Bob Dylan at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in 2022 — A Concert Review

Bob Dylan returned to Atlanta

Bob Dylan and his band performed at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia on March 24, 2022. It was one of the stops on his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” world wide tour which will reportedly continue into the year 2024.

Having witnessed Mr. Dylan’s concert in Washington, D.C. on December 2nd last year, I was keen to see him at such a historic and revered venue as the fabulous Fox.  Dylan’s last public performance in Atlanta was seven years ago when he played the Fox Theatre in 2015. He has performed in Atlanta more than 30 times through the years beginning in mid ‘60s. 

A friend sees his first Bob Dylan concert

This time I went with lifelong working musician, Jeff Pike who also happens to be a live and recorded music fanatic. Jeff is not only someone who has seen an endless number of varied concerts through the years. He’s also a great friend. We’ve seen just about every kind of live performance there is, but this was Jeff Pike’s first time seeing Bob Dylan. 

After the concert I asked him some questions to record his reactions, which you’ll be hearing soon.

Bob Dylan is always a different live experience

I’m in agreement with Jeff Pike about the significance and uniqueness of the lighting in the show. We also feel the same about the distinct, atypical sound Dylan and the band pull off. The setlist of the Atlanta show was almost identical to last year’s, with only one song change. The Atlanta concert included Dylan’s song “Crossing the Rubicon” in place of “Early Roman Kings.” 

So without delay, here was the brief, impromptu conversation post-concert:

Paul Leslie:

So it is after the Atlanta, Georgia Bob Dylan concert, 2022. The Fox Theater, the Fabulous Fox Theater. I’m here with my good friend, Jeff Pike. This is his first time seeing a Bob Dylan concert. What immediately strikes you?

Jeff Pike:

The originality and uniqueness of his performance, of the entire band; the surreal vibe. The whole lights gave out, the band gave out. It was moody. And it just had an aura about it that I’ve never experienced before at a concert. Like you said, It’s hard to describe the music it’s not folk, it’s not country, it’s kind of a mixture. There was a couple of rock and roll songs that were rock and roll, you could tell. But outside of that. It was like Bob’s vocal delivery was so unique, like Bob. But it gave another, a unique quality and a timbre to the music that the band kind of like played around and into. And Bob’s delivery is so unique, that having the band play to that, makes it a whole different style of music. And each song was different. There was there were ballads, that were slow songs. There were even dirges that were kind of really intriguing. And rockers. 

I’ve been waiting all my life to see Bob Dylan. And I would never have, with shared with anybody but Paul Leslie. It was great, man. To be 81 years old. He did it. And it was no frills. He introduced the band. And that was it. And I had a real good time, Paul. It was, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Because you never really do, what I’ve heard going to  a Bob Dylan show. But the one thing that surprised me the most was he didn’t play guitar. 

So that’s what what really surprised me the most was he played piano all night long. But it was different. And it was enjoyable. So, I think everybody should see Bob Dylan at least once.

How would you describe the mood or the aura of the performance?

Introspective, deep, reflective. Iconic in looking back. Like on all kinds of styles of music.

Would you like to see him again?

Yeah. I would. Tomorrow night.

Not that far away. One more question. What? What did you think of that band?

The band was really good. They play to his, like I said they played to his voice. And what he did. Bob, he’s kind of a mentalist, you know. But they added to what he did so incredibly well. And they stayed out of his way. And the solos weren’t too much. And the dynamics that the band played with, were wonderful. The mandolin player, the stand up bass player was phenomenal. And the drummer played in and out of the counterpoint at times, it was really intriguing. So it wasn’t that all your standard fare of going to a show and hearing the hits and hearing the songs and standing on your feet and pumping your fist in the air and wait for an encore. It was really a deep, personal show. I think it was a listening crowd. I like the fact, I love the fact that they made us all turn our phones off. I wish every venue would do that. It was great to see no phones in the air.  I thought it was 1978 again. And yeah, it was intriguing. I’ve never seen a show quite like it. I’ll have to say. I have probably never seen a show like that before. And it was from the very first note to the very last, it was definitely intriguing. Delightfully original. 

Almost like not of this time. It’s in my show that I might have heard years ago. And the lighting helped on that too. Yeah, a little vaudeville lighting kind of it had.Like there were no overhead lights, there were no spotlights. All the lights came from below. That kind of helped the mood of the music I believe,  a lot. Especially on songs like Black Rider.  You can tell Bob is one, he does what he does. He doesn’t care to be in the spotlight at all. He just gets out and does his gig and: here it is. Take me or leave me.

The songs are the star.

Yes, they are the song to the star and the lyrics are the star. What he writes. He’s still a poet. He’s so prolific, still at 81 years old. It’s just absolutely incredible.

Well, Bob Dylan, keep on going, if you want to. Because we enjoy the shows. They get better every time.

Paul, thank you so much for the ticket. And I’m looking forward to going to break bread with you now at R. Thomas Cafe. 

Great.

And we’re gonna have a good time.

This is Paul Leslie. Over and out, with Jeff Pike.