BOB DYLAN USA FALL TOUR 2021!
It had been two years since I've not seen Bob on stage.
My last show was Washington D.C. 2019. I have a vivid memory of that show. Not the best ever for me.
But I , somehow by impulse, gave a sweet kiss to Barron (Bob's bodyguard) who had always been kind to me. Just to say goodbye and thank you. I know that for many Fans , they don't pay too much attention to the 'entourage', or never heard about the name of Bob Dylan's bodyguard, and his devoted career of 30 years.
Nothing I knew, then, about what would be a world disaster. And that “Times would be changed forever”. And that that kiss would be a farewell!
Lot of water under the bridge, Lot of other stuff too;.
I feel these two years as ten years.
The virus pushed people inside their home and inside their mind, aging before time. I aged!
“Shadow kingdom” was a nice surprise. I was a bit disappointed at first about the 'retro' style but then I was hooked on it.
My idea was (if Bob was coming back on stage) he would pursue in that way and maybe book the Beacon theater for a month and make it his residence! But Bob is thinking his own way, so, he decided to do as before and go on a 'normal' Tour. Though the name changed to 'Rough and rowdy ways' and is booked until 2024. Should we call it the Farewell Tour? Nothing certain with Bobby Dylan!
So it is. A Tour from Midwest to the East coast. Done many times before and thousands miles trip.
I optimistically (and that's pretty rare from me) booked a flight to Chicago on November 1st, hopping for the opening of the USA borders at that date. Just time for me to reach Milwaukee on time for the first BD show on the 2sd of November 2021. Mr Joe Biden didn't read my mind to fullfill my dream. Borders opened on November 8th. So it is. I changed my flight!
My first show would be Cincinnati. No surprise about the stage set or the setlist. Largelly propagatting by Fans.
No comment on the setlist. It is what it is and somehow predictible considering the title of the Tour!
What is less , for me, is the composition of the Band. Except for Tony Garnier, fidel Maestro for 30 years or more, and Donnie Herron, the sweet looking multiplayer multi instruments (even an accordion!), I don't know the musiciens, as I knew Stu, George or Charlie! My prayers to George, hoping for the best.
So, let's start a'new.
If some people asks : how far are you willing to go for a Bob Dylan show....? here is my answer:
Leaving my home town on November 8th. Right after midnight to be on accord with American regulation :) I catch a four hours ride bus to Paris CDG. With some anxiety that have not left me for a whole month now I wait for the checkin at United Airlines. Fully loaded with documentation, both printed and on my mobile Xiaomi; my passport, my ESTA, my return ticket, my Covid-19 double vaccination (I am usually anti-vaccination, never done any in my adult life! “Sacrifice is the code of the road!”, my PCR test (negatif TG!), my addresses and phone numbers in the states (multiply friends), my first Greyhound ticket to Cincinnati. [I have no room for food and drink :)]
I fully relax as soon as I take my '51J' seat on a Boing something :), I have paid for extra, not willing by any way to let go that seat. I'm on a “mission”. Mission given to me by all my dear Bob Dylan friends less fortunate than me. All the Poo' souls who can't make it to the tour. A sweet thought for my Japanese friends stuck in Japan! And the number 1 Bob Dylan Fan in China! I swear I'll enjoy the shows for you...no matter what!
After watching four films on a small screen, including “Trouble no more” [with sweet Klydie King R.I.P.]that they display on that Boing something... We land in Chicago O'Hare , safe and sound! TG!
Chicago Airport is packed. Travelers from Europe or Americans returning home.
As I don't have checkin luggage I am fast out. Catching the Blue line train to downtown Chicago. By now it's only 2PM. After 8 hours of flight??? thank God the planet earth is round. Then my night Greyhound bus to Cincinnati, final destination, (stoping at Indianapolis and Louisville) with compulsery mask wearing. I didn't breath normally for hours!
So... as some good friends told me : “it could have been worse”!. After all I'm just dead tired and starved! [try to get dissant food at the Greyhound station!].
Cincinnati 11/09
, here I am. Nice weather, not so cold.
I runn and roll (my suitcase) all the way to the Aronoff Theater. No BD poster no where. But I know for sure Bob Dylan will play here tonight 'cause a GOOD Samarithan sent me a tix on my XIAOMI. Thanks the GS!
I catch a city bus to my first Couchsurfing Host, Erin. CS is the way to go!
Time for a shower, a potatoes salad, an American coffee :), off I walk down the road to the Aronoff.
Light body and light spirit!
5 pm the BD bus and the musiciens bus are parked behind the entrance. Soundcheck??? probable.
No one I know around. I do know 'Security Bob' retired and somehow I have the feeling that Barron Tabura won't be here! He won't. I miss you a lot lot loyal Samouraï :( . Be safe and happy!
I seat for one hour and discuss Bob Dylan with a nice gentleman , named Watson. Then time to get in. Covid pass and ticket are all scanned from my xiaomi.
Modern time!
My seat is fine; floor, row L, middle.(no one seated on my right?) I know the stage set...I've watched some videos.
Bob is late! Oh oh !15 minutes :)
All dressed in Black; musiciens and Bob. Bobby wears regularly now a black pants with whites stripes on the side (adjusted with a blak/white belt). A black shirt (with or without embroidery) a white or black jacket with embroidery. His shoes are no longer the cowboy many years boots but flat black or white 'boat' shoes?
The stage is almost barren except for the musical intruments. No more Oscar, statues, mannequins, mirrors, artifacts... The lights come strictly from...the floor. It looks like translucid plastic sheets or (shit). I hate it. It seems slithery and I wouldn't like to be there. Too much afraid to fall in the abyss of the angry flames :). and Bob himself doesn't feel stable on that floor. Looking carefully where he puts his feet. At some point, tonight, he stambled on Tony's stand bass!
Hey people! Do something smart. We don't want our Icon, Hero, Messiah, Legend...to fall flat on his face :)
Bobby looks like a ghost. No kidding!
