Bob Dylan Live by Sinead Burke

The art of storytelling and the home of the quintessential Limerick storyteller, Michael Hogan - The Bard of Thomond, were in safe hands on July 4 when Bob Dylan and his band performed at Thomond Park Stadium.

Heroic couplets and alexandrines made Michael Hogan a balladeer of distinction and it was fitting that the greatest lyricist of modern times performed in The Bard’s very own backyard. “The devil choke their contradictions, For truth is murdered by their fictions, Death steals behind the smile of joy, With weapons ready to destroy.” Bard or Bob? You decide.

With material spanning over four decades, Bob Dylan rounded up the final show of his European Tour to 18,000 fans in the home of Munster rugby. Taking to the stage in a dashing black suit with beige detail and a matching trilby hat, Dylan hit the ground running, opening the show with ‘Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat’. The opening chords of ‘Lay Lady Lay’ were rapturously received. ‘Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues’ began with Dylan standing at the organ with lead guitarist Charlie Sexton on his knees. Dylan sent a buzz through the crowd when he picked up his harmonica and blasted out the melody.

Wiping the sweat off the back of his neck, Dylan played 'Just Like A Woman'. The crowd were encouraged to sing the chorus on time as is de rigueur; Dylan sings off time, dismantling the norm, as only he can and enthralling the crowd with a harmonica coda, that finds him front and centre stage on tip toes, bent crookedly before the microphone. Next up, the Tex-Mex ‘Beyond Here Lies Nothin’’steered us “down boulevards of broken cars”; as Dylan proves in this track alone, his new material means business. The crowd is swayed by Donnie Herron on trumpet. Silence is virtue. Dylan lets his songs do the talking.

'Cold Irons Bound', rips along menacingly, Tony Garnier providing heavy bass. The stage lights up for the gut-wrenching 'Love Sick' with electric organ and haunting growls by Dylan. Following this, ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ erupts and the mood of the crowd shifts to boogie; the band, especially rhythm guitarist Stu Kimball let loose. Is this Bob Dylan or The Rolling Stones?

The crowd came to life, rocking with his Bobness’s band who pumped up the volume for the best track of the night. Revellers removed their t-shirts like soccer fans and twirled them above their heads. The sound of electric piano in shadows stalks the stage, the sinister song 'Ballad Of A Thin Man' rings out.

Returning for the encore, is 'Like A Rolling Stone'. It lifts off with audience participation when Bob exclaims “Do you want to, make a deal? How does it feel?”. 'I Feel A Change Comin’ On' with its cross-border feel, is just gorgeous. 'Blowin’ In The Wind' closes the set, which is jazzy and unsurprisingly, the most transformed and reworked song of the night.

Bob and his band move to the front of the stage. He gently removes his hat and gives the audience a glimpse of his curls as he bows. Tonight, there is a new Bard of Thomond in town, and his name is Bob Dylan. Tonight, Michael Hogan would have offered to buy this man a pint.