Dylanbase Goes on the road!

May 13, 2000 Lund, Sweden--(Saturday)
May 14, 2000 Göteborg, Sweden--(Sunday)
May 21, 2000 Horsens, Denmark--(Sunday) (450 people!!)
May 23, 2000 Berlin, Germany--(Tuesday)
May 24, 2000 Dresden, Germany--(Wednesday)
May 25, 2000 Regensburg, Germany--(Thursday)

Go to Dylanbase Homepage

You can click on the track links to view what boots have these tunes...

Lund:

We went in to the show about an hour early, got a spot in the 2nd row stage right and waited for Mr B. It turned out to be a great place to be, as it gave a great view of charlie's excellent guitar work.. Only problem was that it was loud as hell, and I might have done some damage to my right ear.. I'll just mention the highlights:

Set started with a rousing Roving Gambler, though bob looking his usual confused early-set self. This tune wouldn't go into the 'crowd pleaser' category, but I dig it.. it sums up bob these days....

The times, they are a changin' was kinda cool, with a nice vocal treatment- Mama, you've been on my mind is one of my favorite songs, but I'm not TOO crazy about the live version of it.. But fun nonetheless.. But the show (like so many of them) felt like it was waiting to get going still at this point, and though the crowd was pretty into it, I was more enjoying being there than really going crazy about the tunes.. The tide turned just before the electric set, however, with It's all over now Baby Blue. Very well sung, with steel guitar completing the package-

Country Pie was so dang cool. This was the first set I have ever seen with Charlie sexton, and the guy is good. really good. He can play right into bob's style, and noodle so quickly and crisply- I always thought bucky was great, and lamented his departure, but the new sound is ALLLLLRight...

Not that it matters, but what the hell happened to bob's dance moves? I love the charlie chaplin/ Chuck berry moves on stage, but he seems a bit rusty.. now it kinda just looks like he needs to use the bathroom. But its clear he's still enjoying himself, so who gives a shit?

Shelter from the storm was next. .one of my all time favorite tunes, played with ease and confidence.. I still think the version that was on BobDylan.com for a while (winterland 94 I think) is the best version I have ever heard of this tune, but even so, Saturday's version was pretty crisp.

Down along the cove was a little marred by bob's guitar being messed up somehow-- as mentioned elsewhere, he gave the guitar tech "the stare"... But first time I've heard this one, and it was great instrumentally--

Next highpoint for me was Things have changed.. Very cool treatment, of a cool tune.. Not SO distinct from album version, but again Charlie really put some nice licks in, and I had no complaints...

--some other tunes

Not fade away really did it for me.. Nice singing, great playing, crowd eating it up. I could hear this one at every show and be a satisfied man.

A solid, strong show. A great saturday night.

After all these years, he's still the one.

Set List for Lund:

1. Roving Gambler (acoustic)
2. The Times They Are A-Changin' (acoustic)
3. Masters Of War (acoustic)
4. Mama, You Been On My Mind (acoustic)
5. Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic) (Bob on harp)
6. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (acoustic)
7. Country Pie
8. Shelter From The Storm
9. Down Along The Cove
10. Just Like A Woman (Bob on harp)
11. Things Have Changed
12. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

    (break)

13. Love Sick
14. Like A Rolling Stone
15. Forever Young (acoustic)
16. Not Fade Away
17. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic)
18. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35

Goteborg:

Show started out real conventional, with the first three tunes exactly the same as the previous night.. but the sound was pretty good for a big arena, and sitting back and in the middle was a nice place to listen.. First real nice moment was an incredibly tender "Boots of spanish leather".. Oh it was nice.. as an ex-pat, this one hits home..

Next variation (and a nice one it was) was Love minus zero/no limit. .. Its still so incredible to me that bob can invest so much in these quasi-sappy love tunes, and then sing just as whole-heartedly on the curse of romance... guess they don't always conflict, but I digress..

Country Pie was next, and even though it was a repeat from the night before, it was still great.. this was also when all hell broke loose, and the stage rush came. I didn't know whether to duck or run, so I ran-- and came up in the 10th row, stage left.. I was close up, but I had 'sven, the swedish giant' in front of me, and didn't have the greatest sightlines..but i was better off than a lot of the people on the floor, as i was in front of all the people standing on chairs!!

