Morrissey – a post-Punk Dylan?

A couple of weeks before a Morrissey gig, a thirty-something friend had defined Mozza as “a post-Punk Dylan”.

Though a recent convert, I’m a great admirer of Morrissey (and The Smiths). I went to see Mozza solo at his enthralling recent London Roundhouse gig with the challenging Dylan comparison in mind – it had had me ruminating for days.

Morrissey, ex-front man of English post-Punk indie pioneers The Smiths and a solo artist for over twenty years, is certainly the nearest musician there is to a Dylan for a younger generation.

Like Dylan, Morrissey’s main strength is as a writer: he’s a superior pop lyricist to anyone of his generation. Like Dylan, Morrissey is revered by a large, loyal fanbase. Like Dylan, Morrissey/Smiths had a profound impact on the direction of popular music. And, like Dylan, Morrissey has a charismatic stage presence.

But comparisons stop there.

Dylan has far more depth and breadth than the Mozz. His writing and music draws on far more sources than Morrissey’s. Both his artistic canvas and his palette are far richer than Mozza’s.

In a nutshell, Dylan is a great artist with universal resonance: he explores what it is to be human. Morrissey is a great entertainer with a narrower focus: he explores what it is to be Morrissey.



Gerry Smith

I’m Not There – a change of heart

Despite glowing reports from several Dylan Daily readers, I’d decided to wait for I’m Not There to make it to TV, or buy the DVD, whichever came first.

(I curtailed a lifelong cinema-going habit a few years ago, after traipsing to see Wild Strawberries again, and realising afterwards that I could have bought the DVD (and a reasonable DVD player) for less than the cost of the tickets and transport.)

But when I saw I’m Not There advertised for a local showing on Sunday 6 April, I had no hesitation in booking.

I can walk to the cinema from home; it’s conveniently on at mid-day, so the evening isn’t taken up; the local municipally-run art-house cinema deserves support. And, the clincher for a cheapskate: two seats cost me a total of £8.50.

Rave on, Ms Blanchett! Rave on Mr Haynes!



Gerry Smith

Sinead O’Connor remembers the 30th Anniversary Concert

Thanks to the (anon) reader who forwarded this timely new link to an article from The Age (Melbourne), in which Sinead O’Connor remembers her role in the 30th Anniversary Concert:


http://www.theage.com.au/news/gig-previews--reviews/sinead-oconnor/2008/03/25/1206207070747.html




Gerry Smith

Dylan product @ bargain prices: #2 Highway 61 Revisited

Thanks to Peter Bonor:

“Zavvi in London’s Oxford St (former Virgin Megastore) had the new Flametree paperback edition of Highway 61 Revisited (Legendary Sessions) by Colin Irwin at £5 (down from about £12) a couple of weeks ago.

“They also had piles of the companion volume by Alan Clayson on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet.”

Celebrating Dylan in LA: unmissable Sunday and Wednesday gigs

If I happened to be in Southern California this weekend, I’d be heading for the Dylanfest at LA’s Skirball Cultural Center.

Detailed reports from lucky Angelenos attending the unmissable Sunday and Wednesday gigs will be welcomed!

www.skirball.org


* SYMPOSIUM: DEFINING DYLAN
March 30, 9:30-5:00 p.m.
Learn about Bob Dylan, his music, and early influences at this one-day symposium featuring Dylan scholars and experts. $15-35.


* LECTURE/CONCERT: BOB DYLAN: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: Ben Sidran
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 pm
In this concert with commentary, National Public Radio "Jazz Alive" host and music historian Ben Sidran recounts stories from Dylan's life, explores his impact upon American history, and illuminates how his art speaks to his Jewish roots. $8-15.




Gerry Smith


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EARLIER, RELATED ARTICLES:


Celebrating Dylan in Los Angeles

Thanks to Dorothy Rand for more information on the remarkable Dylan programme now running at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles:

"Perhaps of most interest to your readers would be a symposium we'll be holding on March 30 called Defining Dylan, which features presentations and a panel discussion by Dylan experts and music scholars.

"And on March 20 we'll be hosting one of the last Beat poets, Michael McClure, who will read his work and share his memories and experiences with Bob Dylan.

"Then on April 2, we present National Public Radio host Ben Sidran who will play music and provide commentary on Dylan's impact on American history. More details on each of these programs is below.


* EXHIBITION: BOB DYLAN'S AMERICAN JOURNEY, 1956-1966
February 8-June 8
At the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA
Featuring more than 160 artifacts and rare audio and video footage, his acclaimed exhibition follows Bob Dylan from his Minnesota roots to his growing fame as a rock star. $5-10.


