1997 Tokyo International Forum Shows

The following is a review by Matthew Zuckerman of Dylan's
February 1997 shows at the Tokyo International Forum.

Revised and edited by Matthew Zuckerman: February 13, 1997

Tokyo International Forum
Feb. 9, 1997

Dave Stewart kicked off at 6.30 with a short set with Terry Hall on vocals and (on all but the first song) Terry Dizley on piano. They did:

1 Working Class Hero (Lennon)
2 Walk into the Wind
3 Our Lips Are Sealed (Go-Gos)
4 Talk to Me Like Lovers Do
5 Psychokiller (Talking Heads)

I don't know songs 2 and 4, so those titles are guesswork. This was pretty dull, Terry Hall's vocals being particularly depressing. Hard to imagine that he used to be with The Specials, a very lively ska combo. Then there was a 20-minute break where at least one wish was dashed when they removed the grand piano from the stage.

Lights dimmed (though nowhere near as much as for Stewart - were they keeping an eye out for tapers?) and then the familiar announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen, will you please..."

He's wearing a grey suit suit, buttons done up, and pointed white shoes, you know, the kind that rise up a little towards the toe. I get the feeling I've seen him wearing this before - maybe at Willie Nelson's Big 6-0 or at the Sinatra Tribute, or maybe at Stratford in 1995.

The set lasted about 100 minutes and the songs were as follows:

1 Down in the Flood
2 I Want You
3 All Along the Watchtower
4 Just Like a Woman
5 I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
6 Silvio
7 Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie @ (Elizabeth Cotton)
8 Masters of War @
9 Don't Think Twice @
10 Seeing the Real You At Last
11 Simple Twist of Fate
12 Highway 61

13 Like a Rolling Stone

14 It Ain't Me Babe @

15 Rainy Day Women

The cue sheet for this show was:

Down in the Flood
I Want You/Tonight I'll Be Staying
Watchtower
4th Street/Just Like a Woman
I'll Be Your Baby
Silvio
Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie
Tambourine
One Too Many/Masters of War
Real You
Simple Twist
Highway
Rolling Stone
Ain't Me Babe/Don't Think Twice

Well, in the pub before the show we laid our opening song bets. I put „1000 on "Absolutely Sweet Marie," Richard chose "Rolling Stone" and Mike said "Union Sundown." At the hall, Heinrich poo-pooed it all and said it would be "Down in the Flood." He was right, but I think we had more fun. (Later, I heard Heinrich muttering "Next time I go to a Johnny Cash show!" But, then, I like Johnny Cash too.)

The hall itself is a massive thing with a 5000-seater auditorium, conference halls and god knows what else. It's a nice hall with good sound, although we were on the extreme left and a little too near the bass speaker.

No big surprises in the set list, but a big surprise as regards the musicians - no changes! JJ, Bucky, Tony and DK, same as the last tour of last year. So much for all the rumours. Here's a song-by-song breakdown.

1 Down in the Flood

Disappointing, of course, that there wasn't something new. Also, a very leaden performance, a long way short of the 1995/96 ones I've heard. Fortunately, this was the only dud of the night.

2 I Want You

Decent performance that really caught fire in the last verse. The whole band started to relax and Dylan's knees started to knock together, always a good sign.

3 All Along the Watchtower

Well, ok, there's been lots of talk about this, but it really does work live. All the wrinkles have been sorted out in the first two numbers and this is the real start. A hot number, and it's here that Dylan's guitar work really starts to impress. I heard people talking about this in October, but I just didn't expect him to play this well. Excellent lead work with a full, fluid tone, nothing at all like the grungy hit-and-miss style he's been pursuing these last few years.

4 Just Like a Woman

The intro to this is the only guitar work he fluffed all evening. Other than that, a fine performance with a delightful last verse, dropping to the bottom of his range on the "just like a woman" lines.

5 I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Usually, live versions of this song don't impress me much, but this was one of the highpoints of the show. The vocals on the second verse and bridge really kick in and there's some more fine guitar playing. Also a little duck walk and a lot of mugging. I think there's a lady in the first row he's paying a lot of attention to.

