BOB DYLAN : MANKATO 2025

 

Disc One (45:09)

  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 (61:14)

  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 : Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato, Minnesota, USA

Recording Date : April 4, 2025

Quality : Audience Recording (A+)

Concert Review (Boblinks) : I was 10 years old when I discovered Anton Fig, who was the drummer for Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley on his 1978 solo album, well before his steady gig with Paul Shaffer. Forty-seven years later this 56-year old saw Anton Fig drum for Bob Dylan on April 4, 2025 in Mankato, Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The highlight of the show for me was the drum and piano exchanges between Bob and Anton during Desolation Row. And what a version of Desolation Row! It was reminiscent of the original recording, allowing the audience to immediately recognize the tune. However, Bob's piano and Anton's rhythm gave the audience a brand new take on the classic, highlighted by Bob's incredible piano runs trading off with Mr. Fig's drums. The show began with I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. Bob played piano, but once the opener finished Bob picked up a guitar, remained on the piano bench and turned towards his bandmates. From my vantage point, I was able to get a glimpse of Bob holding the guitar, but I doubt any paying ticket holder would have been able to see Bob's fingers plucking the strings because he was obstructed by the baby grand piano. I scanned guitarists Bob Britt and Doug Lancio to see if they were playing lead and determined that Bob was playing lead! Bob played a long opening solo and then began singing It Ain't Me Babe. Then, it was Rough and Rowdy Ways' time with I Contain Multitudes and False Prophet. Bob continued his tradition of playing When I Paint My Masterpiece to the melody of Istanbul (Not Constantinople) or is it Puttin on the Ritz? My Own Version of You is mysterious. It's part love story, part Frankenstein monster, with haunting standup bass from Tony Garnier. I didn't immediately recognize To Be Alone With You which was followed by Desolation Row and contained the aforementioned interplay of drums and piano between Bob and Anton. Bob had many piano solos throughout the show and added hard hitting blues chords during many numbers as well. Bob's voice was strong, as was evident when he sang "Sherman, Montgomery and Scott,... who cleared the path for Presley to sing, who carved the path for Martin Luther King" loud and clear throughout the concert hall during Mother of Muses. Bob's 2025 voice was perfect for the calming Every Grain of Sand that ended the show. Desolation Row, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, and It Ain't Me Babe, were immediately recognizable and one could almost say they were somewhat loyal to the studio version. Well, maybe not, but similar enough that a first time Dylan attendee would recognize them. The 60's tunes were scattered throughout the set with the Rough and Rowdy Ways' numbers, blending old and new. The no-phone policy really allows you to be present and focus on every note and word.