Review: Icons Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson have a Ball

Chris Riemenschneider,

Rochester Star Tribune

August 30, 2004

ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Bob Dylan has a history of not meshing with his homestate's smaller big cities, and Sunday's ballpark swing to Mayo Field with Willie Nelson was no exception.

In terms of audience appreciation, the Hibbing hippie was no match for the rousing redneck from Abbott, Texas, who went on first. However, fans familiar with both singers' concerts could attest that Nelson mostly took a walk in the ballpark, while Dylan delivered plenty of interesting changeups.

That Dylan wasn't toning down his counterculture reputation for Rochester's sake was obvious right off the bat, as he opened with "Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35." That's the one with the refrain, "Everybody must get stoned."

Nelson, on the other hand, played to the ballpark-wholesomeness by starting with "Promiseland" instead of his usual opener, "Whiskey River." Other "safe" songs connected well, including "Always on My Mind" and a medley of Hank Williams classics.

This was not a tepid crowd by any means, though. More sordid Willie anthems such as "Me and Paul,"Nightlife" and the recent Toby Keith collaboration "Beer for My Horses" went over just as well. Nelson, 71, hid his recent wrist problems, which forced a two-month hiatus this summer. His son Luke Nelson helped fill in on guitar alongside longtime sideman Jody Payne, and that threesome set up a great blues jam through "Texas Flood," which was the one surprise entry in Nelson's set.

As at other recent shows, Dylan, 63, spent the night on keyboards, though he fortunately ditched the second drummer he had on tour this spring. And as he's always done, he played loosely with the band arrangements on many of his best-known songs (something Nelson also enjoys doing).

Dylan's looseness doesn't always work, but it did in versions of "It Ain't Me, Babe" and "Like a Rolling Stone" at Mayo Field, where the sound quality was surprisingly major-league and the ever-quizzical Dylan was into the game.

Other highlights of his set included the extra-gritty rockers "Honest With Me" and "Highway 61 Revisited," plus the pretty take on "Bye and Bye," featuring violinist Elana Fremerman from opening band Hot Club of Cowtown.

Nelson's fellow Austinites, Hot Club, were warmly welcomed in their opening set despite playing in a cool downpour. The sweet-sounding Western Swing trio, who perform next week at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, adjusted to the rain with a wistful cover of "Pennies From Heaven." Nelson added more sunniness by joining them on "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone ."

As for Nelson's and Dylan's own collaboration during Dylan's set,"Heartland," the obscure song (which they co-wrote) was hardly a show highlight. However, just seeing the two road loving songwriting icons finally join up on a tour together was already a -- you guessed it -- grand slam.