# I'm going to see Bob Dylan tonight! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 8, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515 "2026-07-08T17:44:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/1 "2026-07-08T17:44:41Z")
Found a decent affordable ticket last minute on StubHub and I’m good to go! Looking forward to it, I’ve heard he’s been pretty hot this tour. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/2 "2026-07-08T17:48:38Z")
We saw him last month in Woodinville WA. I don’t want to poison your experience, but I’ll say we were disappointed. Hope you have a great time. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/3 "2026-07-08T18:37:00Z")
I saw him twice about 30 years ago when he was relatively young, and he was getting slow even then. He was better than when we saw him in 1980 or so, during the gospel period. The interesting stuff was which version of the classic songs he plays. I took my high school aged daughter to the two shows at Shoreline in Mountain View. Watching stoned aging hippies was the best anti-drug message ever. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/4 "2026-07-08T18:53:54Z")
I saw this in 1975 when Dylan was 34 (I was 26): > **[Rolling Thunder Revue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Thunder_Revue)** > > The Rolling Thunder Revue was a 1975–76 concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan with numerous musicians and collaborators. The purpose of the tour was to allow Dylan, who was a major recording artist and concert performer, to play in smaller auditoriums in less populated cities where he could be more intimate with his audiences. Some of the performers on the tour were Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell, Ronee Blakely and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Bob Neuwirth assembled backing mus... It was fabulous–like a big indoor party. People sailing frisbees all over the auditorium. The tickets cost more than any of us had ever spent for an event ticket: **NINE DOLLARS EACH!** 🤣 This was when an _expensive_ movie ticket was $1.25. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/5 "2026-07-08T19:18:47Z")
He is very hit or miss. The first time that I saw him was 1988 and I probably saw him 15 times before I gave up several years ago other than at a festival last year. He is definitely still capable of putting out a banger and if you have never seen him before you are in for a treat regardless. Just don’t try to sing along. He doesn’t perform the songs in an usual way. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/6 "2026-07-08T19:25:55Z")
I’ve seen him twice. The first was magnificent, the second much less sp. In the second it seemed to me that he didn’t give a flying fuck about putting on a good show. Nonetheless, if you haven’t seen him in person before you wouldn’t want to miss your chance to see a legend, even if he only presents a shadow of his former self. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/7 "2026-07-08T20:08:42Z")
Oh, I’m no rookie, I’ve seen him probably close to twenty times dating back to the early Eighties. It will not be OK, it will either be transcendentally brilliant or complete crap. Looks like the setlist will be heavy on the “new” album, _Rough and Rowdy Ways,_ which is like four years old now. That’s fine with me, it’s a good record. He’s also been throwing in some Bo Diddley and Eddie Cochran covers, as well as some of his own deep cuts and maybe a couple songs casual fans would actually recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/8 "2026-07-08T20:12:50Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > as well as some of his own deep cuts and maybe a couple songs casual fans would actually recognize. I recognized exactly one song. Probably my fault, for not keeping up with his “new” music. For example, I’ve never heard any of the _Rough and Rowdy Ways_ album. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > In the second it seemed to me that he didn’t give a flying fuck about putting on a good show. part of his charm is he doesn’t give a shit. But he uttered not one word to the crowd. Not a “hi, thanks for coming,” or “have a good evening, we’re done.” (No encore by the way). I’m glad we went, though. A very talented band, and the intro acts were all good. A pleasant evening at a winery. But I wished I had seen him in his prime. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/9 "2026-07-08T20:13:04Z")
The last time I saw him he did a cover of Ricky Nelson’s _Garden Party_ which was apparently the first time he did that (and maybe the last). That song name checks him which made it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/10 "2026-07-08T20:23:29Z")
