There was a point a couple of songs after "Maggie's Farm" when I got the sense that seeing Dylan was not going to be what I had hoped. Don't get me wrong. I had no idea that he did that twisty left leg thing, like slower Elvis. And when he pulled out the Guild guitar and played the break it was good. But at times it was like watching someone make fun of Dylan except it was Dylan. The same thing stuck me when I read the news today...and did not say "oh boy":
McCartney says he wants to release Carnival of Light, a 14-minute experimental track the Fab Four recorded in 1967 but never released. The band played the recording for an audience just once, at an electronic music festival in London. It reportedly includes distorted guitar, organ sounds, gargling and shouts of "Barcelona!" and "Are you all right?" from McCartney and John Lennon.
When is it enough? Is there an end to boomer rock that is this side of the grave? At least Robert Plant has some dignity about his career, hanging out with Alison Krauss more than his friends from his teens.
Comments
sean - November 17, 2008 9:57 am
My wife and I were at a local pub with a friend from high school and her husband. When an elder-rock bar band took the stage, I winced. Not just because it was a pretty terrible band, that the female singer was a tad to aged for the slinky dress, or that they seemed to resemble an old SNL skit more than a real attempt at a band. It was because it was like being back in 1985 at a cheesy bar listening to a cheese Dire Straits cover band, which I didn't like to do back then either.
I said aloud something to the effect of "you know, they have 10 years on me, if not 15. I cannot imagine getting up every morning thinking 'wow" tonight is band practice and saturday is the big gig at Raxx. I mean, I just couldn't get serious about it when the prospects of making a career out of it are gone."
My friends hubby, who is 10-15 years older than me, looked like he was going to thump me then went on a tirade about "the love of the music".. etc etc.
Maybe its just that. Bob is rich, he doesn't need the cash. Maybe like all socially inept artist types, Bob has nothing else except his love of his art. Take away the guitar and he's a rich boring human who craves attention and praise?
Ben (The Tiger) - November 17, 2008 11:38 am
Saw Dylan at college in '01 -- his voice was raspy, he never said a word to the audience.
It did seem almost like a parody of the man.
But hey, I went to see Bob Dylan. I can say that. So I figure it was worth it.
Hans - November 17, 2008 12:59 pm
Rock & Roll will never die.
Jay Currie - November 17, 2008 9:45 pm
Better to burn out than to fade away....
sean - November 18, 2008 9:54 am
Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards.
Keith Richards
The Lone Banana - November 18, 2008 7:13 pm
On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by <i>A Bigger Bang</i> from The Rolling Stones a couple of years ago. Sure, they're old; Mick looks really creepy now, but Keef looks just like he always did -- dead.