Next bunch of songs were really the highpoint of the weekend for me.. SLOOOOW, BLUESY Can't Wait.. I Saw this tune in new london CT 98, which I think was the live debut of it.. I loved that version, and the new one is real interesting.. Never really exploded at the end as I expected, but a very nice listen...

Watchtower really got the crowd into it.. very nice listen.. conventional to hear, but sexton goes nuts on these tunes.. Not as cool as the Isghl version last spring, but still an amazing solo

And then Tell me that it isn't true.. Oh boy.. quick, sharp, fun...

Drifter's escape was sublime.. very fast, VERY rocking- lots of smiles from bob to the band.

rest of the show was very good.. no specific details to report, except thatNot fade away was too much fun for words, Love Sick was better with bucky on pedal steel, and I've heard enough Blowin' in the wind for this lifetime...

All in all, a great time.. 12 song repeats from the night before, but the distinct tunes were the gems, and the show was a blast.

Thanks for the lift, kaj.. Horsens is coming!!!!!!!

Goteborg setlist

1. Roving Gambler (acoustic)
2. The Times They Are A-Changin' (acoustic)
3. Masters Of War (acoustic)
4. Boots Of Spanish Leather (acoustic)
5. Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic)
6. Love Minus Zero/No Limit (acoustic) (Bob on harp)
7. Country Pie
8. Can't Wait
9. All Along The Watchtower
10. Tell Me That It Isn't True
11. Drifter's Escape (Bob on harp)
12. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

    (break)

13. Love Sick
14. Like A Rolling Stone
15. Forever Young (acoustic)
16. Not Fade Away
17. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic) (Bob on harp)
18. Rainy Day Women #12 & #35

    (encore)

19. Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)

Horsens:

I missed out on the bobfest line experience, as I bought my ticket from someone (for shame!) .. Too bad really, sounds like it was a blast. Anyway, so it was my first time in Horsens when I showed up in late Sunday afternoon. I had heard that a lot of people were going to dress up for this show, some even donning tuxedos. So I decided to borrow one of my friend's Giraffe print suit-- an outfit that garnered plenty of quizzical looks from the locals, and even mr. bob himself. Anyway, upon arrival, I headed to the bob-banquet at a local hotel.. Met lots of fans and stuffed my face at the all you can eat buffet...

After dinner, I headed over to the hall pretty close to show time.. I met Karl Erik Anderson (Webmaster of www.expectingrain.com) on the way.. it was cool to finally put a face to the website after all the years of reading his site.

After arrival and security check (very strict, but I'm sure SOMEONE got a recorder through, right??) I hung out in the hall.. The crowd was much different than I anticpated- much more 'sponsor-type' dominated that I would have thought. But I hung out in the lobby and met some other dylan fans. I decided to check out my seat, and yep, it was a pretty small place. The band was set up really far back on the stage for some reason, but the hall was way smaller than anyplace I have seen bob, including the Avalon Club show that I went to in Boston in 97. Anyway.. I had a quick beer in the lobby (where I learned that it's a faux pas to order a Carlsberg in Horsens- people drink jutland beer over there!), and headed in.

As mentioned elsewhere, this was not your standard dylan crowd. I sure as heck didn't recognize many of the "world famous (in Denmark)" people at this show, but there were plenty of them around. Also lots of media. It was so weird to see a hive of dylan activity in Denmark.. Also there were big things in all the papers in the days leading up to the show. Really great to see in the land of Aqua.

At around 10 mins. after 8, the lights went down, and the band ambled on stage..

Fashion report if anyone cares: bob in his standard gambler look.. black embroidered weird lookin jacket thing.. Rest of the band lookin slick...

Ok here goes:

started out with Hallelujah, I'm ready to go.. Really nice sound for an opener, with nice work on the mandolin by Larry.

My Back Pages was sublime.. Larry's violin makes this number every time. If I'm gonna be listening to live acoustic dylan, hand mr Campbell a bow and put the boy up front.

