Bob Dylan @ Stubb's

[stooka]

Austin, Texas

Stubb's Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater

September 15, 2007

 

 

 

Band Members

 

Bob Dylan - electric guitar, keyboard, harp

Tony Garnier - bass

George Recile - drums

Stu Kimball - rhythm guitar

Denny Freeman - lead guitar

Donnie Herron - banjo, violin, electric mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel

 

 

 

 

1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob on electric guitar)

2. It Ain't Me, Babe (Bob on electric guitar)

3. Watching The River Flow (Bob on electric guitar)

4. You're A Big Girl Now (Bob on electric keyboard and harp)

5. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on electric keyboard)

6. Spirit On The Water (Bob on electric keyboard and harp)

7. Cry A While (Bob on electric keyboard, Donnie on banjo)

8. Tangled Up In Blue (Bob on electric keyboard and harp)

9. Workingman's Blues #2 (Bob on electric keyboard)

10. Honest With Me (Bob on electric keyboard)

11. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on electric keyboard and harp, Tony on standup bass)

12. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) (Bob on electric keyboard)

13. Nettie Moore (Bob on electric keyboard, Donnie on violin)

14. Summer Days (Bob on electric keyboard)

15. Ballad Of A Thin Man (Bob on electric keyboard and harp)

 

(encore)

16. Thunder On The Mountain (Bob on electric keyboard)

17. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on electric keyboard)

 

 

 

 

 

This was my first time seeing Bob Dylan. I bought 4 Tickets online last week and when i showed up for will-call, I was approached several times by offers for $150 each. We saw his bus, but no sitings of Dylan. According to ExpectingRain, he was present at soundcheck and moved back and forth from the bus, complete with cowboy hat. Kinky Freeman was also there during this time. We left for Guero's for some great food/drinks and returned for what turned out to be one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Now keep in mind, Tweedling and I had just come from The Sat ACL Taping Show, which is currently the undisputed champion of all shows in my book. The trouble was I had only 4 tix and we had 4 COUPLES!!!!! I will continue by saying that women Rock!!!!!

Our wives gave up their's willingly so that our other buddies could go. Tweed, Dobber and Cam all were having Birthdays very very soon and none of them knew we were going until a couple of hours before the show....SUPRISE

The line was looooong and the the place was half-full. We made our way to the far left side and got within good eye shot as people quckly filled in behind us. (It was a little elevated above the people in front of us - just enough to see) This show was packed!!! I could clearly see Dylan, complete with a tricky hat and the band in suits, decked out in some killer threads. Dylan played the guitar at the beginning and his band proceeded to destroy us. The first 4 songs were overwhelmingly great - that made me feel so good and gave me faith that an old rocker like that could still muster up a kick-ass show. A little rest and a chance to shine for Stubb's did a Bobby good. Dylan sang as clear as he could possibly sing and it sounded fantastic. If you complained about his voice at this show, maybe you really don't like Bob Dylan afterall. This Legend had a purpose and it showed. A complete package was unfolding before my very eyes and ears as they tore through their set with a tenacious intent to penetrate our souls. (kinda scary to acknowledge what I was feeling, but this was just too satisfying)

New arrangements made for a great vibe as old songs were made to sound new and new songs sounded like they were comfortable old classics. I'm glad he played more newer material, Nettie Moore didn't really come across well from where we stood in the back (Had to break-away). I love that song, but this wasn't a proper distance for hearing subtlety. I wish I had been closer for that one. Most of the songs had me boppin' (yeah that's right, I said boppin') and having a great time.

 

I got to hear Dylan play harp, guitar & sing with a passion that probably hasn't been there in quite a while.

 

He played behind a band that was as tight as any rock band could only hope to one day become.

Donny Freeman was on Fire

 

The arrangement on "Tangled Up In Blue" was much different, to the point that I almost didn't know he was playing it, until Cam pointed it out.

 

The night was hot................as expected.

 

Obligatory classic "All Along The Watchtower" had a lot of lead Air Guitar!

 

We left with some overpriced merch. and walked back to the hotel.

Just the four of us. Happy Birthday K and thank you again 8-ball.

[froggie]

i heard at the soundcheck they played Buckets of rain!

[mastershake]

wow sounds like you got a completely different experience from what i got at acl. i got a gravely voiced dylan that sounded so unbearably terrible that i had to leave. his voice took away anything the music had to offer.

[CommerceComet]

wow sounds like you got a completely different experience from what i got at acl. i got a gravely voiced dylan that sounded so unbearably terrible that i had to leave. his voice took away anything the music had to offer.

 

Agreed. I wasn't at Stubb's. But his set at ACL made me wish I had a time machine. It made me sad.

[stooka]

Yes, I read the reviews.

The Festival show seems to have lived up to what everyone else was telling me during the weeks prior.

"You'll be sorry" they said.

 

The push to see him Sat instead of Sunday was well worth it, which also allowed time for us to just chill-out at Shady Grove after Wilco.

[MattZ]

Yes, I read the reviews.

The Festival show seems to have lived up to what everyone else was telling me during the weeks prior.

"You'll be sorry" they said.

 

The push to see him Sat instead of Sunday was well worth it, which also allowed time for us to just chill-out at Shady Grove after Wilco.

 

I was at the show on Sat pm also with some friends and I loved it as much as you did. But my friends had many of the same complaints that those at ACL on Sunday had. So i wonder if the two sets just sounded the same and you and I were willing to cut Bob more slack? I am not sure. My friends complained after the Stubbs show that his voice was completely shot, that they didnt like how every song had to be re-arranged as a blues tune (even the ones that werent blues tunes to begin with), and that he was imposssible to understand.

 

I didnt stick around for the ACL set because I had seen him at Stubbs and I figured it wasn't worth it to stand 5 miles away at ACL when I saw him from 50 feet away the night before. No subtlety at ACL.

 

I agree that the first 4 songs at Stubbs were incredible (as you said) and Workingman's Blues was flat out spectactular too. Well worth the long wait and tired legs and sweat.

[MrRain422]

My guess is that the shows really were that different. I've heard from a few people who have seen him multiple times in recent years that his shows nowadays are profoundly hit or miss.

[MattZ]

My guess is that the shows really were that different. I've heard from a few people who have seen him multiple times in recent years that his shows nowadays are profoundly hit or miss.

 

Yeah, but I guess my point (in part) was that I loved the Stubbs show and my friends didn't. So I dont know if that makes the Stubbs show a hit or a miss. And I wonder how much of the general consensus of his show being hit or miss is based solely on the people you ask and what they are expecting when they get there. I guess it always depends on that, though.

 

Either way, it was definitely a hit for me.

[stooka]

Yeah, but I guess my point (in part) was that I loved the Stubbs show and my friends didn't. So I dont know if that makes the Stubbs show a hit or a miss. And I wonder how much of the general consensus of his show being hit or miss is based solely on the people you ask and what they are expecting when they get there. I guess it always depends on that, though.

 

Either way, it was definitely a hit for me.

 

 

Expectations play a significant role when it comes to concert perceptions.

I was still reeling from the Wilco taping when we jetted over to Dylan. We went from comfortable air conditioning to an overstuffed oven. I left the show of my life to see what could have been the bust of the trip. I was scared!!!!!!

 

When Bob started up I felt relieved, the band got to cookin' and I was joyous, Guitar work was tremendous, after 4 songs The Wilco show was being Challenged!!!!! Of course, things mellowed and the heat took over, we had to drop back about halfway through. Nothing will ever touch Wilco, but Dylan at Stubb's is in my Top 5.More songs came as we wished at times to be closer.

 

 

if my friends had been bummed and thought he sucked, I might have had a different outcome. I probably would have left them for the front!!

 

I think i have a pretty good idea of what I like and what is considered great music in general.

This was a great show and if a recording ever surfaces, I would love to hear it.

We would all like to hear this one!

 

Austin Rules

[Stefanie]

austin DOES rule!

[Tweedling]

Here! Here! Stook.....So troo, so troo!

Nice recap!

[americano]

Agreed, the sound at Stubbs was terrific and Bob's vocal chops were solid and strong. Hearing him sing You're a Big Girl Now was the absolute highlight, for me. I was amused to see the normally stoic Denny Freeman loosen up and appear as if he was having as much fun as the audience. For all the great lead guitar players Dylan has used over the years, Freeman sure has a real unique style that grows on you. Personally, I felt there were too many Modern Times songs in the set, which is no complaint, rather a wish for more gems from the golden age. My ten gallon hat is off to anyone who waited in line long enough to hear the Buckets of Rain soundcheck. Go Bob, go.

[remphish1]

I firmly believe Bob Dylans Band puts on a good show and Bob not so much. I know how important he was to music but his live show does nothing for me. I have seen him 5 times now since 1997 and the only show I liked was the first one I saw. Why did I see him more than once? He always seems to tour with other groups I want to see...Tom Petty, Willie Nelson etc. I couldn't recognized some of the songs because his voice was so gravely. He switches up setlist which I give him credit for but other than that I think he should take it easy.

[borracho]

it was kind of sad to see the thousands of people streaming out of the ACL Festival a few songs into Dylan's set... what's even sadder is i wish i would've been one of them... but i will say his band is spectacular and Dylan's voice did somewhat warm up halfway into the set, but it was still a turn-off for many, many people... and i have never seen a cloud of pot smoke go up so quick as it did when he started the set with Rainy Day Women!

[froggie]

he played Meet me in the morning yesterday with jack white!

 

first a soundcheck of Buckets of rain, then he plays You're a big girl now, and now this. maybe bob's single again

[dmait]

That's the first "You're a Big Girl Now" since 2002. And "Meet Me in the Morning" was first time live. If that's true about "Buckets," he must be listening to Blood on the Tracks these days.

[froggie]

or he's single again!

[W(TF)]

Great review, stooka. I've only seen Dylan perform once, and it was a religious experience for me also.