system at the beacon

Does this mean he was just plugging into the house system? I think all the shows I've seen at the Beacon, ABB, PLQ - brought in their own speaker arrays. No?

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 9:48 am
emr
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No clue what he used; but unlike Chicago I could really hear him. Saw him outdoors in Woodstock and the United Palace a few years ago and couldn't hear a think. Whatever it was at the Beacon worked!!!!

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 9:51 am
absnj
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Went last night.

Magnificent.

Bob is creating something new here.This is NOT a rock concert,although the blues were most noticeable and Charlie's lead playing was stellar.His inteaction with Dylan on piano was truly interesting to hear,despite the limited sound system at the beacon.Tonys bass playing was magic last night too.The whole band.

Band was particularly tight with a range of dynamics.This was about Dylan's excellent phrasing and spot on singing,his artistic choices,lyrics that seemed to blend together to tell multiple stories all accompanied by first rate musicians.More of a performance,less of a rock concert.

We were 11 row center and as an added bonus,like the Fillmore East of old,was a quiet and respectful audience,no standing,no cell phones(!),no selfish carrying on.Everyone was there to pay close attention,and with good reason.

This is a show intended for mature audiences 😉

An honor to be in the building.As for my comments,I'm easy to please...never saw a Bob show I didn't enjoy...still recall the gospel shows,World Gone Wong,Self Portrait,all the changes,all the bitching through the years...for some reason I always enjoy Bob,changes and all!

Grin Grin Grin Grin

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 10:01 am
dadof2
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Went last night.

Magnificent.

Bob is creating something new here.This is NOT a rock concert,although the blues were most noticeable and Charlie's lead playing was stellar.His inteaction with Dylan on piano was truly interesting to hear,despite the limited sound system at the beacon.Tonys bass playing was magic last night too.The whole band.

Band was particularly tight with a range of dynamics.This was about Dylan's excellent phrasing and spot on singing,his artistic choices,lyrics that seemed to blend together to tell multiple stories all accompanied by first rate musicians.More of a performance,less of a rock concert.

We were 11 row center and as an added bonus,like the Fillmore East of old,was a quiet and respectful audience,no standing,no cell phones(!),no selfish carrying on.Everyone was there to pay close attention,and with good reason.

This is a show intended for mature audiences 😉

An honor to be in the building.As for my comments,I'm easy to please...never saw a Bob show I didn't enjoy...still recall the gospel shows,World Gone Wong,Self Portrait,all the changes,all the bitching through the years...for some reason I always enjoy Bob,changes and all!

Grin Grin Grin Grin

Thanks Alan...the wifey and I are deeply grateful!!!

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 11:10 am
dadof2
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No clue what he used; but unlike Chicago I could really hear him. Saw him outdoors in Woodstock and the United Palace a few years ago and couldn't hear a think. Whatever it was at the Beacon worked!!!!

Saw him in bethel 2 summers ago,sat under shed and sound was crystal clear.

Beacon sound was good,but not nearly as clear as other venues I've seen him.

But no complaints...last night was a blessing!

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 11:12 am
emr
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No clue what he used; but unlike Chicago I could really hear him. Saw him outdoors in Woodstock and the United Palace a few years ago and couldn't hear a think. Whatever it was at the Beacon worked!!!!

Saw him in bethel 2 summers ago,sat under shed and sound was crystal clear.

Beacon sound was good,but not nearly as clear as other venues I've seen him.

But no complaints...last night was a blessing!

I was also at Bethel; to me Beacon was clearer. But it could have been the song selection/orchestration

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 4:43 pm
AlPaul
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Sigh. Killing me to miss these shows...

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 5:45 pm
dadof2
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Sigh. Killing me to miss these shows...

Very decent single tickets came up today on ticketmaster...I would try tomorrow if you're able to go.

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 6:17 pm
dadof2
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http://www.boblinks.com/120114r.html

Reviews

New York, New York

Beacon Theatre
December 1, 2014

[Mike Skliar], [James Mahoney]

Review by Mike Skliar

This was my first Dylan show since last summer (2013) at Jones Beach,
Long Island, NY. That Jones Beach show was a multi-act affair with Beck
and then Wilco opening, and Bob's set was shorter. In so many ways, that
Jones Beach show felt like a transition to something else, and the 2014
shows are that 'new thing' that he's arrived at.

Those reading here probably know already the never-changing 2014 setlist
and the whole pace and feel of the show, so it's not as easy to write
something that gives the feel of this particular show. Right off the bat I
should say that I was lucky enough to be the beneficiary of a last minute
ticket miracle tradeoff from a friend of mine, so instead of sitting in the
back of the first balcony, I was sitting 6th row in the orchestra section, on
the side where Bob's piano was. Great seat and great sound- the Beacon
Theater in the last few years has really improved their sound from that
bass-heavy echoing cave of the 80's that I remember.

