Paying big money to see Bob Dylan in concert is always risky business; half the time you'll get the poet-genius, and half the time you'll get the crusty old eccentric with a mouth full of walnuts.
Reader Sharon Byers took a chance on Dylan, who performed Tuesday night at the MSU Auditorium. It was the first rock concert ever for the 64-year-old Byers.
She got the crusty old eccentric with a mouth full of walnuts.
Byer’s “letter to Bob”:
“Sorry I had to leave early, Bob. Even with the earplugs … I was getting a headache and my chest hurt. Does anyone really enjoy bass that loud? … It reminded me of a freight train, a jet engine, and a tornado all in one sternum-throbbing rumble …
“I wish I could have understood the words, Bob. You are a poet after all, and one of the chroniclers of my generation. I was really looking forward to this evening. I even borrowed one of your CDs from the library to catch up on some of your music. It’s quite lovely. Too bad I couldn’t understand the words tonight. I think I caught ‘war’ and ‘woman.’
“And Bob … it’s okay to go gently into that good night. I’m not wishing the big ‘D’ on you. Just grab your guitar, gather some of your most beautiful, meaningful songs and get yourself a gig on Prairie Home Companion. Some of your oldest fans would love it.”
Were you there? What did you think?
