[Originally Published: September 27th, 2012]

Last weekend I walked into my local Berkeley coffee shop and Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row was playing on the stereo. I turned to my friend and asked if he had any way of identifying what verse we were at – but neither of us could place how far into the song we were, or how likely it was the song would still be playing when we left. It was, in fact, still playing when we left. Later that night, I saw Wilco at The Greek Theatre open with One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend) – yet another song with numerous (albeit short) verses, and thus was born this week’s B List. Interestingly, both of those songs, and many listed below, share the characteristic of also not having a chorus.

Hurricane – Bob Dylan

There was a time in high school where I could recite all eleven verses from Dylan’s protest song for boxer and accused murdered Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. If I had time to dig through enough songs, we could probably make a B List of only Bob Dylan songs that have eight or more verses. In addition to the mention of Desolation Row in the intro, Tangled Up In Blue, Lily, Rosemary and The Jack of Hearts, the list goes on and on.

Bob Dylan – Hurricane – 1975 Live by movisfree

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Back on April 21, The Black Crowes presented a guest-laden acoustic performance at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium that turned out to be one for the ages. Included among the many debuts on that fateful evening was the Crowes’ first-ever take on bob Dylan’s Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.

While Crowes front man Chris Robinson had performed the tune with both Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Phil and Friends numerous times in the past, it was a treat to hear The Black Crowes tackle the Highway 61 Revisited classic. We’ve been waiting since the night the show took place for a recording to surface and that day has finally come. Taper Adam R. Parr has shared his recording, though he notes his mics melted down and he had to use the built-in mic on his recorder. So while this recording isn’t of the best quality, it’s still worth it to hear The Crowes and their guests – such as Old Crow Medicine Show and Sam Bush – run through these songs.

Let’s take a listen to The Black Crowes’ cover of Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues…

As if we weren’t excited enough for this summer’s AmericanaramA outing featuring HT faves Wilco and My Morning Jacket, we’ve got one more legendary artist who will join part of the tour – Furthur / Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Weir will play solo acoustic sets at the first four shows of the AmericanaramA tour this June according to BobDylan.com.

Here’s a look at the dates Bobby has signed on for:

June 26th @ Cruzan Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL
June 27th @ Live Nation Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
June 29th @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
June 30th @ The Lawn at Riverfront Park – Nashville, TN

Tickets for the first three shows go on sale this Saturday morning at 10AM local time, while tickets for the Nashville show go on sale May 4th at 10AM local time.

This summer HT faves Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Bob Dylan will headline a North American tour dubbed “AmericanaramA.” All three bands have revealed their participation and they will be joined by Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Ryan Bingham for select dates.

The dates were briefly revealed on Bob Dylan’s website before they were taken down and the bands involved will hit a mix of sheds and unorthodox outdoor venues. AmericanaramA kicks off on June 26th in West Palm Beach and is currently set to run until August 4th. Along the way the tour will visit the Southeast, the Midwest, the Northeast, a small smattering of venues out west and more.

Here’s the full list of AmericanaramA tour dates…

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Bob Dylan will hit the road with Dawes aboard as support for a tour of colleges and theaters that starts on April 5th. When the tour was originally announced, it listed dates through a April 21st performance at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Now, the bands have added an additional eight shows together with Dylan set to play two more by himself.

Here’s a look at the full list of Dawes / Bob Dylan tour dates with new additions in bold…

4/5 – Buffalo, NY @ SUNY Buffalo – Alumni Arena
4/6 – Amherst, MA @ University of Massachusetts – Mullins Center
4/8 – Kingston, RI @ University of Rhode Island – Ryan Center
4/9 – Lowell, MA @ University of Massachusetts – Tsongas Center
4/10 – Lewiston, ME @ Androscoggin Bank Coliseum
4/12 – Newark, DE @ University of Delaware – Bob Carpenter Center
4/13 – California, PA @ Convocation Center
4/14 – Ithaca, NY @ Cornell University – Barton Hall
4/16 – Richmond, VA @ Landmark Theater
4/18 – Bethlehem, PA @ Lehigh University – Stabler Arena
4/19 – Akron, OH @ The University of Akron – EJ Thomas Hall
4/20 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Stadium
4/21 – Bowling Green, OH @ Bowling Green State University – Stroh Center
4/23 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
4/24 – Springfield, MO @ Missouri State University – JQH Arena
4/25 – Champaign, IL @ University of Illinois – Assembly Hall
4/27 – Murray, KY @ Murray State University – CFSB Center [no Dawes]
4/28 – Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre [no Dawes]
4/30 – Asheville, NC @ U.S. Cellular Center
5/1 – Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre
5/2 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheatre
5/4 – Charleston, SC @ Family Circle Magazine Stadium
5/5 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre

