BOB DYLAN : NASHVILLE 2015

 

Disc One (49:40)

  1. Things Have Changed
  2. She Belongs To Me
  3. Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
  4. Workingman's Blues #2
  5. Duquesne Whistle
  6. Waiting For You
  7. Pay In Blood
  8. Tangled Up In Blue
  9. Love Sick

Disc Two (59:10)

  1. High Water (For Charley Patton)
  2. Simple Twist Of Fate
  3. Early Roman Kings
  4. Forgetful Heart
  5. Spirit On The Water
  6. Scarlet Town
  7. Soon After Midnight
  8. Long And Wasted Years
  9. Autumn Leaves
  10. Blowin' In The Wind
  11. Stay With Me

Label : no label

Venue : Tennesse Performing Arts Center, Andrew Jackson Hall, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Recording Date : April 27, 2015

Quality : Audience Recording (A+)

Review : Excellent recording from the Andrew Jackson Hall in Nashville.

Concert Review (Bob Links) : Where to begin? This was the best Bob Dylan concert I've seen in quite a while. His voice sounds great, the band is spot on, the arrangements are wonderful and the set list is terrific. I know that some complain that the set list is "static," that he has been playing the same show every night since the fall of 2013. That complaint is unfounded; the set list is only redundant if you've gone to multiple shows during this time period, or if you've spent excessive time listening to bootleg recordings online (well, I'll admit to doing that) and, therefore, have had your fill (well, I have not, but that's just me). The fact of the matter is that this set list is fresh and new for another live audience every night in the hundreds of cities Dylan has been bringing it to all over the world. (Time for an official liv album, Bob!) What made this show a bit better than the last one I saw in Boston last November (same set list, except for the addition of "Autumn Leaves") was the excellent sound quality at Nashville's TPAC. You could hear every note and lyric clearly. To be sure, that was partially attributable to Bob's level of engagement and his effort to enunciate, but I've noticed his improved articulation the last few shows I've attended. The hall's acoustics certainly helped. Another thing about the set list: This 2013-2015 set list consists largely of 21st Century material (all very well performed) and a few great rearrangements of old gems like "She Belongs to Me," "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Simple Twist of Fate." This list is also markedly different from the lists he played at his shows in 2011 and 2012. How many aging "rock stars" from the 20th Century are going to give you that kind of variety, including a load of recently written, and very good material? In the last year or so, I've seen Bob Seeger, Billy Joel and James Taylor. All three put on terrific performances …. But, they all played what were essentially greatest hits shows without much, if anything new, and everything (including their vocals) sounded pretty much just like the original recordings. That's all well and fine…. But, for me, Dylan's continuing reinventions of his material are far more interesting and exciting to witness. Another thing about the set list: By sticking with the same show every night for quite a while now, Dylan and the band are bringing the audience an extremely polished performance. Unlike some of his past shows, these shows have Dylan remembering all his lyrics, never mumbling to cover a forgotten word, and the band knows exactly what to do and when (in contrast to the guesswork sometimes required in the past as Bob would improvise on stage and his sidemen would have to try to follow his lead on the fly …. Sometimes, to be sure, with great results, but other times, just sloppy sounding). This is a very tight show in all respects. It is just so great to see this man, at 74, so fully engaged with performing, especially his more recent material, which is up there with the best songwriting of his career. Again, I really wish he'd put out an official, sanctioned, properly mixed live album!