Bob Dylan - Bob Links - Toronto, Ontario - Reviews (original) (raw)

I agree with the reviewer of yesterday's show that the acoustics in the Sony Centre were especially good. It was noticeable from the beginning where "Things Have Changed" was so crystal clear. A soft seat venue was much appreciated by my tired old bones. I wonder if the recently adopted practice of an intermission is a recognition that we hard core fans aren't getting any younger.

The version of TUIB matches that found on Bootleg #5. I always thought telling the story in the third person made more sense. "High Water" was closest to the recorded version that I've ever heard. It seemed that Donnie's banjo was more prominent in the mix. For that matter, his pedal steel was up higher, too. The rendition of "Forgetful Heart" was fabulous.

I had an irreverent thought during the encore - what would it take to get Bob to play "Blowing in the Wind" as a sing-along? But what the hell, if he weren't so perverse, he wouldn't be as great as he is. If I have to get older, it's important to have a few things that I can count on. A Dylan show is one of them.

Mike Hodnett

Those who opted not to catch the current incarnation of Bob's live show, perhaps because of the static set lists and the focus on 21st century songs, have robbed themselves of something truly special. The band has never been this cohesive or responsive to the needs of each individual song. The sound mix has never been this delicate, with all facets of the music beautifully lit, including Bob's increasingly nimble singing voice.

With the possible exception of Scarlet Town, which was a full-blown masterpiece when it emerged in the recording studio, every song from Tempest has grown in stature on this leg of the tour. What you get in these songs is an artist blending tenderness, rage, wistfulness and contentment into something entirely unique. The venues he has chosen for this year's shows provide the perfect setting for the very intimate musical experience Bob and his band provide. The audience settled into it and savored every moment. As ever, Bob rewards those who "stay with him".

John Levesque