6 Silvio

Same arrangement as last year, but cooking all the same. Another highpoint with more duck walks and other assorted legwork.

7 Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie @

The only surprise on the set list. A very nice version of the Elizabeth Cotton classic, with David Klemper staying on drums.

8 Masters of War @

Same as last year, but very intense, especially the last verse, which featured a lovely little guitar figure from Dylan that he will no doubt never play again.

9 Don't Think Twice @

Starts off softly, but really gets steaming, with some great dobro playing from Bucky and some more fine guitar from Dylan.

10 Seeing the Real You At Last

A rather different arrangement of this one, with a new riff. It's more melodic than before and some of Dylan's best guitar playing of the night.

11 Simple Twist of Fate

Probably the very best performance of the night. Nothing surprising, just very very good.

He introduced the band here. Minimal intros.

12 Highway 61

Again, no surprises, but a real rocking version.

13 Like a Rolling Stone

First encore, and a tremendous version. I'm looking forward to hearing a tape of the second verse. Some great phrasing.

14 It Ain't Me Babe @

A very up-tempo version of this, and then there's a big rush for the stage. This kind of thing might happen in the States, but in Japan, even getting someone standing up and dancing is a pretty far out sight. About a dozen people jump up on the stage and shake hands with Dylan. He's smiling as wide as I've ever seen and obviously enjoying it. The security people clear the stage, but to the end of this song and through the next one, the whole hall is on its feet.

15 Rainy Day Women

Ok, ok, I usually skip this one when I'm listening to the tapes, but it IS a nice way to end a show. Everybody up and dancing. One more person gets up on stage to shake Dylan's hand. Two sung verses, lots of instrumental, then that's it.

Disappointing then that the format is just a continuation of last year, but a fine show all the same. If I had been to a dozen or so shows last year, I might be bummed out, but on the other hand, if I hadn't heard any tapes since Dylan's last shows here in 1994 I would have been absolutely blown away. As it was, I'm somewhere in the middle, but more blown than bummed.

Tokyo International Forum
Feb. 10, 1997

1 Down in the Flood
2 If Not For You
3 All Along the Watchtower
4 Shelter From the Storm
5 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
6 Silvio
7 Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie @ (Elizabeth Cotton)
8 Tangled Up in Blue @
9 Love Minus Zero @
10 Memphis Blues Again
11 You're a Big Girl Now
12 Highway 61

13 Like a Rolling Stone

14 Girl From the North Country @

15 Rainy Day Women

Dave Stewart did exactly the same short set with Terry Hall on vocals and Terry Dizley on piano.

The audience seemed even more warmed up than last night's - no thanks, I'd say, to Stewart and Co., whose performance was even duller than the day before's.

The crowd is already in good voice when the lights dim and then it's "Ladies and gentlemenŠ"

Dylan is dressed the same as last night. No wrinkles in the jacket, though. I guess the New Otani has a prompt laundry service.

1 Down in the Flood

A pretty good performance. A bit better than last night's, but still just getting into it.

2 If Not For You

A gentle, routine run through for this one.

3 All Along the Watchtower

Now you and I know that this was a special one, being the 1,000th rendition, but to Bob it was all along just another watchtower. Of course, that still gets pretty hot.

4 Shelter From the Storm

A new arrangement for this one, and at a first listening, not particularly notable. It has nothing like the magic of the 1995 performances. Still, Bob got into the last verse, so much so that he repeated it and two other verses and started to wiggle his legs a little. I get the feeling that jet lag and/or a few too many drinks the night before was telling on him a little. There wasn't the humour or spring in his step from the first night.

5 Tom Thumb's Blues

A very satisfying version, the last two verses sung particularly well.

6 Silvio

Same as ever and maybe a shade less intense than last night, but a real rocker just the same.

7 Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie @

Another surprise to have this one repeated, but a welcome one. Upbeat and swinging.

