I didn’t get to see the Americanarama Fest Thursday night at the Live Nation Amphitheater because I was spending the evening at the Palladium. We had a night filled with belly laughs as New York’s Hedda Lettuce delivered her comic commentary on one of the world’s worst films – Valley of the Dolls. The show was a kick-off event for St. Pete Pride and Hedda’s second time at the Palladium.
Fortunately, I had a friend at the Americana concert. Jon Freeman, a college student on summer break, is spending some time seeing what we do here at the Palladium. He agreed to put together his observations of the show.
Jon, by the way, plays the guitar and harmonica and sings original songs which are clearly influenced by Americana Fest’s headliner – Bob Dylan. Jon got his tickets the first day they went on sale and was up close to his idol and the other players on the bill. He admits he didn’t know much about the other acts going in. He was there for his first Dylan concert, sitting shoulder to shoulder with some female fans who saw their first Dylan show in 1961. Here’s Jon’s review:
Jon Freeman
TAMPA – On the 27th of June, Bob Dylan and his band came to the Florida State Fairgrounds along with My Morning Jacket, Wilco, and Bob Weir. Although it was easy to distinguish Bob Weir from his tour-mates, I will confess that I wasn’t so sure in the cases of My Morning Jacket and Wilco, with whom I am not familiar.
But, armed with the retrospective knowledge of “who exactly was that playing…?” I now feel prepared to write a review of the folk-rock procession. Bob Weir warmed up a waxing crowd with a solo-acoustic set, relentlessly driving rhythm into the ground with his right foot. He played songs such as “Corrina” with dignified intensity.
My Morning Jacket stormed the stage next with tremendous gusto. Jim James, the ringleader, brought a certain element of humor to his performance by rubbing his shaggy mane on the lead guitarist, Carl Broemel. Bassist Tom Blankenship brought feverish groove to his instrument and drummer Patrick Hallahan seemed to be on the verge of spiritual break-through. The song that stuck out for me is entitled “Wonderful (the Way I Feel)” and indeed, James gave a wonderful vocal performance.
Wilco was next, a folk-rock/jam-band experiment which I am inclined to call a success. Their sound and feeling was noticeably different from My Morning Jacket— none of the individual band members stuck out, per se, but rather formed a certain energetic conglomeration hell-bent on using different instruments for each song. Needless to say, I donned my 3-d glasses for the light show to accompany my own aural amazement.
Bob Dylan
Being in the front row when Dylan takes the stage is another experience entirely— having been a devout follower since I first heard The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan two years ago, this moment was a long time coming. When Dylan emerged with his band, clad in a white suit top and hat, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect— having heard rumors of Dylan’s performance shoddiness, I decided to play it safe and just let whatever happen, happen.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. Halfway through his opening song, “Things Have Changed” it becomes apparent that Dylan has managed to stay young even into old age. He gyrates to a certain dark, seductive energy, ushered in by the tiki-torches and a dimly-lit stage. He plays my personal favorite, “Simple Twist of Fate” with surprised awareness, like a child discovering music for the first time. Additionally, Dylan performs songs from his latest album Tempest such as “Early Roman Kings” and “Duquesne Whistle”— the backing band’s keen ability to keep pace with the mercurial Dylan is a testament to their own outstanding musicianship.
Overall, Dylan delivers a smorgasbord of his material from across the decades, each song a potent adaptation for the present moment. This is not a tour to be missed.
– Jon Freeman
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