Bob Dylan @ Entertainment Centre, Sydney

What a photo eh?

I had a VERY short list of songs I was hoping Bob Dylan would play in Sydney (more or less based on what I missed out on when I saw him twice in Vancouver in 2005). In fact, there was only one song on the list: It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding). So by the fourth song last night when Bob and his band busted out one of my very favourite songs ever (this after playing The Times They Are A-Changin’ two songs earlier!) I was pretty much completely satisfied with the gig. What made it perfect was the crowd’s roar after the line “But even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.”

One of the other factors that led to my immense enjoyment with the gig last night was seeing Bob on guitar for the first five songs. In 2005 Dylan was only playing keyboard and I felt that I really missed out on seeing that iconic man with a guitar slung over his shoulder. His guitar playing was pretty damn great last night too. That surprised me.

The rest of the gig I just considered a complete bonus…and what a bonus. The Modern Times songs were GREAT and the crowd really got into them, especially Workingman’s Blues #2 which featured Dylan’s voice and keyboard very prominent and the rest of the band rather quiet.

By the time the band began A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; the song is as powerful and timely in 2007 as it was in 1962. I really do think I squealed quietly to myself when Hard Rain started. When Dylan followed that song up with a glorious Tangled Up In Blue I was in some sort of trance. The set ended with a couple more Modern Times songs as well as a rocking Highway 61 Revisited (one of the few songs I remember being better in 2005) and set closer, Masters of War.

I always thought Masters of War was so powerful because of it’s simplicity: just a voice and a guitar. And while I still think that may be the case, last night’s version with Bob’s haunting keyboards have made me rethink that a bit. And as I asked once ages ago…who needs a new Dylan when songs like Masters of War already exist and remain relevant?

The encore was typical 2007 Dylan: a thunderous Thunder on the Mountain followed by All Along the Watchtower. How can you argue with that? Both songs brought a powerful show to a powerful end and I could not have asked for a better gig (provided he doesn’t play If You See Her, Say Hello tonight….).

Setlist
Sydney Entertainment Centre
August 15, 2007

1. Cat’s In the Well
2. The Times They Are A-Changin’
3. Watching the River Flow
4. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
5. When I Paint My Masterpiece
6. Rollin’ and Tumblin’
7. Workingman’s Blues #2
8. ‘Til I Fell In Love With You
9. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
10. Tangled Up In Blue
11. Spirit on the Water
12. Highway 61 Revisited
13. Nettie Moore
14. Summer Days
15. Masters of War
————–
16. Thunder on the Mountain
17. All Along the Watchtower

Also, I think people should be immediately arrested, tried, and incarcerated for talking during Masters of War. Idiots.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 at 10:54 pm and is filed under General, Photos, Reviews, Shows, Sydney. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.