The whole staging and pacing of the show felt both deliberate and inspired.
It's almost like a two-act play, and the song choices play off each other in
unexpected ways. Bob's vocal performance was focused, intense, and at
times astonishingly powerful. (I overheard many casual concertgoers saying
at the end 'I could hear every word for the first time') The band's
arrangements have evolved and really envelop Bob's voice in sympathetic
ways that, for the most part, don't drown out the vocal nuances. The
arrangements as well as the timbre of the band's instruments for each song
feel like the culmination of serious thinking about the most effective sonic
universe for each particular song.

The biggest change since previous years is the emphasis on almost all songs
from the late 90's thru to now (last song is a cover of an obscure Sinatra
song that will apparently be featured on the new album to be released next
year, in 2015.) It's, I think, a conscious statement that this is what Bob's
musical world is about these days, rather than any hint of a 'greatest hits' or
'past glories' set. (After all, as he wrote back in 1964/65, "he not busy being
born is busy dyin'".) Lyrically and musically, the new songs performed form a
body of work that fuse the conversational wisdom and humor of, say, the
Basement tapes (1967) with a more harshly bleak, sometimes violent
existential worldview.
On to the song-by-song-and this is just some free associations for each one..

Things have changed- a more gentle feel, and it felt like Bob was kind of
getting his sea legs a bit in this one, standing in his all-white suit and hat
center stage.

She belongs to me- a powerful arrangement, and Bob sings it well. Nice
harmonica, with the harp solos here and elsewhere very short and to the
point. Great lead guitar, as all night, from Charlie Sexton.

Beyond Here lies nothing- a sort of Mexican/Spanish feel was created with
this, and while I've heard him do the song several times before, this may
have been the most powerful performance of it I've heard live. Felt like you
were in a tex/mex border town, just after the apocalypse was predicted.

Workingman's blues- Powerfully sung, and probably almost half the lyrics
were re-written from the original version on "Modern Times". There were
times I had trouble deciphering some of the newly-written lyrics, but it's a
powerful piece and a major song.

Waiting for you- this was my first time hearing live this obscure but sweet
and tuneful song he did to a soundtrack about 10 years ago- it had a
kind of 'Nashville skyline' meets tex/mex feel that's quite charming. Also
had trouble understanding a few words here and there, but its an
attractive song and an effective counterpoint to much of the darker
material elsewhere in the set.

Duquesne Whistle- a fine version, although I still wish they slid into it
starting with that old-timey feel as they do on the record (Tempest).

Pay in Blood- my first time hearing this live, and incredibly powerful. The
minor key spookiness adds a great deal (compared to the major key
blunderbuss of a studio version) and the lyric is menacing and threatening
and effective as hell.

Tangled up in blue- This song, great as it is, has been a bit of a problem,
live in the last few years- he performed the song so much and so well back
in the late 90's, and sang most of the verses back then. These days, he's
cut a seven verse song down to four verses, and the final verse, which
should be a resounding climax, is undercut by some lyrical rewrites that don't
really add anything. In fact, the new lyrics at the end kind of undercut that
'let's all sing along to this great one' feeling, and maybe that's intentional.
Still, this was one of the most effective recent versions I've heard, and it
still delivered a lot of the magic that makes the original studio version so
memorable.

Placing "Love Sick' right afterword is an interesting choice- it's done so
powerfully, with that riff locked into by the whole band, that it almost
undercuts what came before. It's one of the highlights of the set and the
show, for sure, and Bob's growl on the lyric is just perfect. There's a place
in the middle where the band jams out on a related-but-not identical
theme that's just tremendous. A perfect end to the first set.

Intermission, and then, Highwater- with the arrangement accomplishing a
unique blend of 19th century old timey, bluegrass, and 21st century blues,
all at once. The whole sound of the band plus Bob declaiming that lyric
over the top is quite unique, effective and almost psychedelic (in a good
way)

Simple Twist of Fate has always been a favorite, and the band plays it
straight here, with Bob giving a wonderfully playful reading (they walked
by the 'young' canal!) of the seemingly age-old tale of love. There was a
nice harmonica solo to end it as well.

Early Roman Kings had even more bite in it then I've seen before, with the
band deeply swinging that great Chicago blues feel so authentically, while
giving it its own spin. It's a pleasure to hear with Bob's voice leaning into the
phrases with that peculiar at times line reading that he owns so effectively.

