Lately when Bob Dylan plays his adopted city he has chosen to do so in theaters or gardens, but the smallish Terminal 5 was the perfect choice this Thanksgiving season; you could tell the intimacy added to the legends performance. With the consistent rhythm of Tony Garnier the band flowed along, allowing Charlie Sexton to roam free before sliding into duals with Dylan’s keyboard. More of a bluesman then most would like to admit, the roadhouse style of rollicking was on display plenty tonight.
“This Wheels On Fire” saw Dylan come out from behind his mammoth organ and blow on the harmonica and direct the band, while “Stuck Inside A Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” contained countless builds and releases. The surprise highlight of the night showed up in “Just Like a Woman” with, of all things, a sing-a-long. Dylan is more complex then can be written, but a crowd appeaser has never really been on his resume, yet there he was allowing the fans their moment. While the club sung, Sexton riffed and exploded with innovative readings of this classic tune, this performance was one for the ages.
Other highlights included the slinky style of “Things Have Changed,” the acoustic strumming of “Simple Twist Of Fate” and the banjo plucked “Highwater (For Charlie Patton)”. While certain songs lagged on this night such as “Workingmans Blues #2” and “Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” which in all fairness included a killer climax, the band never seemed to drop off, constantly waiting for Dylan’s cues to drop into new arraignments or breakdowns. When the cryptic “Ballad Of A Thin Man” ended the set, the sparse lighting and drop on a dime changes showed that Dylan was in complete control as he strolled the stage, crouching like a prize fighter over his knockout; victorious.
Setlist:
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking, This Wheel’s On Fire, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Just Like A Woman, Rollin’ And Tumblin’, Simple Twist Of Fate, Things Have Changed, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, High Water (for Charlie Patton), Masters Of War, Highway 61 Revisited, Workingman’s Blues #2, Thunder On The Mountain, Ballad Of A Thin Man
Encore:
Jolene, Like A Rolling Stone
