Does anyone hear the music they play?

For no reason whatsoever, here is a list of all the Bob Dylan concerts I have attended:

19 Sept 2000 - Metro Arena, Newcastle.
02 May 2002 - Ahoy, Rotterdam.
11 May 2002 - London Arena.
12 May 2002 - London Arena.
10 Nov 2003 - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam.
11 Nov 2003 - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam.
15 Nov 2003 - Wembley Arena, London.
23 Nov 2003 - Brixton Academy, London.
18 June 2004 - Cardiff International Arena.
20 June 2004 - Finsbury Park, Fleadh Festival, London.
19 April 2005 - New Jersey Peforming Arts Centre, Newark, NJ.
20 Nov 2005 - Brixton Academy, London.
21 Nov 2005 - Brixton Academy, London.
22 Nov 2005 - Brixton Academy, London.
23 Nov 2005 - Brixton Academy, London.
24 Nov 2005 - Brixton Academy, London.
27 June 2006 - Cardiff International Arena.
8th April 2007 - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam.
9th April 2007 - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam.
15th April 2007 - Wembley Arena, London.
16th April 2007 - Wembley Arena, London.
17th April 2007 - Birmingham International Arena.
27th April 2007 - Datchforum, Assago, Milano.

And now a list of all the Rolling Stones concerts I have attended:

8 June 1999 - Wembley Stadium, London.
19 Aug 2003 - Amsterdam ArenA.
22 Aug 2006 - Twickenham Stadium, London.
21 August 2007 - O2 Arena, London.

And a list of all the Charlatans concerts I have been to:

15 Dec 2001 - Wembley Arena, London.
11 Feb 2002 - Astoria, London.
6 July 2002 - Finsbury Park, London (supporting Oasis).
3 May 2004 - Islington Academy, London.
5 June 2004 - Brighton Dome, Brighton.
20 June 2004 - Finsbury Park (with Bob Dylan @ the Fleadh), London.
8 Dec 2004 - Shepherds Bush Empire (with Ronnie Wood joining the band).
16 Dec 2004 - Brixton Academy, London.
5 May 2006 - Brixton Academy, London.
22 Aug 2006 - Twickenham Stadium (supporting the Stones).
8 Dec 2006 - Brixton Academy, London.

Three Angels

A good car to drive after a war

A piece of bad news came today. My gig for Wilco at Brixton Academy was cancelled. Due to "band illness", no other news yet, hopefully someone from the band will so the right thing and release a statement with news of rescheduled shows next year or something.

Below is a video of 'Radio Cure' from their amazing I Am Trying to Break Your Heart DVD. Get it, watch it, it's great.



Second piece of news, is that Bob Dylan is doing an advert for a gas-guzzling Cadillac SUV. Lots has been said/debated about Dylan doing adverts before - it seems that he is still the only artist whose music cannot be used in adverts. I don't really have a problem with that - just a problem that he chose to sponsor a car which so harms the environment. I guess he doesn't give a toss though. Going back to Wilco they recently used one of their new songs in a VW advert in the US of A. You can see clips of the Dylan/Cadillac advert and Wilco advert below. Dylan on film still always manages to crack me up.






Talkin' World War III Blues

But it's like I'm stuck inside a painting

Ladies and Gentleman...Bob Dylan the artist. It is going on display in Germany. Expect it to go for a fortune even if he isn't the best artist in the world (see also: Ronnie Wood's art). I like it though, it could have been a great cover to Blood on the Tracks (not that the cover isn't great already).



Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight

Then time will tell

Mark Ronson is now a superstar DJ who has redone and remixed many famous and semi-famous songs. He'll will be redoing Bob Dylan's 'Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine' for a new Dylan best-of collection due out at the end of the year.

The Guardian arts & entertainment blog covered this subject this week one of the comments on the article had this joke.

Two dj's are talking in a bar..
DJ 1 says to DJ 2, "fancy going to the movies?"
DJ2 says "dunno, depends who the projectionist is"

And I guess that says it all about my take on DJ culture. Be interesting to see what Ronson does with the song though. He'll probably add a few horns and that'll be it. Attempting to make it sound modern, it will probably end up being the most-dated track on the collection in five years time.

Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine

Salute him when his birthday comes

It's Bob Dylan's Birthday today. He's 66. Happy Birthday Bob!

Young Bob:

Cool and happy Bob:

Changing course of music Bob:

Tangled Up in Blue Bob:

The Eighties were not kind to Dylan:

The 90s - Comeback Bob:

The 00's - Weirdo Bob (Gods n Generals video):

Current Bob (photo from Birmingham '07):

She Belongs to Me

They all play on penny whistles

On Friday I went to Milan. It was a great trip to a city I’ve never been to before. I went to see Dylan (as most of my recent trips seem to involve him, I thought I’d bring it up early) at the Datchtforum in Assagio, on the outskirts of town.

A small review of the concert. Italian fans are absolutely mental. There was loads of cheering, the fans were really digging it – applauding every guitar solo, hand-clapping, I’m pretty sure there was some moshing down in the front. It makes a change from the gig-weary, cool Londonite crowd that I’m more used to seeing.

Bob-wise his performance was again excellent as it has been on every show I’ve seen in 2007. His diction/singing was again better than anything I witnessed in 2004/5/6. Highlights on that Friday were ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues’ and a brilliant carnivalesque ‘Desolation Row’ which even had Bob dancing! A great performance of this song.

Another surprising highlight was ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ where the crowd sang along and it had a lot more power than the other versions I saw in Amsterdam, London or Birmingham.

The rest of the trip was taken with sightseeing around Milan’s famous landmarks, and also a wonderful chance encounter with Eric Andersen. Such a nice man.

If you want to see what I thought of Bob Dylan in Birmingham then click on this link here for a proper review. In other news, I've recently moved. More on that later this week.

Desolation Row.

I found hopeless love in the room above

A new song from Bob Dylan! Always an exciting event for myself, I have yet to hear this. It is available on the Lucky You soundtrack, a film about some dude who gambles or something. The soundtrack also features the Boss.

Here are the lyrics to the new Dylan song, 'Huck's Tune'

Well I wandered alone through a desert of stone
And I dreamt of my future wife
My sword's in my hand and I'm next in command
In this version of death called life

My plate and my cup are right straight up
I took a rose from the hand of a child
When I kiss your lips, the honey drips
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Every day we meet on any old street
And you're in your girlish prime
The short and the tall are coming to the ball
I go there all the time

Behind every tree there's something to see
The river is wider than a mile
I tried you twice, you can't be nice
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Here come the nurse with money in her purse
Here come the ladies and men
You push it all in and you've no chance to win
You play 'em on down to the end

I'm laying in the sand getting a sunshine tan
Moving along riding in style
From my toes to my head you knock me dead
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

I count the years and I shed no tears
I'm blinded to what might have been
Nature's voice makes my heart rejoice
Play me the wild song of the wind

I found hopeless love in the room above
When the sun and the weather were riled
You're as fine as wine, I ain't handing you no line
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

All the marry little elves can go hang themselves
My faith is as cold as can be
I'm stacked high to the roof and I'm not without proof
If you don't believe me, come see

You think I'm blue, I think so too
In my words you'll find no guile
The game's gotten old
The deck's gone cold
And I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Huck's Tune

Even the bloodhounds of London couldn't find you today

Some random thoughts from Dylan's two concerts at Wembley... this is not a review.

1) After treating me like a piece of shit at Bruce Springsteen last year, the security were at it again, accusing me of smoking cannabis in front of the venue when it quite clearly was a rolled up cigarette and despite there being no smell of pot anywhere. I almost got thrown out before I had even entered the gig. What a bunch of tossers. It seems as if all they need is a yellow jacket (which ironically had 'customer support' written on the back) to become complete and utter nazis. I hate them with a passion.

2) There is a deaf guy who goes to Dylan concerts and has all the lyrics printed out from the website. I guess this is how he follows the songs.

