Raves for the Minnesota Kid!

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:22 AM

I think Dylan has had some real voice problems that have hindered him greatly in recent years. This is just my own speculation, but when you listen to his voice on some of the stuff he has done in the past 10 years (including the MTV unplugged show, and the 30th anniversary concert), it's clear that there's something more going on there than just the usual "Bob's nasal whine" thing. He himself has admitted that some of his concerts in recent years have been sub-par; he puts it down to touring more-or-less continuously, and the lack of focus that can produce. My guess is that there's been a physical element as well that he hasn't fully divulged. Someone like Emmylou Harris can adapt to the damage that has been done to her voice over time, and turn it into something beautiful (listen to Wrecking Ball). But she had the voice of an angel to start with. Bob's starting point was a different story; I happened to love it, but from the beginning he was a lot further down the road to ruin than many of the people we listen to.

Anyway, I'm always happy to hear a good review -- I love the guy. Never count him out.

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 10:25 AM

I've seen Bob in the eighties, he was awful. I ventured back in '97 only beacuse a friend of mine called me on the day of the show with a spare ticket. It was a great show. I went back Tuesday and Bob was once again really on. He is doing a lot of acoustic material these days. Great set (I've also posted it in the Toronto Star thread). A friend of mine metioned that he read somewhere when Jerry Garcia died Bob Felt he was the last of a breed and really owed it to his fans to give good shows.

Duncan And Brady (acoustic) Song To Woody (acoustic) (Larry on mandolin) Desolation Row (acoustic) Love Minus Zero/No Limit (acoustic) Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic) (Bob on harp) This World Can't Stand Long (acoustic) (Larry on mandolin) Country Pie Lay, Lady Lay Gotta Serve Somebody She Belongs To Me Drifter's Escape (Bob on harp) Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

encore) Things Have Changed Like A Rolling Stone Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (acoustic) (Bob on harp) Highway 61 Revisited Blowin' In The Wind (acoustic)

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:28 AM

Actually, I've been thinking a bit about why some artists seem to have great performances mixed in with sub-par ones. Obviously Jerry Lee is one of them. For a long while, Ramblin Jack and Jerry Jeff Walker (along with George Jones, Hank W. CSNY, Buffalo Springfield etc.) had that rep as well. Others that you might think would be erratic like Neil Young or James Brown always seem to have great concerts. Often it's been put down to booze and dope, but I wonder if that's just a simplistic take.

Rick

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 04:54 PM

Hi Bob. Someone suggested it might be because of "better or worse" drugs. I'm kinda glad to see him get the great reviews...but I know what you guys mean about his TV appearances. He might really be nervous as well though.

Rick

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 03:16 PM

He is always entertaining in a strange way ain't he. Not often the same way twice but always distinctly (and I use that word loosely here) Bob. Simply amazing to me. I have liked an awful lot of his stuff over the years and hated a good bit too, but what a body of work. That 30th Anniversary Tribute thing still cracks me up. When he finally appears at the end, he sings a couple of songs I know well and I can't understand a word he's saying!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Songster Bob
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:17 PM

I've always wondered about something. When Bob Dylan appears on the Grammy shows, or other such TV specials, he invariably mumbles, stumbles, and shams his way through a song that takes 16 bars to recognize, his diction is so poor and his voice so tone/tuneless.

And the audience goes ape sh*t! You can't hear the song (a blessing in its way) for the shouting and cheers.

Now, what I wonder is, who's putting whom on? Does he know that they know, and do they know that he knows that they know that he knows that ....?

Just a question for the ages.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:09 PM

Just a guess here...little Bobby Dylan?

Subject: RE: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:01 PM

Uh, I'm from outta town and all and, uh... I have no idea who this is. Any clues?

Subject: Raves for the Minnesota Kid!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 12:01 PM

Well, the little sonufagun has done it again! Last night he played a concert in Toronto with Phil Lesh (Deadheads awake) and instead of the usual reviews detailing how far he'd sunk (again) the notices were ecstatic. I'm usually not surprised when they go on about his "mumbling, stumbling, dis-connectedness, religious overtones, over-use of obscure material etc. but this time...all kudos.

Apparently he opened with "Song to Woody", did stuff from Nashville Skyline, Hiway 61, etc. and his 5th encore (guess that should tell us something) was "Blowin in..."

Even the photo made him look like a tough (bulky!) grizzled ol' biker dude.

If he passes through your town, let us know the reaction.

Rick