Masters of war was nicely done, I guess. Setlist wise, the only one I really could have done without.. An interesting version though It started all wrong, with David Kemper playing waaaayy off... it sounded like the drums for the acoustic version of "Wiggle Wiggle". But unlike a dylan show of the early 90's where they might just stop and go to the next tune, Bob gave the 'stare of death' everyone in the band, and then they eventually pulled it together- it turned out to be a real nice sound...I wouldn't have written it on the cue sheet myself, but a nice version nonetheless.

Tomorrow is a long time was great. Bob was in a real tender voice. A first timer for me, and already a totally different set list then Lund and Goteborg.

A Hard rain is gonna fall turned out to be a real highlight. So well sung, so well played.

Tangled was its usual fun, energetic self. Nothing special here.

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll. In general, I'm not such a big fan of bob's political stuff. But Hattie Carroll just hits it all. Racism, Injustice, 'philosophy of disgrace' ... Bob still gets behind this one. Stunning to hear, even now. I was lovin' it.

BUT, the true highlight for me was Gotta serve Somebody. Vocals were hard to make out, but it was a hell of an arrangement. Funkified, sharp, blaring. So good. First time I've heard it. Moved around on stage even..

It was after this tune that bob noticed the giraffe print jacket. A big skeptical eyebrow raise, right at it. I know, cuz I was sitting in it. Pretty funny.. I think I might just have to take it to the birthday show on thursday.

You're a big girl now was next, again in a new arrangement. Can't remember the details about it though...

All along the watchtower followed, and I was starting to get annoyed with the audience at this point. Not that they were impolite or unenthusiastic, and each tune had at least a partial standing ovation. But I expected that once the electric set started, people would stand up-- no go. People sat down dutifully after each tune.. I didn't get it. I tried to stay standing to get people going, but that don't work in Jante Law Denmark . I couldn't understand it either. People sat in line for days to get these tickets. You'd think they would be enthusiastic. Weren't they tired of sitting?

Anyway, no big deal, just strange...

Tryin' to get to heaven is always a nice one to hear. And it was an incredible version.. Emotion dripping from the lines, and REALLY different phrasing.. Bunching some words.. streeeeching others..Amazing..

To Be Alone With You was one of the few moments of tonight when Charlie was able to let loose. He is definitely more effective on the quick electric rockers, and that was how this one came out... A blast.

And I ain't gonna complain about Ballad of a Thin Man in the next spot either. Can't remember anything specific about it, but hey, "I'm not an IBM computer any more than I'm an ashtray"

Like a Rolling Stonewas up next, and it had that smooth, silky sound that the band has seemed to find on this one lately.. Lovely.

Well the show didn't end there, but this review is gonna. Its 3:49 AM, and I gotta meet my ride to Berlin in 4 hours. Oh and I should probably pack for this trip too.

Bottom line: Horsens was great. Fun, unique, show. solid playing, cool setlist, nice sound. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Horsens Setlist

1. Hallelujah, I'm ready to go
2. Hallelujah, I'm ready to go
3. My back pages (Larry on fiddle)
4. Masters of War
5. If tomorrow wasn't such a long time
6. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
7. Tangled up in Blue
8. Hattie Carroll
9. gotta serve somebody
10. You're a big girl now
11. All along the watchtower
12. Tryin' to get to heaven
13. To be alone with you
(break)
14. Ballad of a thin man
15. Like a rolling Stone
16. Forever young
17. Maggie's farm
18. It ain't me babe
19. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
20. blowin' in the wind

Berlin:

• I had no idea where I was
• I had no idea where the venue was
• I don't speak German

But after the show, I put this silly thought to rest. It was such an incredible show... and why? There wasn't anything specific about the town or the venue really.. Bob and Company just happened to be in a really good mood , and it really showed onstage.

