Right Upside Your Head! Black words on a lavender field. I laugh when I see the poster. The Meadows Music Theatre • Friday July 21, 8 PM
	Right upside your head!! Bob Dylan and His Band and Phil Lesh and Friends 2 Big Bands 2 Don't you dare miss it!! Hilarious. I saw Bob last July or was it the July before with Paul Simon. I remember because I used that great poster of the two trains in a collage - NY Daily News cover "Hottest July Ever." I pasted a great newsprint picture of Bob's smiling face .
	Let me set the background of this special Friday. It was a whirlwind week at my house so many projects all due that day. Mariah Carey is making a movie called All That Glitters. It takes place in the 1983 -New York club and fashion scene. My name came up when they did the costume research, so they tracked me down. The costume director picked some original 80's pieces and commissioned some new Lucite and silver cuffs for Mariah to wear.
	My shipping deadline was the same Friday as the Dylan Concert, and the next day, Saturday, I had the outdoor European Market to do in New Haven in front of the Yale Art Museum. I had to pack the car because I wouldn't be coming home until after. It was like a Mad Tea Party at the Willie Wonka's Jewel Factory, and we also had to ship the airplane jewelry and martini glasses I made for an airplane show in Osh Kosh.
	At 2:00 we were still soldering chain in my living room, having moved a kiln shelf in to protect the glass covered table, and I'm packing the car for the art show, and trying to decide what jewelry to wear to the concert..
Pumpkinhead, Angel Layers	Oh and the tickets! !Grrrrrrr.! I ordered mine online from GDTS and they never arrived, thank you very much! I emailed them frantically Thursday asking "Where are my tickets?" I had even paid for fed ex return but to no avail. They said they never got the Money order, too bad for me. Fortunately that week a friend brought a lovely woman to my house to look at my artwork. Abbie is tall and graceful, she floated around not quite touching the ground looking at the work . She said "You like Bob Dylan," smiling, obviously my house is filled with Bob Dylan art. Turns out she and her husband are part owners of "Toads Place," a club in New Haven where all the bands play and Bob did his legendary 6 hour show in 1990. She asked the price of two pieces and without hesitation bought them -- two beautiful Milagros, which are Mexican inspired miracle crosses I had made in 1997. One called "Angel Layers" was on my website linked to the lyrics to You Angel You on Boblinks .
	Abbie said she could get me good seats since mine never came, and had I invited my wonderful friend Ellen , excellent designer of my website and Ramon, her husband who teaches Music Theory at Yale. Ramon screamed with glee when he heard Phil Lesh was playing too. Ramon is in different bands and every time we have a party at my house, he brings a different band to play. It was my thank you to Ellen for doing such a cool job on my website.
The seats were in row J, right in the middle. I had had horrible seats at the Coliseum last October in a dead sound zone. Amherst was better, but I like to get up close and personal. The acoustics at the Meadows were ideal --	"Right up side your head !!" like the poster says. Really good though Bob and the band could have been much closer for my taste. People sitting next to me on the left seemed to keep changing during the evening.
	One guy sat who down next to me looked familiar. It turned out he was from Stony Creek, a cute seaside town where I had done a one person art show in their library. He said he used to produce concerts, he said, even Jimi Hendrix. He said Bob's concert tonight was the very best one he had ever been to. I was shocked. The guitars were amazing; I love how Bob works with his guitar like it's alive with a mind of its own. Sometimes he wraps himself around it, or rides it like a horse, or a bucking bronco. Cradles it, carries it like a shaft of wheat.
	We were maybe even gonna get to go backstage but Abbie and her husband had to cancel at the last moment. I always wanted Bob to see my art, I don't even want to meet him just have him see my work. Like Black Crow Blues, "All I really wanna to do oo ooo is baby be friends with you." I took Vicki my good pal, a plant designer as my date. We all met up in Hartford at a cute outdoor restaurant called the Pump House Grill, right on the edge of Bushnell Park, where there was also live music. We took pictures of me in Mariah Carey's cuffs I knew I could use pictures for my review. I get a lot of traffic after each show. The weird thing is I get 700 visits every week to my Dylan art gallery. I don't know if it the same 700 people or what, it's weird, all year every week about 700 visits
	. It's Friday again a full week since the concert and I'm just sitting down to write my review because I've had so much to do. The people at The Meadows were much older then the concerts I had seen lately. Everyone was having a great time, I never even heard the "Ladies and gentlemen will you please welcome Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan" intro, before I saw the show had started. In the first number Duncan and Brady they set a good tone for the evening --lively and upbeat.
