Bob Dylan Rocked Seoul

Bob Dylan Gives Memorable Concert

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Kim Young-jin Staff Reporters Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan played his first concert in Korea before a packed crowd at Olympic Gymnasium in southern Seoul, Wednesday evening. Wearing a black suit and his trademark hat, Dylan regaled 6,000 fans to more than two hours of non-stop music. His 18-song set list was surprisingly heavy with well-known hits such as ``Highway 61,'' ``Blowin' in the Wind'' and ``Like a Rolling Stone.'' The 68-year-old musician, fresh off a 14-date tour in Japan, showed no signs of fatigue or age. He opened the concert behind the keyboard, launching with his band into the raucous 12-bar blues of ``Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,'' followed by an up-tempo version of ``Lay, Lady, Lay.'' Dylan picked up a guitar for ``I'll Be Your Baby Tonight,'' trading licks with lead guitarist Charlie Sexton. It was the only time he played guitar; he played the harmonica and keyboard throughout the night. It was followed by ``Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again,'' and a rockabilly version of ``The Levee's Gonna Break,'' which featured a playfully syncopated keyboard solo from Dylan. He mellowed the mood with a slow-dance rendition of ``Just Like a Woman,'' sounding as wistful and reflective as ever. He leaned over the edge of the stage mid-song to play a harmonica solo especially for the front row. The next few songs, ``Honest With Me,'' ``Sugar Baby'' and ``High Water (For Charley Patton),'' were all off his 2001 album, ``Love and Theft.'' Dylan and his band gave a fresh take on the classic ``Desolation Row,'' enthralling the crowd throughout the nearly 10-minute song. He stayed fairly faithful to the original ``Highway 61 Revisited,'' but ``Shelter From the Storm'' departed from the original, taking on a loose, almost improvisational feel. Dylan injected a dose of swing into ``Thunder On The Mountain,'' getting many in the crowd on their feet and dancing. Midway through the song, the band broke into an extended jam session, showing off their considerable chops by bringing their sound down to a simmer and breaking back into a bluesy romp. ``Ballad Of A Thin Man'' was the final song, with Dylan sounding as caustic as ever as he sneered the lyrics over jolts of distorted guitar. As the band exited, fans began clamoring for an encore. After a few minutes, Dylan and the band re-emerged. With the opening chords of ``Like a Rolling Stone,'' many fans rushed towards the front to dance and get a closer glimpse of the iconic figure. Dylan also performed ``Jolene'' and ``All Along The Watchtower'' ― complete with Hendrix-style riffs ― to the delight of the fans. Dylan and his band played almost non-stop throughout the more than two-hour concert. He did not talk much, but the fans didn't seem to mind. It was only after the first encore when he spoke to the audience. ``Thanks fans,'' he said, before introducing his band. His band featured Sexton on lead guitar, Tony Garnier on bass, George Recile on drums, Stu Kimball on rhythm guitar and Donnie Herron on banjo, violin, electric mandolin, pedal steel and lap steel guitar. The concert ended with a country version of ``Blowin' in the Wind," which saw Dylan shouting the lyrics out with verve, spurring on his band and elating the crowd. After the song, Dylan and his band took a bow before the clearly appreciative audience. It may have taken nearly 50 years for the music icon to come to Korea, but Dylan certainly made it worth the wait. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr