Wednesday 11 August 2010

Jakob Dylan at The Sage, Gateshead review by Terry Kelly

Jakob Dylan

By Terry Kelly
04 August 2010

BEING the son of Bob Dylan must be something of a cross to bear.

But Jakob Dylan deals with the weight of expectation by simply ploughing his own musical furrow.

And his brand of melancholic country-rock has found a willing audience on both sides of the Atlantic.

His latest and critically acclaimed album, Women + Country, was heavily featured in his concert at The Sage, which was part of last weekend's SummerTyne Americana Festival.

Opening with Nothing But the Whole Wide World, Dylan soon took command of a concert which saw most of the audience hanging on the American's every note and gesture.

His six-piece band, including two quality backing singers, were more than equal to the task on Everybody's Hurting, Truth For a Truth and what sounded like a post-Hurricane Katrina lament, Lend a Hand.

But for all his obvious dedication, there's something a little predictable about Jakob Dylan's material.

Too many of his songs seem to be cut from the same cloth, leaving few lyrical or melodic surprises for the listener.

And his limited voice meant that it was refreshing when his two female backing singers added some vocal colour.

But he seemed to go down a treat with his Tyneside audience, who rewarded him with a standing ovation.

And Jakob Dylan must also be congratulated for saying more to the audience than his famous father has said in over 20 years of his Never Ending Tour.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/livereview/Jakob-Dylan-The-Sage-Gateshead.6457123.jp

1 comment:

  1. I do agree, his music sounds pretty much all the same, but oh, those lips...

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