Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Bob Dylan's concert for the blind

Posted by Helen Herbst on Tue, Sep 25, 2007 at 9:33 PM

This past Saturday, when presented with the choice either to "Pump It Up" at Gwinnett or be felt up at the Girl Talk show at MJQ Concourse, the decision was easy: I went to the show I had tickets to. That the former required less physical movement and featured Elvis The-Love-of-My-Life Costello along with Bob Oh-My-God-That's-Bob-Dylan Dylan also played a major factor.

Gwinnett Center has great sound, and the performances were stellar. If I were blind, it would have been, for me, a fabulous show. But this is what my $49.50 (not including service charge) bought me:

Dylan.jpg

(Photo by Michael Ruther)

This is Bob Dylan and his band during the encore. Bob's the one in the hat.

And just imagine Elvis Costello (solo, for the first time in 12 years) in the same space. One tiny British man serenaded 13,000 with an acoustic guitar that, from my seat a quarter-mile away, was smaller than the beer in my hand.

As for Dylan, do I think he's over-the-hill? Do I think he's past his prime? Musically, no. I couldn't determine anything else without binoculars ($10 by the merch table).

I know large venues such as the Arena at Gwinnett Center are necessary, especially for such big acts. But sometimes, when I pay to see a band, I want to see a band.

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I know how you feel, back in 1984 I travelled to London to see Dylan, at the end Joan Baez came on stage and joined in the fun. Days later we discovered it was Chrissie Hinde. Like you say, just dots in the distance, could be anyone

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Posted by caerwnon on September 26, 2007 at 5:23 AM

Elvis Costello is Irish not British

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Posted by Andy on September 26, 2007 at 10:27 AM

correction - Elvis Costello IS British - apologies

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Posted by Andy on September 26, 2007 at 10:30 AM

How cruel to make me doubt myself. But Accidents Will Happen.

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Posted by hherbst on September 26, 2007 at 11:33 AM
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