Let The Music And Words Speak 

Bob Dylan

Rough and Roudy Ways Tour presented by Barracuda Music at Wiener Stadthalle D, Austria 20261111

Three-times-Stadthalle-week has been reduced to two: Since Placebo unfortunately cancelled, Wednesday starts the double feature. While Monolord and Mars Red Sky reside at Arena, The Witcher in Concert promises and ‚immersive‘ experience similar to Harry Potter in Concert at hall F. And right next at the biggest hall in town – hall D, a true legend returns. 

At the entrances south and north, all mobile phones have to be locked in a Yondr pouch, as used at the latest Ghost shows. Bob Dylan recently didn’t meat Papa V Perpetua but Pope Leo XIV. In 85 years, he went to different phases like David Bowie. Movies like „No Direction Home“ tell about his history. With „Hurricane“, he took a stand. 

His lyrics earned him the Nobel Prize and where published in (Reclam) books. Like Stone Sour’s „House of Gold & Bones“ or Slayer’s „Repentless“, the cartoon „Bob Dylan – Revisited“ accompanies his songs like „The Man In The Long Black Coat“ from „Oh Mercy“ (1989). 

„Blowin’ in the Wind“, „The Times They Are A-Changing“, „Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door“, „All Along the Watchtower“, „Mr. Tambourine Man“ are just few classics. Or „Like a Rolling Stone“, which he performed in Dornbirn during his „Never Ending Tour“ – stopped by Corona. 

With Vienna, Bob Dylan shares some connections: the Vltava statue of the Pallas Athene fountain in front of the parliament is pictured on the „Tempest“ artwork, of which he performs two songs. Early highlights are „Love Sick“, „It Ain’t Me, Babe“ and „Tryin’ to Get to Heaven“. 

The style shifts from smooth Jazz to stomping Rock’n’Roll and sliding Blues including the mouth harp. His voice is all there under his white hood like the instruments of his band consisting of Tony Garnier, Anton Fig, Joel Paterson and Julian Lage. Everything is reduced to the beautiful music, as in the back there is only the curtain, and a fistful of bulbs. 

Without even talking, Bob Dylan wins and captivates his audience. On Thursday, he will do it once more. And on Friday, Jungle will play at the very place, followed by likes of Korn, The Prodigy and Tash Sultana or Scorpions next year, while the Konzerthaus hosts another legend with Jethro Tull.