Dylan Hides in Hartford (Sept 6, 2025)

So, the last time I saw Sheryl Crow was the infamous night of the Atlanta Lightning Storm Bob Dylan Show in 2003. The storm began during Sheryl’s set at the Music Midtown festival, and she left mid set, the lights swaying precariously in the high winds above the stage. We all stood around gripping the metal rail, chanting “Rain or shine!” at the guards who told us to leave until the rain finally stopped and Bob came on. We still reminisce about that one!

There were reports of storms rolling in today, and Sheryl Crow was on the bill. Kait, who know was in Atlanta with me that night, was coming. The pieces were all in place.

After I landed in Hartford, Britt and I made our way to a coffee shop where an old man invited himself to sit with us. He warned us a storm was coming, then reminded us to play Powerball. I’m not one to play the lottery, but when a mysterious stranger tells you to, you probably ought to.

When we stepped out of the grocery store, tickets in hand, it was dumping down rain. The venue closed the parking lot gates until the storm passed, so we sat in traffic for an hour or so, messaging back and forth with other people in the same situation and wondering if this show was even going to happen. Atlanta 03 all over again.

But the storm blew over, and we tailgated in the parking lot until we had to escape from a Deadhead who was either visually or audibly leaking from every orifice and may have had rabies. This was an Outlaw crowd, and you have to just roll with it.

Sheryl Crow did a terrific set, aided by a shit-hot backing band. And unlike Atlanta 03, she was able to do her full set, which included all of her hits and an excellent new song.

Now, we had seen the pics from the night before if Dylan wearing hoodie and surrounding his baby grand piano with more light trees than usual. As we did our between-song mini party (Kait! Ray! ShotofLove69! Irene! Julia!) we watched as the crew set up the light trees, meticulously arranging the little branches, and four upright lamps around the piano.

From our seats it looked like we had a good view right between the two little trees, but when Bob came out, his face was blocked by the music stand. We were able to move over and get an angle that allowed us to see a bit, but most of the crowd would get only the most fleeting glimpses of Dylan’s face at all. Most of the time you could only see the top of his hoodie.

Now, why do this? If he’s mad, that didn’t come across in the performance. Perhaps he wanted to just focus hard on the music, or wanted US to just focus hard on the music. In any case, it was surreal to see someone dressed like the Emperor in Return of the Jedi open with “Masters of War.”

But it was a rocking opener, and by the time he was halfway through a waltzy “To Ramona” it was apparent that Bob was genuinely ON. Tonight. If he wanted to crowd to focus on the music, it was a failed effort; we were all putting a lot of energy into hoping he’d stand up, and there were scattered shouts of “Show your face!” and some chatted from the conspiracy-minded about whether it was really even him. His hiding was a distraction to us.

But if it was to help himself focus, it paid off. Dylan was locked in vocally, and as a pianist, all night. The show was one highlight after another. And, though few could see it, he was gesturing with hands hands quite a bit as he sang. He was dialed in all night. Except for the lack of setlist surprises, this would be the Outlaw show I’d most want a good tape of so far, the one to release as an album.

Of particular note: “Under the Red Sky” was well sung and with great piano. “All Along the Watchtower” seemed to be the point at which he won the crowd over (except for some woman up front who kept yelling “asshole!” between songs and flicking Bob off, making ME wonder if this new setup is to hide from someone specific!)

Post show, the biggest buzz was about “Til I Fell in Love With You,” still mostly stripped back, but when the music came in it was absolutely thunderous.  “Desolation Row” was genuinely SUNG, and it may have been the tightest rendition of “Blind Willie McTell” I ever saw.   “Highway 61” seems to have a new arrangement; it seemed a little darker and more sinister tonight than any other time I’ve seen it. Maybe it was just the Palpatine cosplay!

Closing with a “Don’t Think Twice” that was simply design, Bob treated people on the right side of the piano (stage right) to a quick glimpse of his face as he strolled off. Most people didn’t get a good look all night. It was genuinely weird in that way, I’ve never seen him or any other performer hide like that the entire show. Some of the crowd still grumbled , but a lot of the chatter included things like “well, he SOUNDED great.”

Chatted with some friends (False Prophet Michael!) and stayed for a bit of Willie, then rushed off with Britt and Ray to a late night pizza dive, where we ate chopped cheese sandwiches in the parking lot and an older woman made flirty remarks based on my “this ass ain’t Street-Legal” t-shirt. Traveling to Dylan shows is an adventure, and the surreal atmosphere of an outlaw show is often conducive to adventure.

We didn’t win Powerball, though. Shit.