for vacation last week, I lived outside and, therefore, offline. That turned out to be pretty cool because Dylan did some changing around of some of his pretty standard slots - and it was all totally a surprise to me.

I have never been to Tanglewood before - very nice. You can bring in coolers, and we asked if we could bring in beer - the security guy said to us "Anything goes!" (I like that!) There were even tents set up on the lawn.

Guntis' brother had won tickets thru the radio and gave them to us. We were seated inside the pavillion. I think that alot of the folks around us won tickets too, or else were season ticket holders and went to every event regardless - there were some people there that just looked So out of place.

I missed the first opening act, but we got to hear Ani DeFranco's set. She was really good. The sky opened up during her set - you could hear it coming down on the metal(?) roof - and looking out at the huddled umbrella'd masses outside, I felt real bad for them.

I didn't like where we were with everyone around us sitting like stones, so during the break, after running outside through the rain to the bathrooms, I stood right inside the entranceway waiting for Guntis and decided that this would be a good spot. Security kept trying to get me to move on, but I told them I was waiting for someone. They let me stay. When Guntis returned I told him to tell anyone who told us to move that we were waiting for our daughter to return from the bathroom. The first guy he tried this with got a good laugh out of it "That's a good one!", and then he just let us stand there for the rest of the show!! Everyone else had to move on - but not us! There was a support pillar there which I kept climbing up on the cement block to get a better view over the crowd - but it was hard to dance up there ;-) I was up and down all night!

Dylan opened with "Absolutely Sweet Marie", which was a great surprise to me. I've heard him open with one of the same 2 songs for at least 2 or 3 years now - so this started things off with a new twist.

I was trying real hard to see how he looked, considering his recent brush with serious illness - but my eyes aren't what they used to be, or maybe it was the way the lighting was hitting his face ;-) - I just couldn't tell. But his voice sounded real strong.

The second BIG surprise of the night for me was the #3 slot - he's been playing "Watchtower" in that slot for YEARS now - it's just expected ... I couldn't believe my ears! I have not bought "How Sweet it Is" to hear how Garcia covers this tune - but that is the one song that I really did want to hear from that recording. Never heard Dylan do it (live) before - that was a treat! The crowd was on their collective feet for this one.

Followed that with "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", which he started doing in the spring but I never got to hear it in person. A joyous singalong. Nice a capella 3 part harmony at the end.

Then when he started "Silvio", I knew it was the end of the first electric set, and I felt that was awfully short, but I kept reminding myself that I didn't want him to push himself and to take it slow and recuperate fully, so I wasn't quite so disappointed. "Silvio" is a rocker, with the new slice of psychedelia thrown in the middle. Nice, as usual!

The highlight of the acoustic set was "Cocaine Blues" - very soulful rendition. This was sung with -such- feeling.

At this point in the show is where the crowd usually rushes the stage, and I was ready to go. Asked Guntis if he was going to go with me - he's reluctant. Then!, he asks the grayhaired security guy if it's ok!! The guy knows nothing about that, but suggests that we might go down for the encore. I notice other people trying but they're quickly caught and sent back.

Two more electric songs (not enough, not enough!!) and the band leaves the stage. I'm off. Guntis asks the security guy again(!), and points to me already 15 feet away, and the guy waves us on. Happily skipping down the aisle UNTIL I meet up with the "gramma brigade", the blue!haired women ushers, with their arms interlocked, not allowing anyone down close to the stage. The first encore was "Like a Rolling Stone" and, I kid you not, during the chorus while Dylan is singing "how does it Feeeeeel", one of those old ladies elbowed me in the stomach! That was enough for me, they're really into their control here so I moved over away from them, standing in back of the section of chairs, clear view of the stage. Meanwhile, there's this young woman in TEARS begging the grammas to let her get by - no way. Before the 2nd encore, I signalled to her to come next to me - she did - I put my arm around her back to help her calm down and then just pointed to the stage - "there he is - enjoy ...they're not going to let you by - just enjoy" and she stood and swayed with me to probably the highlight of the night "My Back Pages" - he's back, he's strong, he's "younger than that now". Meanwhile, the youngsters all around me are feeling that I'm holding them back from getting down front - they're telling me "Go! Go!" - and, so I do! While their attention is diverted with someone else, I quickly slip past the ushers and RUN - I feel a hand grabbing the back of my sweater but I keep going and get down very close to the stage for "Rainy Day Women". The crowd down front is ecstatic - happy, happy dancers. I can finally see Dylan, and he does look fine. Too heavy of a suit for the muggy wather, imo, but he's moving with it, can see the characteristic rising of his shoulders from the back as he plays and turns to the band and back to the audience again. He takes many bows before he leaves the stage.

The rain stopped as we walked to our bus - picked up a very nice soaking-wet quilt someone had abandoned on the grass. It poured all night long afterwards.. Debess

Bringin' it all back HOME.