I managed to luck a standing place just under Dylan’s mic for both of the Portsmouth 2000 shows. It was the highlight of my cultural life. The rich, eclectic (different) set lists, the exquisite band and Dylan absolutely in the zone made for two perfect gigs. For the entire four hours or so, I pondered whether it would be anywhere near as good in Heaven.
The road crew had facilitated my prime position by switching the entrance to the hall, at the very last minute. Which meant that the Bobcats who’d been queuing for hours for a prime place - who, presumably, Dylan was sick of seeing near the stage every night - were stranded, as those of us at the back of the queue, who just happened to be near the new entrance, got in first.
”And the first one now will later be last” in action.
I look forward to reading your reports of the Euro 2000 tour, with the stunning Portsmouth bootlegs on repeat.
I was at two shows in 2000. The first was in Hannover. Ugly sports hall but it looked almost sold out. And tickets then were quite affordable compared to now. I think we paid around 50 euros. No seats. General admission. Despite the venue being so uninspiring Dylan and his band were fantastic. The highlight was Ring them Bells. This was in May. A few months later he came to Hamburg. The Sporthalle, ugly again. Known for its terrible acoustics. But here is the thing: it was the best Dylan show i have ever seen, or maybe the third best. Bielefeld in 1995 and Kiel in 1994 take the edge. One reason is we (my brother, a friend and I) were standing first row. And not because we were there early. Quite the opposite. But a guy approached us while we were standing in the middle of the hall drinking a beer and asked if we wanted to stand in the front. So we said yes and he guided us to the stage gave us wristbands and suddenly we were standing right in front of the stage. We were all in our 20s then and I guess this was the reason. Younger people in front that was what Dylan’s management seemed to want. I learned later that almost at a all European shows it was like that. A special area in front of the stage was always kept reserved for a selected crowd. Best wishes and keep up the great work, jesko
I went to four shows in four straight days on the 2000 tour: Bismarck, Fargo, Rochester and Sioux Falls about a month before the Europe leg. Among the most amazing musical experiences of my life. The shows were so fantastic and the band was just fabulous and equally as adept on the acoustic and electric sets. Got to the front row in Bismarck, met the Asleep at the Wheel guys on the highway in South Dakota. Really a life altering trip as odd as that may seem to say.
The final time my wife and I held a Dylan Discussion Weekend at our home in SW France, one of those who came was an Irish guy - his name really was Peter O'Toole - and he had done accountancy for showbiz types, so he had been one of those with tickets for this show. He told us that on his way out at the end, he spotted promoter Jim Aiken and said "Jim, that was a great show. The only thing that would make it better would be if you could take me back and introduce me to Bob Dylan." Aiken had replied: "Peter, I have been Bob's Ireland promoter for almost 20 years, AND I HAVE NEVER MET HIM!"
2000 was a great year of the NET. I always say 1999-2005 are the best 7 years of the NET, and not sure I could pick one (though I often land on '02 or '03).
But 2000 has it all, right there on a glorious platter. The fact that it's such a great year for Dylan is odd considering at that time he was homing in on 60 years old. As great as he was in all those prior years, I feel like he was peaking then.
He didn't play Atlanta in 2000, and at that stage I hadn't "traveled to see a Dylan show" so I wouldn't have gone to a nearby town for a show. (And I don't believe he played anywhere near Atlanta that year.)
So I didn't see him in 2000, but did catch him at least once the next 6 years in a row, and many times since.
Damn I loved Munster. I remember when he did “if dogs run free” I was playing a version on my college radio show a day later; seemed like an amazing leap in tech at the time! It involved copying an mp3 to cassette.
Thanks for this. A top tour to celebrate.
I managed to luck a standing place just under Dylan’s mic for both of the Portsmouth 2000 shows. It was the highlight of my cultural life. The rich, eclectic (different) set lists, the exquisite band and Dylan absolutely in the zone made for two perfect gigs. For the entire four hours or so, I pondered whether it would be anywhere near as good in Heaven.
The road crew had facilitated my prime position by switching the entrance to the hall, at the very last minute. Which meant that the Bobcats who’d been queuing for hours for a prime place - who, presumably, Dylan was sick of seeing near the stage every night - were stranded, as those of us at the back of the queue, who just happened to be near the new entrance, got in first.
”And the first one now will later be last” in action.
I look forward to reading your reports of the Euro 2000 tour, with the stunning Portsmouth bootlegs on repeat.
Gerald Smith, DYLAN BOOKS
I was at two shows in 2000. The first was in Hannover. Ugly sports hall but it looked almost sold out. And tickets then were quite affordable compared to now. I think we paid around 50 euros. No seats. General admission. Despite the venue being so uninspiring Dylan and his band were fantastic. The highlight was Ring them Bells. This was in May. A few months later he came to Hamburg. The Sporthalle, ugly again. Known for its terrible acoustics. But here is the thing: it was the best Dylan show i have ever seen, or maybe the third best. Bielefeld in 1995 and Kiel in 1994 take the edge. One reason is we (my brother, a friend and I) were standing first row. And not because we were there early. Quite the opposite. But a guy approached us while we were standing in the middle of the hall drinking a beer and asked if we wanted to stand in the front. So we said yes and he guided us to the stage gave us wristbands and suddenly we were standing right in front of the stage. We were all in our 20s then and I guess this was the reason. Younger people in front that was what Dylan’s management seemed to want. I learned later that almost at a all European shows it was like that. A special area in front of the stage was always kept reserved for a selected crowd. Best wishes and keep up the great work, jesko
Oh, BOY...!
https://youtu.be/0KDm7s0PhDI?feature=shared
I went to four shows in four straight days on the 2000 tour: Bismarck, Fargo, Rochester and Sioux Falls about a month before the Europe leg. Among the most amazing musical experiences of my life. The shows were so fantastic and the band was just fabulous and equally as adept on the acoustic and electric sets. Got to the front row in Bismarck, met the Asleep at the Wheel guys on the highway in South Dakota. Really a life altering trip as odd as that may seem to say.
The final time my wife and I held a Dylan Discussion Weekend at our home in SW France, one of those who came was an Irish guy - his name really was Peter O'Toole - and he had done accountancy for showbiz types, so he had been one of those with tickets for this show. He told us that on his way out at the end, he spotted promoter Jim Aiken and said "Jim, that was a great show. The only thing that would make it better would be if you could take me back and introduce me to Bob Dylan." Aiken had replied: "Peter, I have been Bob's Ireland promoter for almost 20 years, AND I HAVE NEVER MET HIM!"
I’ll take 1999 over 2000, but I’m not complaining 😊
2000 was a great year of the NET. I always say 1999-2005 are the best 7 years of the NET, and not sure I could pick one (though I often land on '02 or '03).
But 2000 has it all, right there on a glorious platter. The fact that it's such a great year for Dylan is odd considering at that time he was homing in on 60 years old. As great as he was in all those prior years, I feel like he was peaking then.
He didn't play Atlanta in 2000, and at that stage I hadn't "traveled to see a Dylan show" so I wouldn't have gone to a nearby town for a show. (And I don't believe he played anywhere near Atlanta that year.)
So I didn't see him in 2000, but did catch him at least once the next 6 years in a row, and many times since.
Damn I loved Munster. I remember when he did “if dogs run free” I was playing a version on my college radio show a day later; seemed like an amazing leap in tech at the time! It involved copying an mp3 to cassette.