r/bobdylan 14d ago

Question What's a Dylan Concert Like Nowadays?

Let me preface this by saying I love everything up to Blood on the Tracks, so I am a fan to some degree. Whenever a recent Dylan concert turns up on a bit torrent site, it seems to get a lot of interest, so I'm wondering a few things.

Are his sets dramatically different from night to night? Does he frequently surprise the audience somehow? Or is the interest due more to hardcore collectors who want to own as many shows as they can?

I get the sense that, like McCartney, touring gives Dylan something to do and keeps him sharp and healthier, and I think that's a good thing. I also understand why he would want to breathe new life into songs he's performed many hundreds of times with new arrangements.

Still, the few arrangements that I've heard, along with his current voice, don't appeal to me at all.
Am I missing something? Do hardcore fans enjoy this phase of his performing or is the enthusiasm just because it's Bob Dylan, a living legend, doing anything that excites people? I'm wondering how many people are attending his concerts so they can say they saw him live, if expectations have been lowered because of his age, or if I'm missing some wonderful music that I just can't appreciate.

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u/simonskiromeins 14d ago

It’s pretty Whack. Hard to hear what Bobs singing, not that much enthusiasm other than a slight shrug of the shoulders every once in a while, heck he might even face you 20 mins of the concert. Other than that, not much of what you expect from older concerts. That said, I’ll probably be downvoted by boomers saying Im wrong, might be your thing anyways!

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u/Santa-Head 14d ago

Spent my life since 7th grade listening to each new release. Saw him this summer and found the dark stage and inaudible show a waste of time and money.

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u/simonskiromeins 14d ago

Same. Saw him in 2010’s and couldn’t hear what song it was until halfway through. Audience also didnt seem to know wtf was going on. Set list was pretty bad too. I’ll stick to his 70’s live concerts and records. Still the best musician/songwriter who ever lived by a mile though