The Dylan Project
The Dylan Project
Posted: 11 Dec 2010
The Dylan Project
Sage Gateshead
2 December 2010
For anyone who 'gets' Bob Dylan this was a real treat. Veteran Steve Gibbons, backed by a bunch of highly skilled and experienced musicians, worked through Dylan's back pages.
Their choice of material from arguably the greatest songwriter of the last half century illustrated the depth of their passion for their subject. The seminal 1967 double album 'Blonde on Blonde' was the most deeply mined record with four songs taken from it, although 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' was cut to half its orginal eleven and a half minutes.
Beautifully delivered numbers such as: 'Lonesome Hobo' from the 'John Wesley Harding' LP, 'Senor' from 'Street Legal', 'Sweetheart Like You' from 'Infidels' and 'Cold Irons Bound' from the late 90s masterpiece 'Time Out of Mind' demonstrated Dylan through the decades, although sadly there was nothing from the wonderful 'Modern Times.'
After climaxing an opening set with a hauntingly stripped-down take on 'Dark Eyes', the band joined the audience at the Sage bar during the interval before the second half began with just drummer Gerry Conway on stage. He was soon joined by the rest of the band after leading them into a raucous 'Rainy Day Women No's 12 & 35.'
Conway is a veteran of folk rock stalwarts Fairport Convention as is the affable bassist Dave Pegg, part of a five piece band who could list working with Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens, Del Shannon and Jethro Tull on their collective CV. These guys knew exactly what they were doing.
They certainly impressed a half-full Hall 2. And if you missed them this time, next time they're in the North East: 'Don't think twice, it's alright.'
Rob Mason
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