American icon Bob Dylan is not covering press credentials on his fall tour with Mavis Staples. The man’s entitled to run his show as he pleases, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out how excellent this night of music looks on paper. In person, we’re sure, it’ll be even better.
With that in mind, we’re taking a cue from Local Spins in western Michigan: If you’re attending the show at EJ Thomas Hall tonight, do drop us a line with your own review. We’ll publish a compendium of sorts, to let the Dylan crowd in Northeast Ohio rally around their shared thoughts. (Dylan shows, unconventional as ever, always prompt some really great debate.)
You can drop your review in the comments section here or email esandy@clevescene.com.
A few samples from Grand Rapids to get your concert poetry muscles prepped:
RICHARD B. KELLEY – Better than the last couple times (he was in Grand Rapids). Contempt for the audience remains unchanged. Guy behind us kept hollering for “Tangled Up in Blue” and Bob finally played it. Then the guy sort of muttered, “OK, how about ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues?’ “Tangled” was unrecognizable.As usual, too much needless reinterpretation, even of recent stuff like “Thunder on the Mountain.” Trippiest part was the American Songbook stuff presented like “Tuesday Night at the Airplane Lanes Lounge.” Bizarre, but those songs are among the very few on par with his.
Staging and lighting were brilliant. Played a grand piano with greater confidence than I’ve ever seen him play keys. No guitar or harp. The stage utilized real antique movie set lighting, a circle around the band with a massive red velvet curtain. The crazy bastard had his Oscar on the stand behind him. …
STEPHANIE CLAPHAM – This was my first Dylan show and it absolutely did not disappoint. I did find him a bit hard to understand at times, but I more or less expected that. His band was phenomenal and I loved the variations on a few of his classics. Also, Mavis Staples was such a powerhouse opener. All of Van Andel was ready for her to “take us there.”
ISAAC POWRIE – I liked the show. Finally got to see “Desolation Row” live. I like that Bob does a lot of songs from Time Out of Mind on. The standards where good to see live and the arrangements worked well for his voice. Encore of “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Ballad of a Thin Man” was a good ending. His band was really good. Glad I attended this show.
This article appears in Nov 1-7, 2017.
Detached Dylan had some good moments at the sold out concert at E.J. Thomas in Akron on November 3. The band was tight and talented. There were too many oldie goldie pensive cover songs by music legends like Sinatra, Bennett, Coleman, and Montand. The music loyalists listened intently to the melancholy troubadours reworked classics and new songs. The tour name is revealing about this music icons aloof demeanor Never Ending Tour.
Bob Dylan, at 78 years old, in Concert. A music review:
Akron, OH, E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
He came, we saw, he conquered.
But said not a word…Not good evening, not how are we doing nor good night!
The strangest concert that I ever attended.
The acoustics could have been better.
The only song that I recognized was “It ain’t me, Babe.”
They started promptly at 8 p.m.
He and his band played for 90 straight minutes.
Observations:
Sold out event.
The crowd was a good mixture of old, middle aged and youth.
There was no opening act.
The stage curtains were open upon arrival with 4 mannequins standing against the back drapes and dressed in 1920s garb.
No back up singers. And his band never sang a note.
His band was comprised of 3 guitarists, one drummer and a keyboardist who also played the fiddle. A man ran sound to the right of the stage, and someone else ran sound from the back of the audience.
Dylan played the piano standing up most of the time.
Played his electric guitar some of the time and others, sang and played his guitar or the harmonica.
He was somber all evening. Not a smile, did not crack a joke!
Then there were 3 songs for his encore. After the show ended, everyone filed out like soldiers to their cold cars that were awaiting them.