Bob Dylan Manchester Arena 16 Nov 2005
David and I drove to Manchester and stayed in the Travelodge just up the road from the arena. We had floor seats about half way back the massive MEN, which is a vast venue. The place was packed and there was a definite buzz in the air; the crowd were really up for seeing Dylan, and he didn’t let them down. This was one of the best Dylan concerts that I have attended in recent years. Dylan spent much of the evening from behind the piano, as on the previous couple of times we’d seen him. 
His singing was much stronger and there was less evidence of the strange up-singing that had featured a lot in performances of that time. The whole arena sang along to Like A Rolling Stone. Highlights for me were I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight and Lay Lady Lay. Jack White was in the crowd and walked passed us just before Dylan took to the stage. Setlist: Maggie’s Farm; She Belongs To Me; Cry A While; Lay, Lady, Lay; Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine); Million Miles; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight; Man In The Long Black Coat; Down Along The Cove; Girl Of The North Country (acoustic); Highway 61 Revisited; A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall; Summer Days. Encore: Like A Rolling Stone; All Along The Watchtower.
23 Oct
Bob Dylan Manchester Arena 16 Nov 2005
22 Oct
Bob Dylan Newcastle Arena 22nd June 2004
Bob Dylan Newcastle Arena 22nd June 2004
I’ve got a couple more Dylan concerts to cover after this, and then I will have blogged on all of my Dylan concert experiences. I figured Dylan is of such legendary stature that I really need to say something about each time I have experienced him in concert, but to be honest I’m finding it difficult, as the concerts have started to blend together in my memory. This is particularly true of the Newcastle Arena gigs, as I’ve seen Bob 5 time at that venue. Anyway here goes: Dylan was back at Newcastle Arena in 2004. David and I had good seats, in the second row, but a little too much to the side. 
This was a classic Dylan concert, one of the best times I’ve seen him. He was singing great, and the sound was really clear. I remember that the highlight for me was This Wheels on Fire, which I hadn’t seen him sing before, and it was a truly great rendition of the song. Setlist: Seeing The Real You At Last; Tell Me That It Isn’t True; Lonesome Day Blues; Under The Red Sky; Cold Irons Bound; Ring Them Bells; Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum; This Wheel’s On Fire; Highway 61 Revisited; The Lonesome; Death Of Hattie Carroll; Bye And Bye; Honest With Me; Masters Of War; Summer Days; If Not For You; Like A Rolling Stone; All Along The Watchtower
21 Oct
Bob Dylan Sheffield Arena 20 November 2003
Bob Dylan Sheffield Arena 20 November 2003
David and I drove down to Sheffield to see Dylan on this cold autumn evening in 2003. David was studying in Leeds at the time so I picked him up first. We got stuck in a massive traffic jam between Leeds and Sheffield and arrived at the venue just a few minutes before Dylan came on stage. We were meeting David’s friend Joel at the venue, as he was studying in the city; we quickly met up and then took our seats. We were sitting in the upper tier to the side, quite far away from the stage, so Bob was a small dot so far away from us. 
