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Home > Blogs > The Lounge Lizards > Archives > 2007 > October > 17 > Entry
Dylan rocks Nutter Center
With three sets played by three different artists in slightly more than three-and-a-half hours, at Tuesday evening’s Bob Dylan show held at the Nutter Center, most attending would probably agree that they got their money’s worth.
Due to a scheduling delay, I missed seeing Amos Lee’s opening set, but was told by reliable sources that it was powerful and heartfelt.
I was safely settled in my seat when Elvis Costello nonchalantly sauntered out on stage in a smoky purple suit and his trademark glasses. He was greeted to rousing applause from a half-full Nutter Center and promptly got down to business playing an acoustic set that opened with a couple oldie but goodies — “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” followed by “Watching the Detectives,” both off of his first record, 1977’s “My Aim Is True.”
Costello’s set was a flurry of rocking acoustic guitar play and booming vocals. Towards the middle of his set he explained that at one point his father gave him some advice saying, “never, ever look up to a note, always look down.”
He got political and deep with “The River In Reverse.” Other standouts were “Veronica,” “Blood and Chocolate,” “Radio, Radio” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”
Costello ended with “The Scarlet Tide,” an emotionally heart-wrenching story of a war widow that questions what her government tells her. In Costello’s words, “the act of a patriot.” This was by far the high point of his time on stage and he ended looking down on top of the notes his father spoke of.
The achingly beautiful ballad capped a roughly 45-minute performance that was filled with depth and meaning. It was excellent, but a small part of me couldn’t help but wish he would have brought a band to back him for the additional energy and musicianship it would have injected to the performance.
At 8:50 p.m. the voice of counter culture, one Bob Dylan, took the stage opening with “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.”
Sporting a first-rate five piece backing band, the father of rock and roll sang with a rough, weathered voice with a craggy depth that only age can carve out.
The musical vibe oscillated from a twangy country to a lively rock-a-billy, from soulful blues, to spirited honky tonk. The tireless musicianship morphed from one to another and in between, helping songs take on a new life of their own.
Many of the songs including “The Levee’s Gonna Break” (referring of course to what happened in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina), “Spirit on the Water” and “Nettie Moore” came from his most recent studio album, “Modern Times” released last summer.
There was little interaction with the audience during his almost two hours on stage, but that seemed to be OK. The crowd for it’s part, seemed to have a stillness to it, taking time to soak it all in.
A true poet, Dylan never rushed his songs, working instead to establish a mood. In fact, if you listened hard you could hear a heart beating in the lyrics (assuming you could decipher them) and the soul of a musician baring himself in the carefully constructed notes.
Dylan’s gruff, husky mumbling voice that sounded at times like it’s been raked over hot gravel was more often than not difficult, if not impossible to understand. The acoustics of the Nutter Center didn’t help matters any, bouncing sound off hard surfaces like a heated game of Olympic ping pong.
For his encore he played “Thunder On the Mountain” and ended the evening with his song “All Along the Watchtower” made most famous back in the day when The Jimi Hendrix Experience covered it.
Crackling vocals and acoustics aside, there was no doubt that we were in the presence of greatness, looking down on the notes with him.
So, were you there for Tuesday’s show? Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (31) | Categories: Music, Reviews
Comments
By sam
October 17, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
3 outstanding performances !! terrible acoustics couldnt stop this show from being special.
By Jay Ahlrichs
October 17, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
When Dylan started with “Everybody One Must Get Stoned” It took a while but the only words I recognized were “get stoned”. It even sounded as if he forgot the words he meant to use. Not a good start for the great poet. By the third song I realized the first song was meant as a suggestion or even a recommendation to the audience to help them relax during his singing. I found Dylan’s’ voice irritating and completely unintelligible. This may have been due to the acoustics or even the sound guy. However, those problems should have been addressed before the concert. I know Dylan is an icon, and has been one of the great voices of a generation. Last night, he was a big disappointment.
By Wayne
October 17, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
I thought Elvis and Bob were great. What was the 9th song Bob did between Workingmans Blues #2 and My Back Pages? It had the line “Hwy 5…dead or alive” Wayne
By mike
October 17, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
For my 9th Dylan show, this was one of the better indoor perfomances. Arena shows have bad acoustics…that’s just the way it is. Dylan’s music is infectious, and you need to catch that infection to really enjoy the concerts. I was able to recognize almost every song before he started singing. It took him a couple songs to warm up, but by the 3rd or 4th song, I thought his vocals were really commanding. If you don’t know the songs he’s singing, except for a “get stoned” here and there, then you haven’t been infected by his music. You need to listen to more of his albums, then see him play. You’ll have a different perspective, and he won’t seem so unintelligible to you. What’s most amazing to me is how he constantly reinvents his songs. Whether it’s a searing harmonica solo, interesting vocal phrasing, or even a head nod to the crowd, I never know what to expect. That’s part of the attraction. So once again, way to go Bob!
