Bob Dylan

After a few beers on the train and a little jaunt through Soho we arrived at The Royal Albert Hall in a haze of anticipation, getting to see Bob Dylan on the final night of his epic three-year world tour was set to be nothing short of extraordinary. Yet, as the evening unfolded, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions took hold. Elation turned to disappointment as the legendary singer-songwriter shuffled on to the stage.

Reflecting on a previous encounter with Dylan at Finsbury Park in 2004, where incoherent ramblings left a bitter taste, hopes were high for a different outcome this time around. The grandeur of the venue, with its regal history and proximity to musical greatness, only added to the excitement.

However, as the night progressed, it became apparent that the magic of Dylan’s timeless classics was lost in unfamiliar arrangements. Despite the icon’s age and gruelling tour schedule, the disconnect between the songs on record and their live renditions left lingering dissatisfaction.

Perhaps the fault lay in my own lack of familiarity with the tour’s main album, “Rough and Rowdy Ways,” a LP I had only spun a handful of times since its release in 2020. Yet, even beloved hits like “Desolation Row” and “It Ain’t Me Babe” were transformed in a way that left fans grasping for recognition.

As the night drew to a close, a cocktail of euphoria and disappointment lingered in the air. While witnessing a living legend perform is an experience like no other, the bittersweet realisation that time spares no one, cast a shadow over the evening. In the end, Bob Dylan’s legacy remains untouchable, but perhaps it’s a reminder that even the greatest must eventually fade into the night.