Dylan opens the year with one of the most remarkable performances of the “Never Ending tour,” despite still visible suffering the after effects of the bug (at several points he sits on the drum rise, scrunched up in some discomfort)… the shock of the evening is not in his song selection.. but the fact that he performs almost the entire show without a guitar.. harmonica in hand, making strange shadow-boxing movements, cupping the harmonica to his mouth on nearly every song, blowing his sweetest harp breaks in years.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)
Concert # 641 of The Never-Ending Tour. First concert of the 1995 European Spring Tour. First concert in 1995.
Kongresový sál
Palác kultury
Prague, Czech Republic
11 March 1995
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
John Jackson (guitar)
Tony Garnier (bass)
Winston Watson (drums & percussion)
Setlist
Crash On The Levee (Down In The Flood)
If Not For You
All Along The Watchtower
Just Like A Woman
Tangled Up In Blue
Watching The River Flow
Mr. Tambourine Man
Boots Of Spanish Leather
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue ..stands with anything Dylan has done. ..it was like seeing a precious diamond being held at an unfamiliar angle under a new light, revealing yet more depth and beauty to an already treasured gemstone. ..Dylan fans ache for this version to be released officially. ~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
John Jackson (guitar)
Tony Garnier (bass)
Winston Watson (drums & percussion)
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Anyone who has watched a sunrise over the ancient city of Prague will feel they have visited a city of magic & wonder. Anyone who has heard Dylan’s performance on the 11th will have felt a similar sense of awe
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fourteenth-largest city in the European Union. It is also the historical capital of Bohemia proper. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million. The city has a temperate oceanic climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was not only the capital of the Czech state, but also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire and after World War I became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years’ War, and in 20th-century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
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The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. A modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, it is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University. Prague is classified as a Beta+ global city according to GaWC studies, comparable to Berlin, Rome, or Houston. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009. In 2011, Prague was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe.
5 thoughts on “March 11: Bob Dylan @ Palác kultury, Prague, Czech Republic 1995”
The greatest version of “Shelter from the storm”, even when Dylan interrupts his guitarist John Jackson with his harp.
The tunes I heard seem to have a real down-home country-tinge, maybe because pedal steel is highlighted. Listening to “Baby Blue” is a true delight; Bob sings it lovingly, without a trace of the oft-heard anger. And his harp is beyond terrific! Good stuff.
The greatest version of “Shelter from the storm”, even when Dylan interrupts his guitarist John Jackson with his harp.
The tunes I heard seem to have a real down-home country-tinge, maybe because pedal steel is highlighted. Listening to “Baby Blue” is a true delight; Bob sings it lovingly, without a trace of the oft-heard anger. And his harp is beyond terrific! Good stuff.
Thank you, indeed!