Charley Drayton on Light-Green batteries (a lot) on the left (facing the stage) Tony Garnier on stand bass or 'flat' bass,Bob Britt on guitare, Doug Lancio … second guitare (at times totally disappearing behind Bob and his piano) and the ever eternall and young Donnie Herron: steal guitars, mandoline, violin, accordion!..
No light on the curtains behind. My friend Chris also disappeared :(
Two mikes center stage, (only one in use), a mike by the piano. Piano? Well it's a half piano! Turned facing the curtains, so the audience will see only the back (ugly look. I would glue a painting or something. Paint Graffiti?). Bobby is hidding his lyrics shits from the public. When he gets exited they kind of flow away! Saw them Bobby :)
I know the setlist by now. The two first shows were a rehearsal. Now the setlist seems stable. Go check on Boblinks.com
8 songs from “Rough and rowdy ways”. No surprise considering the title of that tour (ending in 2024???). First time, for what I know, that he will start right away with 8 songs from the last/new album recorded. Exception of 'Slow train coming' and the 'Gospel' tour 79/80 ?
To be honest (and I am always a little bit too much!) I didn't like what I heard on Youtube previously, the entire Milwaukee show. I was not familiar enough with RARW. I had to follow the lyrics in front of me on my computer. And to tell you the truth I will never memorise Key West, Murder most foul, or Mother of muses, or False Prophets...I'll be glad to READ them, maybe with Bobby claiming those poems on back ground. For me, they are poems, not songs. Because English is not my mother language? Or the American culture is not part of my memory and soul?
How the general European public will react to Key West (on stage?).
So you realize...Key West is not my favorite from that setlist. Neither “Mother of Muses”. I compare with 'Ring them bells'. But RTB beeing a lot more 'compacte' and 'finished'. Again...just my opinion and feeling! No judgement or critic. I don't want to argue with no one. Love it if you want. I won't (not for now).
Except my little remark on those two, I enjoy the entire show. Apparently much better than the first ones. The boys get together. I saw the two guitarits exchanging words and Donnie as serious as a Pope (of Rock). The rock songs are rocking hard. My highlight would be “You've gotta serve somebody”.
Though I still miss George Receli on drums (the best in my opinion) Charley Drayton is doing some nuanced plays with sticks or brushes; hard and soft.
As for Bob? Only the piano was his instrument. No guitare, no harmonica :(
No mistakes on the lyrics, as much as I could tell? Except on 'I'll be your Baby tonight' where the few first words were not heard. The mike was off? Bob moved immediately to the piano mike.
He is seated and disappears entirely (except for some fluffy hairs on the top of his head) when he decides to play some solo piano breaks. Happens quite often.
He will start the first verse of many songs on the central mike. Holding the mike freely in his hand. Bending his knees in a funny dancing style but , for the exception of “Melancholy mood” [short] he will end all the songs at the piano. Sometimes playing, sometimes not a note.
No interaction with the public. Maybe closer to the first raw for “I'll be your Baby tonight” ???:)
But other songs, far away. The haze difused from below will blur any tentative of photo.
Before he introduced the Band he murmured some words I didn't catch. About people being in or from Cincinnati.He said thanks. And I answered “thanks to YOU” :).
He rapidly disappeared after “Every grain of sand”. Escaping the final crowd photos from the past when he and his Band used to bow. Smart!
As the general public expect another encore quietly seated :)
The public? I would say “aged”, exception of some youngsters. I would say “polite” (the mask is not helping to sing along or shout!). Not necessarily responding to the new songs but not too much “ignorant”. The young man next to me knew the RARW songs and was following the setlist on his phone.
Standing at the entrance of the Band and Bob but not over applauding at the end.
The audience is rapidly evacuated.
Capacity close to 3000. I'm not sure if it was sold out. I didn't check the balconies.
So , my dear Friends I will now catch a breakfast before heading to the Greyhound station where my bus will take me to Knoxville.
Howdy, on the road again! :)
Knoxville adventure 11/10
I wake up at 3 a.m. I start writing about my beautiful Cincinnati experience.
By 10 a.m. I'm ready for a cup of coffee and a litlle breakfast at the nearby Cafe. The walls are full of paintings. It looks like a Museum.
By 11 a.m. It's time to pack up and catch my Greyhound bus to Knoxville. My previous plan was to skip Knoxville as it was far away from a straight route. But I hate missing a show , so I decided to take my chance. I catch a city bus and a good Samaritan, on the bus, offers to walk me all the way to the Greyhound station. Thanx GS! I am right on time for my 12.25 p.m. bus. But....Life is full of surprise!
That bus is already two hours and a half late! That gives the time of arrival in Knoxville around 8p.m. Just for the show time. I am not happy, but what can I do. My other problem is to leave my luggage somewhere as I didn't plan to stay in Knoxville after the show but head straight to Louisville with a night bus. Another Good Samaritan, on FB, proposes to pick me up at the station, keep my luggage in her car, and drop me at the venue. That should do! But...life is full of surprise. The bus driver is not the most diligent and the bus arrives at 9p.m. No good. The show is half done and half to be done!
So the GS and I walk around the venue , just on time to see the Bob Dylan bus pulls away to … Louisville!
Oh no! Mr Dylan, will you give me a ride?
Nope. For me it's another Greyhoud bus. I booked the 12.30a.m. , arriving in Louisville at 9.a.m.
But life is full of surprise! As soon as I enter the station the Greyhound Lady informs me that the bus is 3 hours delayed. Woah! Three hours to wait in that kreepy station. We are maybe 30 customers in there but it will take one hour more to have the info that the bus is not running at all. The driver didn't show up.
Finally it is 4 a.m. when a BoltBus pulls in the parking lot and we all are happy to jump in that bus.
Two hours lay off in Nashville. Just time to grab some food and eat, then off to Louisville. Arriving at 2 p.m. and my Couchsurfing host David is nicely picking me up and drive me to his nice appartment.
Though I'm over tired I accept a night wines party with David's frends. Americans and Latinos. We chat about politics!
Craching on my couch at 10p.m. I'm super thankfull for the experience.
