Shadow and Sound: Dylan in Stockholm
Observations from a Fan on a Stripped-Down, Atmospheric Night with Bob Dylan
In preparation for the upcoming shows in Brussels, Paris and beyond, we are pleased to share a concert review from a fellow Dylan fan.
Maciej Smycz, known on Instagram as @maciej.smycz, shares his impressions from Bob’s recent show in Stockholm. A few years after seeing him in Berlin, he finds the artist more vital than ever — haunting, mysterious, and still full of surprises.
If you like his review, you might also like Maciej’s YouTube channel, which you can find here, where he is covering songs from Dylan and others, as well as performing his own stuff.
Thanks for sending this over, Maciej!
“Few years back I was on Dylan concert in Berlin. And I can say he’s getting better and better.
Appeared on stage on time. Immediately went into it, I’ll be your baby tonight – an introduction, a gentle „Hello” to the audience? Probably, cause you’re not gonna get any other form of welcoming. Vital, full of energy „False Prophet” with a haunting piano interludes, bluesy, groovy riff only going forward as the lyrics: „Hello stranger, A long goodbye. You ruled the land, but so do I. You lost your mule. You got a poison brain. I’ll marry you to a ball and chain.” – Another form of introducing himself. Same spooky atmosphere continues in Black Rider and My Own Version of You.
He picked up a guitar for a longer parts than usual, mostly to play solos (It ain’t me baby etc.), of course sitting back to the audience, facing musicians, kind of like in a rehearsal room, relaxed. The same about harp, many longer parts, best playin’ of him I’ve heard in years.
Not mentioned old style vintage lighting, no fancy color lights or smokes, no big screens….of course.
Just music and some silhouette of him, a shadow of a man once known as Bob Dylan.
With a north face jacket and white t-shirt. Cause let’s be honest – it’s irrelevant. Although he is known for being tied in some old school style suit not this time. But he’s still present. He is still „there”.
Appeared like a prophet, speaks like a wiser, evocating some mysterious vibe, mystic atmosphere and actually… suitable for incoming Halloween.
No pauses. Not a word to the audience besides one simple „oh, thank you”. Still he says a lot in a language he knows the best.
Band appears to me as a door-to-door travelling troupe, they are like a jukebox. As he once said he sees himself as a „deliver of entertainment” to the people, night by night – a Circus is in town.
Rolling Thunder revue still echoes.
Although I think it could be slightly better produce, to emphasizes the atmosphere they are trying to create more, I’m talking about the sound production here, the mixing. Especially Dylan’s voice could hove some more „room” sometimes. Maybe a different type of microphone would be a better choice also. Cause many times he’s too away from it. The gain differences are too big.
Amazing musicians, playing like he want it to, he turn them on as and old jukebox. Sometimes I wouldn’t mind to hear a longer solo of some of them but no no no… not this time. Cause He is „your baby tonight”.
And please…name other artist with that legacy who plays the whole of its new album live. Ok, „a bit” younger Nick Cave did that on his previous tour, which was truly beautiful by the way, and even Dylan agreed with that as we read in one of his posts.
No photographers. Not phones allowed. He made 10,000 people to put their most precious device of the 21st century, people body’s extension which feels like a „human right” to have, to special bags which were opened after the show. And it was great. You needed to be there to have experienced it. See you out there, Bob.”