Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson impress in low-key concert
news-press.com
By MARK S. KRZOS
MKRZOS@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on May 26, 2005
Concerts don't have to be loud, nor do they need any pryotechnics to make a lasting impression.
Such was the case Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium when two of music's biggest stars, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, played subdued sets before a crowd made up of Baby Boomers, their children as well as a few grandchildren.
Nelson kicked the night off with "Whiskey River" and over the course of an hour-plus set smiled at the eager crowd, waved and tossed his trademark red bandana into the smiling crowd.
Wearing a black Hawaiian shirt and picking away before a Texas state flag backdrop, Nelson gave fans what they wanted: "Poncho and Lefty;" "Crazy," the song he wrote for Patsy Cline; an upbeat version of Kris Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee;" "Blue Skies;" old chess foe Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" and "On the Road Again" before making way for Dylan.
Behind the keyboards all night, Dylan, always unpredictable in concert, treated his fans to a smidgen of his classics, but that didn't deter his fans, who span three generations.
With an overcast sky overhead and a cool breezing blowing through
the stadium, Dylan took the stage and strange smoke wafted over the near-sellout crowd. Without speaking to those in the audience, Dylan greeted them with song.
In "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" and "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" he seemed to be saying to all of us that we were in for a special night. As heat lightning lit up the darkened sky, Dylan and his band lit up the stage with an incendiary version of "Highway 61." By its conclusion, fans of all ages, witnessed musical brilliance — and it wasn't the only time during his set, either.
Sweet versions of "She Belongs To Me" and "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" brought lovers close and Bic Lighters skyward.
Lest anyone think Dylan has gone soft, his set also featured his sneering side. With his froggish voice he sang "something is happening here, but you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones" as his band seemed to emphasize his every word with pulsing thuds.
Just as Dylan returned to the stage for an encore, a thundercrack echoed through the stadium, followed by fans wishing him a belated birthday. He barely acknowledged them. After a bittersweet "Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)," the jangly guitars let out a familiar sound, the beginning riff to "All Along the Watchtower." By the time Dylan snarled, "There must be some way outta here ..." fans in front of the stage danced, wiggled, clapped and sang along. Some seven minutes and several jams later, the song concluded in an earthquake of sound.
Those who have never seen Dylan before and those who haven't seen him in a long time got their money's worth. |