Louisville 11/12After the disaster of Knoxville;
missed the show because of the Greyhound bus delay, I hope for a better
day in Louisville. I'm already assured a ticket. Thanks to Corky, my
Louisville Good Samaritan.I am also assured a place to stay with my
Couchsurfing host David. After a Greyhound bus delay of 4 hours in
Knoxville (again) I reach Louisville just on time for David to pick me up
after his work.This is a day off so David invites me for a wine party with
friends in the evening. I have a good time but I feel tired and out of
place. I don't drink alcohol much. I try the white wines but it
doesn't fit me. I feel disy.Time to have a good night sleep on a
comfortable couch.November 12.David drives me to Muhammad Ali birth house
and to his tomb( Muhammad Ali's not David's :)) in the Louisville
cemetery.We have a 'pho' for lunch, which is a Vietnamese soup, in a
nice restaurant and we take a walk to the old bridge, over the river. The
weather is fine and we have a good time. I then spend some time with
David's friends in an Artisans' market.A cook originally from Ouagadougou
is cooking Montpellier dishes for the Americans :)So far so good!Time now
for serious matter!David drops me at the Palace around 6 p.m.I take a walk
around the theater for one hour, and it's now time to get in.My hand bag
is too big for the theater policy so I put all my items in my pockets and
hide the bag under my jacket! Weird! But that will do the trick.The
Theater is gorgeous, a Museum in itself. I'm lost because there is no
obvious signs and ushers are sparse. I was sure to be on the balcony but
no, I'm floor section.As I want to take my seat, a man is already there.
Oops! He is Corky, ma Good Samaritan. We start chatting forever when Bob
Dylan decides, after 15 minutes and so pass show time, to appear all in
black.Immediately the public is up and will stay up until the 7th or 8th
song. Good for me. My seat is on the isle and I can...dance! Bob is
picking up on the good vibes and deliver a remarkable show beginning to
end.My mask is down and I can actually karaoke with Bob. Corky is not the
less enthusiastic as well as a yougster behind us.It feels like the good
old shows from 2012. And though it's a small gorgeous theater and capacity
limited to 3000, the atmosphere is not reserved at all.I will not pick a
highlight as ALL the songs were perfectly executed. At least I, ME,
enjoyed all of them.Just, for me, a minus on "Mother of muses".It is also
the time for fans to go to the.... toilets.It used to be on ERK:(There is
something in that song I quite can't connect with! A sort of borring
prayer? But nothing to complain about the perfect diction.Before EGOS.
Bob cracks a joke I don't get and presents the Band.The entire theater is
on its feet for the final.Bob spends, it seems, few more seconds facing
the crowd before disappearing.Excellent communication tonight on both
sides.Louisville is a great city!Corky an Angel so David in his own way.I
won't sleep tonight as I catch th 2.30 a.m. bus to the .... Next show.What
else to do?Thanx good people of Louisville!
After the Louisville fabulous show David pics me up and we spend few hours chatting about this and that. He will drive me to the greyhound station. My bus to Columbus is on time, 2.20a.m. But things happen! A passenger is sick and request an ambulance. The driver pulls the bus on the side on the freeway until a patrol and rescue team take care of the problem. Off we go.Arriving in Columbus at 9 a.m. I grab myself a small breakfast, waiting for Pat to pick me up for a ride to Charleston. The ride is a great adventure in itself; the trees turning automne colors and traffic is light. Though I am over tired I don't want waste time sleeping. I enjoy the country sight!Reaching
Charleston 11/13
at 3 p.m., just on time for checking at the Ecolodge. Two hours rest and off we go.Charleston is a sprayed out city. Old coal mine city. Along a river, trapped between two rocky hills.We have difficulty finding the Municipal Auditorium. It's an ugly public. Just a block of concrete. Three buses are parked behind the building, but not Bobby's bus.Thanks to Corky I have 2 tickets for tonight show. I exchange one with Pat so we can be seated side by side , and try to sale the extra.No success.By 7 p.m. my friend Jack Fate greets me and we see the BD's bus pulls in. Bob just arrived.:)It's freezing cold and we get inside. No COVID test requested. No mask requested.The building is as ugly inside as outside. The walls painting is pilling out. The atmosphere is cold.Public cold too.Bob starts 8 p.m. sharp.Dressed as....yesterday :)The Audience is polite, nothing to do with the enthusiastic crowd of yesterday.I am over tired and admit that at times my mind drifts away. I fight to stay awake, particularly on the long songs. 'Key west' seems to last forever, so 'Mother of muses'.Bob is most of the time behind his piano. Nothing like last night where he was almost dancing for the audience.The Band is coherent, Bob's voice is clear and loud but it's my least good show tonight.We rapidly drive to the Motel and I crash on the bed.Thanx Corky and Pat to make my day a great day!
From Charleston we take the road to Pittsburgh. We stop for breakfast at
'Craker Barrel'. I get myself some blueberry pancakes.
Off we go! The ride is easy and we chat for the 4 hours drive about this
or that.
Sewickley is across the bridge from Pittsburgh. Pat's house is full of
paintings from the 60's : The Gratefull Dead, Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Hendrix,
and of course Bob Dylan.
We spend the rest of the day and evening watching movies.
Moon Township 11/14
From Charleston we take the road to Pittsburgh. We stop for breakfats at 'Craker Barrel'. I get myself some blue berry pancakes.
Off we go! The ride is easy and we chat for the 4 hours drive about this or that.
Sewickley is across the bridge from Pittsburgh. Pat's house is full of paintings from the 60's : The gratefull dead, Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Hendrix, and of course Bob Dylan.
We spend the rest of the day and evening watching movies.
Moon Township 11/15.
Day of the Bob Dylan show in Moon Township which is 15 minutes ride from Sewickley. So this is a relax day. Pat has to go doing errands. I stay watching 'NCIS Los Angeles' on T.V. Eating from the fridge...
6 p.m. Time to move.
Pat has an extra ticket for me, so no worry at all. Masks are requested but no prove of negative test ????
The venue is a stadium, maybe 5000 seats. I've been here few years ago. I don't like stadium anymore. I prefer the cosy atmosphere of the theater.