I had my composition book with me to take notes in, and just my camel purse, and the book kept falling on the floor, along with my reading glasses and pen, the way the seat went back when you stood up and left a 6 inch space in between.	All night I was picking things up and dropping them. People stood for most of the numbers, which was great. I wore my lavender enamel orchid wristy which matched the poster well and a number of the beaded elastic gelastic bracelets I've been making.
	One lady at the New Haven show bought all the ones I was wearing last week, some with brightly reflecting translucent amber spears and crystal dangles, like stalactites in a cave. It was fun applauding and waving in them since they moved around a lot and reflected the light..
	Bob did "Ramona" next, which was warm and wonderful -- one of my favorite songs, which I don't think I've ever heard live before. It sent a sweet wave of pleasure through the crowd as Bob purred "Ramona come closer shut softly your watery eyes," it seemed like she was there. The band was well dressed, the lighting was inventive but not overpowering. Who knows maybe someday baby I'll come and be crying to you." Larry's mandolin was heartfelt and penetrating. The band looks good. "Desolation Row," "Tomorrow is a long time." I liked the way the set was going. "It's a cowboy band," someone said loudly. Bob makes his funny expressions, his creative sparkle coming through. "Searching for a Soldiers Grave." The songs begin and are over with magical timing, one after the other, Bob gives us a long slow glance over his shoulder.
	He wraps himself around the guitar like a bird's wings and flings open the doors to a wildly happy and outrageous Country Pie, the 3 guitars are fantastic, just fantastic and the crowd is jazzed "If Not for You, " wonderful, I wish I could hear it right now. The acoustics were amazing where we were and I was appreciating it a lot. The guitar just went through you. My parrot Rosie is singing "Row row row your boat, Rosie Rosie row your boat . " she knows I'm writing about her, she's psychic, she loves Dylan as much as me. When the music goes on she's performing every minute joy bird. She does everyone's voice who comes to visit, clicks, whistles, and taps says about 200 words, Today she's doing everything - -she burps, she coughs, she says "Ouch," and laughs, even imitates Bob singing.
	I bought a bumper sticker silvery and oval: Bob Dylan Fan Club. I put it next to my "Star Fleet Academy" sticker. Halfway through the show I started getting sad that it would be over soon. I tried to stay in the moment and started to draw in my notebook. About that time he did "Highway 61." I sketched Bob with a few lines. "Cold Iron bound" great Rocked hard. Bob looked very handsome in his suit and tie, picked up a black cowboy hat he didn't put on as they left the stage. A great review of the concert in Camden by Peter Stone Brown came in one of the email lists I'm on. Such a different experience. Philadelpia where the politicians are gathering sounded like a dark day. The Hartford Meadows was light and optimistic.
	One unexpected pleasure of the evening was Phil Lesh's set. Bob usually goes last so through Phil's set I'm waiting for Bob so I'm not really paying much attention. This time Phil was last, and I loved his set and the musicians. The keyboard really filled in a musical place that Bob's rhythm band left open and it was a wonderful compliment. Made you remember how cool piano is. "Dancing in the Streets" was fun and the new guitar player Robbyn Ford is adorable and has a great voice, too. I did some good sketches of him -- he was easy to catch in few lines.
	I just scribbled away the whole time having a blast Vicki had her eyes closed and was just beaming like a halo. The room seemed to be expanding and radiant. I got this picture of Jerry Garcia in the middle of my head and it stayed there like a big Buddha or Cheshire Cat, grinning till I had to consciously remove it, but it was fun.
I was glad Bob didn't close with "Rainy Day Women" I can hardly bear to hear it anymore. A lot of people were getting stoned and the security was not around to bother them -- that was nice. Someone behind me put a huge microphone practically in my hair to tape Phil's set. It was so obvious. "Blowin in the Wind" closed the encore, it was so classy. It could have been 30 years ago or right now.	The harmonies were beautiful. Bob's voice is in great shape. "Mr. Tambourine Man" was languid and dreamy. I see that 10-foot neon sign of the Guitar Player 100 feet above the street on the wall of the New Haven Coliseum, dancing beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free. Wonderful beautiful harmonies.
