BOB DYLAN : EAU CLAIRE 2025

 

Disc One (45:01)

  1. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  2. It Ain't Me, Babe
  3. I Contain Multitudes
  4. False Prophet
  5. When I Paint My Masterpiece
  6. Black Rider
  7. My Own Version Of You
  8. To Be Alone With You

Disc Two (59:28)

  1. Crossing The Rubicon
  2. Desolation Row
  3. Key West (Philosopher Pirate)
  4. Watching The River Flow
  5. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  6. I've Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You
  7. Mother Of Muses
  8. Goodbye Jimmy Reed
  9. Every Grain Of Sand

Label : no label

Venue : The Sonnentag Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

Recording Date : April 5, 2025

Quality : Audience Recording (A+)

Concert Review (Boblinks) : Night two of my two day Dylan fest brought me to the Sonnentag Center in Eau Claire Wisconsin. The Saturday night crowd was quieter than the night before, rapt with attention and in awe of the performance, and perhaps some at times unfamiliar with the new material. Case in point, Bob's recitation of My Own Version of You. Bob's words, almost hollered, similar to a hell and brimstone preacher, with a little Screamin Jay Hawkins thrown in, could clearly be heard describing his search for the necessary body parts, all while playing like Leon Russell, Liberace and John the Apostle. The performance, the seventh tune of the night, is haunting and scary, belted out by a mad scientist behind a baby grand piano. The small college basketball venue and a well behaved crowd allowed the listener to hear the lyrics understandably flow from Bob's lips. Bob surprisingly engaged in some in-between song banter, however it occurred during applause, making it difficult to make out precise quotes. Upon completion of Key West, Bob casually mentioned that he wrote the song after a recent visit to the island, and during band introductions, he asked Doug Lancio if he had played with Alice Cooper and quizzed Bob Britt about his musical resume. On occasion, Doug and Tony Garnier, who both were positioned to Bob's right, would take a couple steps closer to Bob, forming a small human triangle, trading piano, bass and guitar licks. The band seemed especially tight during When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bob bellowing that rather than meeting Bontecelli's niece, he would be doing his laundry and scraping off the grease, at his hotel room. Everything will be "so doggone beautiful," after Bob paints his Masterpiece. Like the night before, a highlight for me was Desolation Row, appreciating Bob's harp, in addition to the drum and piano interplay. Every Grain of Sand ended the night. The mad scientist on My Own Version of You, was now the gentle pastor, sending his flock back into the world. A little more piano and a great harmonica solo, and a standing ovation. This ends my two day Dylan pilgrimage. If only I could go on the Green Bay, but the baton is now passed to those fans who will see Rough and Rowdy Bob on the next stop.

Concert Review (Boblinks) : The evening sky grew dark, and the gymnasium was dimly lighted. A festive and contemplative crowd gathered and waited for the show to begin. The venue was unique for this leg of the Rough & Rowdy Ways tour in a few ways, the first was the second floor windows that overlooked the Chippewa River (which made Watching the River Flow even more fun) and second was a Hoosiers-effect from the bleachers and wooden gymnasium floor. The setting felt like there could be a quick transition from a concert to a graduation ceremony. Bob and the band arrived on stage and hit right into "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". We had an incredible vantage point to watch as Bob wrapped up the first song, turned promptly on his piano bench, picked up a guitar and played lead to open up "It Ain't Me Babe". The warm glow from the antique stage equipment set the vibe in the brand new gym & helped create an iconic silhouette of Dylan's profile with fussed up hair as he played guitar with his back turned to the crowd. Wow! The show seemed to reach its high water mark halfway through as Anton Fig kicked off a driving version of "Desolation Row". Bob was incredible each time he picked up the harmonica. The band came to a quiet pause and Bob took over on an incredibly fine and fair version of "Key West". As the song concluded, standing at the piano plunking the keys in black sport coat and white shirt loosely buttoned, Bob shared with the crowd. "I wrote that at Ernest Hemingway's house. They let me sleep in it. I got up in the morning and I wrote that song - way down in ...Key West." And then trailed down the keyboard as the band kicked off a bluesy and more rollicking "Watching the River Flow". The sold out crowd of 5,000 was silent as Bob delivered a moving "It Ain't Me Babe" with precision on the harp. After a few more tracks from the incredible Rough & Rowdy Ways album, he sent the crowd off into the night with the knowing gained from "Every Grain of Sand". Bob was off-stage just as quick as he came, phones were unlocked and the motor coaches were pulling out of the lot toward Green Bay. Other highlights included a chilling version of "My Own Version of You" and an usual echo added to Bob's voice as he whispered "Black Rider"..."black rider"..."black rider"...filling the cavernous space.