Bob Dylan Live by Romy Needham

The wind in Limerick wasn’t so much blowing as thunderously whipping, leaving the senses wide open for the exhilarating night about to unfold.

From the swampy and sultry ‘Beyond Here Lies Nothing’ to the stark, haunting landscape of ‘Working Man’s Blues’, every song was powerful and full of intent.

Bob Dylan and his super tight Band were in magnificent form. The songs have shaped and shifted in many ways over the years and, according to the inherent spirit of change, it would be natural if the ears of those listening and the relationships to those songs had shifted too. Bob is relevant in the now, as the diversity of the audience in Thomond Park reflected.

Vibrations were flying, and with a sense of adventure and a long road ahead, it was perfectly fitting for Bob and his Band. On this 4th July show, we caught a memory in the long history of those men and women who have gone before us, searching for an expression of freedom and for a transcendental moment through poetry and music, hands raised for the original Working Man’s Band.

There was a song and a performance for everyone. We heard a very sweet ‘Lay Lady Lay’ with Bob centre-stage on the guitar, singing with a tenderness which suits his present voice. ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues’ was sharp and careful with Sweet Melinda hovering so closely, the song could have been written yesterday. The audience had chance to sing-a-long with ‘Just Like A Woman’ and clap-a-long with the Band when the monitors failed, all of which added to the feeling of a very special night.

Bob was centre-stage for many of the songs, captivating the crowd with his deliverance and harmonica bullet blues. His animated gestures add a sort of openness to the live performance. Even when we were brought to our knees, ready to take off with the nearest pack of wild dogs because the show was so rocking, it was with an essence of style and grace.

‘Cold Irons Bound’ was crackling with as much fire as you can get. ‘Working Man’s Blues’ was sung with a resonance and poise - every word creating an atmosphere appropriate in these times. ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ was slick and heaving, with the audience giving as good as they had been getting. ‘Ballad of a Thin Man’ saw Bob centre stage again with one young lad near me expressing that “this will blow you away” - and it did. There was a lovely moment for this land, with a laugh and a smile to James Joyce in ‘I Feel A Change Comin’ On’.

Limerick saw four encores and it felt as though the night could have lasted all night. One long firework of a show and we gave our thanks to the man with the ‘blood of the land’ in his voice.

When he comes around again, don’t you dare miss it!