Show Review: Dylan,Vaughan,Brown,and James

August 26,2006 Wahconah Park, Pittsfield Ma

Bob Dylan, Jimmie Vaughan, Junior Brown and Elana James
& The Continental Two appeared at historic Wahconah Park
brightening an otherwise cloudy and dreary day. The show
started at 6:30pm with a too short set by Elana James and her
band playing a high energy set of Western Swing. This former
Hot Club of Cow Town fiddler can certainly play and sing and
was the first of four great performances. Her playing reminded
me of the great Vassar Clements it was that good.

Following a quick stage change (most of the equipment for the
first three act was set up so the previous act's just had to be removed)
Junior Brown took the stage. Playing his hybrid Guit-Steel he wowed
the audience with his virtuosity and his somewhat quirky songs.
Highlights being You Are Wanted By The Police And My Wife Thinks
You're Dead,and Highway Patrol. He also did a song in Spanish that
my sister translated as saying something about a pretty lady a big
man and trouble in Guadalajara. None of us know Spanish that well
so we trusted her. After a Blues instrumental that was worthy of
the act to follow he closed with a Surf-Rock medley that rocked the
house and awed the crowd.

Another quick stage change (Just enough time to hit the rest room
and pay two bucks for a bottle of water)it was time for Jimmie Vaughan.
He opened with Little Son,Big Sun and took command of the
stage for the remainder of the set. What great tone he gets out of
his well worn Strat. After a fantastic version Texas Flood which had
the crowd cheering loudly the band was joined by vocalist Lou Ann
Barton who sang one number and traded vocals with Jimmie for a
few more. They were excellent together. Of course the set was two
short again but that's the price you pay at one of these multi-act shows.
Although I say the sets were too short nothing seemed rushed the
whole thing was rather well timed. I could just listen to Jimmie all night.
My daughter and grandson did get to see Jimmie Vaughan for a short
meet and greet after he left the stage and did manage to procure an
autograph for me. Otherwise I was going to have to tear the signed
T-shirt off my ten year old grandsons back. (not really) :lol:(no really) :twisted:

After a slightly longer set-up Dylan took the stage and was excellent.
He had played this venue last year and it was somewhat disappointing
with the vocals muffled and one song running into another although
the band was great. This year was so much better Dylan was more
animated and the vocals were as clear and understandable as Dylan
can get. The band Dylan on Electric Piano and Harmonica, two guitarist
drums, bass and steel guitar was marvelous rocking on many classics.
Rainy Day Women ,Desolation Row,Positively Fourth Street, You
Ain't Goin' Nowhere and Just Like a Woman to name a few. Personally
I would have liked to see Dylan play guitar but it appears he doesn't
do that in his concerts now. After last years disappointment I wasn't
sure I wanted to see Bob Dylan again but now I'm glad I did. This
show will make a much better lasting memory. And being that
Wahconah Park is in the middle of the neighborhood where I spent
much of my misspent youth we were able to park on a side street
and avoid most of the traffic and get home shortly after 11:00pm.

Life can be sweet at times

John