[via Bob Dylan.com]

Keep your eyes on the Bob Dylan Tour Page for ticketing information.

Bob Dylan has never been afraid of pairing up with musicians from future generations and this will again be the case this April when he brings HT faves Dawes on the road as support for a three-week jaunt. The run starts on April 5th at SUNY Buffalo in Buffalo, New York and visits a number of colleges and theaters before ending on April 21st in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Here’s a list of the Bob Dylan and Dawes tour dates…

4/5 –  Buffalo, NY @ SUNY Buffalo – Alumni Arena
4/6 – Amherst, MA @ University of Massachusetts – Mullins Center
4/8 –  Kingston, RI @ University of Rhode Island – Ryan Center
4/9 –  Lowell, MA @ University of Massachusetts – Tsongas Center
4/10 – Lewiston, ME @ Androscoggin Bank Coliseum
4/12 – Newark, DE @ University of Delaware – Bob Carpenter Center
4/13 – California, PA @ Convocation Center
4/14 –  Ithaca, NY @ Cornell University – Barton Hall
4/16 –  Richmond, VA @ Landmark Theater
4/18 – Bethlehem, PA @ Lehigh University – Stabler Arena
4/19 – Akron, OH @ The University of Akron – EJ Thomas Hall
4/20 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Stadium
4/21 – Bowling Green, OH @ Bowling Green State University – Stroh Center

Keep your eyes on BobDylan.com for full ticketing details.

Legendary songsmith Bob Dylan delivered an energetic and enthusiastic performance on Friday night at Montreal’s Bell Centre to a near sell-out crowd. Displaying nothing short of a marketing coup, opening the show was guitar demi-god Mark Knopfler.

Though there is an obvious stylistic divergence between one of pop’s lyrical geniuses and one of rock’s most highly regarded fret-slingers, it was clear last night that these two titans share the same demographic breadth, and the thousands in attendance were treated to a relaxed evening of gem after gem.

Fronting a stellar seven-piece band full of jaw-dropping multi-instrumentalists, the aging Knopfler opened with What It Is and then Corned Beef City, a blues-driven mini-hit from his recent album. Following the first of countless guitar changes, Knopfler used an acoustic guitar to leads his compadres through the subdued bliss that is Privateering.

READ ON

We’re roughly two weeks away from the release of Tempest, the 35th studio album in the long and storied career of Bob Dylan. Over the last few weeks snippets a handful of songs from the album, whose title track is a 14-minute song about the Titanic, have been used in the new Cinemax series Strike Back. On Monday, the record’s lead single, the vintage country-swing track Duquesne Whistle, a song Dylan co-wrote with legendary songwriter Robert Hunter of Grateful Dead fame, was premiered by NPR Music, and now it’s got an official music video to go along with it.

The clip, which features Zimmy roaming the streets of Los Angeles with a motley crew of thugs, prostitutes and someone in full Gene Simmons garb, also follows a not-so-feel-good storyline of a young man’s whimsical pursuit of the girl he seemingly has a crush on. Let’s check it out…

Bob Dylan – Duquesne Whistle

Bob Dylan, will open the newly refurbished Capital Theatre on September 4, and later this fall will head out for his first extensive arena tour since 2006, with former Dire Straits front man Marc Knopfler, beginning on October 5 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Given their significant musical impact, it’s hard to believe that The Basement Tapes were never really intended for commercial release. The sessions, which took place in the spring and summer of 1967, were responsible for not only a shift in direction Bob Dylan’s music, but also in the official formation of The Band. While the double-album didn’t hit stores until 1975, fragments had been circulating for years on an unofficial release known as the Great White Wonder (which is credited as the first notable rock bootleg), and  bands like The Byrds, Peter Paul & Mary and Fairport Convention all recording tunes that would later appear on the official release.