3) Dylan fans are a crazy bunch - from wild old hippies, to people entering their mid-life crisis to some of the most beautiful young women in the world. Odd mix of people.

4) There was a pissed-up Scottish bird shouting Dylan related football chants before the show. This was funny.

5) One of Dylan's roadies has a serious limp in their left leg.

6) Dylan's concerts are the only ones where they burn incense on the stage throughout (at least out of all the concerts I have been to)

7)'It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)' (from where the title to this blog is taken) is always an excellent song. I think that it is impossible for me not to enjoy it live.

8) 'Ain't Talkin' is now my favourite song from Modern Times. It was great last night.

9) Wembley Arena's pricing is ridiculous - £6 for chicken and chips, £3.50 for a crappy hotdog. Bollocks to that!

10) Frederica, is a woman who goes to every concert with a sign saying 'I need free ticket'. She often gets in. What you don't know is that she collects numerous 'free' tickets and sells them on to fund her Bob obsession. She should be avoided like the plague. I saw her on both nights in London.

Bring on Birmingham tonight, let's hope there's more random stuff going on.

While you're waiting for me to return with news of Birmingham, please read my review of Neon Bible.

Something's Burning Baby

Do you remember where you been?

In case people are wondering what i've been upto... I am still alive.

Firstly I assulted a grandmother who was close to getting the last £3 primark T-shirt in the new shop on Oxford Street. I was arrested and thrown in prison for a while. When I was released I went to County Durham to attend an unofficial Skins party I saw on MySpace. In case you're wondering, I was the one who urinated on the wedding dress.

No really, I went to Amsterdam to see Bob Dylan. I had a wicked time, met lots of Dylan friends and spent most of my time in pubs and other local establishments. I've drank so much over the last few days, I think my body will soon give up on me.

Then I returned to the UK to celebrate my birthday with friends in my local. I got some cool presents like some model Meerkats, the Extras DVD boxset and the Big Lebowski on DVD (I only previously had it on video, but my copy is worn out, so that's nice).

Tonight I'm going to see the Arctic Monkeys at the Astoria. Bring it on. I've also finally had my review of the best gig of the year, Arcade Fire, published over at Rockbeatstone.

Rita May

I'll just bid farewell till we meet again

Another Dylan post - yes I know... I promise to write about something else tomorrow.

Uncut magazine have a daily treasure trove of stuff found on YouTube. Today’s is the Bob Dylan performance of ‘Restless Farewell’ at Frank Sinatra’s 8oth birthday party. It’s an amazing performance of this song which every time I watch sends shivers down my spine and along the back of my neck.

The look on Sinatra’s face at the end is priceless, he looks like he’s had one of those life changing moments, one of those transcending Dylan moments when you can’t help but be in awe. I’ve been lucky enough to witness a few moments like these myself. He just looks like he’s seen a ghost. Dylan may never be as good a singer as Sinatra was, but I bet that at that moment in time Sinatra would have swapped his voice and all of his success for the ability to write a song only half as good as ‘Restless Farewell’.

But then after the camera pans to David Hasselhof who is trying to fight back the tears…and I laugh which is a shame as I’ve been so moved by the performance. I guess Hasselhof does weird things to you. Here’s my favourite verse from the song:

“Oh ev'ry girl that ever I've touched,
I did not do it harmfully.
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt,
I did not do it knowin'ly.
But to remain as friends and make amends
You need the time and stay behind.
And since my feet are now fast
And point away from the past,
I'll bid farewell and be down the line.”

Wow. That Dylan has a way with words. I think he'll make it big some day. Here's the video:



Restless Farewell

Thinking about the government

Here is a wonderful colour photo of the world's most famous, and probably first, music video: 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'. This was filmed when Dylan visited the UK in 1965 and can be seen on the excellent documentary, Dont Look Back by D.A. Pennebaker. It's coming out in an expanded edition over the next few weeks in the UK. The shot was taken in the alley behind the Savoy in London where he was staying.