* SYMPOSIUM: DEFINING DYLAN
March 30, 9:30-5:00 p.m.
Learn about Bob Dylan, his music, and early influences at this one-day symposium featuring Dylan scholars and experts. $15-35.


* LECTURE: AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL MCCLURE
Thursday, March 20, 8:00 p.m.
Join this prolific, award-winning writer-one of the last living Beat poets and a longtime friend of Bob Dylan-as he reads from his work and comments upon the 1960s artist community. $6-10.


* LECTURE/CONCERT: BOB DYLAN: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: Ben Sidran
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 pm
In this concert with commentary, National Public Radio "Jazz Alive" host and music historian Ben Sidran recounts stories from Dylan's life, explores his impact upon American history, and illuminates how his art speaks to his Jewish roots. $8-15.



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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:

LA to be fifth stop for travelling Dylan exhibition

Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966, organized by Experience Music Project (EMP), moves to LA's Skirball Cultural Center from 8 February to 8 June.

Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966 showcases photographs, recordings, performance, interview footage and historical artefacts - from Bruce Langhorne's tambourine to Dylan's copy of Woody Guthrie's Bound for Glory and a letter from Dylan to Joan Baez's mother!

The exhibition opened at Seattle's Experience Music Project, before moving to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland), Morgan Library (New York) and the Weisman Art Museum (Minneapolis).

The ancillary Skirball programmes includes:

· John Cohen and Daniel Kramer on photographing Dylan;
· poetry by Michael McClure, and
· Greil Marcus and other Dylan writers.

Looks absorbing - I'm keenly anticipating it coming to London!

If you've already seen the exhibition - in Seattle, Cleveland, New York or Minneapolis, or plan to go to the LA gig, Gerry@dylandaily.com is keen to hear from you and publish your impressions.


www.skirball.org



Gerry Smith

Scrapbook also in HMV at £10

Thanks to Andrew Kelly:

“I was in HMV at Oxford Circus over the Bank Holiday, where the Dylan scrapbook is currently selling for £10. It doesn't appear to be a special offer and there were about 5 copies.

“Additionally the Zavvi shop (formerly Virgin) opposite the Dominion at Tottenham Ct Rd is offering "No Direction Home" for £4 if you spend £20.

“Thought Mr Dylan was in arch form on R2 last night.”

Dylan product @ bargain prices: #1 Bob Dylan Scrapbook

Fellow consumers of Dylan product with an eye for a bargain will be pleased to hear that The Bob Dylan Scrapbook (Simon & Schuster, 2005), which has stubbornly resisted discounting from its (absurd) £30 list price, is now being heavily discounted.

I came across a pile a couple of weeks ago at Soho’s Original Bookshop, priced at £9.95. The shop’s in Charing Cross Road, across the side street from Foyle’s, and opposite Borders.

The Scrapbook’s an evocative collection of memorabilia – photographs, facsimile ticket stubs and festival posters.

Soho’s Original Bookshop also had discounted copies of Gilbert’s Forever Young: Portraits of Bob Dylan (£7.99), and a full–priced Drawn Blank (£33).

If you see some Dylan product @ bargain prices – CDs, DVDs, books, memorabilia - please let me know: bargains@dylandaily.com


Gerry Smith

Rare Dylan recordings, 1990-2008

The new (“April”) issue of Record Collector has the final article in Evan Marshall (inadvertently called “Evan Hunter” in the sub-head!)’s fine three-part survey of Dylan’s officially released rarities. Part Three covers the ‘90s and beyond.

Apart from the invaluable detailed listing, author Marshall discusses Dylan's current musical direction through his use of standalone contributions to film soundtracks and tribute records. As he says, “There really are a lot of hidden nuggets in the ‘90s and ‘00s period which show him getting back onto top form and fine-tuning his new sound”.

Collectors are indebted to Marshall for this prime piece of archaeological digging. Most will agree with him that “there really is some astonishing work that has been released by Dylan without any attention being drawn to it … “

I’ll be raising a glass to Evan Marshall this Easter.



Gerry Smith

Dylan’s Europe summer tour, 2008

Following the adventurous swing through Latin America, Dylan’s annual summer tour of Europe also takes in locations usually ignored – from Reykjavik, Iceland to St. Petersburg, Russia; Brno, Czech Republic to Warsaw, Poland. Plus France. Unconfirmed gigs include Ljubljana, Slovenia, and several Italian and Spanish stop-overs.

