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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > July > 10 > Entry
Mellencamp Steals the Show
What a a great night to be in Dayton.
That might not be something NCR president Bill Nuti ever said, but then he wasn’t at Fifth Third Field Friday night for the Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson show.
Let me tell you this right off, Mellencamp flat out stole the show. He energized the crowd that jammed the field around the stage and filled many of the seating sections in the two-tier ball park.
I loved everything he did: “Pink Houses,” “Rain of the Scarecrow” and especially “Small Town.” Maybe that’s because I’m from a small town, too. One that’s a lot smaller than Seymour.
“Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that’s me.”
One of the best moments of the night was seeing Willie Nelson share the stage with his son.
I know Dylan was the headliner of the five-hour show, but a lot of people cleared out as he went through his set.
I hope they didn’t miss ” Highway 61 Revisited”:
“Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What ?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’done ?”
God says. “Out on Highway 61”.
That was a magical moment. A perfect night. not too hot, a breeze. This little man beneath a big white hat on the illuminated stage. The tower on St Joe’s Catholic Church lit up on Second Street with a bright burning cross on the top. The clock tower at St. John United Church of Christ gleaming through the darkness a block beyond that on Third.
People lining the top of the McCormick Building at Sears and First and up on the Requarth Lumber building across Monument from left field and all along the sidewalks that flank the ball park.
I saw John Drake at Fifth Third. He runs the boxing gym downtown and he told me Dylan’s bass player stopped in Friday to work out, then gave him two tickets to the show.
Although I got a Mellencamp T-shirt and my wife got one picturing Dylan, I saw some guy wearing the shirt I really wanted.
It read “Growing Old — Disgracefully.”
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Comments
By Max
July 14, 2009 9:14 AM | Link to this
I was at the concert. Wilie just seemed like he was screwing around, speaking the lyrics instead of singing them. Mellencamp was fantastic, Dylan sucked! he needs to retire. The venue was lousy. why no big screen TV?By hf
July 11, 2009 6:53 PM | Link to this
THE GUY ROCKIN’ IN THE UPPERDECK WAS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION….SMILE PEOPLE…!By Trish
July 11, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
I have to agree Willie did a great job. But we were so far back from the stage couldn’t see anything, not sure I will ever go back there for a concert. At least at the Fraze you can see the stage.By jm
July 11, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this
I agree with the poster who called dylan a cosmic experience. But the whole show was excellent, I thought. I’m always blown away by the presence and authority of superb entertainers.By tbill
July 11, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this
I’ve always liked Mellencamp the best of the 3. Dylan to me is too rooted in the 60s sound, and Willie is a druggie tax dodger whose better years are far behind him.By MH
July 11, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this
Great night for an outdoor concert. 67.50 wasn’t a bad price considering there were four acts. Like all four or not. Even though there was alcohol, I walked the place quite a few times (field and stands) and didn’t see any trouble with drunks. People having a great time, enjoying the music. No different then what I see at the Fraze concerts. It is nice to see these events being offered in Dayton. Who’s coming next year??By Z Dawg
July 11, 2009 12:23 PM | Link to this
Mellencamp definately stole the show. Awesome performer. Willie was willie, good to his son on stage with him, he has alot of potential. Dylan was disappointing. Expected the mumbling, didnt expect the way songs were stretched out to fill time so Bob didnt have to sing much. Would see Mellencamp again, but Bob and Willie, well, did it dun it.By John
July 11, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
Dylan is notoriously anti camera, there have been no pictures allowed at any of his shows by the media or fans during his set.By Lifetime Dylan Fan
July 11, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this
I am one of those folks who left during DYLAN. You couldn’t hear a word..it all sounded like noise. If Ididn’t own the CDs I wouldn’t recognize the songs. Mellencamp did indeed carry the show. Fantastic. Willie was good..not great..but good. I will be happy if I am still that rockin’ at 75. Mr. Zimmerman should have stayed home. How rude! Oh…the drunks were painfully present. 5/3 made a killing on $5 beer..but it spoiled the evening for lots of folks. I won’t be back.By k
July 11, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
Were you people at the same concert I was? Seating was horrible. Dylan sounded terrible, could not even see him from our seats. Why was the jumbo tron not used? Why was the stage so far back that only the people on the field could see? Why did Dylan only do 2 hits and those were butchered? I am sorry I paid the $67.50 for a very poor concert setting?By needtoknow
July 11, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this
The media photographers were not allowed to stay for Dylan’s set. This is also why the video board was not on during the show.By Desiree Nickell
July 11, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
Did you leave early, Tom, or what? Mellencamp was great, but Dylan was a cosmic experience! Why no pics! Best Dylan concert ever!By bob
July 11, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Dylan was there. I thought he actually stole the show. I knew what to expect from Mellencamp. And even though I couldn’t understand a single word he said (I never “heard” any of those words to Highway 61, for instance, and I was there) Dylan rocked.By MB
July 11, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
I had heard a rumor that the Dylan folks forbid media photogs from taking his photo. Wondering if maybe that was true since there were no photos of him the the online gallery? Anybody know?By Dave
July 11, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
Dylan was at the show, wasn’t he? It was the Bob Dylan Tour with Mellencamp and Nelson, wasn’t it? 39 photos - none of them of Dylan. Mentioning one Dylan song. He WAS there, wasn’t he?By kim johnson
July 11, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
As mellencamp fans….Paula, Sharon and myself are not surprised he stole the show. As far as politics…he never keeps his mouth shut..that is why he sings!By Eve
July 11, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
Sorry the DDN doesn’t have any pictures of Dylan’s set.By b
July 11, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this
” from where our $67 seats were, you needed military binoculars to see anything on the stage”….. Did you have to stay in your seat? Looked like (from our free vantagepoint, also within military binocular range on the street) you coulda got up and gone down on the grass to get as close as you would have wanted…..By JT
July 11, 2009 7:37 AM | Link to this
It was a great show. Mellencamp did steal the show. I went to see Willie of course, and Mellencamp’s set was the icing on the cake! The only problem that impacted my night was that the performances weren’t up on the Jumbotron. That was a real dissapointment, because from where our $67 seats were, you needed military binoculars to see anything on the stage. Maybe next time 5/3 field will set up a camera and put the action up on the big screen…By b
July 11, 2009 6:42 AM | Link to this
Nothing like a free concert, lining outside on the sidewalks….could see and hear it all. Great concert!By Edmman
July 11, 2009 5:48 AM | Link to this
The show was great. The people that run 5/3 field are down right rude…. Expecialy the security. Give them a radio and they think they are the CIA. This was my first and last visit to this so called fan friendly veniew. It is no wonder that Dayton is going down the sewer. Thank god I didn’t have children with me. What ever you do, don’t go to 5/3 field. The people that run this place are making it a S—- HOLE…….By Wildwood Flower
July 11, 2009 5:05 AM | Link to this
His latest CD is his best - sorry I missed the concert! Thanks for the article and the great photos. (Note: why anyone would let an artist’s politics stand in the way of enjoying their music is beyond me.)By TC
July 11, 2009 4:33 AM | Link to this
I used to be a Mellencamp fan until he & his Barbie doll wife thought I was interested in their political opinions. Once they started that garbage I stopped listening to him.