HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB DYLAN! One year ago, I was celebrating Bob’s birthday with the man himself. This year, I’m at home getting read for the summer tour. In celebration, here’s my delayed review on the final show of the Spring 2026 Rough & Rowdy Ways tour.

I’m a couple weeks late on this review but I thought rather than an immediate review “competing” with my friend on , this would serve more as a “nostalgic” post as we are only 2.5 weeks from the June non-Rough & Rowdy Ways tour!

Well, I’ll bury the lede right now. Everyone can relax, he did not play Murder Most Foul. Nor did he indicate in anyway that this is the end of the Rough & Rowdy Ways tour. However, this was a fabulous show so let’s get right into it.

The Town and The Venue

“What’s Abilene, Texas?” I believe some version of that was my question to beloved Texan, podcaster extraordinaire and brilliant reviewer, (check out her beautiful review of this show on ’s substack, ). I don’t remember the answer, but regardless, she planted the seed for me to come to Texas to see Bob Dylan. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the last show. Even though I’ve learned that the first show of a leg is more surprising (still haven’t done one of those), there’s something about the uncertainty of the last show and the need to be there just in case, it’s the last. I waited patiently for the right time, and when pit tickets dropped to normal prices I nabbed one in the second row. Now I just needed to figure out how to get to Abilene! No problem, just a plane to Dallas, and 3 hr drive to Abilene, easy peasy!

The venue itself was nothing special. A soulless, cavernous, auditorium within a convention center. No interesting architecture, no charm, no history. Having said that, the folks working the event were very nice and helpful. Concessions were cheap, and they even handed out the leftover popcorn for free at the end! The auditorium was big, black and dark. While it didn’t have character, there was a buzz in there of excitement so it didn’t matter what the room looked like. One friend said after the show, “I liked the venue, it reminded me of my high school!”

The Crowd

Great crowd. Seemed excited about everything. I didn’t hear much chatter about not knowing the songs or being able to see Bob. Ok, maybe a little bit of that after the show, but during, everyone was engaged, excited and really reacted to the performances positively.

The Show

The main storyline of this tour has been, “What’s going on with the sound?” For the most part, no problems. There was a slight issue in that Bob’s mic wasn’t turned on to start the show so you couldn’t hear him singing the first verse of To Be Alone With You. He pointed and nodded at the sound guy, problem fix, the band looped around and Bob came in with the first verse. Nice when you have a blues song that can just loop over and over. Anton Fig kicked the show off with a killer beat that introduced each band member, followed by the guitarist playing the recurring riff that has been present on every TBAWY on this leg. Even though it’s a song I’d be fine with never hearing again, it does still resonate as a message that Bob is sending to his audience. Ah, to be alone with YOU Bob…<sigh>

The highlight of this tour to me, has been Man In The Long Black Coat. While I am still mourning the loss of Desolation Row, I have gladly sacrificed it (and other beloved songs) for this standout song from Oh Mercy. It’s been an interesting choice to bring everyone down with a low number right after a blues banger but I ain’t mad about it! He’s basically doing the album version with no harmonica (unfortunately). I would love to see this one stay on the set list this summer.

If you had told me in 2007 that All Along The Watchtower was going to leave the setlist for a few years but when it returned it would be the standout banger of multiple legs and two different iterations of a Bob Dylan tour I would’ve said you were crazy. But here we are. It’s no surprise to anyone that this is the song of the set that get’s the crowd up and excited. It’s his most recognizable version of his most recognizable song on the set. It was just great.

I still can’t place what that recurring riff in the latest arrangement of I Contain Multitudes is from. It’s a descending riff that definitely sounds like it could be in another Bob Dylan song. I just can’t place it. If you can, let me know! What I love about it is that it gives ICM an actual melody. The original version, while beautiful, was sort of void of melody. If this is the end of Rough & Rowdy Ways, I’m really going to miss this song. This of course goes for every R&RW song. One little thing I’ve loved about the performance of this song over the last 5 years is the little pop The Rolling Stones get when he shouts them out. I think he likes that too ☺️.

False Prophet, my forever favorite banger of the album. I still believe that this should’ve been the opening track, followed by Multitudes. But who am I to question The Man? I love the breaks the band does during this song. Bob kind of bends his knees, leans forward and the whole band kind of leans towards him. It’s cool.

Black Rider is a great, come down after False Prophet. It’s a great opportunity to sit down and concentrate on the words and what Bob is playing. This particular version was no exception. I didn’t detect any chatting or wandering. The crowd seemed riveted and of course that line got a little applause.

Believe it or not Love Sick is my personal, most-heard Bob Dylan song, tied with I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight. I think what that actually says is Bob likes playing it. A lot. It’s 11th on the all time played list. I remember that at the beginning of the Rough & Rowdy Ways Tour back in 2021, it was on the set in Milwaukee at that first show. It made it one more night in Chicago, where he was still futzing with it and then promptly dropped it. It wasn’t until the Outlaw tour where it made it’s return and hasn’t really left since. I expect to see it on the set list as long as he’s touring. The acoustic version of his band actually strengthens the performance of the song. I’ll be curious to see what he does with it.

I wish Goodbye Jimmy Reed was the banger that it is on the album. When I’m listening to the album this is the song I most associate with rolling the windows down, cranking the volume to 11 and hitting the gas on the open road. For whatever reason it’s been more of a subdued shuffle blues when he does it live. Kind of like a low key Summer Days. I love it, it’s just not my favorite version of the song.

Don’t worry though, if you’re looking for something to rock out to, up next is I Can Tell, made famous by the real father of Rock and Roll, Bo’ Diddley! This was another one that made it from Outlaw and aren’t we glad we did? My favorite thing about this one is in the last chorus when he goes, “No more, no more! No no no no no no more baby!” That started midway through Outlaw last year (I think around Clarkston maybe?) and remained.

Up next, the most emotional love letter Bob has ever written to us. I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You, is not only Dylan’s longest title of a song but I would argue is one of his most introspective, vulnerable, personal and honest songs. Maybe second only to its setlist mate, Every Grain of Sand. Every time I hear it, I still can’t believe Bob Dylan, famously introverted, quiet, kind of crabby would write and perform something like this. It’s amazing. I love this song so much.

