COMMENT 335706
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2012-10-25 08:14 PM |
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Many rock legends have incredible ranges and protect their voices. Dylan has always had an unusual voice with a limited range It's amazing his voice has lasted as long as it has. He's an icon and his music is about the poetry of the lyrics. His range used to be about an octave. Now, Dylan has about 1/4 octave range - it varies between the gravelly hangover voice of someone who drank too many bottles of cheap bourbon the night before and the 4 in the morning voice of someone who smoked that last pack of cigarettes after midnight. I attended this concert to see Mark Knopfler, a living legend, and great musician. I wasn't disappointed. Dylan should have opened for Knopfler. Knopfler played a subdued set probably not to outshine Dylan. We couldn't take more than six songs of Dylan - I barely could recognize any of the songs. My boyfriend asked me as we were leaving with the other hordes of former fans "What was wrong with the keyboardist?" "That was Dylan," I said. OUCH!
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COMMENT 335357
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2012-10-24 05:11 PM |
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I'll agree that almost every song that Dylan plays has a new arrangement that throws you, and you don't recognize the tune at first. He has been doing this for ages. He has been boo'd off the stage at Newport. Still he is a storyteller and poet. This show was THE BEST I have seen of a Dylan (and I have seen many) show since his return to touring with the Band in '74. Monday night he was engaging, entertaining and best of all you could hear his words and his piano. Sorry people he mixes it up for a reason. Get it or dont?
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KIDS
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2012-10-24 02:20 PM |
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At 887P in regard to the vintage tour bus near the Bowl. Google peacemaker bus. The group was handing out some pretty wacky literature at the entrance to the Bowl.
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COMMENT 335226
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2012-10-24 01:22 PM |
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For the poster who wishes for a time machine to be able to go back and see some of their favorite concerts/performers at their best, I remind you to check out youtube. It is "my" TIME MACHINE :)
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COMMENT 335141
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2012-10-24 11:12 AM |
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Dylan's voice sounded like someone doing the scary voice for a haunted house. And it went on and on and on... yikes! He was wearing jogging pants with a stripe down the sides. His band kept playing louder and louder as the night went on - perhaps trying to drown him out? But it didn't work - still you could hear the scary haunted house voice. But we stayed to the end - about one third of the crowd remained. He is a legend and I am glad I saw him but never again.
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COMMENT 335118
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2012-10-24 10:42 AM |
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Sorry, EDHATBARBARA, but my palate is a bit more sophisticated than suffering the taste of the bland Bob Dylan.
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COMMENT 335050P
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2012-10-24 09:36 AM |
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I love Dylan on vinyl, but over the years his lyrics, even when crisp, have been so overpowered by his electric guitar, or muddied by the sound system, that I have given up going. We walked out on the UCSB concert because it was so loud you could hear it on Mars, but you couldn't hear Dylan at all. I liked him best with The Band in Seattle in 1973 (4?), and once in Eugene, in the '80's, he played a concert at the Hult with almost no amplification and a regular guitar and it was heaven. It is jarring to hear him mess around with the timing and lyrics, but after all he has been singing this stuff for fifty years and it must get boring.
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FLICKA
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2012-10-24 09:17 AM |
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About not engaging with the audience; Jerry Garcia never did either but it didn't keep the Grateful Dead fans from following their tour. Age works on some differently than others; Phil Lesh is 70, Bob Weir 65, their recent Further concert at the Bowl was fantastic from the first downbeat to the end.These people are there to play music, not get personal, although Phil does engage, mostly about asking people to let families know they want to donate organs if they die (I think he got a new liver 30 yrs ago). Love Dylan, he never did have a voice so I can't imagine what it's like now.
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COMMENT 334999
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2012-10-24 08:37 AM |
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Dylan is a god and has no need for any of us or our approval. He has a net worth of about $80 million and the idea that he plays because he needs the money is laughable. If you don't like him or don't "get" him, don't bother to go to his concert and then complain about it.
