Concert Review
Jakob Dylan
April 26, 2010 @ Park West
By Dave Miller
Zo
It didn't take long to hear T-Bone Burnett's influence on Jakob Dylan at Park West. Dylan opened his Monday night concert with "Nothing But The Whole Wide World" and followed with four more songs from his new album, Women + Country, produced by Burnett with his alt-country touch. Beyond the usual rock instruments onstage, there was also a pedal steel guitar, standup bass and an occasional mandolin.
X
Dylan and his slightly raspy voice sounded like a natural fit on his alt-country material. The songs were new, of course, but they sounded well-worn and natural. This was not Dylan rocking the house with his Wallflowers, but serving the song as an experienced singer-songwriter backed by an alt-country outfit dubbed Three Legs. That isn't to say that Dylan allowed himself to totally be pulled across the alt-country line. He brought his band occasionally to the rock side, particularly the players on the left side of the stage. Guitarist Paul Rigby fired off some nifty solos with a rich tone and pedal steel player Jon Rauhouse attacked his instrument at times like he was a lead guitarist. Through the night it was a treat to watch talented musicians sound fresh and in the moment as they stayed on their toes playing new material.
X
The ringers onstage were backup singers Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, both former Chicagoans who are well familiar to music fans around town. Hogan joked that a Four Seasons doorman recognized her from her serving him PBRs at the Hideout. Of course, it was a major coup for Dylan to have Case backing him. Case has been headlining venues such as the Chicago Theatre in support of her popular Middle Cyclone album. In producing the album, Burnett asked Case to contribute and not only did she oblige, but she wound up letting Dylan borrow her band for the tour. It's a win-win situation for the artists. I'm sure Dylan and Case are creating new fans for each other.
X
To everyone's credit, Case and Hogan were used to supplement the band, not star in it. In fact, even Dylan appeared at times as just another member of the ensemble. Unlike his dad, Dylan has been personable and engaged the crowd during his shows over the years. He was still that way at Park West, but not quite as much as in the past as he put the focus squarely on the music. While Dylan and Case sang a duet on "Smile When You Call Me That" early in the show and Hogan took a verse on "Three Marlenas, " each woman stayed in their backing positions on the right side of the stage when they did so.
XX
The show took off a third of the way through when Dylan unveiled "6th Avenue Heartache," one of two Wallflowers songs ("Three Marlenas" being the other) played on the night. From there, a rocking "Evil is Alive and Well" was played followed by "We Don't Live Here Anymore" with its slow and heavy beat. After that, bassist Tom Ray and drummer Barry Mirochnick temporarily left the stage and Dylan picked up an acoustic guitar for "War Is Kind." "Three Marlenas" featured one of Rigby's great solos. "All Day and All Night" sounded like it would be at home on the Opry stage. The best use of Case and Hogan came on "Down On Our Own Shield." "Lend A Hand" closed the main set on a high note.
X
A Wallflowers show usually features interesting encores with a cool cover or two, but the encore featured just two numbers, "On up the Mountain" and "They've Trapped Us Boys." They were well done, but the end to the show felt slightly unsatisfying as if it was a recital rather than a concert. But Dylan is just getting used to this alt-country stuff. The show made a case that he should continue along this path.
X
Here's the setlist:
X
Nothing But the Whole Wide World
Everybody's Hurting
Standing Eight Count
Smile When You Call Me That
Holy Rollers for Love
6th Avenue Heartache
Evil is Alive and well
We Don't Live Here Anymore
War Is Kind
Three Marlenas
All Day and All Night
Somethng Good This Way Comes
Will It Grow
Down On Our Own Shield
Everybody Pays as They Go
Lend A Hand
-----------------------
On up the Mountain
They've Trapped Us Boys
X
Start: 8:59 p.m./Finish: 10:33 p.m.
Totals: 18 songs, 1 hour and 34 minutes
X
X
By Mark Hornok
X
This show really worked for me. I have been listening to the record a bunch and was very pleased with how how it translated to the stage.
X
I couldn't find the exact quote, but the whole night I kept thinking about something Neil Young said when describing the recording of Harvest Moon. The gist of his statement was that you are half way to making a great record just by getting James Taylor and Linda Rondstadt to sing backup. That line of thinking certainly held up last night. Both Case and Hogan are nice parts of the record, but on stage they were brought up in the mix and were a true presence in the room. They shined all night and it was clear that the crowd loved them and what they were doing. Dylan walked a difficult and fine line of showcasing them, but not making them the show. I wanted more of each of the girls and maybe that is the way he wanted me to feel at the end.
X
Neither Jakob or his dad have ever been called extremely physical performers on stage. The elderly Bob probably moves around more on stage today than Jakob did last night. If Jakob has learned one live lesson from his dad, it is to have an extremely talented backing band. While there has been some turnover over the last twenty years, Bob's backing bands have been ridiculously talented and have taken his live show to occasional new heights. This is Case's backing band and they are stacked with skill and clearly comfortable playing with each other. Every member of the group stood out at times, but I was really impressed with Jon Rauhouse on pedal steel. He played with an energy not normally associated with the instrument. He had many chances to shine and did so every time.
X
I really think that Jakob may have found a voice that suits him on this record. It may be more of a fit than his rock side. When I said he was not physically active on stage, it was not mean't to be critical. His mood and demeanor seemed to fit the music and the show he put together. After hearing the songs live, I love the record even more.
X
Highlights for me included the duet with Case on "Smile When You Call Me That," "We Don't Live Here Anymore," "Evil Is Alive And Well" and both of the Wallflowers cuts. Both "Three Marlenas" and "6th Avenue Heartache" were slightly reworked to fit this band. Several of the new album cuts were played a little faster and with more expanded back up vocals. I think that the best stage versions of the album tunes and the reworked Wallflowers cuts would make a outstanding live EP.
X
Notes:
X
Case seemed somewhere between amused and mildly annoyed at the screeching women in the audience. There were several of them up front and they made themselves known as much as possible. I found their loud talking during the opening act, Mimickinig Birds, way past the point of rude to the band onstage.
X
Hogan had some hand written notes in front of her. It may have been her joke about the Hideout or the lyrics for her verse of "Three Marlenas." I don't know if that is something she has been singing at each show, but it was great.
X
I am not sure how long Dylan will get to use Case's band or have Case/Hogan available to him, so I would see them while you can. The show is well worth it.
X
X