Dylan Rocks North Ontario
Bob Dylan plays Orillia, Ontario like he jammed 40 years ago
Bob Dylan played two shows over the weekend in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. Dylan proved his rock-legend status Sunday night as he owned the stage with his band.
Bob Dylan rocked the stage Sunday night at Canada’s Casino Rama, in Orillia, Ont.
The small venue brought out the best in this 66-year-old rock legend. His voice sounded as passionate as ever and he treated the audience to playing his three branded instruments: the guitar, keyboard and harmonica.
This show far surpassed expectations for any fan. Dylan and his band played a night filled with bluesy overtones, underlined by layers of classic rock. Songs played on this night in 2007 felt like they were the sounds from a concert hall from several decades ago.
After almost 50 years of performing, Dylan gave this crowd of around 5,000 fans his heart and soul. He proved his musical authenticity by changing the arrangements of many songs, creating a mind-blowing version of each one played.
For concert collectors, this is one show you should not miss out on—with special mention going to Shelter from the Storm.
With what was already an incredible rendition of the song was made that much stronger when Dylan pulled out his harmonica for the first time, further satiating his crowd.
His physical on-stage stance was silhouetted by the spotlight, exuding power. The rock guru was adorned in a white cowboy hat, similar to the one that had accompanied him throughout the late 1970s.
Dylan was on, Sunday night. Between his voice, jamming and attire, he had transformed this northern Ontario casino into a night longing for the freedom and ideologies of the decades the music belongs to.
His accompanying band paralleled his musical excellence. An array of instruments filled the stage, ranging from a variety of guitars (including the steel guitar), to an organ, cello and more.
On stage, the star and his band shared the same energetic force. The many jam sessions played would not have been as strong if these musicians were not on-par with one another.
Bob Dylan’s voice quality has been unpredictable for quite a few years, but on this Sunday night, the second night of his two-show Orillia run, Dylan’s love for music was obvious in his performance.
The small setting provided clean acoustics that allowed fans to hear not only his voice clearly, but to hear each note he picked on the guitar or played on the piano crisply and precisely.
The set list was a satisfying ratio of mostly classic Dylan with a few songs from his most recent and second latest albums.
He skillfully picked Like a Rolling Stone for his finale before the encore. It was an incredible version that filled the auditorium with nostalgia and joie de vivre. So of course fans were having none of it when he and the band left the stage upon the song’s conclusion.
Following much chanting and cheering, the legend and his band returned to the stage for a final performance. After playing for almost two hours straight, they played a three-song encore, ending the show with a praiseworthy All Along the Watchtower.