Forgetful Heart is a wonderful contrast, quiet, beautiful, melancholy, and
aching.

Spirit on the water- previously not a favorite song, but the band gives it
such a great jazzy and jaunty quality, and Bob is animated as hell on the
verses (not just the 'you think I'm over the hill' bit at the end, but the '
you ever see a ghost' & 'I killed a man back there in paradise' verses too).
Again, a great contrast to everything else in the set.

Scarlet Town- the studio version of this never seemed to do much for me,
but live, I'm liking it a whole lot better- not just for the multilayered
instrumental arrangement but for the follow-thru on Bob's powerful vocal,
with so many memorable lines mixed in with so much strangeness. There's
almost a nightmare modernist 'desolation row' quality to the whole thing
along with some insane quasi-jokes (is 'under the hill' the opposite of 'over
the hill'?) Effective stuff.

Soon after midnight- again, a powerful performance, tho it's a song I've
heard him do a few times before- that mix of beauty ("I'm searching for
phrases to sing your praises") and horror ("I'll drag his body thru the mud")
that so characterizes "Tempest" and this whole show in general.

Long and Wasted years- a highlight of the show for many, probably myself
included. I still don't know what the hell to make of this strange song,
declaimed in a loud and powerful voice over this descending riff, but
whatever the hell it is, it sounds lived-in and as intense as a scene from an
Ingmar Bergman movie. Bob really gave it his all on this, and stood center
stage spitting it with fire and passion.

The encores were, first, a country-flavored version of "Blowin in the Wind"
and then this incredible cover of an obscure song once sang by Frank
Sinatra, "Stay with me" . Of the first, Bob sang it with evident passion,
and the conversational 'the answer, my friend..' fit in so well to the whole
ethos of his delivery these days, it's hard to believe it was written 52 years
ago. So sweet to hear and with so many resonant echoes of the recent
(Ferguson?) and distant (civil rights of every description) past

The last song might have been the highlight of the night for me, however.
There's a crooning quality Bob can get which not only doesn't sacrifice any
intensity, but adds to it, and he was careful (as he is whenever he seems to
do a cover song) to really follow the melody here, and delivered the goods.
It's a benediction and a prayer and a hope between artist and audience,
too, and works as an ending song on so many levels.

A few days ago I finished reading a biography of Duke Ellington, and started
thinking about the parallels between these two music icons- both of them
using melodies, thoughts, moods, etc. from all around them, and composing
and re-contextualizing it all in ways that continued to be new and exciting
over 50+ year careers. There's something of the 'elder statesmen' in both
their late work as well, a witness to bygone eras, a messenger from the past
bringing one more message of the old truths from times gone by. One
difference, however, Duke would always play the 'big hits' (sometimes in a
medley of 10 songs) and leave the audience feeling like they heard the
highlights from the catalog, while Bob these days takes the opposite
approach. Perhaps a better analogy is Pablo Picasso, getting abstract and
changing up his art, or Miles Davis, who, like Bob, rarely looked back.
(and I can say I've seen Miles live, but not the others)

Well, that's about it…. Quite the evening!

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by dadof2]

 
Posted : December 2, 2014 7:02 pm
jcattier
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Sadly, I could not connect with Bob's performance at the Beacon last night.

I love the man and no one has had a more powerful musical influence on me than him, but the performance was stale to me last night.

The band's sound and ability to explore their talents was overbearingly suppressed versus the overmiking of Bob's vocals and piano playing. Every move seemed rote and done a thousand times over. It would have been easier for a film to have been played in lieu of the live show because there was nothing alive about the performance.

The final songs plea of 'stay with me' put an emphasis on the lack of oxygen he gives to his band and for this audience goer.

I know the minstrel show will go on as he made that deal with a higher power for achieving his earlier gifts. I think his time would be better served if Jakob would shake him out of his white line road fever and spend some time with his family and grandkids.

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by jcattier]

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by jcattier]

 
Posted : December 3, 2014 6:09 am
AlPaul
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Very decent single tickets came up today on ticketmaster...I would try tomorrow if you're able to go.

yeah, I could figure out a ticket I'm sure, but wife was out of town on a biz trip and I had to hold down the fort... and have band rehearsal tonight for Sat. gig with Andy Aledort...

 
Posted : December 3, 2014 9:57 am
emr
 emr
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Sadly, I could not connect with Bob's performance at the Beacon last night.

I love the man and no one has had a more powerful musical influence on me than him, but the performance was stale to me last night.

The band's sound and ability to explore their talents was overbearingly suppressed versus the overmiking of Bob's vocals and piano playing. Every move seemed rote and done a thousand times over. It would have been easier for a film to have been played in lieu of the live show because there was nothing alive about the performance.

