Inspiration and Celebration
By Starr Sackstein
Convening in the Wetlands Preserve on May 24, 2001 were musicians, enthusiasts, poets and common folk alike all to celebrate the 60th birthday of folk-rock legend Bob Dylan. The scene itself was tame to begin as the masses sat cross-legged on the floor or leaning on the bar watching and listening to the Bob Dylan hopefuls and wannabes perform during the open mike hour. The crowd rallied in support of the many people who gave their hand at interpretive readings and acoustic renditions of Bob’s songs through the smoke and clutter.
It wasn’t until about 8:45PM when the acts took the stage. It was a nonstop night of praise and tribute for the one guy who was so ahead of his time and continues to make music that provokes emotion and thought. Bob Dylan’s voice has always been heard even if it hasn’t been understood because it was always about the message. It was astutely put as one of musicians dismounted the stage after performing a really tight couple of songs and being complimented, “Now I just wish I actually knew the words.” There were many bands over the course of the evening that did one or two Bob tunes and then respectfully left the stage to let others pay their tribute. Some of which tried to imitate Bob’s vocal stylings and others who went for the more melodic, less traditional direction.
The relatively small, dimly lit bar filled up quickly. The group was on their feet packed into one another on the dance floor and in the bar area. There was no room to navigate and it was difficult to get anywhere once you settled in. Personally, I was just looking for a resting-place to write and have a view of the stage without being burned by a cigarette or having a beer spilled on me. It wasn’t a hostile crowd, (the only consolation was that it was friendly group), but it’s hard to not bump into people when there is no room to move. I think it was a real testament to the continued popularity of Bob Dylan’s music and proof that he has touched the lives of so many people. It’s too bad he couldn’t have been there to witness the admiration.
Some highlights were Tiberius with a rockin’ version of “New Pony” which set the bar for the evenings festivities. JJ Appleton sang “True Love Tends to Forget” in true Bob Dylan style. Dan and Kev got the crowd off their feet with “Motorpsycho Night” which was perfectly punctuated with a sticker, which read “Fuck Off” on Dan’s guitar. There was brief break in the storm when Dean Bowman mounted the stage with his version of “I Shall be Released.” He won the crowd over with his style and soul in true folk fashion. However, it wasn’t until Martin’s Folly played “Catfish” that the crowd seemed really involved with the musicians. It was amazing to see a sea of people mouthing the words and enraptured by the performance.
By the time the Toni Brown Band hit the stage, the crowd was engrossed in the Bob whirlwind and nostalgia. It was then that Toni sang a heart felt version of “To Make You Feel My Love” that sent the chills up and down my spine. It was a triumph. The band that followed was equally as passionate as they crooned “Sarah.” What a phenomenal version of the song!
My props to all the bands that performed, it must be incredibly intimidating and exhilarating to perform the music of such an important artist. There was an extreme outpouring of support from the community. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it until the end of the show because it was a “work night.” This night was a true fairy tale for me, I had the opportunity to meet many artists that have had a profound impact on my life who were singing songs by the one man who made me want to become a poet in the first place. Bob Dylan is a mover, a shaker, an idol, a hero and a normal guy. He is an inspiration. He makes me want to change the world. He makes me believe that I can.
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