8 Tangled Up in Blue @

A conference with a roadie as this one started. Not quite sure what was going on. Bucky started on mandolin but switched to dobro. Actually, Bucky was a lot more low key tonight, as was Bob. JJ played a little more to pick up the slack.

9 Love Minus Zero @

A beautiful, rich rendition with fine vocals and guitar work. Faster and tougher than the amazing versions from recent years, and - frankly - not as good, but wonderful all the same.

10 Memphis Blues Again

Definitely one of the highpoints. This was where Dylan seemed to shake off most of the cobwebs and really start to cook. No duck walks tonight, but a few wayward leg maneuvers.

11 You're a Big Girl Now

An excellent performance of this one, similar to last year's.

He introduced the band here, all except for JJ, who he'd introduced after Love Minus Zero.

12 Highway 61

Another steaming version. The stage rush started earlier tonight, on this song, and the audience remained on its feet for the rest of the show. There was absolutely no security (last night there was a little) but no one invaded the stage this time.

13 Like a Rolling Stone

Another very good version. Second verse seemed particularly exciting. Dave Stewart on stage again with the video camera.

14 Girl From the North Country @

For me, this was the best performance of the night, and one of the best North Country's for quite a while. Heinrich was less impressed, so I guess we'll have to wait for the tapes to find out what it was really like. Dylan sang the first verse completely solo. Garnier came in on double bass in the middle of the second verse and then the others slipped in behind him.

15 Rainy Day Women

As ever. Everyone rocking.

My feeling was that this was a good show, with great moments, but not up to yesterday's. However, Heinrich preferred today. Who knows what the tapes will tell. Many of the people who came not knowing what to expect were absolutely amazed. A lesson to us all.

Tokyo International Forum
Feb. 11, 1997

1 Down in the Flood
2 Lay Lady Lay
3 All Along the Watchtower
4 I Don't Believe You
5 Watching the River Flow
6 Silvio
7 Oh Baby, It Ain't No Lie @ (Elizabeth Cotton)
8 Mr Tambourine Man @
9 Boots of Spanish Leather @
10 Memphis Blues Again
11 She Belongs to Me
12 Ballad of a Thin Man

13 Like a Rolling Stone

14 One Too Many Mornings @

15 Rainy Day Women

Dave Stewart did the same set with Terry Hall (vocals) and Terry Dizley (piano) - at least I guess they did. After "Working Class Hero," I'd had enough and went out for a beer. The bar was not selling alcohol today - it seems the management thought last night's crowd was too rowdy and decided we'd be better behaved with soft drinks. Luckily, one of us had thought to stuff our pockets with cans of beer. (Good one, Kyoko!)

The big news today, then, was the Forum management had finally woken up to the fact that everybody was having a bit too much fun. Yesterday there were probably between 6 and 10 ushers in the hall, but today the place is crawling with them. Every aisle has two or three metal barriers with one or two security men to stop people from getting up front and the sides are full of them. There is an announcement over the PA telling people not to stand and not to dance during the performance. Then we are told that if there is any rushing the stage the concert will be stopped. This is announced three times. Even the corridors outside the hall have security checks. I was asked to show my ticket three times when I went for a pee. And if they'd asked me more politely I would have obliged. Anyway, this might have taken a slight edge off the proceedings, but Bob came through with his best performance so far, so it didn't spoil things.

Tonight, he's wearing a white suit all buttons done up, with a black collar, and the same shoes.

1 Down in the Flood

A very good run through. It still misses Winston's massive thumps (though generally the new drummer is excellent), but it was a little more than a warm-up tonight.

2 Lay Lady Lay

A very nice performance with some lovely bluesy touches in the vocals.

3 All Along the Watchtower

Amazingly, this was really cooking and to anyone not terminally overexposed to Dylan shows, this would have been one of the highlights.

4 I Don't Believe You

A good performance on this one. Bob starts to relax and to dance around a little. My wife observes that he seems to be conducting proceedings this evening with his left leg.

5 Watching the River Flow

Tremendous stuff, particularly for a Sun Studios addict like myself. Right out of Mystery Train and a true rocker.

