Bobbing in the barrel of time

Of course I watched (and taped) Martin Scorsese's "No Direction Home" Dylan doc over the past 2 evenings. Having never seen more than a few snippets of the 66 tour footage, it was fascinating to see that stuff. I wouldn't have expected Dylan to have been so animated, especially sitting at the piano for "Ballad of a Thin Man". Then again, apparently there was no shortage of those peppy little pills at that time.

I have to say, though, that I thought his performance of the acoustic songs was almost more revolutionary than the electric stuff. I wonder what the folkie-purist-booers thought of his delivery of "Mr. Tambourine Man" or what they made of "Visions Of Johanna". A fine line between delivery and devilry?

It was also interesting to see him expressing his complete exhaustion during that tour. Facing the derision of audiences night after night, and even garnering some death threats, he really was putting his body and soul on the line every night to play the music he believed in. Ironic that the punter in Manchester had yelled "Judas!" when such behaviour less like the kisser, and more like the one kissed. Not that I want to go down that road... just an observation.

I do hope there are more chapters to come. I mean, the first 10 years or so of Dylan's career were certainly interesting, to say the least, but the next 40 years had more than enough stuff worth exploring. Maybe, like Scorsese's blues series, a different director could tackle each successive decade. Hmmm. Who could we get?...

1966-1976 - Tim Burton?
1976-1986 - Spike Lee?
1986-1996 - Jim Jarmusch?
1996-2006 - Clint Eastwood?

Any other suggestions?

U2 II

Just a quick update of my previous post about seeing U2 in concert. Here's some post-facto visual evidence. (Post-facto, yes, but it is pro Bono?)

This is more or less the view I had of The Edge, except I was a little more behind him. For the record, he is left-footed. I was a bit surprised to see he was using that huge digital multi-effects pedalboard. I always figured he was more of a vintage analogue pedal kinda guy. Progress overtakes The Edge.

Here's a shot of Daniel Lanois joining the band on Bono's beautiful, green Gretsch guitar, during the encore of "Bad".

And, I forgot to mention that during one song (can't remember which one), Bono has been choosing women from the audience to haul them up on the catwalk to dance with him. This chick came prepared, decked out in full belly-dancer regalia (hoping to relive the "Mysterious Ways" video, perhaps). She had the moves too! It was pretty impressive.

A Trip Around The Blog

Oy. I've been back from the vacation for over a week now, and I still haven't found the time to blog about it. My excuse though, is that I'm waiting to get my pictures developed. Sorry, I'm not digi-cam-ready yet, still have to get that nasty film to the lab. So I'll wait till then, cos then it'll be real nifty to be able to see the snaps.

Here's the short version though:

- Spent the first week in P.E.I., visiting with family. Met my new great-nephew, all of one week old. Saw the new seniors apartment my parents will be moving into in a few weeks time. Very nice. Also went for a spin is a little 4-seater Cessna. The landsape of the Island is beautiful from the air; a patchwork quilt of various shades of greens, and yellows (wheat), red soil, blue water. Buzzed the bridge.

- Spent the long weekend in Moncton partying my ass off with high-school friends and others. About 80,000 others, in fact. Attended the big Rolling Stones outdoor show in Magnetic Hill, and was blown away by how good it was. The boys are better than they were 10 years ago. One of the best concerts I've ever seen. Also featured The Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace and Maroon 5. But it was all about the Stones, and they kicked ass!

- Last night, I went to see U2's 2nd of four shows here in Toronto. They played Monday, last night, and again Friday and Saturday. Had a great seat about 20 feet from the side of the stage. Closest I've ever been to a band of this stature. I was close enough that I could have spit on The Edge when he was playing piano during "Miss Sarajevo".

But I didn't. I would never spit on The Edge.

Many celebs in town for the Film Festival. Monday night's show was apparently attended by Ray Liotta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Harvey Keitel, Hal Wilner and, reportedly, Leonard Cohen. Last night, I saw a guy down in the area between the stands and the stage, below me, really digging the show, dancing like a madman. Skinny guy in a tan jacket and tan poor-boy cap. He was being filmed by a crew. I looked closer and realized it was Michael Stipe of R.E.M. During the encore of "Bad" Daniel Lanois joined the band on Bono's beautiful, green Gretsch guitar. My initial thought was "who's the guy with the scraggly hair and prominent bald spot that Bono just handed his guitar too?" I think it's the only time in recent memory that I've seen Danny boy when he wasn't wearing some kind of hat. He and The Edge seem to have a thing about their baldness, don't they. C'mon boys, accept your cranial beauty! Accept it before it DESTROYS YOU!!

Not a Great show, but a very good show and a very cool show with some great moments. "Where The Streets Have No Name", when the house lights came up, I had goose bumps on my goose bumps.

The set list:

Vertigo
Electric Co.
Elevation
Beautiful Day
Still Haven’t Found
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride
Where the Streets have no name
One

The Fly
With or Without You

All Because of You
Yahweh
Bad

Ok, that is all for now.