REVIEW
The Bob Dylan Story
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
21st January 2018
7.30pm
The Bob Dylan Story
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
21st January 2018
7.30pm
Bob Dylan rules again at the Palace Theatre
The Bob Dylan Story performed at the Palace Theatre by Bill Lennon, was a great concert celebration of one of rock music’s great icons.
Lennon, who for ten years was Keith Richards in the Counterfeit Stones, strode onto the stage to perform as Bob Dylan. There was back projection of video newsreel clips of JFK and the Civil Rights movement as he launched into The Times they are a Changing. After that, he dominated the stage with Dylan covers that brought back to the audience the 60s and 70s and the nostalgia of believing that the world could be different.
To most people Dylan is the 60s, as his friend Joan Baez sang in Winds of the Old Days, Dylan is remembered for
‘Those eloquent songs from the good old days
That set us to marching with banners ablaze…’
There was a very poignant moment when Lennon sang A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall in front of thought provoking video clips of the Vietnam War and nuclear explosions. Everyone became subdued as we realised that nothing has changed.
The songs were interspersed with information about Bob Dylan’s life as well as still photos of Bob at various stages in his career. As Bill Lennon explained, there were over 360 songs to choose from. It also made everyone realise just how many songs Dylan had written and why he deserved his Nobel Prize for literature. Lennon had a hard time choosing which ones to sing, but he wanted songs that people would recognise as well as some less familiar ones such as It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry. Lennon sung the songs in the Dylan style with the nasal growl of the early years to the smoother tones that came later.
Lennon, who for ten years was Keith Richards in the Counterfeit Stones, strode onto the stage to perform as Bob Dylan. There was back projection of video newsreel clips of JFK and the Civil Rights movement as he launched into The Times they are a Changing. After that, he dominated the stage with Dylan covers that brought back to the audience the 60s and 70s and the nostalgia of believing that the world could be different.
To most people Dylan is the 60s, as his friend Joan Baez sang in Winds of the Old Days, Dylan is remembered for
‘Those eloquent songs from the good old days
That set us to marching with banners ablaze…’
There was a very poignant moment when Lennon sang A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall in front of thought provoking video clips of the Vietnam War and nuclear explosions. Everyone became subdued as we realised that nothing has changed.
The songs were interspersed with information about Bob Dylan’s life as well as still photos of Bob at various stages in his career. As Bill Lennon explained, there were over 360 songs to choose from. It also made everyone realise just how many songs Dylan had written and why he deserved his Nobel Prize for literature. Lennon had a hard time choosing which ones to sing, but he wanted songs that people would recognise as well as some less familiar ones such as It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry. Lennon sung the songs in the Dylan style with the nasal growl of the early years to the smoother tones that came later.
The songs chosen covered the electric period as well as the early acoustic years and although Lennon performed solo on several of the numbers, for others he was ably supported by his backing group, Sean Kelly, Danny Grant, Adam Bridges, and Jacob Booth. Together they gave a storming, All Along the Watchtower, She Belongs to Me, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Lay Lady Lay, and many others. Although there was a narrative, the song periods were intermixed, and not continuous. He sang angry songs such as Positively 4th Street when Dylan was being criticised for selling out, and a very early tribute Song to Woody(Guthrie).
The audience were gripped, and quietly singing along until one member became over excited and called out, ‘Bob Dylan for President,’ which caused much hilarity.
There was a quieter moment when a solo Lennon accompanied himself on the keyboards for the nineties song Make You Feel My Love, that was reinvented by Adele in 2010. This emphasised just how relevant Dylan’s songs are today. Many people didn’t realise that Dylan wrote this one, as he is seen by many as a protest singer/songwriter. However, the only protests ringing out at the theatre were made by the audience when they realised that Lennon was coming to the end of the show, singing a gentle song written for Dylan’s children Forever Young. To much acclaim, he returned for an encore with a sensitive rendition of Don’t Think Twice, it’s Alright, and then raised the roof with Like a Rolling Stone.
The evening passed much too quickly and Bill Lennon gave a brilliant performance, dominating the stage for the full two hours, and singing over twenty songs. Everyone left the theatre saying how much they had enjoyed the show and in deep discussion about their memories of Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the news clips from the past gave everyone food for thought.
Twitter: @thebobdylanstory
http://www.thebobdylanstory.com
The audience were gripped, and quietly singing along until one member became over excited and called out, ‘Bob Dylan for President,’ which caused much hilarity.
There was a quieter moment when a solo Lennon accompanied himself on the keyboards for the nineties song Make You Feel My Love, that was reinvented by Adele in 2010. This emphasised just how relevant Dylan’s songs are today. Many people didn’t realise that Dylan wrote this one, as he is seen by many as a protest singer/songwriter. However, the only protests ringing out at the theatre were made by the audience when they realised that Lennon was coming to the end of the show, singing a gentle song written for Dylan’s children Forever Young. To much acclaim, he returned for an encore with a sensitive rendition of Don’t Think Twice, it’s Alright, and then raised the roof with Like a Rolling Stone.