But there’s still a UK/Germany/Benelux-shaped hole in the schedule, from mid-July (or in May, before Iceland).

Bill Pagel’s boblinks site tracks new dates, as announced:

www.boblinks.com




Gerry Smith

Dylan in Buenos Aires

Thanks to Gonzalo Barreiros for his review of Dylan at Estadio Vélez Sársfield, Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday 15 March:

"Well, the concert was really great. The first song was "Rainy day women", Bobby playing the Fender Stratocaster with the band sounding powerful and steady. Then they played "Lay lady lay", when I took my cell phone and I called to my son so he could listen to it ...

"Then it was a never-ending flow of old hits and new songs, the new ones hard and sometimes sad, the old ones performed in a fresh way, almost impossible to recognize them until you hear the chorus lines. This is a wonderful feature that Dylan has explored since the beginning: playing the old songs in a new way and even changing the verses or adding some new lines. This is what I call an artist, someone who doesn't repeat himself but rather changes and keeps creating beauty.

"I can't remember the full list of songs but these are some he played last night:

* Blowing in the wind,
* All along the watchtower,
* Watching the river flow,
* Just like a woman (a version with the taste of the original recorded version, that sweet and subtle guitar arrangement for the intro),
* Times have changed (he won an Oscar in 2000 with this song),
* Masters of war (wow, a deep and dark version!),
* When the deal goes down (here the band sounded like and old jazz band, nice arrangement too, I love this song),
* Like a rolling stone (I thought that this would be the final song ... but I was wrong!
* All along the watchtower, the last chord - a minor chord - was changed into a major chord to give the song the power of a closing, lasting sound.

"...well there were more songs but I can't remember exactly as I was really touched under a bright crescent moon and a fresh breeze, holding my girlfriend's hand ...

"We all knew that Dylan barely speaks on stage and he never plays a bonus song ... but this time he played two hours non-stop, standing while he played the keyboard, so everyone was really happy. And he played three extra songs ... I missed him playing more guitar than he did, but it's ok after all. It was a great show, maybe the last time we can enjoy him here ... who knows ... . Thanks a lot!"

BOBMANIA #13/14: Dylan Days 2008 and Dyl-Time Theme Radio Hour

Thanks to Nelson French for news of Dylan Days 2008:

“Ramblin’ Jack Elliott to headline 2008 Dylan Days Benefit Concert, Saturday 24 May. Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover to open at the historic Hibbing High School auditorium. Dylan Days: 22-25 May 2008.”

www.dylandays.com


And thanks to Mel Prussack:

“Volume 7 of Series 2 of Dyl-Time Theme Radio Hour is now online. The theme this month is 2007. Listeners who usually just listen to the audio of my show should make an attempt to watch it on iTunes, as I have some great stills to go with this episode”

http://dylanshrine.podOmatic.com



Gerry Smith

30th Anniversary Concert – an eye-witness report

Thanks to a 30th Anniversary Concert eye-witness who wishes to remain anonymous:

“It's funny just how divergent different views of the same event can be sometimes. I attended the 30 Year Tribute and I found Sophie B Hawkins one of the low points in the evening's proceedings - all that weaving around added nothing to the song.

“The event was more to celebrate Dylan's music than Dylan and she had no obvious relevance to his music. I'm no expert on Hawkins but had she recorded any Dylan songs before the event and has she recorded any since? I suspect not. Maybe she was just put there because it was a high profile event.

“Sinead O'Connor had a touch more relevance, at least, but I must say that a place the size of Madison Square Garden could hardly be filled solely with music biz types, even in New York and even with execs coming in from the coast. There were a lot of ordinary folk present, like me.

“As for the booing, it was certainly nowhere near the whole audience who did this; if that had happened, the roof would have lifted off. Some booed, some supported her and some just waited for her to get on with the song.

“What annoyed me about her appearance was that, on more than one occasion, her band struck up the intended song (‘I Believe In You’) only to have her gesture to them, with her right arm, to stop.

“Had she allowed them to continue and had she started to sing the song (especially with that early line about intolerance), she could have faced down the booers, made her point forcefully and probably got a cheer from her supporters into the bargain.

“Worse than letting the booing carry on first, when she did start to sing, it was a non-Dylan song, which went against the whole point of the evening.”