Dylan was playing a lot of piano during that period, and spend most of the show behind the keyboards. This was an ok performance by Bob, but his voice wasn’t strong and the sound mix was pretty murky. Dylan was still suffering from a throat infection, which has forced him to cancel a gig in Ireland a few days earlier. However we all enjoyed the event and seeing Dylan. David and I spent the night in a Travelodge near the venue and drove back the next morning. Setlist: Maggie’s Farm; It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue; Cry A While; Desolation Row; It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding); Girl Of The North Country; Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum; Man In The Long Black Coat; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; Highway 61 Revisited; Every Grain Of Sand; Honest With Me; The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll; Summer Days. Encore: Cat’s In The Well; Like A Rolling Stone; All Along The Watchtower
20 Oct
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Fibbers York 19 Oct 2012
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Fibbers York 19 Oct 2012
Laura had expressed interest in seeing veteran psych crazy guy Arthur Brown, so last night we took a trip to York to see our hero perform in all his splendour at Fibbers Club. The current Arthur Brown show returns to the “Crazy World of” moniker and concept, and thus focusses on his early material, drawing heavily from the 1968 album of the same name. Arthur has put together a band of young musicians who authentically replicate the 60s sound, with swirling keyboards reminiscent of the late great Vincent Crane (courtesy of Lucyy Rejchrtova), and lots of fuzz and wahwah guitar (from Nona Gromniak). Jim Mortimer is on bass, and was also introduced as the musical director of Arthur’s latest project, and on drums is Samuel Walker. Arthur was accompanied at the front of stage by dancer Angel Fallon, who wore a series of bright different costumes throughout the show. We arrived around 8pm and said hello to Charlie who was doing the sound. The set was a mix of covers (Kites, Green Manalishi) and tracks from the early days (Devils Grip, Spontaneous Apple Creation, I Put a Spell on You). Quite a few of the other songs in the set sounded familiar to me, but I’m not able to put a name to them. Arthur was as manic as ever and in good spirits, having a bit chat to us all, and indulging in some crazy, silly dancing. The new show is very theatrical and Arthur and the band have obviously put a lot into creating it. It features lots of costume changes, and great dance routines between Arthur and Angel. The band took to the stage wearing quite spooky bird masks with massive beaks, which set the tone for a quite dark night. The set ended with Fire with Arthur going mad, and Angel in a splendid costume with a massive silver cape and a large crown-like hat. Arthur’s voice is really strong, with screaming very much in evidence; not bad for a guy who entered his 7oth year in 2012. The encore was a super version of The Animals’ Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. The crowd loved it, as did Laura and I. Support act The Moulettes are worth a special mention. They were very different and quite unexpected, playing acoustic instruments: violin, cello, autoharp, bassoon; their music being a blend of folk and elizabethan. They reminded me a little of Blackmore’s night, and are certainly worth watching out for. Apologies for the grainy photo, I am really going to have to practice using my iphone camera.
19 Oct
Crossfire Hurricane The Rolling Stones movie live event 18 October 2012
Crossfire Hurricane The Rolling Stones movie live event
Cineworld Boldon
Last night was the premier of the Rolling Stones new documentary Crossfire Hurricane, and we all got the chance to be part of the event, which was screened live from the Odeon Leicester Square to 300 cinemas around the world. I attended the screening at my local Cineworld cinema at Boldon. To my surprise it wasn’t too well attended with 20 or so people in the audience. The screening started with a live simulcast (just picked up on that word) from the red carpet outside the Odeon, where we saw the four current members of the Stones arrive alongside past members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor and celebrities such as Liam Gallagher and members of the Stones wider family such as Jerry Hall, Anita Pallenberg and Jade Jagger. There were some interesting interviews with Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman who each commented on the documentary, and some plugs for the upcoming 50th anniversary concerts in London and Newark. The documentary itself is pretty good. It focusses on the Stones at the height of their success in the 60s and 70s, with nothing at all after that period. There is lots of previously unseen footage, and for me the film highlighted a few things: how important Brian Jones was to the early band, how crazy the 60s concerts were, and just how great the Stones are as a live band and as a musical force. A nice early evening’s entertainment.
From the official press release: “The Rolling Stones are to be chronicled in a kaleidoscopic new film, Crossfire Hurricane, that documents key periods of their career and their incredible adventures. The film features historical footage, much of it widely unseen, and commentary from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and former Stones Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor, as well as rare interviews with Brian Jones. Period interviews, extensive live performance material and news archive footage will complete the documentary, which takes its title from the opening lines of “Jumping Jack Flash”.”