Excited to find out that Lucinda Williams and the John Doe Folk Trio (yes, the guy from X) will be opening. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve heard of Williams and am always keen to see what Doe is up to. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/11 "2026-07-08T20:26:02Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > But he uttered not one word to the crowd. Not a “hi, thanks for coming,” or “have a good evening, we’re done.” (No encore by the way). I’m glad we went, though. A very talented band, and the intro acts were all good. A pleasant evening at a winery. But I wished I had seen him in his prime. Yeah, he never has talked to the audience. And at least as far back as the 80s, he’s been known for mailing in some shows. Dearly wish I could have been around for the Rolling Thunder Revue. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/12 "2026-07-08T20:37:03Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [Rolling Thunder Revue - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Thunder_Revue) Saw Roger McGuinn in a small venue and he told stories about that tour. In fact, his whole concert was stories (going back to his days writing songs in the Brill Building, and touring as Bobby Darin’s “folksinger guy”). He’d do snippets of songs mostly to punctuate the tales. I loved it. I saw Dylan back in the '70s and lucked out. Caught him on a sober night! Loved that he changed things around (lyrics _and_ music) - - he’d recite a poem to a drum&bass beat, or dance around a solo saxophone riff, and THEN you’d recognize it as one of his classics. But I agree, even at his “best” he never said anything between songs. Not sure he noticed there were people there… ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/13 "2026-07-08T20:40:15Z")
as an aside, we were able to view a lot of his original artwork in London last month. He’s quite a talented painter. Not cheap either. > [@digs](#): > > But even at his “best” he never said anything to the audience… It was strange (the previous concert we say was Bruce Springsteen, with a whole lot of audience interaction). But I’m fine with his quirkiness. I come for the music (mostly) ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/14 "2026-07-09T01:38:49Z")
OK, so it turns out I have ADD and Chicago traffic is bad, so I missed John Doe and arrived halfway through Lucinda Williams’ set which was GREAT. Beautiful evening for a concert here on the Chicago lakefront. I am sipping my $20 beer. I understand that it is much easier and more convenient for venues to go “cash-only”. But I feel they have overlooked a crucial point. Who goes to see Bob Dylan? Middle-aged men whose wives see the credit card bill and are not going to tolerate more than one $20 beer. I am sure their total revenue would be much higher if they accepted cash. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/15 "2026-07-09T01:43:03Z")
I feel kind of weird because I found a very cheap ticket with a great view on Stubhub, and didn’t realize that I am in the handicapped section. Everyone else here also seems perfectly able-bodied, so I hope we are not somehow depriving actual disabled people of their access, ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/16 "2026-07-09T01:54:15Z")
Be sure to invest on the Libretto, 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/17 "2026-07-09T04:16:22Z")
Great show! He’s got a really funky blues-rock band that’s been playing these songs for four years and fleshed them out well beyond the album versions. Bob supplies his gnomic, apocalyptic rasp and it all works great. But it definitely helps if you know all the words, including the ones from commercial and critical flop albums from forty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/18 "2026-07-09T04:29:45Z")
I’d have gone for Lucinda Williams then left to beat the crowd. Glad for you that he was “on” rather than pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/19 "2026-07-09T05:02:44Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But I agree, even at his “best” he never said anything between songs. > Not sure he noticed there were people there… If you listen to the official bootleg from the 1964 Philharmonic Hall concert, he talks plenty to his audience, and is hilarious. By the 1966 “Albert Hall” concert he stopped talking much. I think he said a few things in 1980, but he’s no Richard Thompson for sure. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515/20 "2026-07-09T12:29:07Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > as an aside, we were able to view a lot of his original artwork in London last month. He’s quite a talented painter. Not cheap either. Huh, I didn’t know he was a painter. I mean, I _may_ have heard at some point and rolled my eyes…‘another celeb who thinks they can paint, too’ 🙄 But yeah, he’s not bad. I’m seeing a fair amount of Hopper influence. > **[Bob Dylan](https://www.halcyongallery.com/bob-dylan/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&campaign=21060708840_159516172077_g_c&utm_term=bob%20dylan%20paintings&snuk=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzgal9DMKuEaRXfAury-KPUHgAy3JG3d--jK85SYKpJJK7F38pQf7HwaAh2REALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21060708840&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzgal9DMKuEaRXfAury-KPUHgAy3JG3d--jK85SYKpJJK7F38pQf7HwaAh2REALw_wcB)** > > Halcyon Gallery presents contemporary artist, Bob Dylan. Dylan is a worldwide cultural icon who has been inspiring audiences for six decades. Through music, words and art, Dylan remains restlessly creative, continually reinventing himself and... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-bob-dylan-tonight/1031515.md?page=2)