BOB DYLAN LIVE IN ABERDEEN

My father always used to say "Bob can't sing."

16th September 2000 was the day Dylan finally
played live in Aberdeen.
Better late than never,but don't leave it so long the next time.
He actually arrived in town the day before,via Dublin,
I'm still trying to find out what he did,and where he stayed
during this period.
You know,sometimes it's difficult to get accurate information on a
59 year old living legend.Still as reclusive as ever.
About ten years ago I went to one of his shows in Glasgow.
On that occasion I was disappointed by his band and his performance.
Maybe I was expecting too much back then,but even 49 year old legends
have their bad days.Don't they.
They were just going through the motions.
Surely this time would show a marked improvement.
It's now early sunday evening and I'm still listening
to Hiroko's recording made from the night before.
This sounds more like the real thing,and judging by the reaction
to the Dublin shows last week,Bob is back with a bang.
You never really know what to expect from a Dylan concert.
With such a back catalogue of songs,the setlist can change
dramatically from one night to the next.
As the Dublin and Aberdeen concerts would prove.
In the U.K. a concert ticket will give a starting time of 7:30pm.
This usually means a support act will play from 7:45pm till about
8:30pm.With the main act starting between 8:45 and 9:00pm.
Wearing a riverboat gambler suit,Bob strolled onstage at 7:45pm.
He's real early.
Many people still drinking beer in the bar would miss the
first two or three songs.
Not us.
We made the small sacrifice of no beer to witness the start.
This was a wise decision.
As the "small" figure on stage would go on to perform songs spanning
his long and illustrious career.
From The times they are a changin' to the newest song
Things have changed.
An audience of all ages was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Bob in the flesh.
Aberdeen will never see the same again.
Opening with an acoustic version of Halallujah,I'm ready to go.
He seemed ready for a good night.
Switching from electric to acoustic almost song by song.
Naturally,the old classics receiving the best reaction,but really the
whole show kept the crowd screaming for more.
For myself,the newer songs Not dark yet and Cold irons bound were a
welcome addition to the set.
Boots of Spanish leather was also a nice performance.
His backing band were good,very good.He seemed to enjoy playing with
them and they compliment his style.
Never a talker,on or offstage,Bob seemed relaxed and happy.
He played for one hour,took a short break,then came back and
played for another 45 minutes.
Living up fully to his legendary status.
Like a rollin' stone and Blowin' in the wind got the biggest
cheers of the night from an enthusiastic crowd.
The "small" figure took a bow then savoured the moment.
Almost in an instant,he was gone.

Bob Dylan has many serious fans.
He played harmonica only once on Tangled up in blue.
During the show I noticed him smile three times.
He introduced the band and said thank you.
They like this type of information.

Venue Aberdeen exhibition centre.
Capacity 6,500.
Ticket price 23 U.K.pound.
Band members.
Larry Campbell guitar/vocals.
Charlie Sexton guitar/vocals.
Tony Garnier   bass guitar.
David Kemper   drums.

Making our way home we bumped into a couple of friends.
Fred and Chrissie Craig.
Fred runs a local record shop called One-up.
Thirsty as we were,a beer would help us reflect on Bob's performance.
Everyone agreed he was back on top form tonight.
To finish off the evening,back at Fred's house we watched
Japanese T.V. on realplayer 8 and drank Greek brandy.

My father was probably right,but Bob Dylan is still a living legend.

Reported by Chris

---

 

伝説の人BOB・ディランがアバディーンにやってきた。
昨夜は７時半スタートということで、何かしらのサポート・バンドが演奏するだろうとのんびりと家を出たクリスとhirokoだった。
アバディーン・エキジビジョン・センターには３０代〜５０代という年齢層のオーディエンスが集まっていた。
これぐらいの年齢層だと本当に落ちつく。

センター内のPUBでbeerをと思いきや、長蛇の列だ。
クリスが「BOB」って何が起こるかわかんないから、サポート・バンドがあるのかどうか聞いてこようと、オフィシャル・T-シャツ売り場のお姉さんに聞きに行って戻ってきた。
「BEERを求めて並んでいる場合じゃないぞ！サポート・バンドはないらしい！急ごう！」
「へっ？？」

会場に入るともう熱気でムンムン。
時計を見ると７時４５分。
するととたんに会場の電気が消え、BOBが現れ出てきたのだ。
おいおい！まだ心の準備がぁ！ってなもんで、急いで隠し録音のRECをＯＮ！にする。

ＢＯＢディランは伝説の詩人だ。
だが、歌は決してうまいとは言えない。
しかし、何と言ってもあのねずみを踏んづけたような独特の歌い方が彼の魅力だろう。
何の挨拶も曲の紹介も言葉を発することなくただひたすら、演奏する。
懐かしい曲もかなりのアレンジを変えて楽しませてくれた。
「エアロスミス」のようにピョンピョコ飛びあがることになく、オーディエンスは横揺れでスィングだ。
hirokoの横のおっさんがリズムの外れた手拍子と腰のクネククネがどうも可笑しくて気になって仕方なかった。

BOB・ディランはバック･バンドにとってこれほどやりにくいシンガーはいないという。
ツアーが始まり、各地でコンサートを催すわけだが、毎回セットリストが違う。
もっとひどくなってくると、バック･バンドは今夜何を演奏するのか全く知らされてはいない。
ステージが始まって彼がギターを爪弾き出す、バック･バンドは即座に曲を察知して着いて行くというやり方だ。
しかも彼は途中で気に入らなくなったら、コロリと曲を変えたりしてしまうから大変なへそ曲がり。

ところが今回のツアーでは彼とバック･バンドの連携はしっかりととれていた。
驚くほどまとまったコンサートである。
しかしやっぱりそのセットリストは毎回違う。
前々夜のダブリンのコンサートとでは同じ曲は３曲しかないというのだからすごいもんである。

久しぶりのコンサート。
余り期待はしていなかったが、すごくまとまったまさしく伝説のコンサートだった。

セットリストは以下の通り・・・
 
 
 

1.   Halallujah, I'm Ready To Go (acoustic)	11.  Cold Irons Bound
2.   The Times They Are A-Changin' (acoustic)	12.  Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
3.   Desolation Row (acoustic)	(encore)
4.   Boots Of Spanish Leather (acoustic)	13.  Things Have Changed
5.   Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic) (Bob on harp)	14.  Like A Rolling Stone
6.   Searching For A Soldier's Grave (acoustic)	15.  Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic)
7.   Country Pie	16.  Highway 61 Revisited
8.   Under The Red Sky	17.  Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)
9.   All Along The Watchtower	18.  Cat's In The Well
10.  Not Dark yet	19.  Forever Young (acoustic)