18 Oct
Bob Dylan Newcastle Telewest Arena 8 May 2002
David and I had great seats for this Dylan gig, in the front block and a few rows from the front. It was a real treat to have such a good view of our hero. The gig itself was ok; but my no means the best time I’ve seen Dylan in concert. Reviews afterwards were very mixed, which is often the case with Dylan concerts. Its almost as if some fans were at different concerts; its funny how different people see the same gig in so many different ways. Reviews on the Boblinks site showed both ends of the spectrum, with one guy saying “There are simply no bad Bob Dylan concerts these days.” and “Last night there were of course some songs I enjoyed more than other songs, but that does not give me the right to knock those other songs, for they still are multiple times preferable to anything else performed by any other band or artist out there.” 
Another fan declared the Newcastle gig “The Newcastle show was over, and so far Kait and I were immensely disappointed. The crowd was horrible, security was bad, Bob’s guitar solos were terrible, his harmonica was less than great, and he just wasn’t trying with his performance in general.” and “Anyway, this show was the worst Bob show I’ve seen and I’m not exaggerating: it was disappointing.” David and I enjoyed the gig, and being so close to Dylan was enough in itself. I do remember that his singing wasn’t great, and there was lots of his “up-singing”. Setlist: Wait for the Light to Shine; Song to Woody; It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding); Love Minus Zero/No Limit; Solid Rock; Just Like a Woman; Subterranean Homesick Blues; Cry a While; Mr. Tambourine Man; A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall; Tangled Up in Blue; Standing in the Doorway; Summer Days; Cold Irons Bound; Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat. Encore: Love Sick; Like a Rolling Stone; If Dogs Run Free; Honest With Me; Blowin’ in the Wind. Encore 2: Highway 61 Revisited
17 Oct
Bob Dylan Newcastle Telewest Arena 19 Sep 2000
Bob Dylan Newcastle Telewest Arena 19 Sep 2000
I took David to this gig, for his fist taste of Dylan in concert. This was one of the better times that I have seen Dylan, and David was impressed enough to come and see him with me on several more occasions in the years that followed. We had bought tickets quite late and, as a result, we ended up with seats which were quite far back. Still our view of the stage was still ok. The arena was full this time, after a far from sold out gig at the same venue in 1998. Dylan and his band were on great form and the set featured a lot of his better known songs. There was a mix of electric and acoustic versions, and the encore contained a surprising seven songs. He finished with a lovely acoustic version of Blowin’ in the Wind. 
This was the start of me trying to see Dylan every time he came to the North of England or Scotland over the coming years, often accompanied by David or Laura. Setlist: Duncan and Brady; The Times They Are A-Changin’; It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding); Delia; Tangled Up in Blue; Searching for a Soldier’s Grave; Country Pie; Standing in the Doorway; Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again; Tell Me That It Isn’t True; The Wicked Messenger; Rainy Day Women #12 & 35. Encore: Things Have Changed; Like a Rolling Stone; Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right; Man of Peace; Forever Young; Highway 61 Revisited; Blowin’ in the Wind.
16 Oct
Bob Dylan Newcastle Telewest Arena 20 June 1998
Bob Dylan Newcastle Telewest Arena 20 June 1998
Support from Van Morrison
This was a standing gig, with support from Van Morrison. The arena was far from full, as I recall. From a newspaper of the time: “Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, two genuine legends of rock, kick off a short national tour today. As they’re so moody and unpredictable, this pair can often disappoint, but when they rise to the occasion, it can be one of those all-time great nights. Well worth a risk, if only to say that you’ve seen them.” On the night Van was quite moody, as the newspaper suggested; however Dylan seemed in better spirits. The set included quite a few acoustic songs, and several tracks that were unfamiliar to me. The highlight for me was the last encore of Rainy Day Women, during which Dylan and the crowd really lit up. Setlist: Gotta Serve Somebody; If Not for You; Cold Irons Bound; Simple Twist of Fate; Silvio; To Ramona; Masters of War; Love Minus Zero/No Limit; Tangled Up in Blue; Forever Young; A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall; Highway 61 Revisited. Encore:Love Sick’ Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
15 Oct
The Who play Quadrophenia with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morissette Hyde Park 29th June 1996
The Who play Quadrophenia with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morissette Hyde Park 29th June 1996
This was a great gig, with a very strong line-up. The concert was in support of the Princes Trust and was the first time that The Who had played in the UK for some years. I went with Marie, largely to see The Who; however the presence of Dylan and Clapton on the bill made the event all the more attractive, and the price of £8 seemed a bargain. We spent the weekend in London, staying at a Hotel close to Hyde Park Corner. Around 150,000 people were at this concert, and the weather wasn’t great; it was quite a cold day. I don’t remember much about Alanis Morissette, but do recall seeing Dylan who played a short set. His normal band was augmented by Ron Wood and Al Kooper; we were sitting on the grass somewhere in the middle of the park, and the sound was murky, blowing around in the breeze.
