There’s a certain monotonous grind perpetuated by the gawds of classic rock as they encroach upon their twilight years, a measured and meticulous routine of perfunctory new albums, reissues and arena tours. Big bucks, folks. Bobby Dylan isn’t immune to the reissue folly, having released a fucking billion Greatest Hits iterations over the years. But Bob differs from his stadium-commanding contemporaries, projecting a sense of purpose with a continual stream of new material.
His current tour is on the back of latest LP The Tempest. Well, not really. He’s been on an endless tour for long enough to make its title literal. Last time I witnessed a leg of the endless tour was at Rod Laver Arena, on the back of the excellent Modern Times (one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Dylan album). It was a brilliant, bluesy, and goddamn loud rock ‘n’ roll show. I missed the tour’s last visit to Australia, but the prospect of the more intimate confines of The Palais was a tantalising prospect.
He takes to the stage – the lighting on which is phenomenal, tasteful – like Benjamin Button on the brink of shrinking outta his current stark-trim suit and hat, his upper lip basking in the onset of reverse puberty. He swims in the suit, offering slow motion Elvis knee-wiggles on occasion. Still, somehow, the coolest cat in the room. He croaks like a bastard, but it fits the persona as weathered bluesman. A fine one at that.
The Tempest dominates the setlist. Not before older recordings set the scene. 2000’s Things Have Changed kicks things off. It’s the song that won Bob the Oscar he has proudly displayed on stage at each concert since (guessing it’s a replica?). The vintage She Belongs To Me is pulled from the cellar, with a not too far removed arrangement. Blood on the Tracks gets two showings tonight; the splendid Tangled Up In Blue before the intermission, Simple Twist of Fate after.
Spirit on the Water, the softly sweet toe-tapper lifted from Modern Times, garners the strongest reaction from the crowd. It’s a lovely moment, one of Bob’s finest songs from this side of the century. “You say I’m over the hill?” instigates a hearty “no!” from the crowd, as it most likely has hundreds upon hundreds of times since 2006. The response still rings true.
BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
Loved: Bob losing himself in trying to lose the band with extended ivory-tickling on Spirit on the Water.
Hated: Entitled old bastards getting pissy at the line to get in.
Drank: Spirits in the Water Bottle. Not really. But that’s some damn fine wordplay!
