Bob Dylan, Paul & Dan Kelly @ Rod Laver Arena (20-21/04/2011)
Bob Dylan
When it was announced that Bob Dylan would be returning to Australia in 2011, I can’t help but admit that this was the best piece of tour news I had heard in the past three years. I had missed Dylan’s previous visit in 2007, a mistake I have regretted every day since.
Dylan’s music had a profound effect on me during my later college years, inspiring me artistically and musically. Simply put, he changed my life. So what better way to give tribute to Bob Dylan than to hear the words from the poet himself?
However, expectations had to be set. Much like his music, Bob Dylan has changed visually and audibly throughout his career. This has sparked unfair criticism of his music from fans and critics alike. So when taking our seats three rows from the stage, I knew that this wasn’t to be Bob Dylan from his Blonde on Blonde era, rather a 2011 interpretation of his work where we’d witness a wise man who led a generation with his unassuming tunes of freedom and peace.
Paul Kelly is a legend himself amongst Australia’s folk scene. Upon taking to Rod Laver Arena’s stage, it was clear that there couldn’t have been a more fitting choice to open the night’s proceedings. Rather than backed by a band, a family affair was in order as Paul’s nephew, Dan Kelly, joined him throughout the set providing backing vocals and various instrumental contributions.
Throughout the two nights, we were treated to a small selection of Kelly’s finest including Before Too Long and How To Make Gravy. However, the highlight on both nights came through a touching finale where Kelly stood alone in the single spotlight, using only his voice to command the stage and close the set with a simply beautiful and exposing rendition of Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air.
The announcement of Dylan’s arrival comes through a pre-recorded message, summing up Dylan’s journey through life as the band arrive on stage, before the man, the poet, the voice himself takes his place behind a keyboard, adorned in a gold trimmed suit and white brimmed hat upon his head. Opening with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking, the audience is immediately met with the coarse, yet unique voice that is Mr Bob Dylan.
Stories of past shows have painted an image of Dylan being lifeless, uninterested and disconcerted with the show. Such stories have in my opinion, being greatly exaggerated. Though he is close to 70 years of age, Dylan has style and a unique charisma that can only be described as another personification of his life. And although he may not have as much energy as say, Neil Young, Dylan’s performance is engaging and prolific. The sets between nights had their strengths and weaknesses, each were somewhat different. My personal favourite Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right was swapped for Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power) on the second occasion.
Blood On The Tracks inclusions Tangled Up In Blue and Simple Twist of Fate were highlights on both occasions. Being some of Dylan’s most popular work, they were well received by the audience on both nights as opposed to Desolation Row which unfortunately felt disjointed with it’s reworking.
Dylan has often been criticised for rearranging his own music with each performance in style and tempo. Thunder On The Mountain was given a much slower rendition on the second night as opposed to the first shows more faithful electric performance on Wednesday night. But the highlight of both shows was to come in the 21st’s performance of Highway 61 Revisited. If ever we were going to gain the slightest insight into the Dylan of the past, this was the moment. With as much zest as he could manage, Dylan took the time to have some new age fun with a classic song as he rocked out the electric guitar, a move he has been forever infamous for.
It was unfortunate though, to see so many leaving the venue during the show. Walking out because Dylan didn’t sound like he did forty years ago showed a complete lack of respect for one of our times greatest figures. As the main set was wrapped up with the simply fantastic Ballad of a Thin Man, the Dylan faithful who cheered for more were rewarded as such.
The encore of Like A Rolling Stone and closing song Forever Young was a poignant and special moment. The second night’s performance even had the added inclusion of All Along The Watchtower, a highlight of the night. Respected by his fans, his peers and the many inspired by his work, Dylan’s legacy is shown through his love of the music and dedication to perform night after night for the whole world to enjoy. Though behind the smile and sparkle in his eye, it’s no secret that Bob Dylan is getting older with time. Being on a Never Ending tour of the world since 1988, this may have been the last time we see him visit Australia.
