DUBLIN 2000 - THE POINT

POINT THEATRE, DUBLIN,

IRELAND

1. I AM THE MAN, THOMAS @

2. SONG TO WOODY @

3. IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'M ONLY BLEEDING) @

4. MY BACK PAGES @ (BOB ON HARP AND LARRY ON MANDOLIN)

5. TANGLED UP IN BLUE @

6. SEARCHING FOR A SOLDIER'S GRAVE @ (LARRY ON MANDOLIN)

7. COUNTRY PIE

8. TRYIN' TO GET TO HEAVEN

9. TOMBSTONE BLUES

10. SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE

11. THE WICKED MESSENGER (BOB ON HARP)

12. LEOPARD-SKIN PILL-BOX HAT

13. LOVE SICK

14. LIKE A ROLLING STONE

15. DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT @

16. HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED

17. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND @

18. RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & #35

19. FOREVER YOUNG @

As my wife is driving us toward Belfast
and beyond, I am trying to put some thoughts
to paper, hoping to find Internet access
before crossing over to Scotland
(I did, as I type this in Larne Library).

Yesterday I wrote that "Vicar Street"
was the finest concert (to date) on
Irish soil. Well, that was yesterday.
"The Point" was way better. Our position
in the venue unfortunately wasn't, as we
stood at the back of the standing area,
close to the board, where one man handled
the finest light show I was ever able to
behold (Bob should include him in the intros).
Bob was much more animated last night and
repeated merely three songs from the
"Vicar Street" main set and four more
from the encores. He performed three
songs for the first time in Europe:
"The Wicked Messenger" (same incandescent
light and ending with harp as
"Drifter's Escape" the night before),
"Searching for a Soldier's Grave"
and the opener, which I expected least,
as he dad not performed it for half a
year, "I AM THE MAN THOMAS".

This song heads the list of 12 songs on my
website (Not Dark Yet), where the lyrics are
to be found. Look at these nail scars. The
ever-surprising-Bob pulled out some more
nuggets. Four songs (including "Song to
Woody") I had never seen, five more only
once in 22 shows. The last song,
"Forever Young", I had not seen since
Cincinnati 1981, "Tombstone Blues" and
"It's alright Ma" not since Hamburg 1984.
The Tombstone was rock and rolled away
last night and "FOREVER YOUNG" is a much
nicer closer than "RDW". Bob sang it like
a loving uncle giving good advice to his
favorite nephews. The raising of his
eyebrows while singing "may you have
a strong foundation" sure was a memorable
sight through my binoculars. "Simple
Twist Of Fate" was simply beautiful.
It is my favorite 70s-song before 79.
"My Back Pages" had both nice violin
and harmonica, and "H61" had Mr. Sexton
play a great guitar solo. The audience
clearly enjoyed the band rocking this
old 1878 Depot building.

But all this (not even the opener I was
hoping to see Bob perform but once
on this tour) ain't no match to the
second electric song, which I had the
pleasure and honor to witness for the
second time in 501 days. It was the
absolute show stopper, as nobody seemed
to recognize the "new" slow arrangement
of this gem, which Bob had not performed
since Horsens in May. Not only the speed,
but also the melody and phrasing was
reinvented. The last verse was dropped,
and the end of the other four went like:
...tryin', ... tryin' to get to heaven,
before they close, ... close the door."
Real slow, and with a new tune.
Absolutely amazing! If there was
but one song for me to take to this
imaginary island (we all play that
game, don't we?), it would be this
performance of "TRYIN' TO GET TO HEAVEN",
which I heard and saw last night in Dublin.
It was like Bob opening his heart (which
is in the Highlands as we should know)
for a few minutes, telling us exactly
where he stands. Last night he really
was getting to the point.



SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 POINT THEATRE, DUBLIN, IRELAND 1. I AM THE MAN, THOMAS @ 2. SONG TO WOODY @ 3. IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'M ONLY BLEEDING) @ 4. MY BACK PAGES @ (BOB ON HARP AND LARRY ON MANDOLIN) 5. TANGLED UP IN BLUE @ 6. SEARCHING FOR A SOLDIER'S GRAVE @ (LARRY ON MANDOLIN) 7. COUNTRY PIE 8. TRYIN' TO GET TO HEAVEN 9. TOMBSTONE BLUES 10. SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE 11. THE WICKED MESSENGER (BOB ON HARP) 12. LEOPARD-SKIN PILL-BOX HAT 13. LOVE SICK 14. LIKE A ROLLING STONE 15. DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT @ 16. HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED 17. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND @ 18. RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & #35 19. FOREVER YOUNG @ As my wife is driving us toward Belfast and beyond, I am trying to put some thoughts to paper, hoping to find Internet access before crossing over to Scotland (I did, as I type this in Larne Library). Yesterday I wrote that "Vicar Street" was the finest concert (to date) on Irish soil. Well, that was yesterday. "The Point" was way better. Our position in the venue unfortunately wasn't, as we stood at the back of the standing area, close to the board, where one man handled the finest light show I was ever able to behold (Bob should include him in the intros). Bob was much more animated last night and repeated merely three songs from the "Vicar Street" main set and four more from the encores. He performed three songs for the first time in Europe: "The Wicked Messenger" (same incandescent light and ending with harp as "Drifter's Escape" the night before), "Searching for a Soldier's Grave" and the opener, which I expected least, as he dad not performed it for half a year, "I AM THE MAN THOMAS". This song heads the list of 12 songs on my website (Not Dark Yet), where the lyrics are to be found. Look at these nail scars. The ever-surprising-Bob pulled out some more nuggets. Four songs (including "Song to Woody") I had never seen, five more only once in 22 shows. The last song, "Forever Young", I had not seen since Cincinnati 1981, "Tombstone Blues" and "It's alright Ma" not since Hamburg 1984. The Tombstone was rock and rolled away last night and "FOREVER YOUNG" is a much nicer closer than "RDW". Bob sang it like a loving uncle giving good advice to his favorite nephews. The raising of his eyebrows while singing "may you have a strong foundation" sure was a memorable sight through my binoculars. "Simple Twist Of Fate" was simply beautiful. It is my favorite 70s-song before 79. "My Back Pages" had both nice violin and harmonica, and "H61" had Mr. Sexton play a great guitar solo. The audience clearly enjoyed the band rocking this old 1878 Depot building. But all this (not even the opener I was hoping to see Bob perform but once on this tour) ain't no match to the second electric song, which I had the pleasure and honor to witness for the second time in 501 days. It was the absolute show stopper, as nobody seemed to recognize the "new" slow arrangement of this gem, which Bob had not performed since Horsens in May. Not only the speed, but also the melody and phrasing was reinvented. The last verse was dropped, and the end of the other four went like: ...tryin', ... tryin' to get to heaven, before they close, ... close the door." Real slow, and with a new tune. Absolutely amazing! If there was but one song for me to take to this imaginary island (we all play that game, don't we?), it would be this performance of "TRYIN' TO GET TO HEAVEN", which I heard and saw last night in Dublin. It was like Bob opening his heart (which is in the Highlands as we should know) for a few minutes, telling us exactly where he stands. Last night he really was getting to the point.
	not dark yet - home page concerts i've been to songs i've seen I AM THE MAN THOMAS FOREVER YOUNG TRYING TO GET TO HEAVEN Reviews on Expecting Rain Reviews on Bob Dates