What a show last night in Prague! Bob kicked-off his European Tour 2024 with quite a bunch of surprises! There was “Dignity”, there was “Desolation Row”, there was “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”, and more!
I’m sure, most, if not all readers, are aware of the setlist by now. If not, you can check it out on Boblinks here!
My Austrian friend Hermann Rechberger is currently in Prague and sent us the following review about last night. Thanks mate! (see you soon in Prague!)
The first audios are starting to pop up in YouTube already, thanks to NightlyMoth.
Expect The Unexpected
I had high expectations when Bob came to Europe for the fall tour, although after the first posters it was clear that there was a return of the Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour and that meant 9 songs were “set”. Nevertheless, after the many surprises from the summer, I was hoping that something would change with the non-RARW songs. And I really wasn't disappointed here!
In many of his songs, the musical intro is so changed that you can only tell what he is playing by looking at the lyrics. Not so tonight in Prague: after the first measure, cheers from the audience - All Along The Watchtower, an intro as striking as Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water! And on to the next classic: In the first “No, no, no” he sings from top to bottom and contrary to his statement: it is him, “it is you we are looking for”! Then the first RARW song: I Contain Multitudes. I won't go into every song here, just this: the change in the band creates a different sound. Even before the show you could see Jim Keltner's green drums and there was no replacement for Donnie Herron. Yes: in Black Rider Bob Britt played a kind of banjo like Donnie used to play in High Water, interestingly enough he sat in a chair. The song was orchestrated extremely slowly, with the dominant banjo it seemed to me similar to the indescribable sadness of a Portuguese Fado.
There are three more great surprises to come, but I don't need to list them, that's what the setlist is for.
It was a great evening that leaves you wanting more.
One more thing: Even though many people may feel differently, I still like the RARW songs, they contain some of the most beautiful sentences Dylan has ever written. And musically he still has surprises in store, which shows: “he contains multitudes”!
Above: Picture from Hermann Rechberger. Check out the Daily Dylan’s Instagram to also watch his short video from the end of last nights show!