As Bob Dylan smiles for the crowd at the end of the night and departs the stage to dimming light, it goes without saying that to see this great man perform was more than privilege, it was a moment I’ll never forget. We can only hope that we’ll get to see him one more time.
Luke Sutton
Dylan’s music had a profound effect on me during my later college years, inspiring me artistically and musically. Simply put, he changed my life. So what better way to give tribute to Bob Dylan than to hear the words from the poet himself?
However, expectations had to be set. Much like his music, Bob Dylan has changed visually and audibly throughout his career. This has sparked unfair criticism of his music from fans and critics alike. So when taking our seats three rows from the stage, I knew that this wasn’t to be Bob Dylan from his Blonde on Blonde era, rather a 2011 interpretation of his work where we’d witness a wise man who led a generation with his unassuming tunes of freedom and peace.
Paul Kelly is a legend himself amongst Australia’s folk scene. Upon taking to Rod Laver Arena’s stage, it was clear that there couldn’t have been a more fitting choice to open the night’s proceedings. Rather than backed by a band, a family affair was in order as Paul’s nephew, Dan Kelly, joined him throughout the set providing backing vocals and various instrumental contributions.
Throughout the two nights, we were treated to a small selection of Kelly’s finest including Before Too Long and How To Make Gravy. However, the highlight on both nights came through a touching finale where Kelly stood alone in the single spotlight, using only his voice to command the stage and close the set with a simply beautiful and exposing rendition of Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air.
The announcement of Dylan’s arrival comes through a pre-recorded message, summing up Dylan’s journey through life as the band arrive on stage, before the man, the poet, the voice himself takes his place behind a keyboard, adorned in a gold trimmed suit and white brimmed hat upon his head. Opening with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking, the audience is immediately met with the coarse, yet unique voice that is Mr Bob Dylan.
Stories of past shows have painted an image of Dylan being lifeless, uninterested and disconcerted with the show. Such stories have in my opinion, being greatly exaggerated. Though he is close to 70 years of age, Dylan has style and a unique charisma that can only be described as another personification of his life. And although he may not have as much energy as say, Neil Young, Dylan’s performance is engaging and prolific. The sets between nights had their strengths and weaknesses, each were somewhat different. My personal favourite Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right was swapped for Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power) on the second occasion.
Blood On The Tracks inclusions Tangled Up In Blue and Simple Twist of Fate were highlights on both occasions. Being some of Dylan’s most popular work, they were well received by the audience on both nights as opposed to Desolation Row which unfortunately felt disjointed with it’s reworking.
Dylan has often been criticised for rearranging his own music with each performance in style and tempo. Thunder On The Mountain was given a much slower rendition on the second night as opposed to the first shows more faithful electric performance on Wednesday night. But the highlight of both shows was to come in the 21st’s performance of Highway 61 Revisited. If ever we were going to gain the slightest insight into the Dylan of the past, this was the moment. With as much zest as he could manage, Dylan took the time to have some new age fun with a classic song as he rocked out the electric guitar, a move he has been forever infamous for.
It was unfortunate though, to see so many leaving the venue during the show. Walking out because Dylan didn’t sound like he did forty years ago showed a complete lack of respect for one of our times greatest figures. As the main set was wrapped up with the simply fantastic Ballad of a Thin Man, the Dylan faithful who cheered for more were rewarded as such.
The encore of Like A Rolling Stone and closing song Forever Young was a poignant and special moment. The second night’s performance even had the added inclusion of All Along The Watchtower, a highlight of the night. Respected by his fans, his peers and the many inspired by his work, Dylan’s legacy is shown through his love of the music and dedication to perform night after night for the whole world to enjoy. Though behind the smile and sparkle in his eye, it’s no secret that Bob Dylan is getting older with time. Being on a Never Ending tour of the world since 1988, this may have been the last time we see him visit Australia.
As Bob Dylan smiles for the crowd at the end of the night and departs the stage to dimming light, it goes without saying that to see this great man perform was more than privilege, it was a moment I’ll never forget. We can only hope that we’ll get to see him one more time.
Luke Sutton