Crossing The Rubicon is one of the more interesting arrangement changes this tour. This was another one like Jimmy Reed where I felt that live it didn’t deliver in the way it did on the album. He mostly played it as a subdued shuffle blues as well. However, behind Anton Fig’s steady drum march this truly felt like General Bob is amassing the troops to fall in line and cross the Rubicon. This is the definitive arrangement, as it goes perfectly with the theme and vibe. Can we ever go back after we cross?

Very suddenly, after Rubicon, Bob leaned into the mic and said, “Well thank you! That’s Bob Britt playin on the guitar, Anton Fig’s playing on the drums. Doug Lancio playin on the guitar and Tony Garnier (pause for applause), he’s playing on the bass guitar.” It’s always sort of shocking when Bob talks but I love it. I really have loved how much the audience appreciates the band, especially Tony!

How will we ever un-hear Istanbul/Puttin’ On The Ritz when we listen to When I Paint My Masterpiece now? What possessed Bob to use that musical theme as a base for this song? A theme that lives in minor chords and is oddly spooky while the lyrics of the song are joyous and hopeful! To paraphrase “Yenta” from Fiddler On The Roof, "With his minor chords and her lyrics, it’s a perfect match!”

The Outlaw Forgetful Heart carried over a few dates into the Spring Tour and honestly it’s a great choice. I think I would have preferred Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright, but it’s one of the better new arrangements Bob had done during Outlaw, and it works very well with the acoustic band. Instead of the big loud electric guitars playing the “BA DA DUM” after each verse, it’s just Bob on piano. Considering he loves to bang and clunk on those keys, why not put it to good use?

Soon After Midnight is a lovely song. But I’m good. I’d be very happy if he retired it for something else. As long as that something else wasn’t Early Roman Kings😉. It is fun that he plays a Together Through Life song followed by a Tempest song. It’s also fun that he know is playing the recognizable guitar solo on piano. I just wish he would’ve left the harmonica in the song.

I don’t know where Bob pulled the Eddie Cochran song, Nervous Breakdown, out of the deep recesses of his mind (maybe he was listening to it while writing Philosophy of Modern Song), but I’m glad he did! I actually didn’t know the song before the tour. I had to look it up. As soon as I heard it I knew this would be perfect, and truly it’s the get up out of your seat moment of the show (I know I also said that about AATW). As argues (and correctly) in “Dylan Goes Electric,” Dylan has been a rocker since he was a kid. He was clearly having some adolescent fun up on that stage during this one. He wails out the “Nerrrrrrvouuuuuus Breaaaaaakdowwwwwn,” just like Cochran, maybe a little like Elvis. I hope this stays in the set list. By the way there’s a riff in there that’s been bugging me the whole tour and I figured it out. Did Led Zeppelin get the main refrain from Livin’ Lovin’ Maid from Nervous Breakdown? Would love for a music expert to weigh in here.

We’ve come to the end. I sincerely doubt it’s the last time I will ever hear Every Grain of Sand. But if it is, it was a stellar version to go out on. Every word, line and note was crystal clear and got deep into my veins. And then that harmonica solo. The one touchstone of the night where Bob Dylan sounds exactly like the Bob Dylan everyone else remembers. It’s a nice moment for them and for me. This would be a great choice for the last song Bob plays and the last song I ever hear. But let’s not go there.

There was no special encore, no replay of Dublin, no verbal acknowledgement of the city or crowd, rather the usual skip and hop out to the front for a non-bow. Surprisingly, Bob clapped for the audience. I was told later he had been doing this the whole tour but it took me by surprise and delighted me to no end.

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane of the not so distant past. Take a listen to the show below, it’s a fun one. I’ll see you on the road in June, July and August!

HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY BOB DYLAN!

This will be shorter because I actually don’t have much to say, as it wasn’t that different from Saturday night in Rockford. Here we go:

The Venue:

This was a perfectly fine venue. With a 2400 capacity and a theater that opened in 1927, I expected interesting architecture, ornate interiors and terrific sound. The sound was fine. The rest of it, eh. I will say that the staff including the ushers and security were so nice and helpful but not bothersome. Sometimes at these venues the ushers are more disruptive than the rowdy patrons, or late comers. In this case they deferred to not disrupting the show, which I appreciated.

The Crowd:

I was really impressed with the behavior of the crowd in Rockford. For the most part this was the same with a couple very annoying exceptions. We were sitting Orchestra Right, in a technically “obstructed view.” We couldn’t see Bob Britt or Anton Fig, but saw Bob Dylan perfectly so that’s all I cared about. This area became the hotspot for folks who wanted to dance. I’m totally cool with dancers. I think if you want to get up and move for Bob Dylan, do it. What I don’t appreciate is talking during it. A VERY drunk couple stumbled over to our area, sometime after the band intros (I got stepped on twice by drunk idiot #1), and were clapping off beat, banging on the wall and LOUDLY commenting on how much they love the song. If you love the song then shut up and listen to it! Other than that and couple talkers behind us, the sold out crowd was pretty well behaved.

The Setlist:

The set was identical, as were the arrangements. There were a few fun, notable, different moments but overall, the same.

1.To Be Alone With You

2.Man In The Long Black Coat - I still feel very lucky to have heard this. Bob was very much locked into this one. The arrangement almost identical to the album with the exception of no harmonica and no swampy effects. He seems to really enjoy singing it!

3.All Along The Watchtower - For many, this is the highlight because it’s the one “hit” on the show. Crowd was super into it, and who can blame them. What was fun here was that Doug played a lick that was sort of a mix of the lick from Outlaw and the album version. I don’t recall him doing that in Rockford. As usual the major lift, lifted us all up.

4.I Contain Multitudes - I’m obsessed with this new version! Please listen to and decide!

5.False Prophet - After hearing this new arrangements and being excited about it, I can confidently say I both like it and I miss the hard version.

6.Black Rider -Around here, the volume of Bob’s mic became suddenly very low

7.Love Sick - I can’t believe I’m saying this again, but this is an incredible version. Maybe the best ever.

8.Goodbye Jimmy Reed

9.I Can Tell

10.I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You - There was something about this performance that was very moving and felt personal. I’ve always said this song is a love letter to the fans who come see him live and he really seemed to be conveying that sentiment. I’m not sure it comes across in just the audio but I really felt it.
Band introductions - He skipped Anton Fig!!!! Which is very strange because the next song is ALL ANTON.

11.Crossing The Rubicon - The military march for this song is perfect. I felt like I was crossing the Rubicon with Dylan!

12.When I Paint My Masterpiece - No harp on this one! Oh well!

