How Many Times Must a Man Fly to Stockholm?

Such an under appreciated movie.

 

Dylan doesn't necessarily give the audience what it wants. He's not going to play a set of his greatest hits. (And, before you go buy tickets for his current tour, you might want to google his set lists. I think he's mostly doing Sinatra covers, in support of his current album.)

Dylan's not going to engage the audience. He's going to play some obscure songs. He's going to change the arrangement on some of your favorites, and he's probably going to play keyboard most of the night.

But his band is going to be tight and you're going to get a good show if you go in with an open mind.

 

LOL.

 

He doesn't sing off key or wing it.

This is a guy who plays a ton of shows every year.

But, he doesn't perform every song like he recorded it 40-50 years ago. He purposely rearranges them.

 

You make a lot of assumptions about my attitudes in going to a concert.

I generally don't care what songs an artists chooses to play or not to play. I'm paying to hear them perform, not to listen to their greatest hits album. It'd be much cheaper to sit at home and listen to their music I've already purchased.

One of my all-time favorite concert experiences was hearing Beck at Farm Aid come out and say basically, "I was just here last month and played my music then, so fuck it, I'm doing what I want today." Then he played a fantastic set of bluegrass music. One of my all-time worst concert experiences was seeing Hootie and the Blowfish (I know, I know: What did I expect?) and they literally sounded just like their album. No variation whatsoever. I wondered if they were lip syncing. I mean I was pissed cause I think I would've been happier drinking beer in the parking lot and listening to their CD.

What I do expect is a decent performance though, since I've shelled out money for it.

The first time I went to see Bob Dylan, I had heard so many horror stories about his shows that I went mainly to be able to say that I'd seen Dylan live. My expectations were low and thankfully so. He appeared inebriated, played Girl from the North Country Woods twice, struggled to finish other songs and played a short set. The second - and last - time I went to see him was in '98 and it was much better. I still had low expectations, but the girl I was seeing at the time really wanted to go. He came out and gave a fine show. I had a great time. I love his music, but never had a strong desire to go see him again.

 

Saw Dylan twice. Once in early 2000s at BU as I said before. Great for 25 minutes or so, lousy the rest. The other was at University of Pennsylvania in 1965, when he did half acoustic, half electric with sidemen later known as The Band. So that was a pretty good show.

 

I just got around to reading this article. Pretty funny.

 

Do we think Dylan will even pick up his prize?

 

I am a huge Dylan. Huge fan.
I love his live shows and his studio work.

That said, this award is ridiculous.

 

Not flying to Stockholm: