Arts & Entertainment
Friday,
March 18, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 11
Sat, Nov 21, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
Bob Dylan fills the Paramount three nights in a row |
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| Bob Dylan fills the Paramount three nights in a row | ||
| by Richard Kennedy
- SGN Music Writer
Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard and Amos Lee. March 9th @ The Paramount The Bob Dylan Show brought three sold-out evenings of a classic performance format to the Paramount Theatre last week. It was more than just two acts opening for the master songwriter, it was a classic country/rockabilly show with two fantastic billings in front of Dylan. When Dylan came on stage the motif was completed with draped red curtains and starlights behind the band. Like Amos Lee and Merle Haggard before him, Dylan blended his songs into a blues-y country/rock jam that had the audience giving up one standing ovation after another. Up and coming artist Amos Lee started the show with his 70s inspired soul and folk music. He draws inspiration from the likes of Bill Withers and James Taylor. Theres been a lot of buzz for this singer/songwriter as he spent last year opening for Norah Jones and now the beginning of this year with Dylan. His set seemed to run a little bit tighter than when I saw him open for Jones, but I think that is because of the triple billing that left him with a little less time to chat with the audience. He sang one of his catchier tunes, Give It All Up For You and closed with his touching At Ease In Your Arms. The past few years have been great for classic country artists in the music scene. There is a new found appreciation for artists like Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and of course the great Merle Haggard. It was certainly evident when the audience rose to their feet at his entrance and gave up some great energy through his performance. Haggard was clad in fringe, sparkles, cowboy hat and dark sunglasses like a true country musician. He even had the quintessential guitar strap with his name boldly embroidered on it. His greatest crowd pleaser was naturally Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee and had the whole theatre stomping their feet while yelling cat calls at him. He went back and forth between his hit songs, some new numbers and of course the classic country ballads like Going Where The Lonely Go. When Dylan took the stage with his band, all decked out in black to contrast the beautiful red draped background, the house went crazy. The band which was less rock and more folk/bluegrass, was in top form while Dylan took to the keyboards and harmonica through the entire show. This was not a typical Dylan show with him standing at the microphone with a guitar, it was indeed a show to highlight the entire band, complimenting his new and consummate hits. The new arrangements gave a different feel for classics like Just Like A Woman and Highway 61 Revisited. However, Most Likely You Go Your Own Way And Ill Go Mine practically transported the audience back to 1966 with its composition. For this reviewer the highlight of the evening was watching Dylan perform The Ballad of Hollis Brown on stage. Dylan proved that he was in top form on his closing night in Seattle. It was truly a special evening to catch the musical icon in a more intimate setting than the typical arena that he normally fills. |
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| Amos Lee | ||
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