13.Forgetful Heart

14.Soon After Midnight

15.Nervous Breakdown - The new highlight of the night. Bob was WILD for this one!

16.Every Grain of Sand - Stunning, moving and the only harp of the night!

Overall, great night. Some low mic volume and lack of surprises (not Bob’s fault at all) made it not quite as good as Rockford, but the performances themselves were absolutely wonderful. What did you think?

See you in Abeline, TX at the end of the tour!

Your Pal,

Henry

https://www.henryjbernstein.com/merch

https://songsofbob.simplecast.com/

A fantastic show in Rockford, IL is in the books! After my experience of going in cold to Dublin, I decided to not listen to anything heading into my first show last night and it was a great choice. I was blown away by every single arrangement of every single song. Let’s break it down.

The Venue:

This was a really beautiful, and very old theater that was teeny tiny! With a capacity of only 2400, they really had trouble controlling the flow of a truly sold out show. It was very hard to maneuver through the crowd. The lines for merch, concessions, restrooms and seating were long, winding, and unruly. Having said that, security was very nice and respectful and the ushers, while a little slow and overwhelmed, were also very kind, wholesome and midwesterny.

The Crowd:

If you’ve been here before you know I am very critical of the people at Bob Dylan shows. Especially the people who don’t seem to know they’re going to a Bob Dylan show. This crowd was SUPER into it! They did not really get off their butts too much for him but lots of hooting, wooting and cheering. I didn’t detect much chatter during the songs either. A little bit here and there but not too bad. There was a little bit of the usual, “I didn’t know any of those songs,” or “That was a pricey ticket for no encore,” and of course, “That could’ve been better.” But I was finally able to not get mad at them and just laugh it off. Growth? There was a crazy fight that broke out in the lobby as I was leaving. If anyone caught what was going on let me know!

The Setlist:

The last few reports I’ve done, I haven’t gone song by song, but since this was my first of the tour, and things seem to change night to night, so here we go!

Let’s first move on from the mic drama. The double mics seem to have solved the sound issue. For whatever reason Bob is getting up and down during songs, sometimes in the middle of a verse. Maybe he wants to stand but it’s challenging for him so he needs to sit back down, I don’t know. But it’s really not that big of a deal. For decades there have been times where Bob has missed a verse or a word and we don’t make a fuss.

1.To Be Alone With You

This started off high energy, with the band really grooving. The first few words were missed by either mic placement or sound tech not turning it on but by the second line, all was right in the world.

2.Man In The Long Black CoatI have been so anxious since the start of the tour that this would be one big tease and he would drop this from the setlist. I’m still traumatized by 2024 when he played “Dignity” twice in Europe and then dropped it (my ultimate grail song, which I’ve been chasing for decades). Not only was this completely recognizable when it started but it was the highlight of the night. It was not only so special to hear a rarity (I only heard it once before in 2004, at my second show), but he followed the arrangement of the album pretty closely! I forgot how many verses and how long the song is! He was very locked into the lyrics and did not seem to be looking at his binder, but I could be wrong! I said to after it ended, “Ok I’m good, I can go now.” To which he replied, “Worth the price of admission!” I really mean it when I say, if you’re on the fence about seeing Bob on this tour, if anything, this is a reason to go.

3.All Along The Watchtower

Watchtower! The undisputed champion highlight of the 2025 Outlaw tour! The big question was, would the summer arrangement stay? It did. Mostly. Missing was Doug’s recurring lick, rather he played the chords. BUT, the move to the major chord stayed which completely makes this song feel so different. The crowd was super into it, and who could blame them? They knew the song, and probably didn’t even realize how much the minor fall and major lift effected them.

4.I Contain Multitudes

A COMPLETELY new arrangement! A new melody that felt nothing like the album or previous arrangements. Dylan introduced a descending melody on the piano that both felt familiar and fresh. I commented to Mike that he seems to be really into a sort descending melody thing in this current era. It’s really special that after 5 years this song is new again.

5.False Prophet

Another new arrangement! Gone was the hard Blake Mills blues lick intro, and lick over the “I opened my heart to the world…” part of each verse. What was interesting about this was how well the hardest song on the album worked so well as an acoustic song! Once again, Dylan tinkering with the chords, added a minor chord right in the middle of the first verse of each line. Where as adding a major chord to Watchtower which provided a hopeful lift, adding the minor here left it spooky and uncertain. Brilliant.

6.Black Rider

Not much to say here, as this followed previous arrangements. However, it was absolutely stunning and worked really well with the intimate, acoustic set up.

7.Love Sick

Love Sick is my third most heard song. I’ve heard it a lot. I love it, but at this point, I honestly could take or leave it. I would be very happy if another song was slotted in there. Having said that, and I know it sounds crazy, but this was the best Love Sick I’ve ever heard and I’m thrilled it was in there. Kind of crazy to think that if this stays in the set, and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight stays out, that in a couple months it’ll be my most heard song. There’s something about this acoustic arrangement that although it follows the album arrangement exactly, works very very well. Kudos to Bob for making something old, new again!

8.Goodbye Jimmy Reed

Another confession, after 5 years of this song, on the road. I have been largely disappointed by its arrangement. On the album it’s one of the very up-tempo, blues rockers that I BLAST at top volume in my car. But for whatever reason, the last couple of years it’s always performed softly, low key and while up-tempo, rather subdued. I think this might’ve been my favorite performance of this song. Dylan played a recurring melody on the piano that felt like a home base to come back to. I know I’m a broken record but again, this worked really well acoustically!

9.I Can Tell (song by Samuel Smith)

Another stand-out from 2025 Outlaw. The arrangement was pretty much the same as the summer, but Anton Fig was using a shaker as the main rhythm instrument. It was fun. If the crowd would’ve gotten off their asses, I would’ve loved to dance to this one. I’m really happy that Dylan brought the highlights of Outlaw into this set. Something he hadn’t really done besides warp-speed Desolation Row (which I miss). Bob Britt did some fabulous guitar soloing on this one too. Dylan ended the song with the wild, “No more no more - NO NO NO NO NO MORE,” followed by the last line a capella ! We LOVED it.

10.I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You

Pretty standard arrangement here. Very lovely. Very much appreciated by the fans. The love letter to us continues…
--Band introductions

After the song, Bob pulled the mic close and gave us a, “Well thank youuuu!” Of course, everyone went nuts. HE SPOKE! Lol. The introductions in the middle of the set are really nice. I can’t explain why but it was a highlight. Being able to show appreciation for these guys is really important to me. I hope Bob feels that. The order went Doug, Tony, Britt, Anton.

