We’ll never forget when – two months after 9/11 -- Bob Dylan played Madison Square Garden and declared, "You don’t have to ask me how I feel about this town. Most of these songs were written here and the ones that weren’t were recorded here."
Bob always saves his best for his old stomping ground, and last Friday night he absolutely destroyed shit up on 175th Street at the United Palace Theater.
(Even though he's clearly stated that "old young, age don't carry weight," it's important to mention that Bob is still kicking everyone's ass at age 67.)
It was his 100th and final show of 2008, and he jump-started the eighteen-song set with “Gotta Serve Somebody,” delivered from the center of the stage accompanied only by his harp. It was the first time he played the song since February 5th, 2002, and halfway through he started freestyling crazy new verses like:
"Over and Out/Under and In/No matter where you are/No matter where you’ve been/You still gotta serve somebody."
Bob followed that up with "The Times They Are A-Changin'", which was played last on election night. He strapped on a guitar for “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” (originally released on Greatest Hits Vol. II). It was the first time he’d performed that song in New York in more than forty-five years!
Other highlights included “Desolation Row,” a spookily arranged "'Til I Fell In Love With You" and Modern Times killers like "The Levee’s Gonna Break," "Thunder On the Mountain," and "Ain't Talkin'."
The crowd was awesome too – many of them had scored tickets through the Dylan fan club.
During "Spirit On the Water," Bob sang, "You think I’m over the hill?"
To which everyone screamed, "Noooo!"
"You think I’m past my prime?"
"Noooo!"
"Let me see what you got, we could have a whoppin’ good time."
"Yessss!"
