Mr. Dylan Spent Some Time Watching the River Flow During the Pandemic (Milwaukee Concert Review & More)

This is a guest review by Patrick Eliason, who is part of the Dylan Troop here in the Northland. In addition to playing some sweet guitar and golden harmonica licks, he's played a central role in our annual Singer/Songwriter Contest at Duluth Dylan Fest. When I learned he was going to be in Milwaukee for the opening performance of Dylan's 2021 tour, I asked if he could send a summary.

Mr. Dylan Spent Some Time Watching the River Flow During the Pandemic

No wonder Bob pulled that song out of his bag of tricks to start his tour. With enough gravel in his clarion voice and artistic license on his lyrics he set the flow for a world premiere of his somewhat dark rough and rowdy ways. Further liberating himself from care of criticism Bob let us know most likely we’ll go our way he’ll go his. They may be the same trail.

To further his conviction that he’s alright with who he is, Bob told us that he contains multitudes. He said it well and with a smile. Leading into a warning of no false prophets.

Is it a simple twist that led into the creation of a monster? Or was it not a version of a monster but a thing of beauty. The harp was definitely not twisted and the pedal steel thoroughly brought you to your feet.

Tony smiles with Bob center stage. A nod to Donnie. The ladies smitten at the thought of being the bard's babe. The rider in black would be hopelessly lost to the melancholy mood. The muse would win the hearts and the souls.

A look to the front. The sides. The balcony. More smiles elicited. The band is in sync with the muse. The whole world is at the service of one and all. The pirate philosopher takes a bow. Did he end out in sunny Key West. Did he escape the Roman kings.

We’ll stay in the tempest through midnight, then let our hearts be taken by Bob giving himself to us all.

All of us, even Jimmie Reed.

Night was dedicated to Les Paul. From Milwaukee.

Band members-

Bob Brit: guitar

Charlie Drayton: drums

Doug Lancio: guitar

Donnie Herron: lap and pedal steel, electric mandolin

Tony Garnier : bass

Bob Dylan: piano, vocals, harmonica

Encore:

Love Sick

It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry

* * * 

If you are not a regular concert goer and want to experience the waves of energy from Bob's concerts in real time, live, as if in person, the ExpectingRain.com has a Live Discussions section in which you can see fans reacting in real time to what is happening. It's the closest thing to being there in person. 

What follows are some excerpts from Tuesday's event.

The Rough and Rowdy Road Tour Is Underway: Dylan Still Has That Old Black Magic

Bill Pagel wrote: ↑
https://www.boblinks.com

Riverside Theatre
November 2, 2021

1. Watching The River Flow
(Bob on piano, Donnie on Lap steel, Tony on standup bass)
2. Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I'll Go Mine)
(Bob on piano, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
3. I Contain Multitudes
(Bob center stage then on piano, Donnie on pedal steel, Tony on standup bass)
4. False Prophet (Bob on piano, Donnie on lap steel)
5. Simple Twist Of Fate (Bob on piano and harp, Donnie on pedal steel)
6. My Own Version Of You
(Bob on piano, Donnie on pedal steel, Tony on standup bass)
7. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
(Bob center stage then on piano, Donnie on electric mandolin)
8. Black Rider
(Bob center stage then on piano, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
9. Melancholy Mood (Bob on piano, Donnie on pedal steel, Tony on standup bass)
10. Mother Of Muses (Bob on piano, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
11. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on piano, Donnie on lap steel)
12. Key West (Philosopher Pirate)
(Bob center stage then on piano, Donnie on pedal steel, Tony on standup bass)
13. Early Roman Kings (Bob on piano, Donnie on lap steel, Tony on standup bass)
14. Soon After Midnight (Bob on piano and harp, Donnie on pedal steel)
15. I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You
(Bob center stage then on piano, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
16. Goodbye Jimmy Reed (Bob on piano, Donnie on lap steel, Tony on standup bass)

-- Band introduction
"Why thank you everybody! ... Alright on the drums tonight is Charley Drayton, Doug Lancio is playing guitar, Bob Britt's playing the guitar, Donnie Herron's playing on the steel guitar, and Tony Garnier is playing on the bass guitar... We wanna play this whole show tonight for Les Paul. Les Paul, we know he was from here and we wanna honour him tonight with this show."

(encore)
17. Love Sick (Bob on piano, Donnie on pedal steel)
18. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
(Bob on piano, Donnie on pedal steel

Band Members
Bob Dylan - piano
Tony Garnier - bass
Charlie Drayton - drums
Bob Britt - guitar
Doug Lancio - guitar
Donnie Herron - violin, pedal steel, lap steel

Doug Lancio has been in John Hiatt's touring bands beginning with The Ageless Beauties in 2008.

* * * 

Someone asked it was really Bob, or just a Hologram. (Made me smile)

* * * 

by temper-tempest-tambourine » Wed November 3rd, 2021, 11:05 UTC

I really like the set.

Rough And Rowdy Ways - 8 songs
Tempest - 2 songs
Blonde On Blonde - 1 song
Blood On The Tracks - 1 song
John Wesley Harding - 1 song
1 sidetrack song, released on Greatest hits vol. 2
Slow Train Coming - 1 song
Highway 61 Revisited - 1 song
1 cover song
Time Out Of Mind - 1 song

A pretty well balanced set, covering his whole career, if you ask me.
Maybe there'll be less Rough And Rowdies as the tour unwinds and more material from his early days.

And by the way, NET also means Newer Established Tracks. So, the NET is officially revived!

The NET is all about favoring newer material over the older. Period.
We have 11 Mod Bob songs (12 if you count Melancholy Mood), and others are earlier works.

Also worth pointing out, 3 Shadow Kingdom songs, and one possible Shadow Kingdom outtake (Simple Twist Of Fate). So in one sense, it could also be seen as 15-16 Mod Bob songs!

First show in a while without Masterpiece, without Tryin' To Get To Heaven, Honest With Me, Pay In Blood, Thunder On The Mountain, Things Have Changed etc.

A pretty good new fresh setlist! Wonderful for the eyes and hopefully for the ears as well (I've heard fragments of songs and Bob's voice sounds better than both RARW and Shadow Kingdom. Hopefully the whole show is like those fragments, because it'll be a treat!)

Photo credit: Duncan Hume (?)