PRESS-ING ON – BOB TAKES ON THE NEW MASTERS OF WAR as Putin kills THE LAND OF HIS FATHERS
Dylan protests about hell in Ukraine as the media again forgets what it was it wanted from him
AS BOB TOURS AGAIN, WE LOOK AT HIS PERFORMANCES AND THE MAN-AND-WOMAN ON THE STREET REVIEWS …
The second leg of Bob Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways tour has been pressing on with lost love, growing old and what is being seen as a direct protest about Putin’s insane war on the land of his fathers.
And again, he is doing it, generally, without the support of the world’s mainstream Press.
On the first night at the Arizona Federal Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona he dropped Early Roman Kings and replaced it with Crossing the Rubicon.
The song is normally accepted as being about Julius Caesar taking his troops across the Rubicon River in 49 BC. The journey began a bloody war.
The new message of protest was clear as it wound round the auditorium in its slow blues guise. Dylan kept it all as oblique as is his way.
Bob, like so many of us, was a victim of Cold War propaganda. In Chronicles, he wrote about how children in small-town America were taught to see Russians as a threat.
He wrote: “One of the things we were trained to do was to hide and take cover under our desks when the air-raid sirens blew, because the Russians could attack us with bombs,” he wrote. “We were told that the Russians could be parachuting from planes over our town at any time. These were the same Russians that my uncles had fought alongside only a few years earlier. Now they had become monsters who were coming to slit our throats and incinerate us.”
And in so many ways this is the scenario coming out of the Ukraine now as so many old men – and women too – take to the streets armed often only with anger, pride, fear and ancient guns.
Dylan stood up with them to be counted.
Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. Following a series of vicious violence against Jewish people, in 1907 his paternal grandparents emigrated there from Odessa, then part of the Russian empire, now in Ukraine.
Bob Dylan! One more pride of Odessa,” read a large billboard standing in front of City Hall in the Black Sea port
Good on him…
Meanwhile, We’ve been sharing rave reviews here at The Society since the beginning of November when Dylan finally got the chance to take his strolling bones back on the road again after Covid, the tragic hint of a sex scandal and the release of the stunning beautiful Rough and Rowdy Ways.
And the reviews, mainly, have been written by the man-and-woman on the street who’ve got other things to do with their lives but took the trouble to jot down notes and thoughts and their enthusiasms for Bob Bob’s comments and other observations?
By Dennis Wolter
Well thank you Nice to be back in Phoenix again Alice Cooper he still live here? Stevie Nicks she’s here too right? Barry Goldwater he still around? No My man Barry Alright I’ll tell you something that Arizona BiltmoreHotel over there It was Marilyn Monroe’s favorite swimming pool Anywhere (A couple of Unclear words) Park here in the spot where she used to swim We all swam there today After band intros Bob repeated the line My man Barry Alright *********************************** Enjoyed the show, except the kept lights shining on the audience for the entire show. I guess to help security stop picture taking. Some empty seats around us plus very late arrivals. Needed vac cards and bags needed to be small and clear.
Review by Ron Alcorn
Phoenix was the first show of a new tour and I know a lot of fans are curious about it, so here are my observations. First of all, I'm prejudiced. Bob Dylan can do no wrong, so be aware. I'm from Denver, and my partner Mary Catherine and I scheduled a trip to Phoenix just to see Bob again. And I'm here to tell you it was a beautiful, perfect show in a packed house at the Arizona Federal Theatre. I've been to 40 or 50 Dylan concerts, and was a fan in back 1963, as I bragged to Mary Catherine. Back then I was in Liberty, Missouri and thought I was one of a handful of the enlightened- but of course I was naive. The setlist was the same as the last tour, with the exception of Crossing the Rubicon, which a short Rolling Stone review attributed (perhaps) to the new War. I wore a brand new Blonde on Blonde T-shirt, and I got a lot of unexpected attention- thumbs up, smiles, nods. At the end of the concert a fellow traveler (we were nearly all fellow travelers) came up to me and said, "well, we got one!" That would be Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine). Mary Catherine and I have been to a lot of recent Dylan concerts, and a couple of years ago, after a pretty uninspiring low-key show, I said, you know, it's all kinda the same and I think we might skip a couple. She agreed. But this time around, we thought, you know, Bob's 80. He's not going to live forever, so let's go. The crowd was amazing. There were so many young people, so many children, so many grandparents with their grandchildren. In the last twenty years I've never seen such a young crowd at a