On September 25, Down In The Flood, a new documentary about the making of The Basement Tapes, will be released on DVD. The 114-minute film chronicles the story of the circumstances that led to Dylan and The Band recording together, and features interviews with Garth Hudson, Ronnie Hawkins, producer John Simon and Dylan guitarist Charlie McCoy. Let’s check out the trailer…

Down In The Flood Trailer

The waiting is over as we finally know which “iconic artist” will re-open the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York as the venue owner Pete Shapiro’s Jambands.com publication has revealed that Bob Dylan will play the historic theater on September 4.

Tickets go on sale August 17 at 10AM EDT, with a pre-sale available for readers of bobdylan.com starting on August 13. Dylan recently embarked on a world tour that had a gaping hole between his planned September 2nd show at Bethel Woods and a September 6th show at Artpark in Lewiston, New York. Dylan joins a number of HT faves including My Morning Jacket, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Strangefolk and The Roots in rocking The Cap in its first few months of operation.

Even at the age of 71 Bob Dylan shows no signs of slowing down both in his recording output and live dates. On September 11, Zimmy will release Tempest, the 35th studio album in his long and storied career, which he produced under his pseudonym Jack Frost and includes not only an ode to John Lennon called Roll On John, but also a 14-minute long track about the Titanic. Later this year Dylan will team up with former Dire Straits front man Marc Knopfler for a North American arena tour – Bob’s first since 2006. The duo, who worked together on both Slow Train Coming and Infidels, will kick off their 32-date fall run on October 5 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba and will wrap a little over a month later with a homecoming gig of sorts at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on November 21.

If your not into a night with Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Knopfler, than maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Two Gallants: Fall North American Tour (8/31 – 10/9)
• Flying Lotus: Fall World Tour (10/7 – 11/9)
• Odd Future: Fall North American Tour (8/31 – 9/30)
• Anitbalas: North American Tour (8/10 – 10/13)
• Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: North American Tour (10/23 – 11/9)
• Turbo Fruits: U.S. Fall Tour (9/5 – 10/5)
• Dopapod: U.S. Fall Tour (9/4 – 11/4)

Twenty-five years ago this summer, the Grateful Dead embarked upon a five-show stadium tour with longtime friend Bob Dylan. The tour was a massive success at the box office and led to the release of the Dylan & the Dead live album in 1989. Each show started with a pair of sets by the Dead, followed by a set in which the Bay Area greats backed Dylan.

[Tour Publicity Photo by Herb Greene]

On this date in 1987 the Dylan & the Dead Tour rolled into East Rutherford, New Jersey for a performance at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. YouTuber Voodoonola2 has shared a video featuring most of the show that’s culled from professionally-shot and fan-shot footage, along with the best available audio. We’re thinking some of the footage was shot by Justin Kreutzmann, GD drummer Billy K.’s son, since it was filmed from a unique on-stage vantage point. Let’s celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary by watching the 3+ hour clip…

Dylan and the Dead – July 12, 1987

Set 1: Loser, Tons Of Steel, Ramble On Rose, When I Paint My Masterpiece, When Push Comes To Shove, The Promised Land, Bertha 36:55

Set 2: Morning Dew 43:48, Playing In The Band 54:24, Drums, Space, The Other One, Stella Blue, Throwin’ Stones, Not Fade Away

Set 3 with Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming, Memphis Blues, Tomorrow is a Long Time, Highway 61, Baby Blue, Thin Man, John Brown, Wicked Messenger, Queen Jane, Chimes of Freedom, Joey, All Along the Watchtower, Times a Changing

Encore: Touch of Grey, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

A pair of Bob’s with a long history together will team up on September 9, when Grateful Dead / Furthur guitarist Bob Weir will open for Bob Dylan at Hershey Park Pavilion in Hershey, Penn. Weir will perform a solo acoustic set at the show. Tickets go on sale July 21st at 10AM EDT. Other newly announced Dylan shows include a Sept. 2nd gig at Bethel Woods; a Sept. 6th performance at Artpark in Lewiston, New York; a  Sept. 7th concert at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Mass. and a Sept. 8th show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Dylan and his band recently completed three days of rehearsals in Poughkeepsie, New York in advance of the group’s world tour, which kicks off at Hop Farm Music Festival in England on Saturday.

