Dylan plays to enthusiastic Civic Center crowd
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Music legend Bob Dylan drew admirers young and old to the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday night for a timeless performance by the 61-year-old artist.
Staff photo by ANDY MOLLOYBill Miller of Sebago, above left, David Moran of Falmouth, and Kevin Johnson of Portland line up to see Bob Dylan in concert at the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday. Miller and Moran said they saw Dylan's show at the Newport Folk Festival 37 years ago. The three have seen more than 60 Dylan shows. click to enlarge
Teenage boys stood in line behind gray-haired women just before Dylan and his band took the stage. Middle-aged men who estimated they have seen as many as 60 Dylan concerts sat next to families with 7-year-olds along for the show.
"The crowd is so diverse. You've got super-conservative guys in blazers, and a guy with red, spiked hair here," said Mary Arris of Freeport as she and her son John, 12, and daughter Elizabeth, 14 waited for Dylan to take the stage. "Elizabeth is the big fan. She loves Bob Dylan and the Beatles. That's my doing. This is (John and Elizabeth's) reward for making the honor roll."
Dylan played in Augusta on Sunday, just one day after returning to a stage where, 37 years ago, he shocked the acoustic-music-loving Newport Folk Festival crowd by playing electric, instead of acoustic, guitar. The then-24-year-old Dylan angered many folk traditionalists at the festival by doing so. The event is one of the most written-about stories in popular music.
Bill Miller, of Sebago, who, when asked his age, would divulge only that he is "older than the hills," said he was at Dylan's Newport show 37 years ago, and in Augusta with several friends Sunday.
"I didn't boo," Miller said of the 1965 Newport concert. "I already knew he played electric, so it wasn't a surprise."
Miller and his friends plan on following Dylan to his next show in Nova Scotia, as well. They said they think Dylan has gotten better with age.
"He's one of the greatest artists of our time," Miller said. "He's in a category by himself. He's beyond my ability to appraise him. He doesn't have fans. A fan is something for someone like Britney Spears. He has admirers. He doesn't talk down to his audience. His concerts have a communal feeling."
Corey Hawley of Bedford, N. H., saw Dylan's performance Saturday in Newport. He said Dylan put on a good show but the crowd lacked enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm was not lacking in Augusta, however.
Fans danced in front of their seats and on the carpeted floor of the Civic Center as Dylan played such songs as "Tangled Up in Blue," "Tombstone Blues," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and The Band classic, "Tears of Rage."
Dylan wore a black country gentleman's suit with a black cowboy hat as he shimmied and twisted to the rhythm. He and his four-member backing band switched between acoustic and electric instruments throughout the show, with the band members playing instruments including fiddle and a massive old-fashioned wooden standup bass.
Fans were at the Civic Center early for the 7:30 p.m. concert. Some were earlier than others.
Carlos Argilagos, Noah Warner and Anjli Chokriwala, all 23 and from Boston, were at the head of one of two lines to get into the concert. They got there at 8:30 a.m. Sunday so they could get inside and up front, next to the stage, for the show.
"The front row — that's the idea," Warner said. "Once you're there, you're there."
The show was well-attended but did not sell out.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647 kedwards@centralmaine.com