Dylan concert. We got double shots of Heaven's Door Bourbon at exorbitant prices and took our seats in row 19. Bob was MAGNIFICENT. His voice was strong and clear and he crooned. His piano was turned up in the mix and he pounded those keyboards. Jerry Lee and Fats would have been proud. Well, Jerry Lee might still be proud because he refuses to die, I think. The older songs just rocked beautifully, redone in a rock n' roll boogie woogie rolling blues style with great phrasing- "bring that bottle over here." I said to Mary Catherine, "He's 80, but I think he's in love." That would apply to many of his songs. He did all of the Rough n' Rowdy Ways songs intensely and beautifully. At times I laughed tears of joy to see how so fucking great and so fucking unpredictable he was. It was transcendent. When I Paint My Masterpiece, Every Grain Of Sand- no one sings Dylan like Dylan. We didn't actually see much of him. He was behind that big upright piano with the ugly façade facing us, and most of the time he would stand and we could see him from the shoulders up. His face looked almost black with the floor lighting. Then he would sit and pound the piano and we could only see his head. At one point mid-way he got up and walked to the mic, and the crowd went wild, but he said a couple of words to the band and retreated back to safety. By the way, they were all in black, and with the white floor lighting and Bob's kind of black face it was surreal. Early on he said a couple of "thank yous" and near the end of the show he said something like this- "Been a while since we were in Phoenix. Alice Cooper still live here? Stevie Nicks? How about Barry Goldwater, my man Barry." And a bit later, "You know Marilyn Monroe's favorite swimming pool was at the Biltmore. We all swam there today." At the end he introduced his band, and finally came out from behind his piano into the spotlight and stood there as the crowd rose together and flooded him with applause. Then just like that he was gone. As we filed out a young woman, probably in her late 20's, was loudly talking to her companions, and I paraphrase: "Drop the mic! Every single song, drop the mic!" I couldn't have said it better myself, and I don't even know what that means. In a different time, watching Bob Dylan now would be akin to watching Picasso paint in his 80's. At least that's what I think. Ron Alcorn
Review by Laurette Maillet
Since the last tour Fall 2021 I was home wondering where I could go to volunteer. Not easy with the COVID still disturbing any public move. So I was relieved and not so much surprised to hear about the new Bob Dylan tour. And as I was guessing, that will be in the USA south west coast to east coast. No California, no Florida. So I get ready; print the map and make a research on the greyhound transportation. Almost all the shows are accessible by bus. Cool! I book two flights; Paris-New York JFK then JFK - Phoenix. And then starts the anxiety. I need a negative COVID test to enter the USA. So I confine myself for the next few weeks, no meetings in crowds. I just borrow books from the public library and...read. Finally Day D March 1st and the test is... NEGATIVE. The only time you can say Negative is good:) 17 hours travel and 7 hours of switching of time later, I am in Phoenix. My CS(Couchsurfing)host is fantastic . I spend March 2sd just relaxing and getting in shape. Day D for Dylan. I take the 'metro' to the venue early afternoon, curious to see if Charlie is back in the Band. Except me two other young fans are hanging around. The bus musicians pulls in by 4.30pm. No Charlie but the rest of the Band coming out one by one ;Charley Drayton, Tony Garnier, Bob Britt, Donnie Heron and Doug Landon. They will do the sound check without Bob. His personal bus will pull in around 5.30pm. Though we wait for half an hour no one will step out except...the bus driver:) I am already assured of a ticket, thanks to two good Samaritans; "anonymous" and Stacy Deane. They have been working hard to provide me for an entrance for that first show. Much Love and hugs to both of them. I am getting inside the Arizona federal theater at 7pm to make sure my COVID vaccination is valid (a European one). In by 7.15pm ,I take my seat, all the way up on the balcony. Nice view of the stage. The set-up didn't change. Maybe Charley's drums aren't LIGHT GREEN and flashy anymore!? White lights are coming from under their feet, enveloping their faces in the dark. Same piano,same position. Two mikes center stage. By 8pm and few minutes the intro classic music is full blast. The lights inside the venue are not totally off.I can see to write the "new" setlist!? 1/6 of the seats are still empty, even in front. Some patrons will even arrive during the fifth song. Shame on you! The musicians take their position. I don't know why Doug had been punished being right behind Bob and his piano!?:(. All are wearing black including Bob. They start a long intro of.... 1)"watching the river flow". 2) "Most likely you go your way and I'll go mine" 3)"I contain multitudes" 4)"False prophet" And to my surprise Bob doesn't move center stage. He takes few steps towards Tony but then stand right at the piano. 