Dylan at the Fox

**gazhekwe** · November-06-09, 10:58 PM

Did anyone else here go to the concert tonight [[Friday)?

I was a bit disappointed because I paid quite a bit for my tickets and I was unable to see anything because everyone was standing up. I am short and couldn't see anything but people's backs. I haven't gone to concerts in years because of this standing up through the whole concert thing, but I expected better at the Fox. The sound was pretty mushy too.

**detroitcorky** · November-06-09, 11:13 PM

Sorry to hear about the sight lines gazhekwe. I thought it was a great concert. I really enjoyed it.

**qweek** · November-06-09, 11:15 PM

I loved the show, but then again I'm 5' 9" tall!

**gazhekwe** · November-06-09, 11:33 PM

I liked what I heard pretty well, but with Dylan, you have to hear the words and it was so mushy I just couldn't make them out. I did get a glimpse or two and I think he was having a wonderful time.

I remember hearing a story about his high school years, when he wanted to be a rock star. He was way ahead of his time. I think it was 1958 or 9. He and his band were to play for a sock hop at his high school and they set up with these big speakers, such as were available at that time, and he had electric guitars and turned everything up really loud. There was a lot of feedback and apparently so much distortion you couldn't really understand the songs. I guess the kids hated it and he was really mad, hurt feelings. Well, his acoustic stuff went over better, but it isn't dance music. Tonight reminded me of that story because here I was, couldn't see and couldn't make out the words, and I was disappointed. But I could tell others were having a great time. Two sets of people in front of me left before the break, though. Didn't help, I still couldn't see.

**Patrick** · November-06-09, 11:51 PM

Could you understand the words coming out of his mouth or was it all just gibberish?

**gazhekwe** · November-06-09, 11:54 PM

I couldn't understand the words. It didn't sound like gibberish, I knew he was saying something, and of course if I recognized the song I could make out some of it. My husband thinks where we were, on the left side in row Q, we were getting a lot of echo from the back, and of course he had reverb on his voice, too. I thought his voice sounded very well.

**qweek** · November-07-09, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

I couldn't understand the words. It didn't sound like gibberish, I knew he was saying something, and of course if I recognized the song I could make out some of it. My husband thinks where we were, on the left side in row Q, we were getting a lot of echo from the back, and of course he had reverb on his voice, too. I thought his voice sounded very well.

We were on the main floor, his Oscar was right in front of us, 15//20' away as was Mr. Dylan. Sigh, enjoying him while I can.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-07-09, 01:47 AM

How much were tickets?

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 08:19 AM

$80 each. I thought I should at least be able to see the stage. I got tickets as close as I could to the front.

**FlyingJ** · November-07-09, 01:16 PM

gazhewke-that's $20 from Zimnmy's Cafe in Hibbing;
http://www.zimmys.com/giftshop_c174750.html

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 01:53 PM

Thank you for the virtual gift, J.

I'm playing a Dylan CD now.

**buildingsofdetroit** · November-07-09, 02:10 PM

Went last night. I was pretty disappointed. From the balcony you couldn't make out any words. I mean, the guy is a legend and the fact that he's still touring is amazing. But half the time I could tell what song he was playing until he hit the chorus because the music was revamped, jam band versions of the song and the grunting vocals were something like a cross between Howlin' Wolf and Professor Longhair. I'm glad I went, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't that great for me, personally. Though it was nice to hear "Ballad of a Thin Man" and "The Man Like Me."

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 02:15 PM

That was my experience with the sound as well, although we attributed it to a bad echo off the back wall. My husband thought maybe the balcony would be better. I'm sorry to hear it wasn't.

I loved that drummer though. Awesome percussion, which is my favorite part of any music. I didn't need to see him to feel him.

**eno** · November-07-09, 03:31 PM

Yeah, I balked at the high ticket prices they were asking. Same with Tom Waits, Bjork, Leonard Cohen.

**buildingsofdetroit** · November-07-09, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by eno

Yeah, I balked at the high ticket prices they were asking. Same with Tom Waits, Bjork, Leonard Cohen.

