Revitalized and energized, Bob Dylan emerged from the corner of the Paramount Theatre’s stage on March 16 swinging, or, in actuality, shuffling. But what he lacked in presence, he more than made up for in performance.
Dylan almost seems a new man in 2005. He has three new band members, is performing smaller shows, and has country legend Merle Haggard as his touring partner. When compared with the rained-out shows he did last October in Berkeley, Dylan did not show his 64 years except through his stifled gait.
Opening with a banjo-heavy version of “To Be Alone With You,” the band kept the country feel of the evening going with fellow “Nashville Skyline” song “Girl from the North Country,” “Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum” and “Down Along The Cove.” Though Don Herron’s pedal steel was a nice touch, the true star of the show was violinist Elana Fremerman, whose country-fried fiddling could have found her a spot in Haggard’s tight-as-a-snare-drum band.
Still behind his trusty keyboard, Dylan rocked and rolled through the set. Many might argue that the best part about seeing Dylan play is not in the show itself, but seeing what songs he chooses to play that evening. No set is the same from night to night, so if one hears a song they like, it’s akin to winning some sort of “Bob bingo,” except without bingo markers and stamp sheets, of course. The old ladies are still there, however, and they dance like Holy Ghost-possessed Baryshnikovs.
And speaking of old, Dylan spared trodding out the typical encore song “Like a Rolling Stone” and instead laid out a clean version of Hank Cochran’s “A-11.”
On a humorous side note, “Summer Days,” a favorite show-ender of Dylan, is a perfect opportunity to use as a bathroom break, especially in small venues like the Paramount Theatre. If you’ve seen it once, you know what you’re in for, and that’s at least six good minutes of jamtastic rock.
Haggard, on the other hand, tore it up. Still backed by The Strangers, The Hag (as he is known to fans) puts on one of the best old-school country shows to be seen. Norm Hamlett’s performance on pedal steel and steel guitar was otherworldly and drummer Johnny Barber’s timing could stop on a pin’s head. During the performance, Haggard received several standing ovations, told jokes, and acted every bit a showman as one could ever want. What Haggard did was more than a performance-he put on a show.
Set highlights included “Positively 4th Street,” “Every Grain Of Sand,” “Down Along The Cove,” and “Girl Of The North Country.”
