I am still trying to figure out how to post my photo I don't do SnapChat or any other stuff like that), but here is another review:
Mixed emotions, joy and sadness, anticipation, excitement and a sense of loss - Bob Dylan & His Band were in the room last night at The Met, the simply fantastic concert venue in downtown Philadelphia, but sadly Peter Stone Brown was not; we recently lost Peter after a long illness and he was simply there in spirit. But Bob Dylan was there and he put on a great show, very slick and professional, a whistle-stop on the way from there to here and off to NYC for a residency run of shows. This time around finds Bob in enhanced "crooner" mode, having taken the stage-moves honed on Sinatra into his main stage act, as he crouches down by the drum kit, microphone in hand then jumps to center-stage to deliver biting lyrics on songs such as Not Dark Yet, Can't Wait and Pay In Blood. There is also the "piano man" with Bob singing clearly on beautiful ballads such as Girl Of The North Country, It Ain't Me Babe, Trying To Get To Heaven and Soon After Midnight. And "rocker" Bob kicking the guitar around the stage on Things Have Changed and Ballad Of A Thin Man. The musicians with Bob are, as always, "some of the finest players in the country" and Charlie Sexton and Tony Garnier power the louder songs like Highway 61, Early Roman Kings, and Honest With Me.
Interesting stage set-up, gone are the carpets and incense - we have 3 mannequins dressed in 1920's finery (think Great Gatsby) at stage rear, Bob's piano front-stage right center leaving stage left open for him to crouch and croon.
My personal highlight was Lenny Bruce, a song I had never heard performed in 45 years of seeing Dylan shows, and it was delivered in a lovely ballad with the words clear and eloquent - bringing dear departed Peter to mind; Lenny Bruce is gone. But Bob remains on the Never Ending Tour and it's always a great thrill to catch a glimpse.
Lights down at 8:02 PM and off-the-stage by 9:46 PM, no openers, no intermission. As the advertisements say, "Don't You Dare Miss It" and don't be late!
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