Subterrnanean Homesick Blues

Odds and Ends

I received a huge amount of hits on my post yesterday about Bob Dylan’s love songs because I submitted it to Expecting Rain, the only website worth visiting for news on Bob Dylan. There were quite a few comments and suggestions. I had, of course, forgotten about some amazing songs that I could have included, including ‘Tomorrow is a Long Time’. I don’t know why but I did completely forget this song but I should have included it in my list. Listen to it here and read some of the lyrics below.

“There's beauty in the silver, singin' river,
There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky,
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true love's eyes.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin',
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin',
Only if she was lyin' by me,
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.”

Thanks to the people who commented and made some suggestions of songs that I had omitted. There are loads of other songs that I could have added, including, ‘Wedding Song’, ‘You’re Gonna’ Make Me Lonesome When You Go’, ‘If You See Her, Say Hello’ and all of the other songs off Blood on The Tracks. ‘She’s Your Lover Now’, the song from which I took the title of my post, could also have been included, ‘Love is Just a Four-Letter Word’, as well as the beautifully sad poetry that is ‘To Ramona’. I could spend all day listing his amazing “love” songs. So I won’t. But I will be listening to some of these songs tonight.

Odds and Ends

Love is just a four-letter word

Topical one for today. May I wish all lovers a nice Valentine’s day. I hope that it is better than mine (I’ll be spending it in the pub doing manly things like drinking beer and watching football and generally trying to forget that I exist).

One of the reasons why I am in awe of Bob Dylan as a performer and songwriter is his amazing skill at writing love songs. Although he is probably most famous for songs like 'Blowin' in the Wind' and 'Like a Rolling Stone', it's the love songs that have always been special for me. We’re not talking about boyband love songs here but proper love songs. Songs that deal with joy, pain, and emotion. In fact he doesn’t really write "love songs" as such, he deals with the entire range of emotions that accompany love. And it seems quite obvious to me that for him love is more than a four-letter word.

Below, I’ve outlined some of my favourite love songs by Bob Dylan and why I think that they are so special.

The "I love you" song – ‘Love Minus Zero/No Limit’
“My love she speaks like silence,
Without ideals or violence,
She doesn't have to say she's faithful,
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses,
Make promises by the hours,
My love she laughs like the flowers,
Valentines can't buy her.”

My favourite Dylan love song of them all. His singing is just so sweet on this. The words on a literal level mean absolutely nothing at all – but when you hear it you understand completely what he’s on about. If you don’t understand this song then you’ve probably never been in love and should take a long, hard look at yourself and your life in the mirror... and maybe split up from your lover. From the brilliant album Bringing It All Back Home. Listen to it here.


The "I love you and want to sleep with you" song – ‘Lay, Lady, Lay’
“Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you”

Dylan is a man like anyone else and he has needs. This song was written to get women into bed. Pure and simple. This is the song equivalent of Rohypnol. From his country record, Nashville Skyline. Listen to it here.


The "I love you but you’re far away" song - 'Boots of Spanish Leather'
“Oh, but if I had the stars from the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean,
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss,
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'.”

It’s a song about a love who has gone away. All the protagonist wants is a kiss from his lover, but she’s only offering gifts in return. He ultimately realises that his muse will not come home and then accepts a gift, not of silver or gold, but of Spanish boots made of Spanish leather. To think that he was in his early 20s when he wrote this gives me the chills. From his career changing album, The Times They Are A-Changin'. Listen to it here.


The "I am so in love with you" song – ‘I Want You’
“The guilty undertaker sighs,
The lonesome organ grinder cries,
The silver saxophones say I should refuse you.
The cracked bells and washed-out horns
Blow into my face with scorn,
But it's not that way,
I wasn't born to lose you.
I want you, I want you,
I want you so bad, Honey, I want you.”

Poetic images which by right shouldn’t be included in a love song merely add to this song for me. It’s a great, happy song, with brilliant musical backing and Dylan’s vocals are all velvety and warm. A song that I’ve always listened to when I’ve fallen in love with someone, it’s all about that initial burst of happiness and that weird exaltation and energy that new love brings. Available on the best album of all time, Blonde on Blonde. Listen to it here.