I believe Bob will start late as it takes time for the audience to fill up the venue. But...
He is right on time.
Dressed in black.
“Watching the river flow” is a bit confused at the start. The Musiciens are not in tune!
Bob, as usual, is moving from the center mike to the piano, most often at the piano, except for “I contain multitudes” where he is bending on his knees in from of the first row.
He says 'thank you' at the end of some songs. I counted 6 'thank you' all together. Pat and I look at each other , amused. Bob Dylan can talk and thanks the public! Woah!
“When I paint my masterpiece” is a wonder! I feel like dancing, and I do, thou the seats are tightly linked together. The man next to me is also enthusiastic. Some folks, here and there, stand at the end of each song. Nice audience. At least on the floor.
“To be alone with you” and “serve somebody” are also at the top.
Bob seems to be happy to be here. I am to far to see if he is smiling but I can believe he did.
Again 'Mother of muses' is not my cup of tea but I close my eyes and focus on Bob's voice and it does the trick. I feel transported in another universe with Bob Dylan 'chantin' to me.
Great show.
Bob mentioned somebody from 'this city' (maybe he can't remember the name of the Moon township???) before introducing the Band. I believe I heard “I want to thank you in the name of my friends” …
Lights on and the show is over.
I had a fantastic day and evening. Pat made it all so easy to be here in Sewickley!
Pat had a good time to. So he decides to drive me to Hershey for the next show!
Yippee!
Hershey 11/16
After Moon township Pat agreed to come with me and drive me to the Hershey show. It's four hours drive. We make it good and check in the Harrisburg/Hershey Ecolodge at 4 p.m. We rest for a while before heading to the venue. A nice theater in a quiet area. I bought two tickets from Ticketmaster without problem. The theater is a nice one, well decorated. Our seats are not the best but on the floor anyway. Bob takes the stage on time. The Stravinsky intro is shorter and shorter. I don't even remember hearing it anymore! The stage is barren as usual, except for the instruments. 'Watching the river flow' starts in confusion. The public is not wild but remain seated. 'I contain multitude' is on the piano and not center stage. Bob disappears often behind the piano. 'False prophet' will be the highlight ,for me, tonight. Powerful and the Band is tight. 'When I paint my masterpiece' always moves me. I wish it could be true for me. 'Black rider'. Bob's voice is powerful. But he is at the piano, holding his stand. I close my eyes for the long songs and focus and Bobby's diction. Loud and clear. He is claiming his poetry. The Band is good enough just to back up oftly and adequately, particularly Donnie on the steal guitar adding a touch of melancholy with the violin or mandolin. At times playing a balalaika tune or a valse melody. I feel like dancing. 'Melancholy Mood' starts with a soft intro by the Band. Bob is seated on his piano stool, side way from the audiance. Unusual! He will stand and hold the center mike, between Tony Garnier and Bob Britt, but he will remain static and scooped. Like his back is hurting. That song is too short, for me. But this is the only one Bob will do center stage tonight. :( 'Gotta serve somebody' will make the audience react with a loud applauce. The three last songs are lacking of energy. Bob's voice is tired. His tentative of modulation on 'Mother of muses' are lost in a rasping voice! He is tired! We rapidly leave the venue and by a pure hazard Bob's bus is pulling out in front of us. Bye bye Bobby. Take care see you in New York!
New York 11/19
I woke up at 6 am. Somehow I don't sleep well on the road. I decide to walk all the way to China town. Off I go. I walk down the streets of New York. I've been in New York many times. First time 1977, going straight to Greenwich village. Things have changed. Washington square is a little bit busy, so Little Italy. I find a Vietnamese restaurant serving Pho. I remember David from Louisville. We had Pho together. Today I'm all by myself. Walking back to the Beacon. It takes me few hours. Nice weather. I have to step inside the public library to use the toilets. The only one I found open to the public :(
So ,this year, Friday 19. I didn't get a ticket for the show. I wait at the backstage door with a bunch of Fans. As it appears Bob won't get out of his bus before 8pm. By 8pm. We are only 10 fans left. 5 on each side of the doors, reclused behind rails. 6 security guards from the Beacon step out. Plus Bob's new Bodyguard (Barron's gone??). Bob steps out the bus, protected by Suzie (does she practice any KenJutZu?). Cameras are running. Mine too. Suzie and bodyguard are flashing the faces of the Fans with flashlights to disturb the photos and videos. ?? My question is: why so many guards? The fans were not dangerous. We had been chatting with the guards all afternoon. And suddenly it's a big circus!
NEW YORK 11/20
Arriving at 6pm. The Bob Dylan bus is parked there but no activities. Bob is
locked in there. In a golden cage!
Suzie walks inside the venue with Bobby's suit. Hopefully she did something
to shorten those ugly pants :). She throws me a dirty look. And what should I
care?
Fans start surrounding the bus. No way Bob will get out before 8.
I take out my sigh 'I need a ticket'.
See Donnie Herron getty out the Beacon hotel. I tentatively say ' hi Donnie!'. He
is as cold as a stone. :(. See Tony Garnier getting out the Beacon hotel. I say
nothing. Well! I had better feedback with the Vietnamese restaurant waitress :)
The Beacon changed: the scalpers are sparse, maybe two. Only one guy is selling
half price T-shirts. And he doesn't seem to sell many. Bob Fans prefer to buy 25 $
posters, or 40$ T- shirts from the official marchandise stand. Like Bob Dylan needs
the money, right?
I recognize some of the Bobcats. Some will say ' hi! How do you do?'. I feel like
singing "positively fourth street"....:(
Or " like a rolling stone ". :)
Two people approach me and ask if I am Laurette , the Artist. Woah! I must
be famous :) They have a ticket for 1/4 of the price. Great. As it could be my
only Beacon show, I buy it.
We rapidly move inside. Bob will have to do without me outside :)Beacon show 2.
My seat is on the floor. Row N, seat 12.
The Beacon ceiling is gorgeous!
Bob starts a bit late. Waiting for the fans around the bus to disappear?
