“Tom Thumb was great, and I'm loving it, and marking mentally that this will probably be the highlight of my evening, when the band launches into Ballad of a Thin Man. Ecstasy!
“And then comes Hwy 61, as good as it was in Manchester, stretching band and singer. I'm reminded of the great late-1990s performances of the fabled Workshop by the Van Morrison band: with three Hwy 61 album tunes already off the reel, I'm already conquered in my seat. If only he'll go the whole way, and continue with Desolation Row!
“ ‘Please, Bob’, I say, ‘do Desolation Row’. ‘No Bernard', replies Bob, ‘I've a better idea: how about the best Tambourine Man you've heard in years, and then a Memphis Blues and a Chimes of Freedom, and I'll control my voice and minimise the up notes? And just in case anyone doubts just how masterful I can be, let’s just throw in an exquisite Visions of Johanna!’
“What else does this great man need to prove? Well, for the old timers, lhe did a moving rendition of Hattie Carroll.
“All in all, Birmingham 2005 was the most complete Dylan show I’ve seen. Utterly ravishing. And this was just the tour of the provinces – a mere prelude to the five night residency in London next week.
“At the end of this magnificent performance, Bob held up his two harmonicas, in a Churchill-like V sign. Yes, Bob: victory indeed.
“God Bless Bob Dylan!”
Vill höra, ja...