5)"When I paint my masterpiece" for me ah!ah! 6)"Black rider" 7)"I'll be your baby tonight" 8)"My own version of you" I start writing down "Early Romans kings" but... surprise. 9) it's "Crossing the Rubicon". Certainly a great surprise as I was sick of those Roman Kings nobody never figured out who they are! A Gang members?:) 10)"To be alone with you" ...just for one hour???:) 11)"Key west" without Donnie's accordion. A bit flat. 12)" Gotta serve somebody" And the audience finally wakes up. The front left rows are up and dancing. The ovation is deafening. 13)"I've made up my mind to give myself to you" 14)"Melancholy mood". Bob steps aside and I truly believe he will take the center mike but...he stays at the piano. 15)"Mother of muses" The worst of all as he tries to go in the upper notes and failed. His voice is cracking.:( 16)"Goodbye Jimmy Reed". Some reaction from fans in first rows. Bob still behind the piano says: "Thank you(for the third time).Been a while since we were in Phoenix. Alice Cooper still lives here? Stevie Nicks? How about Barry Goldwater? My man, Barry. You know Marylin Monroe's favorite swimming pool was at the Biltmore hotel. We ,uh-,we all swam there today!" And present the Band."on the drums Charley Drayton. On a guitar Bob Britt, on the other guitar Doug Landon, on steal guitar Donnie Heron, on bass Tony Garnier". Before pianoing 17)"Every grain of sand" Then finally moving center stage for the final Goodbye. Few seconds of static pose and he is gone! Same setlist as the last Tour except"Crossing the Rubicon". Same Band. Same arrangements except "Key west". Same pants(way too large!). Same fluffy hair. Same voice:). But all the songs behind the piano:( Not the best I've ever been too. But he is Bobby Dylan, alright. Flesh and bones :) So thank you Bobby. See you in Tucson.
Review by Nick Miller
My journey to see Bob in 2022 starts in rainy Sydney, Australia at the start of March. Seeing Bob in Tucson has been a bucket list item for many years having lived in Tucson from 1999-2000 and going to my first Bob concert in the mud at the Sydney Showgrounds in 1978. It’s strange to be flying again and after a night in LA I arrive in sunny Tucson. I’ve got a few days to acclimatise - staying with friends - and then the day arrives! I get to the Bob Dylan Fan Club get together at LaCo around 5 pm and soon meet with Caroline, Erika and others for a convivial hour or so. I get to the Tucson Music Hall just before 7 pm - entry is all good and I soon meet up with friends just made! I’m in Row M with a good view and fun people around me. The show starts right on time at 8 pm and after some muffled early moments the sound throughout is great. The lighting is simple yet striking. Well done to all those behind the scenes and at the venue that make the show so enjoyable. The set list is as Phoenix the night before - so nine songs from Rough and Rowdy Ways and eight others across Bob’s extensive catalogue. Standing ovations take place after each song. The band are in an egalitarian line with drums then upright piano and keyboards. Bob stands at the piano most of the night with the two guitarists close by. Bob’s voice is in great shape as is his harmonica and piano playing. My favourites - though the whole concert was amazing - were for Rough and Rowdy Ways Key West and for the other songs Gotta Serve Somebody. During the band introductions Bob refers to the Wildcats. At 9.40 pm the concert ends with Bob and the band - all dressed in black - standing in a line. The overriding feeling for me and the respectful audience is one of sheer joy. Goodbyes outside to new friends and then back to reality. The trip for one show from the land down under was so worth it - Don’t You Dare Miss It! Nick Miller
Bob’s comments and other observations by Dennis Wolter
Prior to band intros Alright Thank You Nice to be here Home of the Wildcats (U of A mascot and Hockey Team name) How we doing the Wildcats? Alright How about the Roadrunners? (American Hockey League affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes) They going to play each other? Band intros ************************************************* Both teams play at the Tucson Convention Center which is next door to the Tucson Music Hall Same as last night there are lights above stage shining on the audience. Not as bright as last night and I wore a baseball cap. Staff/security carried the same signs as last night to turn off phones etc. Bob sounded great and played harmonica on the start of several songs (When I Paint My Master Piece, with a reference to Willie Nelson? after the song, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, To Be Alone With You). He stiffly shuffled out from behind the piano between several songs. Sure has aged from seeing him in Phoenix October 2018 It’s obvious that many concert goers are not familiar with Rough and Rowdy Ways. They are also not prepared for one song after band intro and then concert over. Definitely an enjoyable concert and highly recommend. Unfortunately my last concert of the tour.