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RAINE5360
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2012-10-24 08:30 AM |
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Was in the 9th row, left side. Dylan can do whatever he wants, he's Dylan, for gosh sake. I've seen him three times now and don't regret it, despite that voice. I agree that you either "get" him or you don't. He has amazing respect and depth of knowledge of American music and brings that to his compositions and arrangements. He's a treasure and I feel fortunate to have seen him as much as I did. We all get old and it's a shame to think some people think age renders one irrelevant.
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COMMENT 334981
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2012-10-24 08:03 AM |
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I saw Dylan many years ago at the Bowl, and he was so GREAT that I promised to never see him again. I've heard how it is hit or miss with him. Glad I saw him on good night way back then.
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SEEDLADY
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2012-10-24 07:57 AM |
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Knopfler fans should not miss the album he did with Chet Atkins--pure gold! Particularly the cut 'Changes'.
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COMMENT 334955
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2012-10-24 07:07 AM |
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Unintelligible singing is the who Bob Dylan is. It was the retooled melodies that I didn't like. Tangled Up In Blue was half over before I finally figured out what it was.
We left between the 4th and 5th song.
Mark Knopfler was who I really wanted to see and was not disappointed!!
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COMMENT 334954
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2012-10-24 06:58 AM |
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Dylan is by far the biggest live disappointment these days - I saw him at the bowl about 4 years ago and it was a joke. Don't waste your money - it is funny to see the people there trying to convince themselves it was worth throwing their money down the tubes - just for the opportunity to say they saw him live? While thoroughly hating the experience? He is the worst of the worst - he abuses his audience with his horrible performance that is not at all like the original recording and he doesn't give a crap either. Insulting.
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COMMENT 334921
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2012-10-23 09:00 PM |
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I missed the show at the Bowl. Have seen Dylan many times. As one poster wrote, you get him or you don't. I get him; I consider him a cultural treasure. I also get he doesn't always perform well, and I have seen some crummy shows. I have also seen some transcendent shows. Saw him at the Palladium in Hollywood a couple of years ago - simply a fantastic experience. He was engaged and the band was as tight as a drum. His voice is shot, which is a shame. I don't fault anyone for covering their ears. But I will continue to regard him as the most important musician America has produced since 1960, and will continue to follow him to the end of the line.
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COMMENT 334887P
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2012-10-23 08:12 PM |
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Did anyone notice that huge vintage restored bus parked on Anapamu near the bowl ? It seemed connected to the show.
Does anyone know anything about it?
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COMMENT 334865P
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2012-10-23 07:29 PM |
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I was at the Dylan UCSB show that 752 mentioned, and I recognized one song that time. His performance last night was much better than the UCSB show, but still did not engage me. I just don't understand why he scream-mumbles the lyrics and slams the piano keys. I really went to hear Knopfler - such an amazing guitarist. He started off with What It Is, and that ramped me up. But after that it was lots of mellow music. It was still great, but I wish I had gone expecting to not hear all the Dire Straits hits. Worth my $55!
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COMMENT 334857
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2012-10-23 06:57 PM |
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if only Dylan read edhat.... haha...
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COMMENT 334854
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2012-10-23 06:53 PM |
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If he wasn't so famous he wouldn't draw any audience at all with his current performance.
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D8VANILLA
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2012-10-23 05:54 PM |
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His voice did get better as the show progressed. Good times.
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SBROCKS
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2012-10-23 05:18 PM |
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I'm glad to here that I'm not the only one who was disapointed by Dylan last night. An Icon is one thing, but there was just no reason for me to sit through the worst sound ever. The mix was awful and I sit behind the mixer board. It has been a wonderful season at the Bowl this year. I attened many, many great concerts. The Bowl is still my favorite venue.
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COMMENT 334804P
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2012-10-23 04:58 PM |
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I saw Dylan many years ago at the Bowl and would never want to see him again. I am a fan of Dylan's old music, but he was terrible and the music he and his band played was horrible.
