A Bob Dylan Moment

Last Thursday I was in Glasgow, Scotland, to see Bob Dylan performing at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre(S.E.C.C.)

Glasgow is one of my favourite places and there is so much to do there! There are super people too, I stayed with a much travelled local person who knows what I like and who looked after my every need no matter how sensual, exotic or extreme! Bliss! However, I digress - this is not about me, it's about Dylan.

Bob Dylan's show started surprisingly early with a mix of material old and new. His voice was a little deeper than some years back, but still distinctive and powerful. He chose to play keyboard most of the time and we were denied the iconistic image of Dylan and guitar. As always, his harmonica playing was a highlight and virtually beyond compare. The band was slick and accomplished, perhaps too much so, missing any raw edge. At times there was a hint of Nashville in the twangyness of some of the guitar work and delivery. A long way from Greenwich Village!

Afterwards, there was a mix up with passes, and by the time I got backstage (a nightmare of stairs and corridors in the S.E.C.C.) everyone had gone! Apparently, they had left almost right away after the two encores, Like a Rolling Stone and All Along the Watchtower. Sometimes bands stay at a Glasgow West End Hotel called, One Devonshire Gardens, which was quite near, but I was told on this occasion they were staying at Mar Hall, out of town. I know Mar Hall having had lunch there, for its good food and excellent wine list, but I haven't stayed there yet. It would be great place for a photoshoot.

As the evening was still young, I decided the Dylan crew and the aftershow party could do without me. The Limo was waiting (a nice white one - Glasgow is good for these) so I adjourned to Ashton Lane (see photo) for food, drink and revelry! Why change the habits of a lifetime? More about Glasgow soon.