Deal’s Gone Down In Denmark (Lookback Records LBR-015/016)
Arena Fyn, Odense, Denmark – May 28th, 2008
Disc 1: 1. Intro/Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum 2. It Ain’t Me Babe 3. Rollin’ And Tumblin’ 4. Tears Of Rage
5. High Water (For Charlie Patton) 6. Spirit On The Water 7. Positively 4th Street 8. The Levee’s Gonna Break 9. Workingman’s Blues #2 10. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again 11. Beyond The Horizon 12. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
Disc 2: 1. When The Deal Goes Down 2. Summer Days 3. All Along The Watchtower 4. Crowd Applause 5. Thunder On The Mountain 6. Band Intro 7. Like A Rolling Stone
Lookback Records has released this very good sounding audience recording of Dylan’s Denmark performance at the Arena Fyn in a numbered Limited Edition series of 100 on a “professional” CD-R format.
The Odense show was the 25th concert performance of Dylan’s 2008 tour and took place in the Arena Fyn 4000 seat capacity venue. One concert goer wrote a first hand account of his unique experience that evening:
“Tweedle Dee is the opener tonight…I go “oh no”…I’m not a big fan of that song…but it’s a bit of a new arrangement and without realizing I feel my feet tapping the rhythm…very up tempo and a “greasy” guitar sound I like. Bob’s voice sounded a little tired to me on this song.”
“It Ain’t Me Babe was next. Bob sings it very clear with nice accents on the right words and hits the keyboard like a madman…like the sound of it tough…gives a happy feeling.”
“Rollin’ And Tumblin’ is next. You just can’t stand still on this song…and I love the sound of Freeman’s guitar, he sure controls it perfectly!”
“Next song was a big surprise! “We carried you in our arms, on independence day…” It was a fantastic performance of this pearl, great singing, great guitar solos, great atmosphere. First highlight to me!!!”
“High Water was very dynamic and I did hear Bob’s voice very well, he was nailing the lyrics to the music! It’s funny how he’s changing the accents on the words during the song, and that’s something he does on alot of songs on this tour. First I thought it was some kind of a joke, but now listening to these shows I realize how perfectly correct it is!!! Mastership…Bob is a genius!”
“I love Spirit On The Water”. I’m still alot in love on my mermaid and I whispered some of the words into her ears during this one…Our momentum…Also the Danes react during the “over the hill” part, but good old Bob does not react tough. The guitar sound of Freeman is again wonderful…great solos…wish I could play my Takamine like that…”
“The next song I could not directly recognize, but my girlfriend could…Positively 4th Street. This song means alot to me. It always brings me back to the time I became a Bobcat…very emotional! And what a version…man man man…F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C. Bob is really singing this one, spreading each last word long out…”…don’t you understand, that’s not my problem”. Tears in my eyes on this second highlight…Thanks Bob!!!”
“The Levee’s Gonna Break swings like never before…very up tempo and great singing! Next is another highlight to me, Workingman’s Blues #2. What a great atmosphere these wonderful musicians set down!!! Bob sings this one very concentrated, very clear and meaningful…I noticed an interesting change in the lyrics. The ending of the line “I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall. Sleep is like a temporary death”. He changes into “I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall. If I tell you my whole story you’ll weep”…God I love this song…I would live on rice and beans just to hear this song once a day…”
“Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again keeps us company the next 10 minutes. It’s an okay version, no special changes. The start of of the next song was messed up because Tony was not ready yet. He just changed instruments, the big acoustic stand-up bass was handed to him and he was adjusting the amplifier when George and Donnie already started the song…But we all know Tony is the musical stage director…so he decided to stop the song and start it over…You can hear the counting on his bass strings…1-2-3-4…I could not recognize the song immediately but as soon as Bob started singing I did…Beyond The Horizon, it was another highlight!!! This arrangement sounds like a lullaby…love it!”
“It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) is my absolutely preferred Dylan song. It’s in my top 3…So I’m always happy when they play it…This version is very dynamic and Bob’s singing is powerful! But my all time version is still the last year Amsterdam version where he’s rappin’ the song…Jesus!!!” When The Deal Goes Down was also sung very clear and, again, great guitar solos by Denny. The next 2 songs hyper up everybody on stage. You can see on their faces they like to play Summer days and All Along The Watchtower. Both of these songs are perfectly played and with what speed is Bob singing Summer Days…Try it out…It’s amazing! We’re rocking away with Bob and the band…but the majority of the crowd is standing still…like they’re in church…good God…Move people!!! Don’t understand these people. How can you stand there in the front, leaning with one hand on the barrier and the other holding your head during Summer Days???”
“The 2 encores are no surprises but I sure like the Thunder On The Mountain. What a great arrangement! Very fast, good God, Bob sings this one fast!!! (Don’t try this at home…) Also here he’s playing with the phrasing, funny, but it works. Go Bob go…!!! “Thank you friends”, Band Intro and we’re rocking and singing along to the best rock song ever in musical history…Thank you Bob for a great evening!!!”
Lookback Records have released quite an enjoyable complete audience recording here. Dylan’s voice is up front in the mix and the gain is a bit restrained overall. But the performance flows easily from start to finish and captures Dylan and his band in fitting fashion in this small venue which the crowd embraces.
