Scenes from Duluth Dylan Fest 2025: A Midweek Album

The energy is high this year, with plenty more to come. 
Dylan Fest actually kicked off in Hibbing on Sunday.

On Monday the eight-day event moved to Duluth.

Here are photos from Monday.

The Dylan Fest Acoustic Jam Session w/ host Leslie Black at
Carmody's was impressively packed. Fest-goers were invited 

to "Bring your voice and/or instrument and music stand." 
Some might say it was "organized chaos" but it was 

an evening of pure Dylan.

This year we enjoyed a visit from Tokyo Bob and his entourage. 

Here's a little about Tokyo Bob's Dylan-themed bar Polka Dots:

Tokyo is a vibrant metropolis brimming with unique experiences for every traveler. For Bob Dylan enthusiasts, a visit to the Polka Dots bar is a must-do. Nestled in the heart of the city, this subterranean gem is a dedicated Bob world, where the jukebox exclusively spins Dylan tunes and the walls are adorned with iconic Zimmy posters and memorabilia. 

Since opening its doors in 2006, Polka Dots has been lovingly managed by Tokyo Bob, Japan’s leading Dylan tribute artist. While he channels Dylan’s persona on stage with a signature wig, suit and polka dot shirt, at the bar Tokyo Bob is a warm and welcoming host, ensuring every guest feels at home. Tucked away in the basement of an unassuming building, this intimate venue seats just 20 people, offering a cozy, immersive experience akin to a Dylan fan’s ultimate dream den. For those with their own memorabilia collections, picture adding a fully stocked bar, expertly curated music, and delicious bites—Polka Dots brings that vision to life.

On Tuesday the Fest moved from Carmody's 

to Wussow's Concert Cafe
where DJ Stagger Lee entertained us 

with his curated collection of Dylan vinyls
in their original form, through an analog sound system.

Once satiated we crossed the street to catch a show

featuring Paul Metsa and Sonny Earl with special guest

Gregg Inhofer, one of the original Minnesota musicians

who recorded five songs from Blood on the Tracks. 

Click HERE to see the schedue for the rest 

of this week's events.

Photos by Michael Anderson and my self. 

The high. quality images courtesy of Michael.

81 Years Ago Today: The Attack on Pearl Harbor

“and if any conclusion was reached, it was that there are no simple lessons in history, that it is human nature that repeats itself, not history.”
― John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

TODAY in History: The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Here are a few quotes and images from that historic day.

The Arizona. Nearly half the casualties were men on this ship.

“At 1:23pm Zeros were approaching Pearl Harbor where it was 7:53am. At that moment the flight commander radioed Admiral Nagumo TORA, TORA, TORA@ The repeated code word, meaning "tiger," stood for 'We have succeeded in surprise attack'." Two minutes later torpedo bombers began diving on Battleship Row.”
― John Toland, Infamy: Pearl Harbor and its Aftermath

I remember when I was young reading one of John Toland's books about the attack on Pearl Harbor. I found it mesmerizing, couldn't put it down. The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,403. 

The West Virginia

“It is easier to start a war than end one.”
― John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

Related Links

Beyond Pearl Harbor: Things You Didn't Know

Pearl Harbor Day Reflections 

Dylan's April Japan Tour Cancelled for Obvious Reasons

Longtime Dylan fans already know that BobLinks.com is the place to go to stay current on Dylan's upcoming schedule. Want to know where Bob will be next and where, BobLinks has at all, thanks to Bill Pagel, one of the most organized people I've ever known. (Bill: when are you going to write that book on how to organize your home, your life and your passions?)

It was pretty exciting when the BobLinks calendar got updated for the Never Ending Tour 2020. 15 shows in Japan were slated from April 1-24. You'd never know that this cat was going to be 79 this year. After taking a month off in May, the NET would resume in June, beginning in Bend, Oregon, sliding down the West Coast and weaving its way across the South to various Eastern Seaboard venues.

FWIW, the Japan shows are cancelled. The U.S. show remain on the docket, but we'll see how things unfold. The pessimists abound, some predicting that a million Americans will die. The optimists quietly assert that 90% of what we worry about never happens. Just be wise.

Photo courtesy Philip Hale

I remember when Desert Storm was about to begin. Here's what I've written elsewhere after that 100 hour "war."

But what struck me — and many others — most was the disparity between what happened and what many talking heads predicted would take place. Before the campaign, code-name Desert Storm, we were continually reminded of the quantity of missiles, land mines and nerve gas the Iraqis had at their disposal. Furthermore, in its eight year war with Iran, Iraq had not lost a single defensive battle.

The pundits got it wrong. And not just a little wrong, but massively wrong.

I don't know where Bob will be spending his unscheduled vacation time, but I suspect he will attempt to remain "out of range" during these times that are ever more strange.