I immediately focus on his pants :) woah! Nice pants. They look like really shining
and tight. Black embroidered , as well as the jacket.Red shirt(it seems).
Thanks Suzie.
It starts hard. The sound is perfect. Never been that good. Guitars are loud. As
well as the drums. Thanks Jason ??
Bob is in a good mood. His voice as loud as it could be. Loud and clear. Nothing
to do with Hershey.
'False prophet' is a wonder. The hight light of the show tonight. Bob is even
trying a little dance on the side of the piano. Powerful.
"I'll be your Baby tonight" is also standing up by the side of the piano. Bob
bending on his knees. A couple of times he decides to move from piano mike to
center free hand mike and that will surprise the sound engeener. We missed
few words :)
"Melancholy mood" will take Bob standing between Tony and Bob
(the other Bob).
Other songs will be behind the piano. Even a tentative of piano on the intro of
" Melancholy mood". As this point I have to say that Bob's playing piano is not
his best point. Should he get a keyboard player ??? And focus on the vocals
only?
Each song is a piece of Art. Even my least favorite is doing fine with me tonight.
I believe he did twice the second verse of "key west". I have to listen to the
recording ??
The audience is up on its feet for " You've got to serve somebody ".
Other than that , public is polite , reacting to a word here and there .
" The size of your cock will get you nowhere ". Makes people ??
I see on the left side of the venue and front the cowboy hat Fan. Up and
dancing. Few girls will stand on "You've gotta serve somebody". But only
the few first rows are up for " Every grain of sand". Maybe more here and
there :). I seat. Even people have a hard time to believe that is the last song.
But , yeah, Bob is on his way home (snatched/kidnapped inside the black
car waiting outside) before you realize the show is over :)
Thank you my 2 Good Samaritans of the night.
Bob was the best at the BEACON 2
The Band tight and Rocking good!
Tony and Donnie doing their job! :)
Thanks all good people in New York.
See you for Beacon 3.
:)
Good morning the Big Apple. I take a nice breakfast before heading to Manhattan. I walk downtown on 5th Avenue, packed with pedestrians. Pass by the Trump Tower where Bob Dylan is supposed to own an apartment. Who knows? I reach 33 street and decide to try Panedera restaurant. Bad mistake ?? It takes forever to get my 10$ pizza. Next is a Staples store. I print some of my paintings for selling or to give to my Good Samaritans. I walk back to upper west side to reach the Beacon. I am supposed to meet Jaime, a fan from Colombia, and we are supposed to both look for a ticket?? The BD bus is already parked at 4.48pm but no black car. Bob went shopping? He will walk by Broadway street? Nope. By 5.30 pm Suzie Pullen walks the street , followed by the black car. Bob, dressed with the silver jacket from two years ago, steps discreetly inside the bus. Good siesta my Dear! I take a seat, outside the cafe, by the corner of Amsterdam street. I wait for Jaime and do some business on my phone , drinking a coffee, happy to be close to Bob Dylan. I can't believe he will be alone in that dark bus for 2 hours and a half. Watching Netflix ????? After half hour I look up from my phone to find Suzie Pullen next to me, looking down at me. I don't say a word and keep on texting. I feel a presence behind my back so I turn around. She is right behind my left shoulder and read my text ??then approach a small flash light to my phone screen.?? A camera? I say :"are you spying on me?" She says : " where are you from?" I say : " From France" I turn around, she disappeared ?? Suzie Pullen is from Australia, had been Bob Dylan dresser and assistant for 30 years. I had been traveling the world for Bob Dylan since 2011 (and before). We had bumped into each other many times. But never she had talked to me. You know ... " What's your name?" " How are you?" " Do you enjoy the shows?". Nope. That would have been too much HUMAN?? She keeps the Fans away, brutal and mean, as I heard! In all those years I never took any photos, least a video but... My heart was broken two years ago at the Beacon. A young Fan, Sean, had been waiting two days in a row, in the afternoon, in the cold and snow, by the backstage door, to get an autograph for his sick father. He never got it though the entourage knew he was there. NEW YORK 11/21 BEACON 3. Two good Samaritans helped me tonight. I don't see Jaime no where so I sell the ticket I had bought for him. Another Good Samaritan invites me to the show with him. Thank you all the good Fans who know me through my writings. Good people from above. The lyrics sheets are displayed on the piano. Bob will flip them over and over again. I'm amused he can read without glasses?? eyes operation can do miracles?? Bob is dressed all in black. He looks fine and rested after his Netflix or nap on the bus? "Watching the river flow" sounds wick from the balcony. The sound will improved but nothing like last night on the floor. "False prophet" is again exceptionnel. My favorite tonight will be " To be alone with you" a beautiful ragtime tune with Donnie on violin. The show is similar to last night. No mistake on " Key west".?? I look at the guitar players. Bob Britt is doing solos as Doug Lancio is more on the rhythm. Though I might be wrong?? Charley's doing good. A little more power on ERK would be appreciated ??. Where is George??? A Fan shouts " Pretty Boy Floyd!"???. Bob amused answers : " you're at the wrong place, should be at Springsteen's on Broadway, you're at the wrong show". LOL from the audience. Bob moves a lot. He walks kind of... Bobby's walk??. He enjoys himself. So do I. After "Goodbye Jimmy Reed" he will say few words about people being from New York. Did I hear the name of George Receli? Introduces the Band with a little word for Tony Garnier. And do his final pose. I take photos ?? The show was good but nothing like yesterday! I'm hoping for a change in Port Chester. GA should be more Rock and Roll. Or else we will valse on " Keywest " and pray on " Mother of muses ". See you there all the Good People. To Suzie Pullen with LOVE ????
Port Chester 11/23I spend the morning relaxing then decide to reach Port Chester in the
early afternoon. I've never been there. I catch a train , then another
train and have to catch the metro north from "Harlem and 125th"...
I seat comfortably when the conductor asks for my ticket and makes a
bad face. Oops! I'm on the wrong train. It's an express train to Stamford.