11.Crossing The Rubicon

Another NEW arrangement! I’m not sure how to describe it other than a military march led by Anton Fig. Thematically, this worked perfectly as we marched across the Rubicon with Bob Dylan and his band.

12.When I Paint My Masterpiece

The “Istanbul (not Constantinople)” arrangement continues! Not mad about it at all. It’s so fun. I wonder if They Might Be Giants (who I know in my heart of hearts must be Bob Dylan fans) have heard it? Also, HARP on this one!

13.Forgetful Heart

The night before in LaCrosse, WI, Dylan dropped one of the very few “Greatest Hits,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” for this one. I really love “Forgetful Heart,” and remain a huge fan of Together Through Life, AND this was another highlight of Outlaw, but personally I would’ve preferred DTTIA to stay. It’s a better song. Sorry. The arrangement of Forgetful Heart, which on Outlaw had the electric guitars going “DUH DUH DUM” after each line, was replaced by Bob playing it on piano and it worked very well!

14.Soon After Midnight

This was a lovely, straight from the album, acoustic arrangement of a very nice song. I have no beef with this song, I like it. But he should’ve dropped this for Forgetful Heart instead of DTTIA. Sorry, it’s true. I’ve seen this song 15 times. That might be too many? Also, I don’t know why, but playing a Tempest song after a Together Through Life song, made me chuckle.

15.Nervous Breakdown (song by Eddie Cochran)

I guess you could say this was the one, true, BANGER of the night. I did not know this song, but when I saw it on the setlist I listened to the Eddie Cochran version and have really been anticipating Dylan sing it. He did not disappoint. Everyone was super into it, having a grand ol’ time. This is a good one that should stick around.

16.Every Grain of Sand

What can I say, this has been the most emotional song of the night for the entire Rough & Rowdy Ways tour and remained that way. The most introspective, biographical, melancholy, hopeful and tearful song on the set. There’s something about that harp that makes me cry every time.

Just a wonderful show all around. I cannot say enough nice things about it. Don’t believe me? Listen to it yourself, below 😉. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I know that sometimes I’m repetitive or say something that I’ve said on the podcast a million times, but it all comes from a deep, deep love of Bob Dylan. I just love him so stinkin’ much.

See you in Waukegan, IL tomorrow!

Your Pal,

Henry

P.S. If you need a ticket for Muncie, IN I’ve got a PIT ticket with your name on it! Send me a message!

Keep an eye on this space over the next couple weeks, as the Bob Dylan spring tour starts! I’ll be on the road with some field reports, full reviews, and maybe some audio for you!

Your Pal,

Henry

I’ve heard anecdotally, that Bob Dylan is the most written about public figure behind Abraham Lincoln and Jesus (another nice Jewish boy, like Bob). So with that comes a lot of writing that is either a rehash of the same stuff, or so completely off the wall that it’s too bizarre to even follow. It’s rare that a Dylan book breaks through and says something new, different and truly original. Steven Rings does just that with “What Did You Hear? The Music of Bob Dylan.” For Dylan’s entire career the focus on his work has primarily been through the lyrics. And deservedly so! Of course, Pod Dylan, and Songs of Experience does this as well. For years though, I’ve asked experts, writers, fans, and the universe questions about Dylan’s guitar playing, piano playing, harmonica playing and singing. Many of those questions are met with the kind of speculation usually reserved for what he meant by what he said. This book finally answers those questions.

Steven and I do a deep dive into one of the all time great Time Out Of Mind songs, “Tryin’ To Get To Heaven.” I’ve been dying to cover something this album, and I jumped at the chat when Steven suggested it. Steven and I originally had a terrific conversation at The Bob Dylan Book Club (which I highly recommend), where I got to ask Steven about a premise I’ve been working through for a year: Bob Dylan has been singing harmony by himself for 60 years. We picked up right where we left off, here.

I hope you enjoy this. I encourage you to watch the video, so you can see Steven playing piano and guitar. Do me a favor and listen to the Live 2000, version of the song first, (I couldn’t include it in the episode, since it’s officially released) and please buy Steven’s book!

We may never find out what it means

Still there's a light I hold before me

And you're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams”

As Bob Dylan sang these words, the final verse of “A Rainy Night in Soho” the crowd’s energy, excitement and emotion seemed to fuel Bob. As we stood, so did Dylan, rising as the song reached its climax, pounding on the piano and nodding in approval, appreciation and achievement.

The whole experience almost feels like a dream. Back when the fall tour was announced, I noticed that the last date would be during Thanksgiving week when we were off and I proposed the idea to my wife. She was game to indulge me in my sickness. I was finally going to check off my last Bob Bucket List Item: See Bob Dylan in Europe✅.

I did some things the same and some things different this time around. First and foremost, locked up plans with my ride or die, Michael Glover Smith. We were going to experience what he said would be the final Rough & Rowdy show (oops) together. Along the way, Erin Callahan became a fifth member of the Heydemann-Bernsteins as we traveled through Dublin and suffered through jet lag together. The one main difference this time around was that Michael and I vowed to not listen to any recordings of the tour. We decided to go in as cold as possible. I wanted to experience the feeling of what it was like to hear Key West for the first time like we did back in 2021 in Milwaukee (the first show). Mike said, “We were there at the beginning and we'll be there at the end!” Oops. 😂

Ok enough of the preamble. Onto the show:

The Venue:

This was an odd one because for the last 4 years, every show I've seen has been in a historic, gorgeous theater, a souless university auditorium or something in-between. This was the first time seeing RRW in an arena and I have to say, not bad! The sound was excellent. The lighting was gorgeous. The staff were friendly, helpful but also took the job very seriously. The announced over the PA like 15 times that Mr. Dylan would come on at 8 sharp, no photos etc. Our seats were slightly to right of the piano, on Bob Britt’s side, 4th row. Pretty perfect.

The Crowd

I had been told that European crowds were much better behaved and civilized at Dylan shows than in the states. That was mostly true. Everyone was super excited to he there, everyone seemed engaged, no complaining about the songs or the sightlines and mostly no talking. This of course was with the exception of the two dudes behind me who exclaimed how much they loved Key West then proceeded to yap through the whole thing 🙄. The crowd really came alive at the end, as previously mentioned. I recognize my privilege of being up so close, because I was told by others that further back was lots of nonsense, folks talking, getting kicked out, etc. Oh well. I was locked into Bob.