By mike
October 17, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
For my 9th Dylan show, this was one of the better indoor perfomances. Arena shows have bad acoustics…that’s just the way it is. Dylan’s music is infectious, and you need to catch that infection to really enjoy the concerts. I was able to recognize almost every song before he started singing. It took him a couple songs to warm up, but by the 3rd or 4th song, I thought his vocals were really commanding. If you don’t know the songs he’s singing, except for a “get stoned” here and there, then you haven’t been infected by his music. You need to listen to more of his albums, then see him play. You’ll have a different perspective, and he won’t seem so unintelligible to you. What’s most amazing to me is how he constantly reinvents his songs. Whether it’s a searing harmonica solo, interesting vocal phrasing, or even a head nod to the crowd, I never know what to expect. That’s part of the attraction. So once again, way to go Bob!
By Paul
October 17, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Just for everyone’s benefit, Dylan’s opening song is NOT called “Everybody Must Get Stoned”… It’s called “Rainy Day Woman #35”. Was this your first Dylan show perhaps? I agree with the comment that the accoustics were pretty much terrible throughout the evening. In fact Amos Lee sounded better than Dylan or Costello. In Dylan’s set his vocals were WAY too much up front. And how about the attendance? The Nutter looked pretty empty to me (couldn’t have been more than 1/3 full).
By mike
October 17, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
I’m sure that the sold out show at Cincinnati’s Taft Theatre the night before had something to do with attendance, but still…
By Jay
October 17, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
Big disappointment…I realize that Dylan is an icon, but come on…he made absolutely no attempt to entertain either through his performance or his selection of music …didn’t engage the audience… talked through many of the lyrics..when he sang it was pure gravel (even though he was clearly capable of singing better as shown in a few bright spots)…no wonder the house was half full…awful, just awful…
By Jay
October 17, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Big disappointment…I realize that Dylan is an icon, but come on…he made absolutely no attempt to entertain either through his performance or his selection of music …didn’t engage the audience… talked through many of the lyrics..when he sang it was pure gravel (even though he was clearly capable of singing better as shown in a few bright spots)…no wonder the house was half full…awful, just awful…
By ward
October 17, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
I for one thought the show was absolutely great. I was amazed at well Dylan sang and for the most part I thought the lyrics were very easily heard. I especially like my back pages, nettie moore, highway 61 revisited. “Am I over the Hill?” absolutely not. p.s. the song is not titled “everybody must get stoned.” take the time to know your subject.
By GARDNER
October 17, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Dylan’s opening song is titled “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.” (Everybody must get stoned) Another song in question was “Highway 61 Revisited” from the album of the same title. I first saw Dylan at Cincinnati’s Music Hall in 1965. Good seats were $2.50 and “Like A Rolling Stone” changed my life. I’ve seen him probably 15 times in concert. He rarely speaks and NEVER plays a song the same way twice since he went electric. It usually takes him 4 or 5 songs to get comfortable on the stage and loves to sing out of time. Time has badly weathered his voice but his last 3 albums (CD’s) were nominated for a Grammy and Time Out Of Mind won. Lyrically he’s as good as he ever was. For me, just seeing him on stage is worth the price of admission.
By GARDNER
October 17, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Dylan’s opening song is titled “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.” (Everybody must get stoned) Another song in question was “Highway 61 Revisited” from the album of the same title. I first saw Dylan at Cincinnati’s Music Hall in 1965. Good seats were $2.50 and “Like A Rolling Stone” changed my life. I’ve seen him probably 15 times in concert. He rarely speaks and NEVER plays a song the same way twice since he went electric. It usually takes him 4 or 5 songs to get comfortable on the stage and loves to sing out of time. Time has badly weathered his voice but his last 3 albums (CD’s) were nominated for a Grammy and Time Out Of Mind won. Lyrically he’s as good as he ever was. For me, just seeing him on stage is worth the price of admission.
By Bobby Ed
October 17, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
I greatly enjoyed seeing Elvis Costello’s solo performance. While the guitars he played were “acoustic,” they were all amplified and Elvis used the amplification to modify the sound of the acoustic guitar in interesting ways. I was particularly impressed with the way he controlled feedback and made it a vital part of the performance.
By larry
October 17, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
thanks gardner for informing the masses about dylan! i was surprised how much he interacted with the audience. the band was fanastic and he actually sounded like dylan a few times. listen to his vocals on the last cd. i thought he gave a great show. i agree with others that his sound person really was not up to speed. i believe 4000 tickets where sold.
By M
October 17, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
I thought the concert was terrible. The worst I’d been to at Nutter. The music was so LOUD I couldn’t make out the words anyone was saying. It actually sounded better from concourse level. I enjoyed what I could hear of Elvis Costello, but he was much better a couple years ago at Fraze. I left after Dylan began about his third song. The noise was more than I could stand. I guess I’d rather hear him up there with an acoustic guitar and not much else. I did not like the songs Dylan chose to sing. I was hoping for more of the hippie stuff.
By steve
October 17, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
The show last night was aweful. Everybody stop pretending that Dylan is god and admit that his performance sounded like a Spinal Tap jazz exploration. Luckily, Elvis Costello’s set was amazing enough to act as a preemptive apology to the crowd for Dylans upcoming performance. I stuck around for the whole show, but only because I could see the baseball game in one of the luxery boxes from my nosebleed(but still outrageously priced) seats.
