I'm Not There at the Beacon

here’s my story...hangin with Heath, introducing Calexico, smiling at Jim James, posing with Joe Henry, smooching Ian Ball, sandwiching Jeremy Tepper and drinking with John Doe! A fun night indeed with the songs of Bob Dylan at the I’m Not There benefit concert at the Beacon.

Once again, Michael Dorf assembled a great bill -- even with no shows Cat Power and Michelle Shocked. Set list below. At the risk of stating the obvious, Dylan tunes are so ripe for interpretation and I LOVE the soundtrack (well except for the complete omission of any hip hop, but that’s for another post) so I had high hopes for the show.

The best performances illustrated how Dylan songs at their best are of no time and no place OR any time and any place--ya dig? Calexico so rightly brought a spooky, southwest vibe to their songs. Joe Henry sang his as if he’d been singing them his whole life. I’ve become such a fan of My Morning Jacket initially through their covers and Jim James did great with Goin’ to Acapulco and Tonight I’ll be Staying Here with You. Funny to watch mason jennings fumble with lyrics on All Along the Watchtower! John Doe brought over the top delivery to Ballad of a Thin Man and pure passion to gospel-y Pressin’ On. The old guys were well represented too--Dan Hicks, Al Kooper and Terry Adams brought the old skool confidence to the stage.

<>The Roots tho killed with Masters of War. It was impossible not to be struck by the genius of that song and dylan himself. AGAIN....right?

Set List--I’m Not There Show at the Beacon Theatre

‘When the Ship Comes In’ (Marcus Carl Franklin)

‘Billy 1′ (Calexico)

‘Goin’ To Acapulco’ (Jim James and Calexico)

‘Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)’ (Joe Henry with Calexico)

‘Long Black Veil’ (Mark Lanegan with Calexico)

‘All I Really Wanna Do’ (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

‘It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry’ (Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty with the Uptown Horns)

‘As I Went Out One Morning’ (Mira Billotte and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ (Ian Ball and Olly Peacock)

‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ (Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks)

‘Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35′ (Terry Adams)

‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ (Yo La Tengo)

‘Fourth Time Around’ (Yo La Tengo)

‘Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You’ (My Morning Jacket)

‘The Times They Are A-Changin”’ (Mason Jennings)

‘Pressing On’ (John Doe)

‘Buckets of Rain’ (Jimmy LaFave)

‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ (Tift Merritt)

‘Can’t Leave Her Behind’ (Lee Ranaldo and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Santa Fe’ (J. Mascis and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Ballad of a Thin Man’ (John Doe and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Masters of War’ (The Roots)

‘All Along the Watchtower’ (The Million Dollar Bashers and guests)