Bob v Neil and 30th Anniversary Concert

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“Further to the recent discussion about Bob versus Neil, readers may be interested in following this link:

www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/dylan.htm


“And further to comments about the Dylan audience booing Sinead O'Connor, I seem to remember from John Bauldie's coverage of the event at the time that the audience was made up of record company suits, showbiz types and corporate guests - I believe it likely there were very few ‘real’ Dylan fans present ... “

Sophie B. Hawkins – also missing from 30th Anniversary Concert

Thanks to Jon Talbot:

“It's unfortunate that 'I Want You', performed by Sophie B. Hawkins, is missing on the DVD and the CD. When PBS showed it, she was included. It was a powerful, passionate, dramatic rendering.

“Anyone know why she's missing?”

Sinead O’Connor - missing from 30th Anniversary Concert

Thanks to Wilson Smith:

“Of course ‘Sinead O'Connor's searing rendition of Bob Marley's ‘War’ is also missing from this track list.’

“After enduring booing from the audience, she finally relented and sang nothing. I always thought this was disgraceful; an audience full of fans of Bob Dylan — an artist that always spoke his mind — effectively "censoring" another artist because she had a week earlier torn up a picture of the Pope at a Saturday Night Live rehearsal.”


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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:

New - 30th Anniversary Concert on DVD: encore

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“And of course the 29 song list omits Dylan's opener, ‘Song To Woody’, due to "technical problems", although there didn't seem to be too much wrong with it when it was broadcast on national television in the UK.

2And Sinead O'Connor's searing rendition of Bob Marley's ‘War’ is also missing from this track list.

“Would agree with you that Neil Young was compelling, but also the Pearl Jam boys' ‘Masters of War’, Richie Havens' ‘Just Like A Woman’ and Willie Nelson's ‘What was it you wanted’ are worthy of mention.”

Yes - Neil Young IS upstaging Dylan

Thanks to Dave Dingle:

“Neil Young upstaging Bob? You better believe it!

“Having seen Bob over 100 times (an amateur compared to some, I know), I was struck last week by Neil doing a full one hour acoustic set, the like of which we haven’t seen from Bob since the 1960s, and a storming electric set ... active, prowling the stage, playing his own lead …

“I was left with the feeling that going to see Neil was an altogether more satisfying experience than Bob in recent years, stuck behind the piano, or even doing his few guitar songs.

“Sad to say, my conclusion is that Bob will never undergo the kind of renaissance that Neil obviously has!”


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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:

Neil Young upstaging Dylan?

Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.

According to Martin Cowan:

“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.

“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”


Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:

01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number



Gerry Smith

Neil Young upstaging Dylan?

Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.

According to Martin Cowan:

“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.

“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”


Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:

01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number



Gerry Smith

Eye-witness account of Dylan at the Troubadour, London, 18 Dec 1962

Thanks to Kevin Jackson in Dublin:

“At a recent funeral for a long-time Dylan fan, I met traditional Irish musician Johnny Moynihan (he played with several groups, including De Dannan and Planxty).

“At the graveside, Johnny joined other musicians in accompanying the singing of 'Every Grain of Sand'. Chatting afterwards, he mentioned casually that his first meeting with Dylan had been in The Troubadour, in 1962.

“Johnny was playing there on December 18 of that year. Martin Carthy arrived, accompanied by ‘an unknown young American guy’. When the American guy (Dylan) sang, Johnny's memory was that everyone was blown away. ‘Very impressive’ were the words he used to describe it.

By the way, a YouTube search for 'Johnny Moynihan' will turn up videos of him playing, usually with Planxty or De Dannan. Now in his 70s, he is still plays an active role in the traditional music scene in Ireland. Lately, he plays a lot of ‘Old Timey’ Americana material.”

New - 30th Anniversary Concert on DVD

Thanks to K Lewis for notification that “the dylan 30th anniversary concert dvd will be released on 7 April”, and for a link to one of the suppliers, Spin:

http://www.spincds.com/product.asp?id=9015526


The (confusing) detail on the Spin site indicates that the double DVD will have fewer tracks than the original CD release, 30th Anniversary Concert Celebartion – 19 tracks instead of 29.

Dylan Daily readers will differ on the 30th Anniversary Concert, held in Madison Square Garden in 1992. Some found it tiresome, exposing the bankruptcy of rock in the early 1990s.

Dylan was hardly compelling, the rest missable. Apart, that is, from Roger McGuinn and Neil Young. Young, who stole the show, with rousing versions of Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues and All Along The Watchtower, is missing from Spin’s tracklist for the new DVD.

