Just Dissin' Dylan

Last night I went to hear Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. I was really hoping the show would have been more Elvis-intensive, but alas, it was pretty much about Dylan.

Elvis was acoustic and grand. He sang about five songs and escaped into the night.

Then Dylan and The Band took the stage - all dressed in black leather suits and matador hats. Dylan did a few songs on the guitar, and then moved to the keyboards where he stood for the rest of the show.

I know he's a legend and all, but I wasn't a Dylan fan before the show, and I'm certainly not one now. I wanted to be in awe and think, "wow - Dylan!" Instead I laughed my way through the show. It was funny! I have no idea what he was doing up there - some kind of vocalizing. Mumbling, moaning, growling.

The only thing that would be more ridiculous would involve the triple crown of incomprehensibility: Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, and James Brown. All musical giants, sure, but the thought makes me giggle.

The Band are tremendous despite the silly costumes. They play tribute to Dylan's strength as a composer and are worth going to see on their own. Unfortunately they don't save him from becoming a caricature of himself.