The "I love you but I hate you" song – ‘Idiot Wind’
“I been double-crossed now for the very last time and now I'm finally free,
I kissed goodbye the howling beast on the borderline which separated you from me.
You'll never know the hurt I suffered nor the pain I rise above,
And I'll never know the same about you, your holiness or your kind of love,
And it makes me feel so sorry.”

Possibly the best song on hatred born out of love, this is pure poetic bile (I used that in my description on an editorial on break-up albums for Rockbeatstone). This was released on Blood on the Tracks. I love this song, pure anger followed by a final recognition that both parties had been stupid. I wouldn’t have wanted to have been Dylan’s wife when this song made itself known to her. What must she have been thinking? The mind boggles. Listen to it here.


The "I love you and miss you" song: ‘You’re a Big Girl Now’
“I'm going out of my mind, oh, oh,
With a pain that stops and starts
Like a corkscrew to my heart
Ever since we've been apart”

Also taken from Blood on the Tracks, the best break-up album of all time. Not much to say about this one. You have to listen to it to understand the pain that Dylan expresses. It’s just so lovely and sad all at the same time. Will make you cry if you’ve recently split up with a loved one – guaranteed. It’s possibly one of the most moving popular songs ever written. Listen to it here.


The "I used to love you where are you now" song: ‘Shooting Star’
“Seen a shooting star tonight
And I thought of me.
If I was still the same
If I ever became what you wanted me to be
Did I miss the mark or
Over-step the line
That only you could see?
Seen a shooting star tonight
And I thought of me”

From Oh Mercy. One of Dylan’s most underrated songs. A simple ballad, you can imagine him playing this song to himself around the fire on a camping trip. He ponders a former lover, wonders whether he ever did become the person that she wanted him to be, whether she ‘broke through’ to become someone else. A stunningly beautiful song, I always like seeing this one in concert. It seems to be Dylan’s ode to former lovers and one that makes me feel all melancholy and blue. Listen to it here.


The “I hate loving you” song: - ‘Love Sick’
“I'm walking through streets that are dead
Walking, walking with you in my head
My feet are so tired, my brain is so wired
And the clouds are weeping"

From Time Out of Mind. A brilliant song that shows that Dylan still has what it takes to write a killer love song in his later years. He’s sick and tired of being in love with a person who doesn’t seem to want to return the favour and he just can't get her out of his head. It's as if he's saying that he's too old for this but he just can't act in anyother way. This was used in the infamous underwear advert for Victoria’s Secret. Listen to it here.

Love is Just a Four Letter Word

Is it some kind of game that you're playin' with me

Many of you who know me personally will know that I’m going through some tough times right now but there was one thing that made me smile this week ... I actually won something!

I play this really ‘sad’ game called Dylanpool where I predict what songs the man is going to play on tour. Different songs get different corresponding points and one competes against the Dylanologist community at large.

Well the records now show that on 24 October 2006, I scored the highest points with a massive 102 points. This is the first time I’ve ever won this so I am happy. And yes, jimmyketchup is my 'pool' name. Overall I am now 152 out of 4,000 or so.

For those who are interested his set list was as follows, and it is a particularly good one in my opinion.

1. Absolutely Sweet Marie
2. Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)
3. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
4. Under the Red Sky
5. Honest With Me
6. Joey
7. Workingman's Blues #2
8. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
9. This Wheel's on Fire
10. Shooting Star
11. Things Have Changed
12. Masters of War
13. Rollin' and Tumblin'

14. Thunder On the Mountain
15. Like a Rolling Stone
16. All Along the Watchtower

Tell Me

Cross me a-off your list

There is this blog here where the author lists stuff. So in the true spirit of the internet, i've ripped off the idea and I am claiming it for myself.