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COMMENT 334765
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2012-10-23 03:54 PM |
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As others have said, Knopfler was great, Dylan's band was made up of good musicians, and the mist wasn't uncomfortable. HOWEVER, Bob Dylan's personal performance was horrible... yeah, yeah, I know he's an "artiste" and an "acquired taste" and yada, yada. But, I must say this was THE SINGLE MOST MONOTONOUS AND LACKLUSTER MUSIC CONCERT I've ever been to...anywhere. I've heard sloppy drunk non-English speaking business associates sing American karaoke songs better than any single song I heard from Dylan last night. Since I was there with friends, I couldn't politely leave. It was torture sitting through the whole thing.
I'm not bitter or angry, just completely disappointed and surprised that the public still supports this guy's touring schedule. Hey, he's a musical legend and has had a profound impact on our modern culture. That's undisputed. But it's time for Bob to get off the stage.
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COMMENT 334763
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2012-10-23 03:49 PM |
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When I saw him a couple of years ago he had his side to the audience and faced the band and they were watching him like hawks to see what he was going to do next. I got the feeling like maybe he has stage fright and is terrified of the audience. He would do his songs but with a different beat, like Rainy Day Women with a reggae beat, so it wasn't until you heard the lyrics that you could figure out what song it might be. Anyway, he's an icon, so with icons you want to see them once before they pass on just so you can say you saw them before you pass on.
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COMMENT 334752
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2012-10-23 03:30 PM |
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Last time I saw Dylan was at UCSB maybe 8 years ago. I didn't care for his voice or his re-tooling of his songs. Previously, I had seen him in 1974 after Planet Waves came out and it was incredible. I wish I had a time machine and could see him during his Freewheelin' years.
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COMMENT 334749
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2012-10-23 03:25 PM |
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I hope to attend a concert in the next Rolling Stones tour. I understand that it's being sponsored by the Scoter Store....rolling all the way.
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COMMENT 334750
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2012-10-23 03:25 PM |
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I too saw Dylan at the Bowl about 15 years ago and I was sitting in the front row. What was most entertaining about the show was watching the nonverbal communication of his band as they tried to figure out what he was going to do next, so they could follow. Dylan seemed to have no regard for either the audience or his band. Interesting approach and never felt the need to pay to see it again. On the other hand, David Byrne and St. Vincent put on a great show a few weeks back at the Arlington.
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COMMENT 334744
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2012-10-23 03:04 PM |
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I saw Dylan a few years back at the SB Bowl.
He was totally unintelligible and never engaged the audience, although his band was excellent.
Mr. Dylan left us blowing in the wind and clearly continues to do so!
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COMMENT 334741
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2012-10-23 02:49 PM |
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Knopfler---excellent! The band took a couple songs to get in the groove, but after that it was great.
Poor ol' Bob, why didn't someone take the piano away from him? Glad I got to see him, but pretty much a waste of a dynamite band---they held back so much trying to figure out where he was and what he was going to do next....and this is more than halfway through a 3 Mo. tour!
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COMMENT 334740
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2012-10-23 02:46 PM |
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My husband and I have been Dylan fans since the 60s. Have attended all his Santa Barbara concerts and a couple in other cities. One never knows which way Dylan's going to spin a song next. He doesn't sing them in concert like he recorded them years ago, ever. Knowing that, we weren't disappointed. While Dylan may not speak to the audience or tell stories, he was smiling, walking around the stage and engaging. Like his voice or not, one can not deny that he is a legend and it was a privilege to see him once again.
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MTNDRIVER
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2012-10-23 02:23 PM |
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Big Dylan fan here but the one time I saw him at the Bowl, probably fifteen years ago, I decided "never again". It's one thing to be an artist and a poet and a visionary musician and all the rest, but when you play a show you are also an entertainer and you have made a deal with the audience. Not Dylan, he never makes that deal, so I'm just not interested in seeing him live. Mark Knopfler on the other hand I would have loved to see. Saw Dire Straits at the Forum in LA in the late 80s, one of the 2 or 3 best rock concerts I ever attended.