[via @RatDogDotOrg]

Seems odd to call any week a banner week for Bob Dylan, but the current seven day span just may qualify.  The legendary singer-songwriter not only celebrated his 71st birthday, but also was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama at the White House. If that wasn’t enough, the life and music of the iconic and influential bard was celebrated over the course of two nights at New York’s Irving Plaza with the annual  Dylan Fest organized by Rolling Stone scribe Austin Scaggs.

Now in its tenth year, the concerts, which are billed as “a night to get drunk and celebrate,” feature Scaggs and his Cabin Down Below band (which this year featured Austin’s dad Boz Scaggs on guitar and Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen on keyboard) expertly backing  a rotating cast of musicians. This year’s bill featured a mix of first time performers such as Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit) as well as returning favorites Regina Spektor, Nicole Atkins, Jesse Malin and a smattering of celebrities including Will Forte, Jason Sudekis, Kristen Wiig and Justin Long.

Dylan Fest – 2012-05-25 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY

Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream / Ballad Of A Thin Man / Love Minus Zero / Where Are You Tonight / Highway 61 / I Want You / Tangled Up In Blue / Sara / Odds & Ends / Standing In The Doorway / Tom Thumb Blues / Just Like A Woman / Man In Me / Maggie’s Farm / Hurricane / I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight / You Ain’t Going Nowhere / It’s All Over Now Baby Blue / ??? / Subterranean Home Sick Blues / From A Buick 6 / Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright / Idiot Wind / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Isis / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / I Shall Be Released

The nearly three-hour show on Friday night showcased a mix of Dylan tunes from throughout his 50+ year career, mixing the classics (Tangled Up In Blue, Maggie’s Farm, Just Like A Woman) with some deeper cuts (Where Are You Tonight, Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight). Thanks to YouTube user coneyislandgirl930, we can check out a bunch of the performances from Friday night.

Let’s check ‘em out…

Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) – Idiot Wind

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It started out as simple way to honor the life and music of Bob Dylan, by Rolling Stone editor Austin Scaggs at his favorite local East Village bar, but over the course of a decade Dylan Fest has become an annual raucous event that’s a must attend for any Zimmy fan. Now in its tenth year, the two-night event will celebrate Mr. Dylan’s 71st birthday on May 24 (his actual birthday) and 25 at New York’s Irving Plaza, with another impressive roster of musicians that includes Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit), Nicole Atkins, Ryan Miller (Guster), Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes) and Cory Chisel. If that wasn’t enough to get you in the door, the night will also feature a special tribute tribute to Levon Helm. Tickets are currently on-sale now with a portion of the proceeds set to benefit Amnesty International.

Here’s a look at the initial line up….

Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Cory Chisel, Nicole Atkins, Adam Green, Boz Scaggs, Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes), Ryan Miller (Guster), Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit), Christopher Chu (POP ETC), Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne), Petter Erickson Stakee (Alberta Cross), Tyson Ritter (All American Rejects), Sammy James, Jr. (The Mooney Suzuki), Ben Trokan (Robbers on High Street), The Tangiers Blues Band, Jack Dishel (Only Son), Steve Schiltz (Longwave), Tracy Bonham, Jamie Burke, Mikki James and actor Justin Long.

If you won’t be in and around NYC for Dylan Fest, then maybe you’ll be able to hit one of these recently announced tours…

• The Hives: World Tour (5/5 – 9/21)
• Rufus Wainwright: World Tour (5/2 – 12/13)
• Clutch: Summer Tour (7/11 – 7/22)
• Jackson Browne: Summer U.S. Acoustic Tour (7/14 – 8/15)
• Gillian Welch: Summer Southwest Tour (5/30 – 6/12)
• Beirut: Summer World Tour (5/27 – 9/19)
• Talib Kweli: Prisoner Of Consciousness Tour (5/18 – 6/3)t
• Dream Theater: Summer North American Tour (6/15 – 7/21)