Never being where you expect him to be. And especially not on the same ground as the previous time… Last night in Paris, Bob Dylan did not renounce his principles. At 83, he is in the final leg of his “Rough and Rowdy World Tour,” scheduled to end in November in London. Two years ago, the American impressed the Grand Rex with a show centered around his latest record, ignoring all his classics. But last summer, Bob Dylan agreed to participate in a joint tour with Willie Nelson, for whom he was the opening act, in open-air arenas. Astonishment among the purists when their Bob returned to covering his best-known songs with a new group, rid of the violinist Donnie Herron and including the iconic drummer Jim Keltner.
Was he going to keep this formula for Europe? On October 4 in Prague, Dylan opted for a clever mix of the two: nine titles of “Rough and Rowdy Ways” and around ten classics. But before being able to live the experience in Paris, you still had to leave your phone in a sealed pouch, Dylan not tolerating the presence of cameras in his shows. Hugues Aufray is obviously present, as at each of the singer's Parisian appearances, and at 8:05 p.m. the room is plunged into darkness.
Dylan still knows how to surprise
Bob Dylan sits behind his piano and grabs… an electric guitar! The group begins to jam briefly before we realize that it is the long introduction to “All Along The Watchtower” written by the person concerned in 67, and popularized a year later by Jimi Hendrix. The voice is clear, Dylan strives to make his words heard, more concerned than ever. Paris is jubilant when “It Ain't Me Babe” reworked with rock colors resonates. Because yes there are three guitars on stage, Dylan alternating between his six-string and his piano. Tony Garnier abandoned the double bass for an electric bass that makes the walls of the room vibrate. Everything seems to come together for an excellent evening. Especially since the “I Contain Multitudes” which follows is also boosted. The song may only be three years old, but Dylan, who put down his instrument to grab a microphone, succeeds in transfiguring it. Paris listens religiously, giving the musicians a standing ovation between each piece, but without sinking into hysteria.
Dylanophiles are polite, attentive and know what they came to see. After “When I Paint my masterpiece” performed in a blues/rock tone, the concert settles into a pleasant drone, but not necessarily exciting. Fortunately Dylan still knows how to surprise “his” audience when he revisits “Desolation Row” after an hour of show. The song that closes the album “Highway 61 revisited” has lost its magical riff, but becomes a mountain to climb for the evening team, dedicated to transfiguring it.
For ten minutes, Dylan recalls his status as an iconic songwriter, evoking in 1965 the apocalypse that awaited us then… After a long detour via “Key West”, the second highlight of the evening is called “It's All Over Now, Baby Blue” which Dylan covers in 2024 with artifices borrowed from pop. But we feel in his singing, an invigorating pleasure and mischief. He then plays the little crooner in love by performing “I've Made up My Mind to Give Myself to You”. Who is Bob addressing in this love lament? A woman? Nature? The sky? It's up to everyone to see what they want, Dylan has no messages to convey, just images to sing with the grace of a valiant octogenarian, walking slowly. Paris even has the right to several “Thank you”, which it takes advantage of each time to present one of its musicians.
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A myth maintained
The last quarter of an hour will be more routine: a groovy “Watching the River Flows” then the final duet “Mother of Muses”, “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” and the always magical “Every Grain of Sand”. Dylan stands still for 10 seconds – his way of greeting – before disappearing into the darkness. As they leave the room, two black vans pass in front of the crowd. Where is the singer located? Anyone who has the idea of following them is quickly discouraged: at the first red light, the vehicles take two opposite directions. Last night in Paris, Bob Dylan maintained his myth… down to the smallest details.
Setlist for October 24, Paris, La Seine Musicale
1 / All Along the watchtower
2 / It Ain’t me Babe
3 / I Contain Multitudes
4 / False Prophet
5 / When I Paint My Masterpiece
6 / Black Rider
7 / My Own Version of You
8 / To Be Alone With You
9 / Crossing the Rubicon
10 / Desolation Row
11 / Key West (Philosopher Pirate)
12 / It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
13 / I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You
14 / Watching the River Flows
15 / Mother of Muses
16 / Goodbye Jimmy Reed
17 / Every Grain of Sand