Somebody touched me Right out of the gate, it was clear that this was a special show.. the sound was great, and Bob was already doing tons of noodling quite different from the "soundcheck openers" a few years ago. The Times are changing was next, and it was fine-- but one of the highlights of the tour followed: a very nice Its alright ma.The version was very similar to the ones from the fall tour in the states last year, and Dylan didn't fumble any lines... it was excellent. Tomorrow is a long time followed and was ALMOST as good as the version he did in Horsens a few nights earlier. Really sung nicely. The trend of repeating Horsens highlights continued with Gotta serve somebody.. However this version wasn't nearly as crisp as in Horsens. Still great to hear, and real bluesy..

Things have changed was again very similar to the album version, except real slow, and minus the nifty hard sounding solo from the get go. Oh well. Not dark yet was one of the best performances I have ever heard of this tune. Amazing depth. Incredible.

drifters escapeseemed again a bit sloppy... but who cares-- this one is great. One of the few chances for charlie to do something interesting. A nice listen.... Only thing I should mention about the encores is the version of maggies farm. Lots of new intonation, lots of great guitar work.

After the show, I went back to the Hostel, and randomly met up with a couple of fans (Simon, Mike, and Ken) and went out to grab a bite. a cool end to a cool show...

Setlist

1. Somebody Touched Me (acc)
2. The Times they are A-Changin' (acc)
3. It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding (acc)
4. Love Minus Zero / No Limit (acc)
5. Tangled Up In Blue (acc)
6. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (acc)
7. Gotta Serve Somebody
8. Things Have Changed
9. All Along The Watchtower
10. Not Dark Yet
11. Drifter's Escape (with harp)
12. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
(encore)
13. Love Sick
14. Like A Rolling Stone
15. Forever Young (acc)
16. Maggies Farm
17. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
18. Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35
19. Blowin'In The Wind (acc)

Dresden:

Bob and co ambled on stage about 10 mins late in his best Col. Sanders Attire and the show started off solidly with Roving gambler...and then.. a tour highlight: Song to woody.. It was amazing. I need to hear it again. What a tribute.

After Masters, the Next highlight came with Mama, you've been on my mind.. Much clearer than the version at Munich 99, and tenderly sung. After a so-so Tangled, ANOTHER highlight followed. To ramona with a strange cool arrangement and nice singing...Country Pie and Can't wait were both solid, though each time I hear it, I miss the old version of Can't wait more. What followed next was a bit strange. Some nutcase decided that he needed to deliver his birthday present to bob on stage in the middle of the show. And he also came at bob really aggressively, like he was going to tackle him or something. Security was there in a blink of an eye, and said nutcase was gone.. It looked like he had a birthday cake or something.. anyway..Stuck inside of mobilewas unremarkable, with the exception of the fact that larry was on acoustic guitar.. don't know if that's standard practice, but it seemed weird.

Just like tom thumbs blueswas great. crowd was now fully into it.

Drifter's escapewas wild and hard, and had a good harp solo...

Leopard-skin pill box hat featured yet another hat flying on stage, which the band seemed to get a big kick out of.. I heard later that some dude doing the tour bought like 20 of 'em in New York for 2 bucks each, and tosses one every night! Anyway it was a good jam.

In the pause after this one, the audience broke into their strongest rendition yet of Happy birthday to bob.. Band was laughing, and bob took a bow and said thank you.. Encores were the standards played very well, and the show ended with Bob saying "I'm gonna remember this birthday for a while..." or something like that..

After the show I hung out with some dutch fans and an astronomer from london.. real nice vibe after the show.

Setlist: 1. Roving Gambler (acoustic)
2. Song To Woody (acoustic)
3. Masters Of War (acoustic)
4. Mama, You Been On My Mind (acoustic)
5. Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic)
6. To Ramona (acoustic) (Bob on harp)
7. Country Pie
8. Can't Wait
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
10. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
11. Drifter's Escape
12. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
(encore)
13. Ballad Of A Thin Man
14. Like A Rolling Stone
15. It Ain't Me, Babe (acoustic) (Bob on harp)
16. Maggie's Farm
17. Forever Young (acoustic)
18. Highway 61 Revisited
19. Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)
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Old Reviews:

may 10. 99 part two(Munich Olympiahalle Show) of my Bob weekend journal posted.

may 6. 99 Part one (Ischgl Show) of my Bob weekend journal posted.