Bob Dylan fans that went to see him play Oct. 4 at the Cumberland Country Civic Center most likely left disappointed. Though opening acts Amos Lee and Elvis Costello had the crowd animated and lively, their efforts were diminished by a dismal performance by Bob Dylan himself.
While it’d be comforting to blame the poor performance on the Civic Center’s mediocre acoustics, Lee and Costello proved that the sound system was surprisingly sufficient. Though Lee and Costello boast a stronger talent in vocals than Dylan has ever claimed to, the two put Dylan to shame.
It’s not that Dylan has ever been known for an impressive vocal range, but he’s at least been audible most of the time. When Dylan took the mic, the vibe in the room took a dive.
Afterall, what’s the fun in hearing an icon perform your favorite tune if the vocals are so terrible you’re waiting for the musical interlude to enjoy it? His voice has reached its raspy, cigarette-plagued pinnacle so extensively that he made Tom Waits sounds young and velvety.
Bobby jumped on the harmonica for a couple of songs and send a ripple of cheers and whistles through the room. Thank God he did, because it was the only time I knew for sure that it was really Dylan. It certainly didn’t sound like him, and I didn’t have binoculars to see his face from the corner pocket where I dwelled all night.
Dylan’s voice may have left something to be desired, but his band was great. Dressed in identical suits, they looked as polished as they sounded. A couple of guitar solos during “Tangled up in blue,” were satisfying, as was an up-tempo version of “Don’t think twice, it’s alright.”
Maybe I’m being a little hard on Bob. Maybe he was just drunk and sloppy that night. I guess he could have been on a bender when I saw him last March, too.
While it was nice to see an icon in town and watch his band jam, it may be time for Bob to cut-down on touring and rest the pipes. The way they’re sounding, they’re bound to burst sometime soon. At age 66 and already touring again for the second time this year, it’s got to be taxing.
I stayed throughout the entire show, desperately hoping that this would be like the fireworks, saving the big pay-off until the end.
I left still waiting for said payment.