Post by Jeanne on Jun 8, 2013 14:06:54 GMT -8
I hope you all don't mind if I piggy back the Dylan review onto Dave Davies.
As Bob said, "Don't ask me nothin about nothin, I just might tell you the truth."
Besides feeling challenged about the late hour of the Jack of Hearts show at the Britannia Pub in Santa Monica, I was also fearing that the show might be shallow impersonation wallowing in kitschy nostalgia. I'm happy to say that my fears did not materialize. The band consisted of four twentysomething men and a fiftysomething keyboard player. They played some vintage instruments very well, honoring both the spirit and the arrangements of Dylan's studio and live recordings. I think that they listen to the Before the Flood a fair amount. They did songs from Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde. The Dylan stand in enhanced his appearance with some teased hair, shades and a dandy outfit. He had some good body language, facial and vocal expressions. But mostly what came through was his love of the songs.
He also did an acoustic set that included Blowing in the Wind, Don't Think Twice, and a few duets with a "Joan Baez." They were awful. Her voice was thin and piercing and an not favorably combined with his. I may have to get out my No Direction Home to purge the memory of that experience.
The crowd was mostly twenty something bar crowd. They appreciated the good rock and roll. Some of them knew some of the words. Only one patron requested a Super Tramp song and "Bgb" sweetly told him that that probably wouldn't happen tonight. It was reassuring to know that the guys in the band listen to Dylan and hear enough truth and light in it to learn it and get it out there. Live music is good for peace. Play music, not war.
As Bob said, "Don't ask me nothin about nothin, I just might tell you the truth."
Besides feeling challenged about the late hour of the Jack of Hearts show at the Britannia Pub in Santa Monica, I was also fearing that the show might be shallow impersonation wallowing in kitschy nostalgia. I'm happy to say that my fears did not materialize. The band consisted of four twentysomething men and a fiftysomething keyboard player. They played some vintage instruments very well, honoring both the spirit and the arrangements of Dylan's studio and live recordings. I think that they listen to the Before the Flood a fair amount. They did songs from Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde. The Dylan stand in enhanced his appearance with some teased hair, shades and a dandy outfit. He had some good body language, facial and vocal expressions. But mostly what came through was his love of the songs.
He also did an acoustic set that included Blowing in the Wind, Don't Think Twice, and a few duets with a "Joan Baez." They were awful. Her voice was thin and piercing and an not favorably combined with his. I may have to get out my No Direction Home to purge the memory of that experience.
The crowd was mostly twenty something bar crowd. They appreciated the good rock and roll. Some of them knew some of the words. Only one patron requested a Super Tramp song and "Bgb" sweetly told him that that probably wouldn't happen tonight. It was reassuring to know that the guys in the band listen to Dylan and hear enough truth and light in it to learn it and get it out there. Live music is good for peace. Play music, not war.