Original CD version tracklist:

1. Like A Rolling Stone - Mellencamp, John Cougar
2. Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat - Mellencamp, John Cougar
3. Introduction - Kristofferson, Kris
4. Blowin' In The Wind - Wonder, Stevie
5. Masters Of War - Vedder, Eddie/Mike McCready
6. Foot Of Pride - Reed, Lou
7. Times They Are A Changin' - Chapman, Tracy
8. It Ain't Me Babe - Carter, June & Johnny Cash
9. What Was It You Wanted - Nelson, Willie
10. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Kristofferson, Kris
11. Seven Days - Winter, Johnny
12. Highway 61 - Winter, Johnny
13. Just Like A Woman - Havens, Richie
14. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Young, Neil
15. All Along The Watchtower - Young, Neil
16. When The Ship Comes In - Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
17. I Shall Be Released - Hynde, Chrissie
18. Don't Think Twice It's Alright - Clapton, Eric
19. Emotionally Yours - O'Jays
20. When I Paint My Masterpiece - Band
21. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Cash, Rosanne & Mary Chapin-Carpenter/Shawn Colvin
22. Absolutely Sweet Marie - Harrison, George
23. Licence To Kill - Petty, Tom & The Heartbreakers
24. Rainy Day Women 12 And 35 - Petty, Tom & The Heartbreakers
25. Mr Tambourine Man - McGuinn, Roger
26. It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Dylan, Bob
27. My Back Pages - Dylan, Bob
28. Girl From The North Country - Dylan, Bob
29. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Dylan, Bob



Gerry Smith

Montreal and London shows in 1962: setlist and photos

* Thanks to Brady Leyser for this extract from his book, Bob Dylan Live in Canada:

“Bob Dylan made his Canadian live debut in 1962. Although virtually unknown outside of New York's Greenwich Village at the time, his first album released only a few months earlier, Mr. Dylan played five straight nights in Montreal.

It was Bob Dylan's debut concert and 2nd, 3rd, & 4th time playing at The Pot-pourri in Montreal and debut concert at The Finjan Club in Montreal.

The Dates
Montreal, QC Thurs., June 28, 1962
Montreal, QC Fri., June 29, 1962
Montreal, QC Sat., June 30, 1962
Montreal, QC Sunday, July 1, 1962
Montreal, QC Mon., July 2, 1962

Only thirteen of the songs Bob Dylan performed are known. Of those, 6 were from albums, 2 were unreleased songs and 5 were cover and/or traditional songs.

Freight Train Blues
Quit Your Low Down Ways
Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
He Was a Friend of Mine
The Death of Emmett Till
Let Me Die in My Footsteps
Stealin'
Two Trains Runnin'
Hiram Hubbard
Ramblin' On My Mind
Blowin' in the Wind
Muleskinner Blues
Rocks and Gravel.”

Details: Bob Dylan Live in Canada: A Concert History, 1962-2005 by Brady J. Leyser and Olof Bjorner. For Dylan Daily review - check out the Archive; cheapest place to buy the book is on chapters.ca


* And to Stewart Grant for a link to a priceless collection of early Dylan photographs:

http://dylanstubs.com/pictures/1962/1962/index.html




Gerry Smith

More on Dylan’s first overseas gig

Whoops!

Observant early birds might have noticed that the headline on yesterday’s article quickly changed from “first gig outside the USA” to “first overseas gig”.

The difference, as I rapidly realized, is important. As Ian Woodward pointed out: “The answer to the question in the headline is Montreal in Canada in June/July 1962.”

And Karl Erik Andersen: “If ‘outside the USA’ was the question, I am thinking The Finjan Club, July 2, 1962.”

It’s the kind of error that drives Canadians to distraction – and rightly so.



Gerry Smith

Where, exactly, did Dylan play his first overseas gig?

London has an important place in the Dylan story: first overseas trip (December 1962/January 1963) and, I think, more gigs than any city except New York – though Dylan Daily readers need no invitation to correct me if that’s wrong.

But where, exactly, did Dylan play his first London gig?

When challenged recently, my (unsure) response was The Pindar of Wakefield pub, near King’s Cross; my Dylan fan companion offered the Troubadour, Kensington. Our interrogator thought it was a pub with a common name, near Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia.

So I checked my Dylan library. Biographers Scaduto, Shelton, Heylin, Sounes and Spitz were helpful, to different degrees, but none is definitive. All three pubs were variously mentioned, but without exact dates. I could find nothing in Gray’s Encyclopedia (though access to the CD-ROM would have been helpful).

After half an hour searching, I eventually found the answer in Nigel Williamson’s Rough Guide: it was, he states, the Troubadour folk club in Kensington, on 18 December 1962, where Dylan played The Ballad Of Hollis Brown.