Today we have the top 15 Dylan songs that did not appear on any of the best-ofs (two volumes), any of the greatest hits (all three volumes) or indeed on the Essential Bob Dylan album. At my count that is 58 seperate songs that I cannot choose from. Yet...there are still some good choices in here. Amazingly 'Visions of Johanna' and 'Desolation Row' have not appeared on a best-of, probably because they are too "hard core" for first-time listeners. 'Blind Willie McTell' is the best Dylan song that he chose not to release (initially, at least), 'Boots of Spanish Leather' is so lovely a song that it would make any Bob Dylan top 15. And to think that there are 58 other songs that are deemed more worthy!

1. 'Visions of Johanna', Blonde on Blonde
2. 'Blind Willie McTell', Bootleg Series vol 1 to 3
3. 'Desolation Row', Highway 61 Revisited
4. 'Boots of Spanish Leather', The Times They Are A-Changin’
5. 'Angelina', Bootleg Series vol 1 to 3
6. 'You’re a Big Girl Now', Blood on the Tracks
7. 'Isis', Desire
8. 'Workingman Blues No2', Modern Times
9. '4th Time Around', Blonde on Blonde
10. 'Cold Irons Bound', Time out of Mind / Masked & Anonymous OST
11. 'The Ballad of Frankie Lee & Judas Priest', John Wesley Harding
12. 'If You See Her, Say Hello', Blood on the Tracks
13. 'Black Diamond Bay', Desire
14. 'Most of the Time', Oh Mercy
15. 'The Man in Me', New Morning

If you disagree with me..post a comment and let me know! In case you're asking yourself this question....A top 15 because it is more than 10 but not quite 20.

Some other stuff that i've written which is of interest (hopefully), a review of Modern Times (which includes number 8 in the list!), some photos and text from the worldwide book launch of U2's U2 by U2 from Waterstones in Piccadilly. I've also got a live review of the Rolling Stones from Twickenham in August.

Abandoned Love

Workingman's Blues No2

Hello there. I've been too busy to update this for a while. I'm surprised that the internet hasn't imploded due to the fact that i've been absent...How on earth can the internet continue without my musings? God knows. However, more seriously, I came back from Lowlands. I had a wicked time there. Jack White and the Raconteurs are absolutely amazing. Jack White seems to do no wrong- how on earth is he able to play guitar like that?

I also Bought Modern Times by Bob Dylan. Another solid record from the man. Workingman Blues No2 is one of his best songs IMO. I've been listening to it a lot since i bought it. Definately one of his better songs and I love his piano playing in it (for once). Dylan has released another great record which can only be criticised when one compares to his classic albums of the 1960s and 1970s. You can see the iTunes advert for Modern Times here. Or you can listen to an audio streaming of Modern Times here. There is also a video starring Scarlet Johansson of 'When the Deal Goes Down', a song from Modern Times, which you can see here.

Anyway. Read my Rockbeatstone article on Tapes n Tapes' album, The Loon.

The Lyrics afor Workingman Blues are not yet up on Dylan's website

She was born in spring, but I was born too late

I almost forgot…it is Bob Dylan’s 65th Birthday today. Happy birthday Bob, may you stay forever young. Here are some quotes that have been put together on this Canadian website. 65 quotes on Bob Dylan. I chose the best ones and have repeated them here, so enjoy.

“The music that was popular when I was growing up was How Much Is That Doggie in the Window? and that wasn’t our reality. We were expecting an atomic explosion, and everything to disappear in a black cloud.” - Dylan 1961.

Mr. Dylan’s voice is anything but pretty. He is consciously trying to recapture the rude beauty of a Southern field hand musing in melody on his back porch.” —Robert Shelton, New York Times, Sept 1961.

Reporter: “Does it take a lot of trouble to get your hair like that?” Dylan: “No, you just have to sleep on it for about 20 years." —Sydney Morning Herald, 1963.

“There are seven levels to the meaning of life.” —Paul McCartney, after getting stoned on marijuana with Dylan during the Beatles’ 1964 U.S. tour.

“I got so crazy I thought he was the new Messiah.” —Allen Ginsberg, 1968.

“I hate to see female artists perform because they whore themselves. Especially the ones that don’t wear anything.” —Dylan, 1988.

Simple Twist of Fate