Another girl also did the mistake. Well! I don't panick. Kindly the conductor
'makes' the train stops at the next station and I wait for the next red train.
I arrive at Port Chester early, too early. It's a nice Latino neighborhood.
I wonder why Bob is playing here instead of two more shows at the
Beacon. I wait in a Cafe for my good Samaritan, Bob Russell , to come
and we have a Latino buffet together. We chat for a long time before
getting inside the theater.
Dylan afficionados had been queing for few hours. I didn't.
1) I'm getting old.
2) it's cold outside.
3) they are people I prefer not to deal with :)
4) the way the stage is designed. The instruments and musiciens are far a
way in the back. Doug literally disappears behind Dylan. Bobby will be
behind his piano most of the time. I believe the rail will be far from the
stage. So...what the point?
There is no interaction between the public and the Band, least with Bobby.
Only few songs are Rock and Rolling.
How can we dance on "Key west" or "Mother of muses". Bobby literally
reads the lyrics from his piano sheets. Better focusing on his diction.
A poetry lecture is better heard seated comfortably :)
So thanx Bob Russell for that ticket on the balcony. We both have a
good time.
Bob starts on time. All in black. Nothing fancy.
The stage is the same. A bit too much empty. Particularly for a GA.
The mannequins could have been a must.
The two first songs are mumbled. Bob is too far from the mike. On
"False Prophet" it's better.
If the floor section expects Bob to come close and dance...well! It's not the
good night. He's mainly behind the piano.
On "I'll be your Baby tonight" he is throwing eyes at Tony. He seems to be
angry. At the end he will move to Tony and says words , emphasizing with
his hands. Did Tony played too loud? Covering the piano tune?
I never saw Bob scolding Tony before!
I realize Bob Britt is on acoustic for "When I paint my masterpiece" and "To
be alone with you". It is the highlight for me tonight.
The ERK are borring. The tune maybe slowed down suggests Bob Russell.
Bob sits side way on his piano stool for the intro of " Melancholy mood" which
is for me the sign he is not feeling at his best.
"You've got to serve somebody" will rise the audience ( the ones who are not
already up ) as expected. And " The size of your cock will get you nowhere "
will stir a laugh. It is a repetition!
A déjà vu!
In the middle of "Key west" my back neighbors have the 'good' idea to buy a
beer from the moving merchandise girl and negotiate a business behind my back!
I heard the venues make more money selling booze than renting the place.
We live in a Political world Mr. Dylan!
"Mother of muses" will totally silenced the audience. I feel like in a Church!
Bob's voice is still powerful. But he runs into the songs one after another,
flipping the sheets of his catalog frenetically.
"Goodbye Jimmy Reed" will wake me up.
Bob says " thank you. Thank you in behalf of my Band". Murmurs some words
and presents the musiciens.
I karaoke on "every grain of sand" and stand up to film his departure. His walk is
uncertain and he steps down some steps with pain, it seems to ME.
Bye bye Bobby!
Rest well. Have a massage. And see you tomorrow.
Thanx for being with us!
Love. Laurette.
Port Chester 11/24
A day for relaxing as I know I have a ticket for the show. Thanks to Bob Russell.
I take a trip to the Bronx Botanical garden. Gorgeous and fun with the display
of little trains and miniature constructions.
By 5 pm I am at the theater. Bob bus is parked there, right by the stage door.
It's GA so a small line already formed. I know the 10 first fans. But it is far away
from what it used to be. The fun is gone for me. The fun, the anxiety, the
expectation...gone. I know exactly what the show will be tonight, more or less,
counting on Bobby's mood.
I try to sale some copies of some of my paintings. It works fairly good. I make
some bucks and meet fans I've known before, readers of my reports on the
shows. I wait for Bob Russell and we step inside after showing passport,
COVID test, bag and ticket.
We're on the balcony pretty much as last night.
Show starts on time. Bob is wearing is red shirt and of course black outfit.
The fist song is weak again but the sound will improve rapidly.
Bob is in a better mood. He will be more center stage, particularly for the first
verses of different songs. "False Prophet" will make him bend on his knees. A
routine now. "Melancholy mood" between Tony and Bob, almost backing out
the stage area :). He will not be mad at the drummer as last night. My mistake
was to believe he was scolding Tony but maybe just asking Tony to tame
Charley on drums :).
I wish the two folks behind me could stop talking constantly and the girl could
stop screaming in my ears ' We love you Bob" as if he could hear!
People are so selfish they don't realize others seat next to them.
The crowd on the floor is not as wild as expected but except two or three
rock/blues songs, there is nothing to be wild on.
I personally like the old songs I'm familiar with. I still need time for Rough and
Rowdy ways. Bob is as good as he could be. The Band backing up with heart.
All together I had a great and easy day.
Leaving the venue I hear a comment. " He looks old! ". " He IS old!".
I still don't understand why Bob didn't play the Beacon a little bit longer
instead of playing in this weird theater. The Jerry Garcia bar!
I have to catch the train back to grand central and the 7 train to Queens.
By 1 am two girls decide to disturb my sleep in the dorm, chatting continuasly.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
But Me, I have a sad thought for the native Americans who fed the pioneers
turkey and corn and were thanks for their hospitality in a strange manner.
Have a nice holiday with family Bobby.
See you in Providence.
Providence 11/26
Last night, Thanksgiving night, I was all by myself in my dorm. I went to bed early.
Get up at 7 am and take trains to Pen station. I buy myself bagel and cafe and
then queue for my Flixbus to Providence. It starts raining but I'm safe.
Arriving in Providence on time I walk 20 minutes to my couchsurfing host house.
Alana is Jewish but speaks less Hebrew than me. Her friend is from India and speaks
Indue...tonight there will be a big party with a bunch of students from the
University. Cool!
I relax until 5pm. Even though I need a ticket it doesn't make any sense to be at
the venue too early. I walk down to the PPAC and....I realize I've been here
before. Not the last tour but the one previous. I remember clearly waiting around
the bus in that back alley.
I take a walk in the city and by 6.30pm I put my sign out : I need a ticket.