By Bob
October 17, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Anybody expecting “Blowing in the Wind” has evidently not followed Dylan for a long, long time. Also, I’m not so sure that “The Levee’s Gonna Break” is at all about Katrina, given that it is based on a blues song first written in the late 1920s. Of course, anyone who would call “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35” “Everybody Must Get Stoned” is subject to doubt.
By Peggy
October 17, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Our seats were on the floor but on the side and there were two 7 foot guys in front of us that stood the entire time so I could’t see at all.I thought he sounded great I just wish he would actually sing his oldies instead of speak them. He actually sang the songs I hadn’t heard of so I know he is capable. I wanted so badly to hear Maggies farm and a few others more closely like they were recorded. “It Ain’t Me Babe’ was hardly recognizable. Would have been nice to hear”Hard Rain ” with a beat like his famous concert of the late 70’s. Age is not the issue and I get tired of hearing that. 66 is not too old to put on a show. His voice is unique and beautiful. SING it BOB! I went out and bought the greatest his today.
By Peggy
October 17, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Our seats were on the floor but on the side and there were two 7 foot guys in front of us that stood the entire time so I could’t see at all.I thought he sounded great I just wish he would actually sing his oldies instead of speak them. He actually sang the songs I hadn’t heard of so I know he is capable. I wanted so badly to hear Maggies farm and a few others more closely like they were recorded. “It Ain’t Me Babe’ was hardly recognizable. Would have been nice to hear”Hard Rain ” with a beat like his famous concert of the late 70’s. Age is not the issue and I get tired of hearing that. 66 is not too old to put on a show. His voice is unique and beautiful. SING it BOB! I went out and bought the greatest his today.
By chris
October 17, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this
Wayne: the song you’re asking about is called “High Water”. It’s on the new record.
By Wayne
October 17, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
Dear Chris: Thank you, I found it on Love and Theft.
By Wayne
October 17, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this
Dear Chris: Thank you, I found it on Love and Theft.
By maxi
October 17, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
This month I saw Dylan 3 times in 4 days. Each show was different and very entertaining. I especially liked Tuesday’s version of Masters of War. I had a terrible seat at Nutter but I’m never disappointed with a Dylan show.
By hal
October 18, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
you are all so lucky to have had dylan play there..he did not come to our state (the state of confusion) this year at all…
By hal
October 18, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this
you are all so lucky to have had dylan play there..he did not come to our state (the state of confusion) this year at all…
By hal
October 18, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this
you are all so lucky to have had dylan play there..he did not come to our state, the state of confusion this year at all…
By chris
October 18, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
cant belive you wasted your money on dlyan hey the van halen show in cleveland rocked
By e
October 18, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
Dayton would get more acts like Dylan and sell them out if the Dayton Newspaper had great write ups and photo’s afterward. The Dylan show was another example of why great artists skip the Dayton area and if they do come they think twice about coming back. Our entertainment reporting is extremely poor and I am hugely dissapointed in the coverage as I was unable to make the show. I plan on seeing Dylan at the Chicago theatre at the end of the month so I can read a real newspaper the next day about the show. You would think that the DDN would jump on the chance to have a big story with photos. Oh brother. E
By Kevin
October 18, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Was it the Nutter Center acoustics or the sound engineer? Disappointment is the only word I can use to describe the unintelligible sound. Considering the clarity of Alison Krauss’ performance a few months earlier in the Nutter Center, I blame the sound engineer for completely obscuring the beauty of Dylan’s music and lyrics. Next time, Dylan should come to the Schuster Center and bring a more competent sound engineer.
By Margie
October 23, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
I went to this concert with my husband to hear Bob Dylan, since he is an icon in the field of folk music and the rebellion of society’s wrongs. We drove up from Cincinnati since we missed getting tickets for The Taft. Because of the Security Officials demanding to take our camera (even though my husband called ahead of time to make sure it was okay to have one), we missed the first act with Amos Lee. I liked Elvis Costello okay, except I would rather hear him sing the lyrics instead of screaming them, and therefore hardly understand a word he “sang.” I was deeply disappointed with Dylan’s performance. Besides the fact that he looked ill and not happy to be there, he sounded even worse. I have never been to a concert where the lead performer did not address the audience with some sort of friendliness or at least some gratitude for their support, and found him to be quite rude in this aspect. It was sad that he had to speak the lyrics to his songs, since his voice is gone. The only saving grace to his concert was the awesome band he has playing with him, and his own ability to still play several instruments with great skill. Like some others who commented here, I could not understand anything he “sang.” And what I could understand of one song he sang, it made me sad because he admitted that his stance on “changing” things has diminished to a state of inertia. So, even though the man should be retired by now, since his voice and attitude are ready for the nursing home, the only reward I find in having spent $65. per ticket to see this man comes from being able to say I saw Bob Dylan, although it was more for my husband’s sake than my own.
By jbean
October 26, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
i has a big tiki bar in my garage. it is equipped with lights,alcohol,and a snorkel and radio and stools. it is the awesomest one in the world. sorry got to go. “lbl” longer blog later. so right on