The final songs plea of 'stay with me' put an emphasis on the lack of oxygen he gives to his band and for this audience goer.

I know the minstrel show will go on as he made that deal with a higher power for achieving his earlier gifts. I think his time would be better served if Jakob would shake him out of his white line road fever and spend some time with his family and grandkids.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Other than that did you enjoy yourself? Seriously one mans ceiling is another man's floor. I came out of my only Steely Dan concert feeling the same way.

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by jcattier]

[Edited on 12/3/2014 by jcattier]

[Edited on 12/4/2014 by emr]

[Edited on 12/4/2014 by emr]

 
Posted : December 3, 2014 3:12 pm
jcattier
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Posts: 20
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Truly the only moments I was transported to his greatness last night were the times when he played harp.

I have seen Bob about 40 times and he uniquely has provided me with the greatest (Roseland '94) and worst concerts of my life (last night and Wang Theater '08).

 
Posted : December 3, 2014 5:48 pm
crazyjoe
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well, I am a huge Bob fan, so I want to thank emr for the thread and thank all for the the posts! jscattier, when You posted in my thread about the the Chicago Theatre Dylan shows, I must admit that it did cross my mind and I was a bit concerned that You still were not going to enjoy Your Beacon show. I kinda knew, that although Bob is constantly changing and creating, it would not be enough or any kind of a change that would make You see, hear or feel the show any differently, there was no 180 degree turn around, Bob is not going to change his stripes, nor is he going to be transported back to 1964, 1974 or 1994. However, I thoroughly enjoy Bob's current voice, band, musical style and presentation. I have seen him 20ish times beginning in'94. by the way, unfortunatley, as I have admitted here before, I am fairly narrow minded as far as who I will spend my time and money on, I have been exposed to almost every type of music and other than gangster rap and "new" country I enjoy them all. when comes to live shows, occasionally, I do see an off the wall show, but with limited time and money, for the last several years, if it is not Dylan or a Peach Family Band, I rarely go. Anyway..............Peace To All.........joe

[Edited on 12/4/2014 by crazyjoe]

 
Posted : December 4, 2014 8:07 am
emr
 emr
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Is that why Bob wrote a song about you?

well, I am a huge Bob fan, so I want to thank emr for the thread and thank all for the the posts! jscattier, when You posted in my thread about the the Chicago Theatre Dylan shows, I must admit that it did cross my mind and I was a bit concerned that You still were not going to enjoy Your Beacon show. I kinda knew, that although Bob is constantly changing and creating, it would not be enough or any kind of a change that would make You see, hear or feel the show any differently, there was no 180 degree turn around, Bob is not going to change his stripes, nor is he going to be transported back to 1964, 1974 or 1994. However, I thoroughly enjoy Bob's current voice, band, musical style and presentation. I have seen him 20ish times beginning in'94. by the way, unfortunatley, as I have admitted here before, I am fairly narrow minded as far as who I will spend my time and money on, I have been exposed to almost every type of music and other than gangster rap and "new" country I enjoy them all. when comes to live shows, occasionally, I do see an off the wall show, but with limited time and money, for the last several years, if it is not Dylan or a Peach Family Band, I rarely go. Anyway..............Peace To All.........joe

[Edited on 12/4/2014 by crazyjoe]

 
Posted : December 4, 2014 9:51 am
dadof2
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Posts: 838
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Is that why Bob wrote a song about you?

well, I am a huge Bob fan, so I want to thank emr for the thread and thank all for the the posts! jscattier, when You posted in my thread about the the Chicago Theatre Dylan shows, I must admit that it did cross my mind and I was a bit concerned that You still were not going to enjoy Your Beacon show. I kinda knew, that although Bob is constantly changing and creating, it would not be enough or any kind of a change that would make You see, hear or feel the show any differently, there was no 180 degree turn around, Bob is not going to change his stripes, nor is he going to be transported back to 1964, 1974 or 1994. However, I thoroughly enjoy Bob's current voice, band, musical style and presentation. I have seen him 20ish times beginning in'94. by the way, unfortunatley, as I have admitted here before, I am fairly narrow minded as far as who I will spend my time and money on, I have been exposed to almost every type of music and other than gangster rap and "new" country I enjoy them all. when comes to live shows, occasionally, I do see an off the wall show, but with limited time and money, for the last several years, if it is not Dylan or a Peach Family Band, I rarely go. Anyway..............Peace To All.........joe

[Edited on 12/4/2014 by crazyjoe]

Joey Gallo.Thought he was knocked off.welcome back.

 
Posted : December 4, 2014 10:42 am
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