I don't wait too long when a nice Lady with two young women hand me a
paper ticket.
I check the BD bus until 7.30pm. Suzie comes and goes but no Bobby. He will
get dress in his bus again? No one around except ...me.
I take my seat on the balcony. Mask required.
I am on the aisle so I can check my legs on "Save somebody".
I look for my friend ,who should be right in the front. She is. But the stage is
so far away and so high Bob will see no one in front. And probably do not want
to.
He is RIGHT on time.No Beacon crowd by the bus :).
"Watching the river flow" is again a rehearsal for the sound. By now it should
be perfect ?? Bob is holding the piano, more incertain of his stand than ever.
"False prophet" is behind the piano. He tries a step or two on "Black rider"
but holds the piano again. His voice is great though. Powerful.
Only "Save somebody" is waking up a dead audience.
No piano on "Melancholy mood" and Bob moves next to Tony only during
the second part of the song. Bob scooped and static.
ERK is definitively boring. Should try another song.
The public is polite or bored. Difficult to know! But for sure extremely quiet.
I check Bob Britt guitars. On " Key west " he's got one with a funny shape;
a rocket for the space? With Donnie's accordion it gives something to look
at. They're all dressed in black and except for Doug Lancio...all static.
My highlight would be "To be alone with you" and "Jimmy Reed " indeed.
Not the best show ever. Of course I know the setlist by heart and the
routine. Bob again cracks a joke before introducing the Band. But tonight
with no conviction or reaction from the crowd. A kind word for Donnie Heron
and also Tony Garnier. And I leave. I want to see the Star escaping the Fans.
Of course EGOS is on. Well! Of Fan there is only me. Across the street.
Because I have my phone out, a member of the Dylan crew, decides to take
my photo. After Suzie, another girl...I must be a big menace !
So I take a video. Bad girl! Bob is all wrapped in black and grey hoodie.
Walking all by himself with Suzie and the bodyguard just behind.
The musiciens follow in their own bus.
Bye Bobby. See you tomorrow.
Take care.
For me the night goes on.
My friend Alana is having a home disco party.
I share with great nice young people from around the world studying in Providence.
They don't really care about Bob Dylan. Roopam, from India, never heard of him :(
Boston 11/27
I arrive in early afternoon by Flixbus and check in HI Boston. I decided to
stay at this downtown youth hostel, right next to the venue.
Boston is freezing cold. Always remember Boston being freezing cold.
China town is in the corner so I go for a ramen soup. It reminds me Japan
which I miss. I had booked all travels and accomodations for the Japan
tour 2020 but... I love the Asian restaurants. The waiters are efficient
and respectful but not over polite. I'm always disturbed but a waiter
asking me ever five minutes if everything is alright and if I need more
coffee. I believe they just care for their tip. Leave me alone eating my
meal in Peace and quiet! :)
Some rest in my warm room and by 5pm I check the backstage of the
Wang theater. The musiciens are dropped for the sound check but the
BD bus will arrive half an hour later. so no sound check for Bob, and he did
none for what I know.
The driver will squize the bus between a wall and a big truck, right by the
stage door. Bob will be in his Golden cage until show time.
I go rest and get warm. I still need a ticket but I don't worry so much.
By 6.30pm I wrapped myself with all the clothes I have with me and walk
the block away from the theater.
I put my sign out.
A poor man is asking for help and some bucks in total indifference. The
fans had bought tickets for hundreds of dollars!!
I observe the public: 100 % whites?
So when a man offers me a ticket , I look at him carefully for he looks
Metis. Elvis is Native American and flew from Saint Clemente California to
see the Bob Dylan show in Boston. Remarkable! We chat about painting.
He is a fan of Monet. Remarkable. We sympathize and I promise to make
him a painting. He invites me in Cali for the next Bob Dylan tour???
Our seat is all the way up. Under the sky!! The row is CC. But on the
balcony the orders are reversed from the floor. CC is nowhere close to
the stage. This is the worst view; Bob will be totally in the dark. At some
point I lost his figure, trying to focus on where his voice was coming from.
Terrible expérience if it is your only show or even first BD show.
I know. So I look at the beautiful ceiling and listen to the music. I can't
complain, I didn't pay for any Tix.
Elvis stands up in the back. Two seats next to me are now empty as well
as two in the front. I remain seated but with space to dance and karaoke.
I enjoy myself to be thankful for my chance to be here tonight. Many of
my friends/fans are not so lucky. The show is good. Public responding well.
Bob center for "Melancholy mood" and steps here and there. I hear him
mentioning Boston. So he knows where he is !!:)
The high light tonight " You've gotta serve somebody". I sometimes
called " Save somebody" ,!!!:).
I walk slowly out to see the bus pulling away.
Bye bye Bobby. See you in Philadelphia.
I did the mistake of traveling the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The bus is one
hour and a half late. My friend Olivia has to get me downtown Philadelphia.
We drive to Morton. I take a shower and have a nice sleep in my bedroom,
in a house that is my second home. My third being in Ezuz.
Philadelphia 11/29
I work in the garden , collecting the Automne leaves. The weather is pleasant.
By 5pm Olivia drives me to the suburban train station and I walk the half hour
to the MET. I've been here before. It did not change. There is an empty lot
next to the theater and the BD bus is parked there. Bob inside until 8pm,
I believe.
I present copies of my paintings to attract the Fans. Trying to sale or to
exchange. I met my good friends/ fans from Australia. They are the ones who
travel the farest for that show! Meet other fans who know me.
A Lady and a young boy approach me. She has an extra ticket on her phone.
She wants me to give all my copies to her son in exchange. Weird but fine.
She's a bit rough. I talk to Liam, who is an Artist. So I understand better.
I walk inside with them and take my seat on the lodge , far up.
By 7.55pm a lot of seats are empty and will stay empty around me.
Bob is on time. All dressed in black. So are the boys. The stage is barren and dark.
Hard to see Bob.
I focus on the music.
Bob hops from the piano to center stage and back but he's holding on the mikes
and piano. His voice is as clear as it could be.