Review by Laurette Maillet
From Phoenix to Tucson March 4th. I get up early on March 4th. I say goodbye to Luna the dog and reach the greyhound station by "metro". The trip to Tucson is short, two hours. I have the address of my CS host and I know it's kind of far. Anyway I start walking and walking and...two hours. I'm almost there when I see a gentleman waiting for a bus. I ask how much is the fare. He says FREE. CRAP! Well! I had a nice walk. I saw a Buddha in a garden and asked him to bless me. My CS host home is beautiful. Everything is Art; garden of flowers and plants, sculptures, ceramic, and ... chickens. I take a shower, wash my clothes and relax. I will catch a FREE bus around 5.30pm. No reason to hang around the Band/Dylan buses. Bob is locked in there! :( The Arizona music Hall is on a large property. I take my sign out:"I need a ticket". Immediately a security man approaches me "why don't you buy a ticket at the box office?". "I want a good seat and maybe someone has an extra ticket". "ok. But I will ask my boss if it's alright". 30 minutes of peace and here , he comes again. "My boss says you can't deal money on that private property. You have to move." Fine. I move away from the main entrance. Here he is, back again. " You are still on the private property". Off I go, far away, by the parking lot. Here he comes again. I finally believe I have to give up. No chance tonight. As I walk towards the bus station I realize there is another parking lot across the street. I stand here for 5 minutes when a gentleman with a cap comes to me. "I have an extra ticket. It's 500$ first row center" "I can't afford it. I'm an Artist" He moves away and sadly I murmur "the seat will be empty". I'm even sorry for Bob! I have the feeling he won't even try to sell it. 10 minutes later, I see him walking back. We have a little chat. He wants to make sure I'm a fan :) I believe I am :):) Finally he says "come with me" Woah! We move first row center! Crap! No rail. No security to block the view. The perfect seating. I am right in front of the center mike. Hopping for Bob to play standing tonight. I turn my cellphone off. Don't want to be kicked out. Show starts. Fantastic. Bob's face is clear at this position. White as a ghost but looking skinny. His eyes a bit puffy. I know the setlist by heart so I'll do karaoke. :) Bob HAS to look in my direction but I don't know how much he is able to see.:) Doesn't matter,me,I can see him. "Watching the river flow" is confused. He misplaced his sheets of lyrics and can't find the right one. The Band has to fill up the gap. Tony is placid and Bob Britt amused. If my memory serves me well he had the same problem on "To be alone with you" . He forgot the lyrics? "I'll be your Baby tonight" moves me a lot as I have the feeling he's l ooking straight at me. A bit of narcissism on my part :):):) He will introduce those 2 songs and "Masterpiece"with harmonica. Yes! Harp! And 3 times he moves from the piano to center stage, right in front of me. I stand up 3 times and applause with respect. I can see his clear blue eyes, I painted so many times! 3 times he will grab the center mike apparently willing to sing up but he can't manage to take the mike off the pole so he gives up. Too bad! Though he had problem with the lyrics of the old songs I see him doing "Key west" and "Mother of muses" without a blink. He knows those songs by heart! And I appreciate "Mother of muses" for the first time:) He will murmur something before introducing the Band but I couldn't catch it. I karaoke on "every grain of sand" and here also he misplaced some words??? He moves center , right in front of me. But he doesn't focus. No smile, no bow. Bye bye Bobby. See you in Albuquerque. Close or....far. Thank you Kevin for you generosity and your kindness. Sure! I'll paint a Masterpiece for you! And then there is this one from GLIDE MAGAZINE
Bob Dylan last night (March 3) performed at the Arizona Federal Theater in Phoenix, AZ for the first stop of 2022 on his Rough and Rowdy Ways World Tour, kicking off the trek with another mighty setlist for his dedicated fans.
Dylan and his five-piece band performed the same set that they did at New York City’s Beacon Theater on November 20, 2021, with one notable exception taking the place of “Early Roman Kings” as the ninth song of the night.
“I crossed the Rubicon on the 14th day of the most dangerous month of the year,” Dylan sang in the live debut of the classic-rock’n’roll-constructed “Crossing the Rubicon.”
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