The Performance

Usually I call this section “The Setlist” but I'm not going to go song by song. Please check out Laura T’s review on Ray Padgett’s Substack and Erin C’s on the Dylan Review (Hi Paul!).

As I said before I truly didn't know what to expect. I had heard rumblings of some new arrangements but my god I had no idea what I was getting into.

The first thing that popped me was the guitar in It Ain't Me Babe. I was hoping that this would be one of those shows where he played 5x guitar but I'll take what I can get. I love his guitar playing. The simple melody up and down the scale works, and his guitar sounded gorgeous.

Apparently we were partying like it was 2009 because on almost every line of Multitudes, Bob brought back the dreaded “up-singing.” Funny how nostalgia works. I was like “awww remember up-singing?”

For False Prophet Bob and the band were locked in. This was when Bob’s voice became really crystal clear. This would become a theme throughout the night: CLARITY

Black Rider - now with more echo! If you like the echo effect then you'll love this version!

My jaw dropped when My Own Version of You started and it took about 3 verses for me to pick it up. This was a completely new arrangement which I'm so glad wasn't spoiled. The band seemed to come together on two chords at the end of each verse going into the next. Very reminiscent of the Outlaw version of “Forgetful Heart (the superior version imo)” and a little like Cold Irons Bound as Mike pointed out to me. The way he keeps reinventing himself and his own songs is astounding.

What can I say about Desolation Row that I haven't said in every review? A top 5 song for me. I am so grateful to Bob for adding it into the setlist during RRW, keeping it during Outlaw and then back again on RRW. It is now tied with Like A Rolling Stone at x14 on my all time heard list! I will not express the same gratitude for I'll Be Your Baby Tonight as my most heard live at x23. 😉

Always a treat listening to Key West sitting next to Michael, for whom it is a favorite. This particular version had some strange and interesting percussion at the beginning. Some sort of African shaker type instrument. Good job Anton Fig! And this was the most clear I've ever heard Bob on this song. Every single word was enunciated and handled with care.

I had heard there was a gorgeous new It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, and man were they right. A very simple repeating melody (as Michael again pointed out) almost identical to the style of 2019’s Girl From the North Country. Now I'm not a 100% sure, but I'm pretty certain that he was playing Baby Blue in a minor key. I need someone like Eyolf or Steven Rings to check that for me. It was beautiful. The harmonica made me cry.

Mother of Muses was particularly interesting because Bob Britt played a lap/pedal steel guitar! It was on a swivel stand next to Dylan, and while still wearing his Stratocaster, he hunched over it and played it beautifully.

Every Grain Of Sand might be the best closing number of all time. What other song can sum up the Bob Dylan experience/career but also life itself? The harmonica brought the house down as it always does.

Then, on our tip toes, holding our collective breath, we waited as the band did NOT put down their instruments. Suddenly, those familiar Irish, opening notes and the words

“I've been loving you a long time

Down all the years, down all the days…”

Bob did the thing we wanted him to do! He played an extra song on the final night and it was the one we all wanted to hear! (For the record, Michael Glover Smith predicted it). It was highly emotional. A true final stamp on a magnificent story told.

Enjoy nightly moth’s recording here.

Thanks for sticking with me! Shout-out to all the wonderful European friends I finally met in person and to my pals who made the schlep with me from the states. It was a magical night. I love you all!

I'm not sure when I'll see Bob again but hopefully sometime in Spring 2026!

Your Pal,

Henry

I know many of us play the neverendingpool, but if you don’t or just want something more simplified, I put together a little poll. Check it out! See you on the other side!

Only two episodes ago, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing dear friend, Kait Runevitch, co-founder of The Bob Dylan Fan Club about a deep cut from Street Legal, “Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through The Dark Heat)?” As a completist, I knew I had to talk to Caroline Schwarz the other Co-Founder!

I have been itching to talk about my favorite “Jack Frost” album, Modern Times since I started this podcast. By the way, the offer still stands for anyone who wants to talk about “Thunder On The Mountain, Rollin’ And Tumblin’, Someday Baby,” or ANYTHING from Modern Times. I’ve had “Spirit on the Water” reserved for Caroline for a year and it was a pure joy to talk about it with her for an hour. I hope you enjoy it too!

https://music.apple.com/us/album/spirit-on-the-water/187497036?i=187497259

Spirit on the Water

Written by: Bob Dylan

Spirit on the water
Darkness on the face of the deep
I keep thinking about you baby
I can’t hardly sleep
I’m traveling by land
Traveling through the dawn of day
You’re always on my mind
I can’t stay away
I’d forgotten about you
Then you turned up again
I always knew
That we were meant to be more than friends
When you are near
It’s just as plain as it can be
I’m wild about you, gal
You ought to be a fool about me

Can’t explain
The sources of this hidden pain
You burned your way into my heart
You got the key to my brain
I’ve been trampling through mud
Praying to the powers above
I’m sweating blood
You got a face that begs for love
Life without you
Doesn’t mean a thing to me
If I can’t have you
I’ll throw my love into the deep blue sea
Sometimes I wonder
Why you can’t treat me right
You do good all day
Then you do wrong all night

When you’re with me
I’m a thousand times happier than I could ever say
What does it matter
What price I pay
They brag about your sugar
Brag about it all over town
Put some sugar in my bowl
I feel like laying down
I’m pale as a ghost
Holding a blossom on a stem
You ever seen a ghost? No
But you have heard of them
I hear your name
Ringing up and down the line
I’m saying it plain
These ties are strong enough to bind

I been in a brawl
Now I’m feeling the wall
I’m going away baby
I won’t be back ’til fall
High on the hill
You can carry all my thoughts with you
You’ve numbed my will
This love could tear me in two
I wanna be with you in paradise
And it seems so unfair
I can’t go back to paradise no more
I killed a man back there
You think I’m over the hill
You think I’m past my prime
Let me see what you got
We can have a whoppin’ good time

Follow  @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.social

If you would like to support hosting my  podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice.  Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, Linda Maultsby and Peter White over on Substack.

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

When I was approaching fifty I realized setting myself up for the last Outlaw Festival as #50 was going to take some clever maneuvering. I added Jones Beach to make that happen and I hadn’t taken into account Dublin as a possibility yet, but that will be #51 or my march towards 60!