6 Silvio

Ditto for this one. The same every night but still hot as can be. Actually, there were a few atmospheric instrumental passages tonight that he didn't do the first two shows.

7 Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie @

A very welcome fixture. As I remember, when it was done a while back, it was the second song, which means it was taken slowly and gently. Done in the middle of the concert, it was much more upbeat and real funky. That "da-da DA da-da" riff he puts into it just won't leave my head. And neither will the pictures I have of him doing it the first night. Little marching steps up and down the stage and some beautiful poker-faced expressions. (Is that an oxymoron? Not where Bob's concerned.)

8 Mr Tambourine Man @

I'd love to have had the slooow 1995 version with great swathes of harmonica, but this was pretty fine too, with an intensely sung last verse. Fairly upbeat and full of juice. Dylan tells the drummer to switch to brushes in the middle of this one.

9 Boots of Spanish Leather @

One of my favourites, and one that I've never heard him do live. (Not talking about tapes here.) Before the show, I told a friend that Spanish Leather and Queen Jane were the two songs I most hoped for, and half a dream come true is enough for me. I drop my notebook and pen in the excitement. The performance is everything I could have wished for - first verse sung solo with the bass and dobro coming in in the second. (Bucky started on mandolin but Bob told him to switch.) The drums come in very delicately on the last verse.

10 Memphis Blues Again

Even better than yesterday's version. Cooks all the way through and features a lovely, weird guitar solo and a fantastic last verse.

11 She Belongs to Me

A fine rendition, and a little punchier than it has been done in recent years. Dylan is in particularly good voice tonight on these mid-paced songs. Lots of emotion in every crack of his voice. (There are a lot of cracks, so that makes for plenty of emotion.)

No band introductions today.

12 Ballad of a Thin Man

We were expecting Highway 61, so this made a nice surprise. Very well done, starting slowly and building in intensity. I haven't seen the cue sheet for this night, but I wouldn't be surprised if this song wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision after seeing all the security arrangements - "Something is happening but you don't know what it is / Do you, Mr. Jones?" The latest rumour is that he's considering adding a standing-only date in Tokyo at the end of the tour. At least that's one audience that won't be asked to remain seated.

13 Like a Rolling Stone

Excellent, if just a hair less powerful than the last two days. But that might be just the fact that security was keeping everyone at bay. Dave Stewart reappears with his video camera, walking around as he films, sometimes putting the camera right up to Dylan's face, sometimes jumping down off the stage to film him from the audience's view. Richard and his wife stand up to dance and a security man comes running up telling them to sit down. Richard - a big man with a fearsome scowl when he wants one - grabs him and whispers "Don't you even fucking think of it!" in a way that is guaranteed to leap the language barrier. The man backs off and others take heart, getting up to dance. However, there will clearly be no stage rushes today.

14 One Too Many Mornings @

Another fine performance. The drummer really does play beautifully in these acoustic numbers and he links up with Garnier's double bass very well.

15 Rainy Day Women

This was certainly the best of the three versions of this one. The rhythm was much lighter and there were a number of good solos from Dylan. Everybody was up on their feet but the security barriers stayed firm.

Then four young ladies ran on-stage from the wings. They looked 'amateurs' so were probably picked out from the crowd. Come to think of it, I do remember movement in some seats on the left and a few women getting up and (I thought) leaving surprisingly early. Dave Stewart came on with his guitar at last, but after a minute or so, he stopped playing and got his camera again. The girls danced around on the stage, much to Bob's delight, and Stewart filmed them. One Japanese man with freaked-out, dyed hair runs on stages and starts dancing. One of the security men make to remove him, but a roadie holds him back.

Then one of the girls took the camera and did some filming. After a few minutes, Bob grabbed it and took some shots of the dancers and the crowd. He was obviously in a good mood, much more so than yesterday, and it was a nice ending to the three days. The song finally grinds to a halt and the girls all get a kiss from Bob as they leave the stage. The man with dyed hair approaches Bob, who mistakes him for a girl and almost kisses him. He realizes his mistake in time, laughs, and just gives him a pat on the shoulder. Then he's gone.