1.
8-1-71 Concert for Bangladesh, Madison
Square Garden...From George Harrison’s introduction:, “Would you please welcome
a friend of us all, Mr. Bob Dylan,” to the thunderous ovation following the
astounding version of “Just Like a Woman,” this is the most satisfying short
set of Dylan’s career, fueled by the pressure packed magic of Madison Square
Garden. The Prodigal Son returns, better
than ever.
2.
10-31-64, New York Philharmonic Hall…It’s
Halloween and Bob Dylan’s wearing all his masks: poet, prognosticator,
prophet, comedian, shaman, master of the
talkin’ blues. The audience was spellbound and thrilled with every syllable.
You won’t find better offerings of John Birch Paranoid Blues, Who Killed Davey
Moore, or I Don’t Believe You.
3.
8-28-65 Forest Hills Tennis Stadium...The
storm after Newport. With Levon Helm & Al Kooper backing Dylan, Bob served nothing but aces in
Queens. The crowd was bewildered as
Dylan debuted Desolation Row, Tombstone Blues, From a Buick 6, Just Like
Tom Thumb’s Blues, and Ballad of a Thin Man. Unplugged and plugged in perfect harmony.
4.
11-11-02 Madison Square Garden…Dylan takes the stage perched
behind a Yamaha keyboard and debuts “Yeah Heavy and a Bottle of Bread.”
Fortified by his best touring band, Chez Dylan mixes his iconic anthems with gems
from Love & Theft, and sprinkles in covers from the Rolling Stones,
Neil Young, Don Henley, and Warren
Zevon, to create an abundant feast. The
set ending Summer Days was tour de force.
5.
10-13-89 Beacon Theatre…From his initial
creation, Song to Woody, to his latest Oh Mercy masterpiece, Man in the
Long Black Coat, Dylan shocked the West Side
of Manhattan with a chaotic performance. Dressed in a gold leme suit and
pointy white shoes, Dylan dropped his harp and mic on the floor during the Leopard
Skin Pillbox Hat encore, and walked through the crowd before splitting stage
left. Adios Bob. May the lord have mercy
on us all.
6.
10-17-93 Supper Club…From 1991-’93, The
Never Ending Tour sputtered a bit. With a pair of sparkling acoustic shows at
the intimate Supper Club, Bob righted the ship. All performances were
memorable, but One More Cup of Coffee,
Queen Jane Approximately, and Tight Connection to My Heart were extraordinary.
7.
12-8-75 Night of the Hurricane, Madison
Square Garden…The grand finale of the first leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue.
Nuff said.
8.
10-19-88 Radio City…A blistering
Subterranean Homesick Blues kicks off a unique
show featuring rarities like Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream, With God on
Our Side (With the Neville Brothers Vietnam verse), and Wagoner’s Lad. The set
ending trifecta of Silvio > In the
Garden > Like a Rolling Stones is as rocking as Dylan gets, shades of ’66.
9.
11-19-01 Madison Square Garden… Six weeks after 9/11,
Dylan returns to his town dressed in a pink suit. He unleashes a riveting 21
song show. I’ll never forget how he corkscrewed on the checkerboard floor
during a Just Like a Woma harp solo, but the highlight of the night was when
Bob said, “Most of the songs we’re playing here tonight were written here, and
those that weren't were recorded here. So no one has to ask me how I feel about
this town.”
10.
1-17-98 Theatre at Madison Square Garden… Sharing the bill
with “Van the Man,” Dylan set the night on fire with intense versions of Senor,
Absolutely Sweet Marie and Tangled Up in Blue. Tommorow is a Long Time was a pleasant
surprise, and the Time Out of Mind tunes were sublime.
Honorable Mention: 2-25-98…Dylan walked away
with all the important trophies from the 40th Grammy Awards at Radio
City, but his live performance was absolutely a Time Out of Mind experience.
During Love Sick, Dylan endured the Soy Bomb intrusion to deliver an unforgettable
Love Sick anchored by the spunkiest guitar solo of his career. During the
acceptance speech, The Dylan recalls the
time he saw Buddy Holly in Duluth. Bob had The Right Stuff.