I titled this review with my favorite line from “Mississippi” because I was struck with gratitude for the friends I’ve made in the Bob Dylan world over the last 5 years. Before 2021, going to Bob Dylan shows was mostly a solo adventure but now I’ve got a crew. This particular show had 4 different guests of “Songs of Experience” in attendance!

Ok, let’s get into the show:

The Venue:

Unlike most of the tour, with the exception of The Gorge and maaayyyybe Pine Knob, these soulless, cavernous amphitheaters are the worst. Not the case in East Troy, WI. It is definitely a pain in the ass to get to, and a little scary when you get off 94 and onto country roads but the venue itself is pretty cool. The lawn is on a slope so every seat up there is pretty good. The Pavillion is sort of close-knit and self contained, so again, you’re getting pretty good seats everywhere. I enjoyed Sheryl Crow from the front of the lawn, which was not crowded at all and then went down to Section 103, Row F for Bob.

The Set:

The static, standard setlist continued for the final Outlaw show, and I had no complaints. As I said about the Noblesville show, the hiding seems to be working for him because this was the best I’ve EVER heard him. He is locked in.

1.Masters Of War

This was incredible. I feel so grateful hear this timeless song written at such a pivotal time in history. It’s amazing how songs like these remain as relevant as ever.

2.I Can Tell

Hot take, this is the best performance on the setlist. Bob is having fun, laughing, adding extra “no no no mores” and is absolutely rocking out. This was proven to the world at the Farm Aid performance.

3.Forgetful Heart

On the ride up we listened to a playlist of the original recordings of the set list and we remarked how this arrangement and performance is better than the original. Prove me wrong.

4.Axe and the Wind

5.To Ramona

6.Early Roman Kings

7.Under The Red Sky

8.I'll Make It All Up To You

9.All Along The Watchtower

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is the highlight of the setlist. Dylan is a genius for taking a lick from an obscure Van Morrison song, adding a major chord and voilà, the best arrangement of Watchtower in history.

10.'Til I Fell In Love With You

A new arrangement on this leg! There’s a bit of Thunder On The Mountain “tuning” along with a big “BONK” power chord after each verse. Very similar to Forgetful Heart.

11.Desolation Row

My personal highlight. One of the reasons I keep going to these shows is to hear this song. Slightly new arrangement too, with a sort Chuck Berry/Surfer rock riff going throughout the song. I love it so much.

12.Love Sick

13.Share Your Love With Me

14.Blind Willie McTell

“The greatest song about America ever written” - . He ain’t lyin’.

15.Soon After Midnight

Lovely song that I’ve heard many many times.

16.Highway 61 Revisited

A slightly darker and grittier arrangement with a couple minor chords in there! Obviously a crowd pleaser and fun rocker. I commented that if you told 2009 Henry that one day he would miss and long for Hwy61 he’d have called you crazy. Great to have it back and to almost close the show.

17.Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

What can I say? The greatest breakup song ever written has somehow become the best song to close a powerful show. The harmonica solo alone is worth it.

Final Thoughts:

It’s really hard when you don’t know when your next Bob Dylan show will be. I’m very relieved and grateful that mine will be in Dublin to see Rough & Rowdy Ways finish up. I really love the Outlaw Music Fest so much. There were songs over the last 2 years that I thought I would never hear again or had never heard before. I saw Bob in places I only dreamed about like The Hollywood Bowl & The Gorge. I hope Willie keeps it going and I hope Bob signs on if he does, but if not, I’ll be ready for whatever Bob does next.

In Jewish tradition there’s a special blessing called the “Shehechiyanu” which we say when we reach a milestone event, (Bar Mitzvah, Wedding, 50th Bob Dylan concert), so If you’ll indulge me, I’ll say it here:

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai, creator of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time.

See you in Dublin!

Your Pal,

Henry

Photos and Videos

This is going to be a slightly different review as I had different priorities. They were taking my kids to their first rock show, securing at least a tolerable time with minimal whining and ensuring a memory to look back on one day. The first two were achieved and time will tell about the last one. I told a few people that even if they don’t have fun or are bored, maybe one day they’ll say, “We saw Bob Dylan once with our dad!”

The irony of the actual show not being my laser focus is that a particularly odd thing happened. A mysterious extra band member on electric organ appeared. Rumors are floating around, but honestly I couldn’t tell who it was. For details on this and a full recap, I recommend checking out my Dylan buddy, ’s fantastic review.

I didn’t capture any of my usual video, or pics, partially because there wasn’t much to capture! The barricade Bob has put up along with his camouflage attire is effective. To be honest, I wasn’t upset about it. It did make the experience more about the music. There were fewer people being annoying and I did see a lot of folks just sitting and listening. So, to Bob’s credit, it worked?

Bob was completely locked in. I didn’t even care I couldn’t see him. The music did everything. Particular highlights were “Masters of War, Watchtower, ‘Til I Fell In Love With You, Desolation Row and Blind Willie McTell.” I’ve included my Apple Watch recording. Fair warning, in addition to the regular crowd noise, you’ll hear all the chatter with the kiddos ranging from, “I’m bored, how many songs left” to “You’ve been good, you can have an iPad the rest of the show.”

Some final thoughts: Not sure what the big deal about “Deer Creek” is. It was like every other soulless amphitheater. Is there a reason it was the legendary stop for The Dead and Phish? I did enjoy the proximity of the parking lot to the venue and my kids loved the very nice gentleman named “Scott” who gave a ride in his golf cart. Highlights for my party members under 9 years old were, the golf cart ride, ice cream in a pouch, the giant fan and the hotel.

On to another classic Dead/Phish venue, Alpine Valley tonight! Look for a more detailed review from Row F!

If someone says, “Rock is dead,” then they haven’t seen HAIM live in concert. I don’t want to bury the lede but outside of Bob Dylan and The Eras Tour, this was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in my life. A top 5 concert for me.

There are a few factors that led to that very high honor:

1. The HAIM sisters are unapologetically Jewish, and even share my Hebrew name, חיים, which I generally translate as “Chaim,” but pronounced the same in English.

2. I’m a sucker for bands with incredible, tight harmonies, play multiple instruments and have strong female lead singers. Este, Danielle and Alana all check those boxes

3. They are besties with Taylor Swift and are featured as co-writers/artists on my favorite TS song, No Body, No Crime.

4. The show was at a venue I’ve been going to for 20 years, The Rave/Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI. I’ve seen Bob Dylan there twice, WWE NXT, and a couple other random bands. More on the venue in a moment.

