The third night of a three-show run at Philadelphia’s warehouse of music, the Electric Factory, brought a packed, general admission show with special guest Patti Smith opening the evening. This 10-show outing was dubbed “The Paradise Lost Tour,” and this was the first night I had been out since the birth of my first son 5 months prior, so it made it extra special.
Patti’s eight-song set was short but blistering, and featured Dylan’s “The Wicked Messenger.” It would have been nice had Bob come out to join her , but that was not the case.
When Dylan took the stage, he launched into an eclectic set that touched on many eras of his career. Opening with “Crash On The Levee (Down in the Flood)” from his days with the Band, he then played a number of songs I’d never expect, including “Every Grain of Sand” from Shot of Love, an accoustic “Desolation Row,” and one of the killer tracks of the night, the quiet “Dark Eyes,” which ends the bombastic Empire Burlesque album. And what made this extra special is Pati Smith came out and joined him in a duet on the song, and it was just goosebumps. After that it was pure rock, as Dylan and the band stormed through the classics, including a revved up “Maggie’s Farm.”
For the encore, Dylan started with the Grateful Dead tune “West L.A. Fadeaway,” which led into “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” no doubt in honor of Jerry Garcia, who had died a few months prior. Patti Smith returned for “Knockin'” and the two voices were beautiful as they intertwined together. Add in a raucous “Rainy Day Women” closer for good measure and it was just a tremendous evening, much different from what had been happening on stage during prior tours from this era.
Below is a setlist.
Down in the Flood
Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)
All Along the Watchtower
Every Grain of Sand
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Silvio
Tangled Up in Blue (acoustic)
Desolation Row (acoustic)
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (acoustic)
Dark Eyes (with Patti Smith) (acoustic)
Maggie’s Farm
She Belongs to Me
Encore:
West L.A. Fadeaway
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (with Patti Smith)
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (With Cesar Diaz on guitar from Patti Smth’s band)