Last Show Of The Asia Tour (Highway HW-001/02)
Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea – March 31st, 2010
DVDR 1 (approx. 56minutes): I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, The Levee’s Gonna Break, Just Like A Woman, Honest With Me, Sugar Baby, High Water (For Charley Patton), Desolation Row
DVDR 2 (approx. 52minutes): Highway 61 Revisited, Shelter From The Storm, Thunder On The Mountain, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone, Jolene, All Along The Watchtower, Blowin’ In The Wind
Bob Dylan ended what some in the far eastern press are speculating to be his final tour of Asia on March 31st in Seoul, South Korea. Dylan has played many times in Japan since 1978, but this marks the first time he’s ever played in South Korea. He had long wanted to tour in China and dates in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong were scheduled but were denied by the Chinese government.
The basically titled Last Show Of The Asia Tour is a 2DVDr visual document of the event. Filmed from the floor on stage left, it is very clear with very good sound. The camera stays on the entire stage for the most part, but does offer some close ups of Dylan throughout the show. It is also mostly steady but occasionally is shaken by movement in the audience. During the times between numbers they manufacture insert still photos of the venue being set up, of the concessions and audience.
The setlist is adventurous for a Dylan concert. The expected trend is, when he is making a debut, he’ll pull out the classics. But he doesnt’ for Seoul, but instead focuses upon other songs starting with the strong blues “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.” His opening line sounds very rough but his voice calms down for the rest of the show.
Two more energetic songs, “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” and “The Levee’s Gonna Break” follow before the more mellow “Just Like A Woman.” He walks to the front of the stage for a harp solo which rouses up the audience to a loud cheer.
An emotional high point is reached in the middle with spectacular versions of “Sugar Baby,” “High Water” and “Desolation Row.” The final song of the night is “Ballad Of A Thin Man” with “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Jolene” and “All Along The Watchtower.” Perhaps in acknowledgement of the specialness “Blowin’ In The Wind” is pulled out and an extra encore.
Since videos from Dylan’s current tours are hard to find, this one is recommended even though it’s on DVDr. It’s packaged in a basic DVD case with double sided inserts.
