A very young looking Bob Dylan Nov. 2009                 Looks like and Album Cover... but its not.                Bob playing Harp. Nov. 2009
                                                                                           Taken after encore. No tweaking. As is and was.
                                                                                                                       Nov. 2009
               

Show Review by Tom Riccobono Nov. 18, 09
Bob Dylan - The United Palace Theater - New York City (Broadway & 175Th St.)

This was good concert. I'm glad I went.  I was not moved "moved" by the music this time but I was moved by the character and resilience of a real road & music warrior. Bob Dylan is the real thing. He is on a "never ending tour" It's my impression he is up there having a great time just being the "Legendary Bob"

 He only played guitar on a couple of songs. He mostly played big sounding Leslie organ. He's no Al Cooper but he sure is getting it down. I was impressed. It got a little stale here and there but it was good.

At 67 or 68, he's an amazing inspiration. I realized last night I have at least another 30 or so years of playing left in me. Bob reminds there is much time left to create and evolve. His vibe subscribes to his philosophy  "It's not dark yet.... but it's getting there" 

  The band was tight and serious. This is zero smoke and mirrors entertainment. No fancy light show, No hot chicks singing back up, no good looking youth of any kind on stage (except Bob---Check out the one picture I took. He looks 39). No video screens. It's all about the music. For this band I'm thinking it's a requirement to leave all non musical personality at the stage door. (check out the other pics of the band I took) This band does or does not go over entirely on the music. Not one word was said............ not one............ Not even "thanks good night"  I think its great.

 In typical Live Bob Dylan fashion he did play some hits that people knew but not everybody realized what songs they were. He did a really cool version of "Hard Rain" but it was unrecognizable by some. I think the crowd (and me) would have loved a little bit of a nostalgic Bob and heard some songs played the way they know them or at least acousticly. He came pretty close on "Like a Rolling Stone" in the end.

George Receli (a Friend who spent a lot of time working, hangin, living and recording music in the Pocono's)was in great shape playing drums. He really fits in with the band of gypsies and is a major force in the flow of the music which there is plenty of. Larry Cambell and Tony Garnier where solid and serious as always although they both seemed a little bit tired.

The United Palace Theater (I'd never been there before myself) was a real cool venue. (Easy to get to and located on Broadway.. just a 15 minute train ride from Times Square)  It was built in the 1930's by Lowe's movie theater people. They still hold big religious services there. Reverend IKE preaches.  

Most of the crowd was 50 or 60 plus..... but there were plenty of young people there too. A good spirited well behaved crowd. I was shocked nobody was smoking dope. I was thinking to myself "What has the world come to when there is no smell of marijuana at a Bob Dylan concert in New York City"  5 minutes later and an hour or so into the show.............. half the place lit up. It was a funny cautious crowd. One person took the lead/courage to light up and everyone jumped in on it and lit up too. I was like aaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllll right........ man..... cooooooooool. It you want to "tune in" "turn on" and "drop out" properly this smell is of "ut most" importance. 

Another inspiration was the opening act (Dion & The Belmont's) I only know the songs of the Belmont's....

I did not really know who Dion was so much. I only knew they were a big time 50's band that had a string of hits.. "Run Around Sue" 'The Wanderer" "Teenager in Love" etc. I got a bulk email from my old friend Uncle Carl (Carl Vreeland) Carl plays bass and tours with Dion now....... He was also was the original guitar player for my band the Bleecker Street Bashers put together by Pat Kenny (Kenny's Castaways) way back when. It was a thrill to see him up on the big stage with Dion in a tight kicking band. Carl was playing the boomy-ist of all boomy concert basses. But it was good boomy. Dion must be really old but he looked great and played great.....sang his heart out.  I can see why Bob had him open for these New York shows. As always I could feel and hear the friendly philosophical ghost of a well spoken Cesar Diaz telling Bob Dylan tales as only he could.