Review: Bob Dylan’s Shadow Kingdom (Veep)
With his Neverending Tour sidelined due to Covid, the now-80 year Bob Dylan has treated fans to something called Shadow Kingdom. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda has seen it.
So what is Shadow Kingdom? Is it a live stream concert, a film, a series of video clips? Now we can tell you.
Presented by Veeps (click here to sign up), this Bob Dylan event has been keeping Dylanologists talking and speculating since it was announced a month ago as a “streaming performance”.
Eventually it became clear that this was not to be a “live” concert, but something else.
What it is is a 50 minute black & white film (or series of films). Each of the 13 songs that Dylan performs is presented as a very stylized, rather glossy production.
Subtitled “The Early Songs Of Bob Dylan“, the show starts with Dylan and band performing When I Paint My Masterpiece. Dylan is in the best voice his been in (taking time off the road must have its advantages) and the band sounds perfect.
So the main concerns are: how does Bob sound?, What songs will he play? and Who is in his band?
The band is Alex Burke, Shahzad Ismaily, Janie Cowen, Buck Meek and Joshua Crumbly, all “masked and anonymous”. Bob himself is either standing or sitting (depending on the set) and he does sound great. He’s also quite animated during Most Likely You Go Your Way…feet planted, belting out the lyrics.
The looks, for the most part is Bob, “cabaret style”. The setting for the first couple of tunes seems to be an old honky tony or blues bars with “patrons” sitting a and drinking and smoking and sometimes dancing. I must say I was shocked at how much smoking seemed to be going on. But the overall look is very similar to the cover of Rough And Rowdy Ways.
Each of the 13 songs is presented as a stand-along clip. These are new recordings but not necessarily “live”. That aspect would be my one and only complaint. Miming is not Bob’s greatest skill but you get used to it.
The song selection is fantastic.
Queen Jane Approximately, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues, Watching The River Flow…all fab.
Bob gives us heartfelt readings of To Be Alone With You and What Was It You Wanted. For the latter, he is seated, head bowed at the end.
For the most part his only instrument is his trusty harmonica but he does take up his acoustic guitar and pluck away during Forever Young.
Wrapping up with It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue, one got the impression that this could be the first in a series. I for one, hope so.
Marty Duda
Bob Dylan set list:
- When I Paint My Masterpiece
- Most Likely You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine
- Queen Jane
- I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
- Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
- Tombstone Blues
- To Be Alone With You
- What Was It You Wanted
- Forever Young
- Pledging My Time
- The Wicked Messenger
- Watching The River Flow
- Its All Over Now, Baby Blue
Bob Dylan’s Shadow Kingdom is available to stream for approx 48 hrs. Cost $25 US.
RonnieDelux
July 19, 2021 @ 2:23 pm
Apart from the good news that his voice is excellent it was garbage.
Marty Duda
July 19, 2021 @ 2:36 pm
What didn’t you like?
Richard
July 19, 2021 @ 4:06 pm
Interesting concept….i wonder how many tickets they sold @ $25 each. Also wonder if it will leak out, or what the future of it is after the subscription finishes?
Marty Duda
July 19, 2021 @ 4:16 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t another one in the works.
Mark
July 20, 2021 @ 1:39 am
It was great he sounded great. like a sene from Casablanca , but it was way to short 50mins
Marty Duda
July 20, 2021 @ 8:59 am
Agreed…would have liked more (of course)
Charly Mann
July 20, 2021 @ 7:29 am
I was surprised the show was in mono – most streaming shows are now stereo or 5.1.
Marty Duda
July 20, 2021 @ 8:53 am
I’m pretty sure I heard it in Surround
EDLIS Café
August 10, 2021 @ 10:38 am
https://www.facebook.com/groups/edlis.cafe/posts/4321543427884156/
The Brecht influence is well set out in the discussion at this link.
Loved it!