That Cohen show was pretty amazing, by contrast to Dylan. Then again, it also was twice the price.

**Norwalk** · November-07-09, 07:04 PM

Bob and the band were fantastic as always! I knew all the songs he played so understanding the lyrics were not a problem. A great night from an American Icon.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-08-09, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by eno

Yeah, I balked at the high ticket prices they were asking. Same with Tom Waits, Bjork, Leonard Cohen.

There's very few acts out there that are worth those prices. If I was to come into tickets for one of the above mentioned artists for an inexpensive price, OR, at a small and intimate venue, I'd consider attending. The Fox is way too big for a concert. I've seen quite a few shows there - long ago. Not likely again. My favorite venues, assuming the price is right, would be the Magic Bag, The Gem and Century, The Ark and other small, local bars, concert halls. But it's easy for me to say because I've seen most everyone I wanted to see in my days. I generally rule out Cobo, The Joe, Chrisler, Silverdome [[it's gone anyway), Pine Knob, Ford Field, Comerica, etc, etc. Even Hill Auditorium is too big. The Michigan Theatre is pretty good. Plus, there's so much free music around, why pay? I saw Bill Kirchen of Country Joe and the Fish, this summer at Townie Party in A2. Free! What a great show he put on with George Bedard. Front row for me. The music line-up for the A2 Summer Fest is ridiculously good. Taste Fest [[??) and Concert for Colors are great shows. Dylan doesn't need another 10 Million bucks. He certainly won't get it from me.

Sludgedaddy · November-08-09, 10:17 PM

1KielsonDrive...In your last post, truer words were never spoken! Who in this nightmare economy has the spare bucks to spend on a concert featuring an over the hill caterwauller in cramped acoustically lacking settings. Probably one of the last icons of the 1960's, Joan Baez, hit the nail on the head when she called Mr. Zimmerman a pompous asshole.And you are right ,Dylan certainly don't need the monies, unless he's got some baby momma's up in Hibbing.

Give me a triple bill fantasy concert with The Fugs, 13th Floor Elevators and Dan Hicks for 2 dollars and I'll be there. ...and by the way...Phil Ochs was the real spokeman for a generation.

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 03:56 PM

Right, eno. I've decided if I won't be able to see the stage no matter how close I can get, I won't bother with concerts any more. Too expensive for just the sound.

I think standing up in front of other people is plain rude, but I guess I come from another planet.

**Pam** · November-07-09, 08:08 PM

I've decided if I won't be able to see the stage no matter how close I can get, I won't bother with concerts any more. Too expensive for just the sound.

I think standing up in front of other people is plain rude, but I guess I come from another planet.

Gaz, you need to go to a place like this. Small and people stay seated. Easy to see and hear:

http://www.theark.org/

**eno** · November-07-09, 08:14 PM

If you like folk music but don't want to drive to Ann Arbor, there's a cozy performance space at I-275/ 6 Mile Rd. called the Trinity House Theatre. Here's the details. http://www.trinityhouse.org/upcoming_events.html

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 08:33 PM

I like the Ark a lot. Too bad Dylan wasn't there. I guess he would have had to stay a couple of weeks to fit everybody in, though, and would have blown all our ears to Kingdom Come.

Thanks for the reminder about Trinity House, too. There is one in Birmingham as well, MAMA's Coffeehouse at the B'ham Unitarian Church. I try to choose one place from FolksLikeUs.org every couple of months.

**Sstashmoo** · November-07-09, 09:18 PM

I seen Dylan at Cobo some years ago, great show. He is truly an American Icon, and we are lucky he is still touring.

**gazhekwe** · November-07-09, 09:33 PM

We were walking around after the concert, waiting for the traffic to clear up a bit, and around back there is a fenced in area. There was a big Prevost RV with two slideouts back there, dark, and three semis getting loaded with equipment. About twenty or so people were leaning on the fence, I guess waiting for Dylan to come out. That probably would have been fun to see, but we decided to head on out of there. Those Prevosts run a couple million these days.