Admittedly I was never a huge HAIM fan. They came into the scene after my musical tastes were locked in, however because of the things I mentioned, I always liked them and kept an eye on them. I decided I had to see them live, which often makes my love for a band deepen. It did here. Here we go, the review:

The Venue:

The Rave/Eagle’s Ballroom is a beloved shit hole. The good is that if you get there early enough or are crafty you can get up to the rail for a General Admission show, the acoustics are pretty good, and because it’s Milwaukee the drinks are cheap (in my case that means Liquid Death seltzer water). The bad is that the acoustics are just ok, the floor is sticky, it smells bad, the route you have to take from the entrance to the ballroom makes NO sense, and it’s in a neighborhood that is not super fun to walk through, to the car.

I arrived during the opener, a singer named Dora Jar. The venue was PACKED. Depending on the set up, its capacity is between 2,000 and 3,500 and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was closer to the high number. I highly recommend the opener! She was amazing! Anyway, I got right up to the rail, with only one person in front of me on the right side facing the stage (stage left). It was perfect.

The Set List:

1. Gone

2. All Over Me

3. Take Me Back

4. My Song 5

5. Cry

6. Spinning

7. Don’t Wanna

8. Million Years

9. The Steps

10. Gasoline

11. Blood on the Street

12. The Farm

13. Hallelujah

14. Summer Girl (with saxophone intro)

15. Want You Back

16. Relationships

17. Now I’m in It

Encore:
18. The Wire

I’m not going to go through the whole thing but I’ll share some highlights. First of all what you should know is that for most songs Danielle was on lead vocals and lead guitar, Este on Bass and Alana on rhythm guitar/keyboards. They all play multiple instruments. Danielle is a KILLER drummer and did a whole mini set on drums while singing lead vocals! Very Levon Helmesque!

They have perfect, gorgeous, harmonies and sing so well together. Check out Este’s amazing lead vocals on, “CRY.”

Highlights for me were “All Over Me, Cry, Don’t Wanna, The Steps, The Farm, Hallelujah, Want You Back and The Wire.” I highly recommend checking out those tracks.

If you would like to browse my videos and pics from the night check out this album.

And like a good little soldier, of course I recorded the concert. Download it here.

Look for my two final reviews of the Outlaw Festival over the next couple days!

Your Pal,

Henry

Having said that, it was an honor discussing the Oscar-winning hit, Things Have Changed with one of the great Dylan scholars, philosophers and front row dancing warrior, ! I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear your thoughts! As always, reach out to me if there’s a song you would like to come on and discuss!

And of course a big thank you to my friend Liz!

Your Pal,

Henry

Video and audio below:

Watch the Things Have Changed Video

Follow along with the lyrics here:

Things Have Changed

Written by: Bob Dylan

A worried man with a worried mind
No one in front of me and nothing behind
There’s a woman on my lap and she’s drinking champagne
Got white skin, blood in my eyes
I’m looking up into the sapphire-tinted skies
I’m well dressed, waiting on the last train

Standing on the gallows with my head in a noose
Any minute now I’m expecting all hell to break loose

People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care, but things have changed

This place ain’t doing me any good
I’m in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood
Just for a second there I thought I saw something move
Gonna take dancing lessons, do the jitterbug rag
Ain’t no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag
Only a fool in here would think he’s got anything to prove

Lot of water under the bridge, lot of other stuff too
Don’t get up gentlemen, I’m only passing through

People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care, but things have changed

I’ve been walking forty miles of bad road
If the Bible is right, the world will explode
I’ve been trying to get as far away from myself as I can
Some things are too hot to touch
The human mind can only stand so much
You can’t win with a losing hand

Feel like falling in love with the first woman I meet
Putting her in a wheelbarrow and wheeling her down the street

People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care, but things have changed

I hurt easy, I just don’t show it
You can hurt someone and not even know it
The next sixty seconds could be like an eternity
Gonna get low down, gonna fly high
All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie
I’m in love with a woman who don’t even appeal to me

Mr. Jinx and Miss Lucy, they jumped in the lake
I’m not that eager to make a mistake

People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care, but things have changed
 

Follow  @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.social

If you would like to support hosting my  podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice.  Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, Linda Maultsby and Peter White over on Substack.

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)

Written by: Bob Dylan

There’s a long-distance train rolling through the rain
Tears on the letter I write
There’s a woman I long to touch and I miss her so much
But she’s drifting like a satellite

There’s a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze
Laughter down on Elizabeth Street
And a lonesome bell tone in that valley of stone
Where she bathed in a stream of pure heat

Her father would emphasize you got to be more than streetwise
But he practiced what he preached from the heart
A full-blooded Cherokee, he predicted to me
The time and the place that the trouble would start

There’s a babe in the arms of a woman in a rage
And a longtime golden-haired stripper onstage
And she winds back the clock and she turns back the page
Of a book that no one can write
Oh, where are you tonight?

The truth was obscure, too profound and too pure
To live it you have to explode
In that last hour of need, we entirely agreed
Sacrifice was the code of the road

I left town at dawn, with Marcel and St. John
Strong men belittled by doubt
I couldn’t tell her what my private thoughts were
But she had some way of finding them out

He took dead-center aim but he missed just the same
She was waiting, putting flowers on the shelf
She could feel my despair as I climbed up her hair
And discovered her invisible self

There’s a lion in the road, there’s a demon escaped
There’s a million dreams gone, there’s a landscape being raped
As her beauty fades and I watch her undrape
I won’t but then again, maybe I might
Oh, if I could just find you tonight

I fought with my twin, that enemy within
’Til both of us fell by the way
Horseplay and disease is killing me by degrees
While the law looks the other way

Your partners in crime hit me up for nickels and dimes
The guy you were lovin’ couldn’t stay clean
It felt outa place, my foot in his face
But he should-a stayed where his money was green

I bit into the root of forbidden fruit
With the juice running down my leg
Then I dealt with your boss, who’d never known about loss
And who always was too proud to beg

There’s a white diamond gloom on the dark side of this room
And a pathway that leads up to the stars
If you don’t believe there’s a price for this sweet paradise
Remind me to show you the scars

There’s a new day at dawn and I’ve finally arrived
If I’m there in the morning, baby, you’ll know I’ve survived
I can’t believe it, I can’t believe I’m alive
But without you it just doesn’t seem right
Oh, where are you tonight?

