Bob Dylan has had such a long and successful career that it is impossible to think of it as one body of work. You need to divide the eras.
The most recent era began in 1997 with the ‘Time Out Of Mind’ album. For this current tour Dylan is focused on the five albums from 1997 – 2012 that rejuvenated his career and delivered some of his most relevant material since the 60s.
As younger fans continue to discover Dylan, and that was obvious by the young faces in the audience at Melbourne’s Palais, Dylan has also rediscovered Dylan through ‘Time Out Of Mind’ (1997), ‘Love and Theft’ (2001), ‘Modern Times’ (2006), ‘Together Through Life’ (2009) and ‘Tempest’ (2012).
‘Tempest’, one of Bob Dylan’s most cohesive works, is the centrepiece of the current tour with the four previous albums gluing the set together.
Dylan rarely revisits the 60s. Only ‘She Belongs To Me’ and a reinvented ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ and ‘All Along The Watchtower’ represent the start of his career. Unlike almost every other act from his era, Dylan allows his songs to evolve. He never performs jukebox versions of his classics. The two 60s songs in the encore now stand alongside his recent works in sound. The arrangements are total reinventions. Even 1999′s ‘Things Have Changed’ has changed.
Dylan’s ability to evolve has meant long-time fans are always treated to another chapter when he tours. The 2014 Australian tour is a unique experience. The only certainty in Dylan is change and right now is the only time you will be guaranteed to hear many of the ‘Tempest’ songs live.
With Dylan playing Australian theatres for the first time in 20 years it is also a rare chance to see him up-close. The lighting is set to mood. This is just a band on a stage. There are no flying pigs, no giant tongues, no trapeze. It is just Bob Dylan and band.
Bob Dylan setlist Melbourne, August 18, 2014
Things Have Changed (from The Essential Bob Dylan, 1999)
She Belongs To Me (from Bringing It All Back Home, 1965)
Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ (from Together Through Life, 2009)
Working Man’s Blues #2 (from Modern Times, 2006)
Waiting For You (from The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood soundtrack, 2002)
Duquesne Whistle (from Tempest, 2012)
Pay In Blood (from Tempest, 2012)
Tangled Up In Blue (from Blood On The Tracks, 1974)
Love Sick (from Time Out Of Mind, 1997)
High Water (For Charley Patton) (from Love and Theft, 2001)
Simple Twist Of Fate (from Blood On The Tracks, 1974)
Early Roman Kings (from Tempest, 2012)
Forgetful Heart (from Together Through Life, 2009)
Spirit On The Water (from Modern Times, 2006)
Scarlet Town (from Tempest, 2012)
Soon After Midnight (from Tempest, 2012)
Long And Wasted Years (from Tempest, 2012)
All Along The Watchtower (from John Wesley Harding, 1968)
Blowin’ In The Wind (from The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1962)
Bob Dylan Australia and New Zealand dates
New Zealand:
August 9, 10, Hamilton, Claudelands Arena
Australia:
August 13, 14, 15 Perth, Riverside Theatre
August 18, 19, 20, 21 Melbourne, Palais Theatre
August 25, Brisbane, Convention and Exhibition Theatre
August 29, Canberra, Royal Theatre
August 31, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
September 3, 4, 5 Sydney, State Theatre
September 7, 8, Sydney, Opera House
New Zealand:
September 10, Christchurch, Canterbury Arena
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