I wish Bob would do "I Want You" sometime soon. And Señor. There so many songs you want to hear. I wonder when he might be coming back to New Haven or maybe I could drive further next time. At the end I liked the moments the band stood and faced the crowd relaxed and dignified, Bob, one hand in hispocket looking a bit sheepish smiling and just let us applaud and they stood there and we loved them and they loved it. Sweet.	Tomorrow is a long time, immense. There was only one harp solo, I guess Bob's been playing less harp music. Maybe saving that breath, may it last forever. "Tears of Rage" was a great surprise, sweep's you away. "Tears of rage, tears of grief, Why must I always be the thief? Come to me now, you know, We're so alone And life is brief.
Cinderella Necklace Get Well Soon	Desolation Row-"Cinderella, she seems so easy. Takes one to know one she smiles, puts her hands in her back pockets, Bette Davis style." Bob turns and molds the words with his voice, like clay into sweet strawberries. I could hear this song forever it's so evocative filled with mysterious images and that keep changing. The guitars are like rainfall playing back and forth to each other interweaving and coming forth and the superhuman crew comes out and rounds up everyone that knows more then they do. The crowd is vivid with intensity. American Mona Lisa
The set ends with leopard skin pillbox hat. I can hardly remember the intermission. After the break they roll back on stage and open with Bob's song from the movie "Wonder Boys." Things Have Changed. Every line in it is truth to the bone. "People are crazy and times are strange I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range I used to care, but things have changed" he's intense , amazing. "Lot of water under the bridge, Lot of other stuff too Don't get up gentlemen, I'm only passing through" I'm cheering my brains out. He knows his words they ring from inside out the whole room is floating. The song is too good. Can't wait to hear more new songs.I hear he is working on an HBO comedy and music special.	Next they swung into Like a Rolling Stone, we're getting so many good songs, treasures, personal history to each person "hoooow does it feeeeell" Bob squeezes blood from a stone, all the juice out of each word, the audience cheers hanging on, "go to him he calls you you can't refuse", the crowd roars again , that's why we go to so many Dylan concerts. "You said you'd never compromise With the mystery tramp, but now you realize..." Bob make s all his songs new .The words alive. He's not selling any alibis As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes And ask him do you want to make a deal?"
	The sounds in the room get bigger and bigger impossible to describe. A pure and precious Dylan Moment. I could tell it was gonna be a long encore, Bob was having so much fun. We got 17 songs in all. At the end I heard people say "this is the most fun I ever had," and all kinds of bliss .Two women up behind me were on their feet all night long dancing drinking and carrying on. The gray pony- tail guy in front of me dancing all night too. The arrangements had a focus and depth of exuberance it was very enjoyable I wanted to wrap myself up in it and take it home what a great band. I could hardly read a thing I wrote in my notebook it was totally illegible and I thought I was being so careful ha. I can scan in some of my sketches but not read what I wrote .I wonder how my airplane jewelry did in Osh Kosh. Last night there was an art opening at the York Square Cinema Gallery in New Haven, which my boyfriend Johnes curates, great paintings by Clarice Pollack good party in the movie lobby gallery. Floatin' Fred came by, wearing an amazing shirt with a martini on fire. He's always at the Dylan concerts too. One of my Dylan Pals. Mariah's bracelets were done and Bob's concert over, our little street fair in New Haven will go on Saturdays all summer.
	Bob would be touring in Europe and it might be along time before I'll hear him live again. We absorbed every moment. "Come to me now you know we're so alone and life is brief." "Wanna come out?" Rosie my parrot begs in a pleading voice sweetly. She makes the squeaking sound of the front door opening and yells "hello . Any body here?". Anybody home? Hellooooooo."
Wendy Gell wendella@wendygell.com http://wendygell.com/ http://www.wendygell.com/wendylan/bob1.htm http://www.wendygell.com/auctions/4/07-23-00/Dylan-Hartford-review/isis_s.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/de/dylanite/applet.html	e mail wendella@wendygell.com website www.wendygell.com