And then I confirmed it in Derek Barker’s ISIS: A Bob Dylan Anthology. Barker’s short article, One Time In London, was perfect for my needs – he gives a detailed chronology of Dylan’s 1962/63 London trip, confirming that all three of us had been nearly right.

The itinerary was: 18 Dec Troubadour; 22 Dec Pindar Of Wakefield; 23 Dec King & Queen, Foley Street.

Did any Dylan Daily reader catch any of these historic gigs? A million to one against, I’d guess.


Gerry Smith

Celebrating Dylan in Los Angeles

Thanks to Dorothy Rand for more information on the remarkable Dylan programme now running at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles:

“Perhaps of most interest to your readers would be a symposium we’ll be holding on March 30 called Defining Dylan, which features presentations and a panel discussion by Dylan experts and music scholars.

“And on March 20 we’ll be hosting one of the last Beat poets, Michael McClure, who will read his work and share his memories and experiences with Bob Dylan.

“Then on April 2, we present National Public Radio host Ben Sidran who will play music and provide commentary on Dylan’s impact on American history. More details on each of these programs is below.


* EXHIBITION: BOB DYLAN’S AMERICAN JOURNEY, 1956–1966
February 8–June 8
At the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA
Featuring more than 160 artifacts and rare audio and video footage, his acclaimed exhibition follows Bob Dylan from his Minnesota roots to his growing fame as a rock star. $5-10.

more info: http://www.skirball.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=exbt&task=detail&oid=24



* SYMPOSIUM: DEFINING DYLAN
March 30, 9:30–5:00 p.m.
Learn about Bob Dylan, his music, and early influences at this one-day symposium featuring Dylan scholars and experts. $15-35.

more info: http://www.skirball.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=crse&task=summary&filter=Genre&fid=135#51



* LECTURE: AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL MCCLURE
Thursday, March 20, 8:00 p.m.
Join this prolific, award-winning writer—one of the last living Beat poets and a longtime friend of Bob Dylan—as he reads from his work and comments upon the 1960s artist community. $6-10.

more info: http://www.skirball.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=prgm&task=summary&filter=Genre&fid=14&ccmenu=d2hhdcdzig9u



* LECTURE/CONCERT: BOB DYLAN: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: Ben Sidran
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 pm
In this concert with commentary, National Public Radio "Jazz Alive" host and music historian Ben Sidran recounts stories from Dylan's life, explores his impact upon American history, and illuminates how his art speaks to his Jewish roots. $8-15.

more info: http://www.skirball.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=prgm&task=detail&oid=291&ccmenu=d2hhdcdzig9u



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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:

LA to be fifth stop for travelling Dylan exhibition

Bob Dylan’s American Journey, 1956–1966, organized by Experience Music Project (EMP), moves to LA’s Skirball Cultural Center from 8 February to 8 June.

Bob Dylan’s American Journey, 1956–1966 showcases photographs, recordings, performance, interview footage and historical artefacts – from Bruce Langhorne’s tambourine to Dylan’s copy of Woody Guthrie’s Bound for Glory and a letter from Dylan to Joan Baez’s mother!

The exhibition opened at Seattle’s Experience Music Project, before moving to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland), Morgan Library (New York) and the Weisman Art Museum (Minneapolis).

The ancillary Skirball programmes includes:

· John Cohen and Daniel Kramer on photographing Dylan;
· poetry by Michael McClure, and
· Greil Marcus and other Dylan writers.

Looks absorbing – I’m keenly anticipating it coming to London!

If you’ve already seen the exhibition – in Seattle, Cleveland, New York or Minneapolis, or plan to go to the LA gig, Gerry@dylandaily.com is keen to hear from you and publish your impressions.


www.skirball.org



Gerry Smith

Latest Dylan tour set lists and reviews

Miguel asks why Dylan Daily hasn’t covered the latest show, in Monterrey, Mexico.

Simple, Miguel – because no-one’s sent Dylan Daily a report!

If you’re attending any of the Latin American shows (or any future gigs) I’d love to carry your review/setlist – just email me at tour@dylandaily.com

Dylan Daily gets lots of reports from UK/other European gigs, but not many from the rest of the world. If you can help fill the gap, please do so!

In the absence of reports of current shows on Dylan Daily, you can rely on Bill Pagel’s magnificent website:

www.boblinks.com

You’ll be in good company – over 19 million people have been there in the last twelve and a half years!


Gerry Smith