Follow  @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.social

If you would like to support hosting my  podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice.  Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, Linda Maultsby and Peter White over on Substack.

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

Hi Friends!

Did you miss me in July? I sure missed Bob. It was great to be back on the road (in the air) to New York to see our favorite guy. I had been to Jones Beach two previewous times. Once to see Phish in 2012 and then a 1 year later to see Bob Dylan on the Americanarama Tour with Beck and Wilco (what’s old is new again) in 2013.

Before I get into Bob, let me just say that this was my first time seeing Lucinda Williams and she was AMAZING. She’s had some health struggles in recent years but she was incredible. I had forgotten I had seen Wilco in 2013. I want to say I loved their performance but it just wasn’t my favorite thing until the last four songs, when they really won me over.

The Venue:

Let’s get to Bob. By now you’ve probably heard he arrived by BOAT. Most of these Outlaw venues are pretty vast, cavernous and soulless but maybe it’s the lack of lawn, or it being on the water but Jones Beach was beautiful! The sound was very loud, food was decent, bathrooms were clean, parking was fine and the seats were comfortable.

The Crowd:

If you’ve read these before you know I have a problem with the talkers, the complainers, the come-laters and basically anyone who is interrupting Bob’s performance. The main problem on this one was the crowd wanted to sit and 1 or 2 people in the way front who stood the whole time (you’ll see his stupid head in my videos), and everyone else was screaming at them to sit down. My preference is to stand/dance but if that’s not the vibe I’m not going to cause anything to make me miss Bob. It was pretty contentious and annoying but I persevered to see my guy.

The Setlist:

I’m not going to go through every song because you’ve heard me yap about them. I’m going to talk about songs where I noticed an arrangement change, hadn’t seen yet on the tour, or moved me in a special way.

1.Gotta Serve Somebody

NEW ARRANGEMENT ALERT! Since Bob has resumed in late July he has changed up the arrangement of GSS again! Throughout the tour it’s been quiet and soft with the crowd super into it and waiting for it to kick into high gear but it never did. Well the gear has shifted! There’s something that I can’t quite put my finger on it. It sounds like a sort of 90’s rock version. If someone could tell me what I’m thinking of chime in!

2.I Can Tell (by Samuel Smith)

This was new for me! I hadn’t heard it yet on this tour, since my last show was June 20 in Clarkston, MI. This was an incredible performance. Bob was really HOWLING on the vocals. At one point towards the end he did some very creative and surprising scatting/added vocals, singing, “NONONONONONO MORE BABY!”

9.All Along The Watchtower

I just want to reiterate that this is the CLIMAX of the show (I could also argue with myself that Desolation Row is), where the crowd and Bob converge into one glorious acoustic rock celebration. The way that Bob goes to the major chord and the song lifts is the same thing that happens to the crowd when this song starts.

11.Desolation Row

This is my favorite part of the show. It is definitely a major reason why I go back to see Bob over and over again. I want to hear Desolation Row by the man that wrote it as many times as I can. He changed the arrangement a little bit! It’s now a very subtle blues song. Listen to the 12 bar blues rhythm. The harmonica solo was bone chilling.

14.Blind Willie McTell

The arrangement changed a little here too. It’s probably now the closest to St. James Infirmary Blues, that it’s ever been. said to me in the car that Blind Willie McTell is, “The best song written about America, ever.” No arguments here.

15.Highway 61 Revisited

This is my second most heard song, but I was not mad to see it back in the setlist. This crowd needed a crowd pleaser and they got it.

Bob introduced the band

Band intros were back! Yay! We love Bob talk.

16.Searching for A Soldier's Grave (song by Jim Anglin)

Ok this was really special. This was a mainstay in the setlist 23 years ago, but I hadn’t seen Bob yet so I never got a chance to see this one. It was wonderful. It obviously didn’t have Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton’s harmonies but Bob sang it so beautifully. It was so thrilling when he busted it out in the previous show. I prayed it would stay and I got my wish.

17.Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

There was a very slight arrangement change that I can’t quite put my finger on. There seems to be an extra minor chord or something. Let me know if you can identify the change! This is the perfect song to end the night. I saw several young(er than me) folks pop when he started this. It’s clear the A Complete Unknown bump is alive and well on the Outlaw tour.

Overall:

As I walked out of the show with Michael, I said to him, practically in tears, “I just love Bob Dylan and I love seeing Bob Dylan in concert.” We MUST go see him as much as possible. He is somehow at the absolute peak of live performance at 84 and every second we are in his presence we are lucky.

See you down the road in Noblesville, IN next month!

If you would like the link to the iCloud photo album with all of my pics and videos let me know!

Here’s full audio of the show. Thank you to Bennyboy for Desolation Row and Band Intros, above.

Listen to the song here

Follow along with the lyrics:

Pressing On

Written by: Bob Dylan

Well I’m pressing on
Yes, I’m pressing on
Well I’m pressing on
To the higher calling of my Lord

Many try to stop me, shake me up in my mind
Say, “Prove to me that He is Lord, show me a sign”
What kind of sign they need when it all come from within
When what’s lost has been found, what’s to come has already been?

Well I’m pressing on
Yes, I’m pressing on
Well I’m pressing on
To the higher calling of my Lord

Shake the dust off of your feet, don’t look back
Nothing now can hold you down, nothing that you lack
Temptation’s not an easy thing, Adam given the devil reign
Because he sinned I got no choice, it run in my vein

Well I’m pressing on
Yes, I’m pressing on
Well I’m pressing on
To the higher calling of my Lord

Copyright © 1980 by Special Rider Music

Follow  @songsofbob, @henrybernstein.bsky.social

If you would like to support hosting my  podcasts, please check out my Patreon where for $5 I will give you a shout out on the podcast of your choice.  Thank you to, Rob Kelly, Roberta Rakove, Matt Simonson, and Christopher Vanni. For $10, in addition to the shout-out I'll send you a surprise piece of Bob Dylan merch! Thank you to Kaitie Cerovec who is already enjoying her merch! I have a merch shop! Check out all sorts of fun Bob Dylan (and more) items! Thank you to Mark Godfrey, Linda Maultsby and Peter White over on Substack.

Email us at songsofbobdylan@gmail.com

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack.

Check out this video I captured at the time with my digital camera. I also grabbed 42 seconds of the harp solo from Desolation Row.

Enjoy!