Some fans are enthusiastic around me and I ignore the ones moving back and
forth in the middle of a song. I enjoy myself as if Bob would be playing for me in
my living room. I wish I could zoom on the stage!:). I should buy binoculars :).
"Serve somebody" and "Goodbye Jimmy Reed" make the public react.
Bob mentions the Liberty Bell, Birthplace of Freedom, the birthplace of Frankie
Avalon, the Philly cheesesteak ("can't forget those!"), and the Statue of Rocky!
Before introducing the Band.
It was a good show. I had a nice day and a great evening.
As I walk out I bump into Jack Fate who will give me a ride to the train station.
Olivia waits for me with some food and a warm bed :)
Life is beautiful.
Thanks to all my good friends.
Thank you Bobby. The Band.
The technicians and crew people.
I haven't see Bobby off stage for a while but...
This is the way HE wants it to be.
Good night Bobby in Philadelphia. Have a small cheese-steak and a good night sleep.
See you tomorrow, same place, same time!
Philadelphia 11/30We spend time cleaning the kitchen cabinets with Olivia.
I went printing more of my paintings for a better chance to get a ticket.
Then ready to catch my train to the city and walk to the MET. I am early and chat with the security people. They ask me what I was selling.
Just answered I exchange my paintings with a ticket and they were
impressed. Cool.
I say hello to some Fans. A lot seem to know me. Cool. Then a woman asks if I need a ticket. Yes.
For 20 minutes there is a little confusion . She doesn't find the ticket on her
phone and can't do the transfer. A nice security guy tries to help and as he
likes my paintings I offer him one if he can get that ticket for me. We all
end up at the box office for a paper ticket. Cool.
In I am. The seat is on the floor, back but a good view on the piano.
No one in front of me. Some seats are empty even on the floor.
Bob is right on time. Dressed the same as last night but with the red shirt.
The few first words of "watching the river flow" are lost in the air. But the
sound will improve for the best. I see the Fan with the cow boy hat from
New York on the right side of me, in the aisle, standing up, in front. He will
be up all night. And dancing.
The ambiance is festive. The public reacts to the songs.
Bob will even say "thank you" after " I'll be your Baby tonight " and mention
the Liberty Bell. He stood all the way through " I contain multitudes " and
part of " False prophet ". Rocking on " Good bye Jimmy Reed ".
And grooving on " Melancholy mood" that I particularly appreciate tonight.
Some fans are dancing on " You've gotta serve somebody " and the entire
right section of the floor is dancing on " Good bye Jimmy Reed ".
I have the feeling Bob is looking in that direction and he is impressed.
Joking about the Philadelphia cheese-steak (Something like 'if you eat one ,
you don't have to eat for the rest of the year!') before introducing the Band.
Great show. Close to the second one at the Beacon.
Thanks to all my good friends helping me on my journey.
Thank you Bobby. Good night. Good rest. See you In Washington DC. Washington D.C. 12/02The last of that Fall USA Tour, but I would believe the best of all 21.
It starts with my bus ride from Philadelphia. A pleasant ride in an almost empty
double deck Megabus. Traveling is not what it used to be. That COVID19
disturbs the world. What struck me when I walk out the train station, are
the Quechua tents alined on the front lawn. In Washington D.C.? it looks
surrealistic.
I walk the 40 minutes to my Youth hostel. The streets of DC are large and
pleasant. I check in and immediately walk to the venue. I'm supposed to
meet with my Good Samaritan at the box office, at two, for my BD show
ticket. If not I will have to look for one.
Fortunately I have been taking care of by Good Samaritans all along my trip.
Thanx to Corky, Robert Carter and others, tonight I don't have to worry.
I am also meeting Simon, who flew all the way from Paris, for that specific
last show of the tour. We have a nice time.
As we walk around we bump into Bob's new security man. I heard is name
is Roger. I say hello, asks him if Barron could come back. He says he doesn't
know. I ask him to say hi to Barron in the name of the French Woman. I'm
not sure Barron knows my name. Roger is amused and says ok. He's a nice
guy. It appears that Bodyguards are kind persons :)
With Simon we get a wrist band proving we are vaccinated. I spend few
minutes with some Fans in a bar/ restaurant, but that makes me un easy:
I'm not a drinker neither a fancy eater. Again I feel that I don't fit! :(
I walk outside and observe the fans. Practically all white. Middle class.
Middle age.
I have a GA ticket. GA here being behind the floor chairs. Far away.
I spot Jason (the sound engeener) and I say thank you and goodbye.
Also spot Jerry, the tour manager but...say nothing :( See Roger again
and say thank you. Say hello and goodbye to some fans.
I find a nice spot, all by myself in a corner. I want to move. And the view
doesn't matter anymore. The venue is packed. Many fans gathered for
the last show, expecting maybe a change on the setlist. I don't believe
in any change.
Bob takes the stage on time , dressed in his best suit : the one with the
embroidery. Thanks Bobby.! Right away I know that will be a great show.
His voice is strong and clear. His energy high.
John Frish review :
" superb acoustics. All the better to show off a completely committed
Dylan who was in fine voice. Bob is justifiably proud of his new material,
and fully? inhabited each of his new songs. Standouts were a gorgeous
I Contain Multitudes, a hard rocking False Prophet and a totally
transcendent Key West (my favorite song of the night). Serve Somebody
positively exploded, and you could hear a pin drop during Every Grain of
Sand. Bob left the piano often to stand, crouch, and gesticulate as he
offered his heart and soul to the crowd. We were in the presence of a
master totally on top of his game. I left incredulous, thinking we have no
right to expect this kind of performance or an album as powerful as Rough
and Rowdy Ways at this stage of his remarkable life and career. Wow. "
Agree. Bob was the most dynamic of all his shows on that Tour . Even
"Mother of muses" sounds good. Makes me feel regret the Tour is over :)
I say bye again to Jason, say we'll meet again on the next tour. He says
yes but doesn't know where the next tour will be.
I walk back to my Hostel.
This is it for the Bob Dylan adventure.
See you all on the road somewhere, someday !
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