Forever Young-Songs Of Bob Dylan Concert
Bob Dylan's 85th Birthday-Memo Music Hall 24th May 2025
Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind, down the foggy ruins of time… Let me forget about today until tomorrow-Bob Dylan
Sitting in the packed St. Kilda Memorial Hall on Dylan’s 85th Birthday, for yet another matinee gathering of local Melbourne musicians gathered to play us some tunes. Some songs by the one and only Bob.
The first time I saw Bob Dylan live was on the 31st of January 1974. I was about 20 rows back on the floor at Madison Square Garden, Planet Waves had just been released, and he was on stage with The Band. I had been a Dylan fan since I heard him as a pre-teen. Here I was at 16 seeing him with The Band. That was the first of many visits to the church of Dylan, but the only matinee show.
Listening to covers of Dylan tunes is one of my favourite pastimes. Suzannah Espie did a fabulous version of Ballad Of Hollis Brown and Rob Snarski’s interpretation of Love Sick was captivating.
Besides each of these marvellous singers getting a chance to sing a couple of tunes each, they also accompanied the others when needed. With a backing band of Melbourne All-Stars, Bob’s music was handled with care and joy.
Some of the assembled told their Dylan tales. Van Walker told the assembled that his first concert was Bob Dylan, at the age of 13, at the Silverdome in Launceston, Tasmania in 1992. He also learned how to roll a joint that night. Rebecca and Shane were lucky enough to see Bob at his intimate show at The Mercury Lounge in Melbourne in 1998.
There were many highlights tonight. Masters of War by Van Walker was one of them. Adalita delivered one of my Dylan faves, Positively 4th Street and the Stevie Wonder version of Blowin’ In The Wind was superb with the trio of Rebecca, Suzannah and Lisa bringing it home.
Bob has given us decades of music that we will carry with us forever.
Many thanks to this wonderful gathering of musicians!
See ya’all next year. Happy Birthday, Bobster.