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COMMENT 334730
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2012-10-23 02:18 PM |
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I remember seeing Bob Dylan play in 1996 at Cal Poly SLO when up & comer Kenny Wayne Shepherd stole the show with his opening act. Dylan was utterly disappointing. I, however, am also one of those who never "got" Bob Dylan...even in his prime.
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COMMENT 334729
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2012-10-23 02:09 PM |
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I am also one of those who left early on in Dylan's performance. He sucked and there's no excuse. He was scraming lyrics in a non-melodic way. It hurt my ears and didn't do justice to his songs. I am sorely dissapointed in this show.
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COMMENT 334727
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2012-10-23 02:03 PM |
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Dylan said in his bio that he'll keep touring as long as they keep coming. And they keep coming. As for the subdued performance by Knopfler. I guess the poster hasnt listend to a Knopfler album, well, ever... they're all pretty mellow. His only work that isnt was with Dire Straits in the 80's. If you like him pick up his album with Emmelou Harris, its phenomenal.
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COMMENT 334720
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2012-10-23 01:45 PM |
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Dylan, disappointing concert goers since the mid 70's. and still they keep comin'
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COMMENT 334719P
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2012-10-23 01:43 PM |
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682, didn't you know, they are called The Rolling Bones now.
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COMMENT 334713P
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2012-10-23 01:31 PM |
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The only person whose words are less easily understood then Bob Dylan is Stevie Nicks. What the hell are these two saying? Can you imagine a Dylan/Nicks duet: "Hyunh vuh duh mrrf duh voooooon muh grrfff...." Sorry, I don't speak gibberish.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2012-10-23 01:28 PM |
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In his entire career, Dylan has never acknowledged the audience or spoken between songs. His voice is not his selling point; it's his vision, his poetry and his artful creation of music. Often, how others interpret his creations is what brings true beauty to what he gives. He is an acquired taste, to be sure.
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COMMENT 334709
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2012-10-23 01:26 PM |
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What a rip-off. Tickets totally overpriced for an overrated has-been. Dylan basically plays with his back to the audience with no acknowledgment ever that people even exist out there and just makes it feel like the only reason he is playing is he needs some $$$. On top of it all he doesn't even play for very long, they cost per minute is insulting. Lots better music out there for 1/20th the price.
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COMMENT 334704
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2012-10-23 01:19 PM |
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My wife and I were looking forward to the concert. We had great seats. The light mist never was a big deal.The show started promptly at 6:30. We arrived about 6:50. Mark Knopfler (age 63) is a remarkable singer/songwriter/guitarist. It was disappointing he stuck with such a subdued set (maybe it was different before we got to our seats). Dylan (age 71) was OK - but I guess I'm not that much of a fan. Both bands had amazing players. We noticed the sound seemed different (better) for us in on the left side of the stage, rather than on the right. We left halfway through Dylan's set. I very much respect both artists. I wish they would have acknowledged us - the audience. I'm sure by now they can share a few stories between songs. At the end of the day, I got to see two modern music legends - that's cool. But the show wasn't so good.
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COMMENT 334703
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2012-10-23 01:18 PM |
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Dylan: Either you get him or you don't. I never did.
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COMMENT 334699
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2012-10-23 01:10 PM |
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I've seen him the last three years, and this year was definately the best. his voice may slack a bit with his old age, however the band was out of this world good, as was Mark opening for him!
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COMMENT 334697P
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2012-10-23 01:09 PM |
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I am not sure how you could tell his voice has gone. Even though I was a fan back in the 60s he did not have much of a voice even then. It is crazy to think all of these years of drugs and hard living do not take their toll.
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COMMENT 334698
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2012-10-23 01:09 PM |
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Beach Boys 50th Anniv rocked, but you could tell they were really pushing it. About walked out too after the early sets, but their classic stuff can transcend even the Depends. Mike Love traveling only with younger voices as back-up gives a very different show - don't miss it.
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COMMENT 334682
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2012-10-23 12:50 PM |
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When the rock stars start wearing Depends, that's when I stop paying money to see them perform. Next band to miss, the Rolling Stones tour next year.
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