Bob Dylan’s setlist was: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; All Along the Watchtower; Positively 4th Street; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; Tangled Up in Blue; Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right; Silvio; Seven Days; Highway 61 Revisited 
Quadrophenia has grown on me over the years, and I’ve seen The Who perform it three times; once on the original tour, this show in Hyde Park, and more recently at the Albert Hall Teenage Cancer Trust gig. The Hyde Park show featured a cast of special guests playing the various parts of the rock opera: Phil Daniels (Narration), Trevor McDonald (Newscaster), Ade Edmundson (Bell Boy), Gary Glitter (Rocker), Stephen Fry (Hotel Manager), and Dave Gilmour (Guitar on Dirty Jobs, Love Reign O’er Me). The band was introduced by Jools Holland. It was a fun show, although I was a little disappointed that they didn’t pay any Who classics; I thought we might get one or two as an encore, instead we got a reprise of 5.15. The Who setlist was: I Am the Sea; The Real Me; Quadrophenia; Cut My Hair; The Punk and the Godfather; I’m One; The Dirty Jobs (with David Gilmour); Helpless Dancer; Is It in My Head?; I’ve Had Enough; 5:15; Sea And Sand; Drowned; Bell Boy; Doctor Jimmy; The Rock; Love, Reign O’er Me (with David Gilmour). Encore: 5:15. After The Who, we watched some of Clapton’s set, but left before the end. At the time I’d lost a little faith in Eric and was somewhat tired of seeing him play live. However my interest in him has become renewed in recent years, and I also feel that he has returned to form.
14 Oct
Bob Dylan Palais des Sports Toulouse France 30 June 1993
Bob Dylan Palais des Sports Toulouse France 30 June 1993
I came to be at this Dylan gig purely by chance; I was at a conference in Toulouse through work, and spent a few days in the city. I’d been to Toulouse once or twice before and knew my way around the city. On my first day there, I spent a few hours looking around the open air market, rummaging through piles of 60s EPs and picture sleeve singles, and spotted a poster advertising a Dylan concert for the following evening. So I went into a nearby record shop and bought myself a ticket. This meant I would miss one of the conference evening receptions, but I couldn’t pass up the chance of seeing Dylan. The Palais des Sports was an indoor venue of a reasonable size, within walking distance of my hotel. French star Johnny Hallyday was in concert the night before Dylan, but that gig was sold out, unlike the Dylan concert. In hindsight I wish I’d made more of an effort to try to get a ticket for Johnny Hallyday as well. There was a support act for Dylan; I can’t recall who they were, but I think they were a local band. Dylan’s set was a little shorter than the gigs I had seen in the late 70s and early 80s, with a good selection of songs, but no Like a Rolling Stone! I remember enjoying the gig, but that it was spoilt a little because I knew I had to get up at 4am to get to the airport for a 6am flight. I walked back to the hotel after the gig, and had a few hours sleep before I got up to start my journey home. The ticket for this gig is pretty cool, with a nice picture of Dylan. Setlist: Hard Times; Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again; All Along the Watchtower; Just Like a Woman; Tangled Up in Blue; Born in Time; Watching the River Flow; Little Moses; Tomorrow Night; The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll; Gates of Eden; Cat’s in the Well; I and I; What Good Am I?; Maggie’s Farm; Man in the Long Black Coat; It Ain’t Me, Babe
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