The evening passed much too quickly and Bill Lennon gave a brilliant performance, dominating the stage for the full two hours, and singing over twenty songs. Everyone left the theatre saying how much they had enjoyed the show and in deep discussion about their memories of Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the news clips from the past gave everyone food for thought.
Twitter: @thebobdylanstory
http://www.thebobdylanstory.com
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll (never one to miss out on a photo opportunity!)
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Ask the Audience
Mickey D – Leigh I sing in a band called Grand Reunion locally and we do some Dylan numbers. I knew all the songs that were sung. However, I was worried that it was just going to be a tribute band but it wasn’t, Bill Lennon told a story and it was superb, a real experience. Bob Dylan to me is the greatest singer songwriter there is. |
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Richard Myers – Dagenham
I really enjoyed it. Even though it was a tribute band, it transcended being just a copiest. To coin a phrase, I didn’t think twice, it was more than alright. |
The tour continues:-
February 1st - The Swan, Worcester
www.worcesterlive.co.uk/events
February 2nd - Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
February 3rd - Camberley Theatre
www.camberleytheare.biz
February 8th - Dunstable Grove
www.grovetheatre.co.uk
February 9th - Norden Farm Arts Centre
https://norden.farm/events/the-bob-dylan-story
February 10th - Garrick Theatre, Lichfield
www.lichfieldgarrick.com
March 9th - The Lights, Andover
www.thelights.org.uk
March 10th - Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Dorset
www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk
March 11th - The Barnfield Theatre, Exeter
www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk
March 14th - The Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
www.thebrewhouse.net
March 15th - The Tivoli, Wimborne
www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk
March 16th - Lakeside Coastal Resort, Hayling Island
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
March 17th - Weymouth Pavilion
weymouthpavilion.com
March 23rd - Norwich Playhouse
norwichplayhouse.co.uk
March 24th - Deco Theatre, Northampton
(PLEASE NOTE THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED FOR 20TH OCTOBER)
March 25th - Key Theatre, Peterborough
www.vivacity-peterborough.com
April 5th - Hall for Cornwall, Truro
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
April 6th - Hanger Farm, Southampton
www.hangerfarm.co.uk
April 11th - Swindon Arts Centre
April 12th - Kenton Theatre, Henley-On-Thames
April 13th - The Tunnels, Bristol
www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
April 14th - Millfield Theatre, Edmonton
April 15th - Medina Theatre, Isle Of Wight
April 21st - Cranleigh Arts Centre
May 2nd - Whitley Bay Playhouse
May 3rd - The Brunton, Musselburgh
May 4th - Byre Theatre, St Andrews
May 19th - Buxton Opera House
May 20th - Theatre Royal, Windsor
June 1st - Mercury Theatre, Colchester
June 29th - The Northcourt, Abingdon
musicatthenorthcourt.weebly.com/whats-on
June 30th - Theatre Royal, Wakefield
February 1st - The Swan, Worcester
www.worcesterlive.co.uk/events
February 2nd - Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
February 3rd - Camberley Theatre
www.camberleytheare.biz
February 8th - Dunstable Grove
www.grovetheatre.co.uk
February 9th - Norden Farm Arts Centre
https://norden.farm/events/the-bob-dylan-story
February 10th - Garrick Theatre, Lichfield
www.lichfieldgarrick.com
March 9th - The Lights, Andover
www.thelights.org.uk
March 10th - Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Dorset
www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk
March 11th - The Barnfield Theatre, Exeter
www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk
March 14th - The Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
www.thebrewhouse.net
March 15th - The Tivoli, Wimborne
www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk
March 16th - Lakeside Coastal Resort, Hayling Island
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
March 17th - Weymouth Pavilion
weymouthpavilion.com
March 23rd - Norwich Playhouse
norwichplayhouse.co.uk
March 24th - Deco Theatre, Northampton
(PLEASE NOTE THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED FOR 20TH OCTOBER)
March 25th - Key Theatre, Peterborough
www.vivacity-peterborough.com
April 5th - Hall for Cornwall, Truro
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
April 6th - Hanger Farm, Southampton
www.hangerfarm.co.uk
April 11th - Swindon Arts Centre
April 12th - Kenton Theatre, Henley-On-Thames
April 13th - The Tunnels, Bristol
www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
April 14th - Millfield Theatre, Edmonton
April 15th - Medina Theatre, Isle Of Wight
April 21st - Cranleigh Arts Centre
May 2nd - Whitley Bay Playhouse
May 3rd - The Brunton, Musselburgh
May 4th - Byre Theatre, St Andrews
May 19th - Buxton Opera House
May 20th - Theatre Royal, Windsor
June 1st - Mercury Theatre, Colchester
June 29th - The Northcourt, Abingdon
musicatthenorthcourt.weebly.com/whats-on
June 30th - Theatre Royal, Wakefield