"Tony Has Crossed The Rubicon!"

My review of an amazing show in Düsseldorf.

Düsseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Hall, 27.10.2024. After 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, yesterday was my fifth Bob Dylan show in this hall, and I can't think of any other hall where I've seen Bob more often.

I arrived in Düsseldorf at around 2:30 pm and later met up with some friends for dinner. In a fish restaurant within walking distance from the venue, we talked about the previous (and next) Dylan shows. That's one of the things I enjoy most: meeting and chatting with other Bob Dylan fans, sharing a mutual enthusiasm. People you often only see on a Bob Dylan tour.

After dinner, we walked over to the venue, where admission had already begun. Franky reeled off his usual musical program in front of the hall (a fan / musician who plays Bob Dylan covers in the “original” way and always receives a lot of encouragement, especially after the concerts in front of the hall - often seen on the post-show live reels of our Daily Dylan Instagram account), but this time he was challenged by a trumpeter who let “Blowin' In The Wind” resound through the Düsseldorf evening sky on his trumpet.

After arriving in the hall and at my seat, having eaten another cheese pretzel (somehow I was quite hungry yesterday), the show started at 8 pm sharp. Bob entered the stage in a great golden jacket.

All Along The Watchtower

Gets better and better. Bob's guitar solo is also becoming more fluid and fitting. The microphone was set correctly from the first word (something that can usually drive me crazy when you can barely hear the first lines) and the voice was clear from the start. I definitely like it much better than in Frankfurt or Berlin, and the sound in the hall proved to be very good again!

It Ain’t Me, Babe

Again a fluid and very fitting guitar solo from Bob in the beginning, overall a great performance, all lyrics securely placed and often beautifully phrased.

“Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the grouuuuuuund
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you doooooown”

I Contain Multitudes

A great, flawless performance with a great harmonica solo. The piece gave a perfect foretaste of the extraordinary show that was to come and made clear to me that this show will be worth a review for the Daily Dylan.

False Prophet

Still one of the hits of the set, which perhaps comes a little too early. This song clearly shows how much Bob can “steer” with his voice. Yesterday and at the previous shows, he tends to get quiet towards the end of a line and often mumbles the last word. During the spring tour, he delivered the lines at full throttle and with power, which often had the audience on the edge of their seats! Now he is doing it differently, on purpose. In the two musical interludes, Bob Britt's great electric guitar and Dylan's loud but well-pitched piano are a real treat.

Bob Dylan hardly moved for long periods during the singing of this song. He stood behind the piano and performed the song. Here, too, we have seen other “Prophets” with Bob Dylan center stage. But it was still great again!

Bob Britt was introduced after the song.

When I Pain’t My Masterpiece

The first highlight of this show for me. Great phrasing. (“get yourself into trouuuuuble - on a cold dark niiiiiight…”), great harmonica, great piano playing!

“Someday everything’s gonna be beautiful - someday - when I paint my masterpiece!”

Black Rider

Always a treat. Bob’s singing on this one is not from this world.

“Maybe I’ll take - Maybe! - the high moral grounds!”

My Own Version Of You

Unfortunately once again one of the “low-points” for me and others I talked to after the show. Somehow they can't find an arrangement that does the song justice. (Maybe take the one from the record?)

Doug Lancio was introduced after the song: “Doug Lancio on the second guitar. "Playing a serious song for serious people”.

To Be Alone With You

Another highlight of the evening! Great interplay between Bob and the band, great harp from Bob!

“Some people they don’t get it - NO they don’t”

“Did I kill somebody? I hope not!”

Crossing The Rubicon

While the song bored me 2 years ago on the 2022 fall tour, it was one of the highlights yesterday. Musically completely polished, the perfect space for Dylan's strong, clear phrasing and breathtaking musical parts that threatened to blow the ceiling off the hall.

After the song, Tony Garnier was introduced: “Tony Garnier playing on the bass guitar tonight… Tony’s crossed the Rubicon… We all have crossed the Rubicon…”

Desolation Row

Bob performed most of the song center stage! Great harp too! Gone are the days when it was newsworthy if Bob at all played the harp during a concert.

Today it was the turn of the “Einstein verse” again. Dr. Filth then back in Esch? We’ll be there and report.

After the last verse a great piano solo from Bob.

Of course Jim Keltner great drums, as always during Desolation Row. He was also introduced after the song.

Key West

Had his best version for me in Stuttgart. With this song, I always find it interesting how it polarizes. For many fans I talk to, it's one of the highlights. For me at the moment (apart from Stuttgart) it's more the song where I realize that maybe I shouldn't have eaten the cheese pretzel before the show after all. Still, great fitting nuances from both guitarists.

It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

Bob blurred the lyrics a bit during the first two verses. But the second half was strong as usual and Bob Britt’s guitar playing is very nice here again.

I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You

I think it's a great song in general. It gives Bob the opportunity to use his voice in a really great way. Nevertheless, this song together with Key West came across more emotionally for me on the fall tour 2022. Such is life.

Watching The River Flow

I really didn’t like that song as the opener that it long was. But boy did they worked it out! Yesterday was maybe the best version so far on this tour. Almost completely performed center stage right from the beginning! Clear and sharp voice! Excellent.

Mother Of Muses

Outstanding as always. What a song.

Goodbye Jimmy Reed

So much potential for this song. Slowly he starts realizing much of it. It starts getting better, the band gets tighter on it and Bob sings it better. But still a lot of potential yet to bring up for the rest of the tour.

Every Grain Of Sand

Unfortunately, I was somewhat distracted by securities who were constantly busy sending people who simply stood or sat down in the center aisle back to their seats. But the song was delivered exceptional well (as always actually) and the harp solo at the end was worth alone the ticket.

At the farewell, Bob stood incredibly far back on the stage and left it unusually quickly.

We waited in vain for a Phil Lesh tribute encore.

Anyway, it was a first class show. The crowd was enthusiastic. I will travel to Esch today to attend my last show before I head back home and need to wait for the London shows.

A first (low-quality) recording you can find below: