Bob Dylan’s Washington D.C. Masterpiece
Walking through the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is to put your own eyes on some of the most remarkable paintings and sculptures in history from across the world. To gaze at the work of Monet, Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh is a privilege indeed.
Later that night I would witness another art form, the last concert of 2021 for Bob Dylan and his band of masterful musicians. Seeing one of America’s foremost singer-songwriters in the nation’s capital is especially significant.
Dylan performed a sold-out show
The sold-out show at The Anthem will be a lasting memory for so many. There was electricity about and the chatter before the show was interesting listening material. One man remarked: “I’ve heard this isn’t a greatest hits show, but who wants that?”
Bob Dylan took the stage many times in 2019, across the United States and Europe. There were no live concerts of Mr. Dylan in 2020. For the devoted, a chance to see one of his performances spanning across about a month was a true blessing.
Dylan’s Washington D.C. concert was his 21st and last of 2021
The Washington, D.C. concert was the last of 21 concerts held throughout November and December. Dylan and his band played venues in the Northeast, South, and Midwest, including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Dylan and the band focused on newer material
Like the other evenings on the tour, the December 2nd show in Washington, D.C. included more songs from the latest studio album “Rough and Rowdy Ways” than from any other source. There would be no performances of Dylan’s most universally known songs: “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like a Rolling Stone,” which Dylan has performed more than 2,000 times. He abstained from playing those classics and made room for some of his newer masterpieces.
Like the other concerts from this tour, Dylan focused heavily on new material and I couldn’t be more grateful. Dylan performed a total of 8 of the 10 songs from “Rough and Rowdy Ways,” leaving out only “Crossing the Rubicon” and the lengthy “Murder Most Foul.” High points of performances of material from the new album included “I Contain Multitudes,” “False Prophet,” “My Own Version of You,” and “Mother of Muses.”
Of course, there were great performances of songs from earlier in his career: “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” and “Gotta Serve Somebody” filled out the set nicely. It was interesting that the songs from “Rough and Rowdy Ways” seemed to get the greatest reaction from the audience.
“Melancholy Mood” was an interesting detour
All of the songs performed that night were written by Bob Dylan, with one exception. “Melancholy Mood,” is an obscure song that has been interpreted by several jazz singers, most notably Frank Sinatra with the Harry James Orchestra in 1939. Dylan recorded an ethereal version on his “Fallen Angels” album. At this show, the band underscoring Dylan’s velvety vocal perfectly conjured up the gloomy, dreamy sentiment of the song.
“Key West (Philosopher Pirate)” was the pinnacle
That evening there were some crowning moments. The pinnacle? Dylan and the band’s performance of “Key West (Philosopher Pirate)” was perhaps the most mesmerizing part of the whole night. Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin commented on the song in an interview. “…for a 79-year-old man to write ‘Key West,’ is astonishing. Absolutely astonishing. I can’t think of anybody who’s come to close to producing a work that majestic at that age.”
Dylan sang “Key West (Philosopher Pirate) with such conviction and earnestness. The band played the song with incredible precision, leaving the crowd in a state of quiet awe. Upon completion, it elicited one of the most rapturous reactions from the audience of the evening.
“I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You”
Listening to the “Rough and Rowdy Ways” album the night before, I heard the song “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You” in a different light. I made it a point to not look too closely at the setlist of the other nights of the tour, to enjoy some suspense. It was great hearing it live. His plaintive crooning of the song that night was delivered with great yearning. Appearing outwardly as a romantic song, it seems to have a religious tone.
Bob Dylan was accompanied by the finest musicians
The band was in great form, as usual. Dylan has always been an expert at picking elite musicians. In one of the rare moments where Dylan addressed the audience, he introduced the players.
The band featured Tony Garnier, his bassist of more than 30 years. He’s played more shows with Dylan than any musician in history. Also returning was multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron, who added much tastefulness on pedal steel guitar, violin and mandolin. Bob Britt, who played on Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” album played guitar with style, at times very subtle.
These 2021 shows included new musicians. Charley Drayton is the new drummer, having worked with the Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Cash, and countless others. Also is guitarist Doug Lancio who has worked with John Hiatt and Patty Griffin. He accompanied Dylan and the band perfectly.
Bob Dylan was in fine spirits
Bob Dylan performed at the piano, and sometimes just sang without playing. There was no harmonica in this show. He appeared to be in fine spirits, frequently smiling to himself. He expressed gratitude on a couple of occasions for the applause and the audience.
Seeing Dylan live is a satisfying experience
There were no breaks, it was one 90-minute set of 17 songs. There was no encore, closing with the spiritual “Every Grain of Sand.” I left feeling fulfilled. From the excited chatter around me, I wasn’t alone in my satisfaction.
Outside the venue, I was honored to meet Sangeeta Chakravorty, a Johns Hopkins University student from Mumbai India. She remarked, “that he’s different in each of his songs.” She went on to describe the experience of seeing him perform: “It’s moving. Even when it’s a song that’s foot-tapping or something like that, it’s soulful and it moves you.”
The day began being face-to-face with the masterworks of the visual art world. It ended by witnessing a musical artist with a body of work that is both original and as divergent as it is abundant. As Sangeeta observed, he’s different in each of his songs. It’s like seeing history unfold when you’re at one of his concerts. Experiencing a great artist like Bob Dylan is an elevating experience and it puts you in touch with existence. Everything is different when he paints his masterpiece.
Special thanks to Jeff & Debbie.
