Bob, Woody, Film Music, Sneckers, Spangles and Positive Thinking

Well. Bob Dylan's 2 x Glasgow shows were splendid. Especially the second night, Sunday 11th Oct. I've got three words for you. Blind Willie McTell. Can I get an amen? THANkyou!

Now. Any other business?

I had almost forgotten the relatively rare pleasure of seeing a new, great Woody Allen film in the cinema. The first one I ever saw as it came out was his "Oedipus Wrecks" in "New York Stories" ('Marge Simpson' was a good comic onscreen compadre). The latest was "Midnight In Paris". In the early stages I thought I was going to appreciate the idea more than the execution, but it won me round fair and square. To elaborate might spoil it. Whatever. For what it is worth, it gets my seal of approval.

One more thing.

I made my first bespoke soundtrack for Team WriteCameraAction!'s 48 Hour Film Project entry "A Shot In The Dark". We got awards for Best Costumes and Cinematography. I didn't want to win the Best Music Score award anyway so Sneckers! (I bet the last time you said 'sneckers' you were munching a spangle. O to be young again sporting non-ironic flares. I digest. I mean digress.). Here's the trailer:

I hope to get more soundtrack opportunities. Watch this space.

OK. Check the gate. Take it away, fellas:

John McCusker, Mark Knopfler, Bob Dylan and me. And John Herald.

So my best pal is going on tour with my hero.

John McCusker (plays the fiddle an' that) has been working with Mark Knopfler for the past couple of years. And Mark Knopfler - who produced this of course) is touring with Bob Dylan around Europe for several weeks later this year. And McCusker's going to be in tow. 'kin mental!! I'm so proud I could kick his head in. Still, me and Bob actually bonded way before this.

*Cue dream-like harp and glockenspiel arpeggios as we dissolve to a dimly lit plane hangar on the banks of the River Clyde, filled with predominantly male, grey-haired Mojo-reading music enthusiasts*

.....20 odd years ago at the SEC in Glasgow, I threw a

 

at

He looked a bit sheepish when this thing sailed out of the dark towards him. He moved to the back of the stage. But a little later he bent down to pick it up (maybe it was in the way of his set list) - and it unfurled to reveal itself for what it was. Not a bomb but a wee souvenir of Bonnie Scotland. Bob mumbled "Alright, thank you" into the mic. To me. Bob Dylan thanked me. I'll pause so you can re-read that and take it in. Got it? So there. How's THAT for meaningful communication?

For the record I'm not an over-the-top Uber Fan or anything. I am way more together than that. But I'll need to ask John to remind Bob about this incident. I say that but let's be honest, Bob is not likely to have forgotten. It was a nice scarf. Macdonald tartan. I mean more like; John can take the opportunity to let Bob know I'm doing fine. He's probably wondering. And maybe he can return the scarf. Only if he's done with it like. But, y'know, I mean.... that's been 20 years he's hung on to it.

Oh - here's a wee drawing I once did of Bob on Evernote:

I know. Uncanny. Never had a lesson in my life.

And while I've got you, I'll post this in tribute to the late great (one time Bobby D scuffing partner) John Herald. That night John played downstairs at the 13th Note Cafe in Glasgow - solo and backed by my old country band Radio Sweethearts - lives on as a magical memory. John you are gone, but you are not forgotten.

Thomas Muir, Dick Gaughan, Allen Ginsberg, Renaldo and Clara

I was roped in to a gig as part of the Thomas Muir festival in Bishopbriggs last night at the lovely Fort Theatre. The great (and very personable) Dick Gaughan headlined. I have a lot to learn about Muir but Adam McNaughton's song, as performed by Gaughan to a mid-set standing ovation, is a good starting place.

Today I saw Bob Dylan's four hour cinematic offering "Renaldo & Clara" at Glasgow's beloved GFT. A rare showing on the big screen and I had the best seat in the house. I loved it. 1 or 2 folk walked out (it was not reviewed favourably on release). But I think it is a wonderful, dense roller-coaster ride, laced with sly, warm humour. Much cool footage. Great editing. Allen Ginsberg struck me as a good sport. And the music....

No Bob Dylan in the next blog - I promise (it's hard to type with your fingers crossed behind your back).

Bob is 70

What to say? Well, not much. I can't sum up what both Bob and his music means to me. And I am not on a big mission to convert anyone. When people say he can't sing; that he never could sing - I kind of know what they mean. I disagree, but I know what they mean. I know that nothing I say is going to change their way of thinking.

When other people try and sum him up it usually bugs me. The phrase "There's Bob Dylan and there's everybody else" probably comes closest, but that doesn't exactly pin him down. Then again he seems to have spent his whole career trying to avoid being pinned down.

Anyway. Bob is 70.  If you are interested in a gem of a live performance from 1975, read this blurb below (I pasted it from here.) and then click on the video link.

^ Johnson, Tracy, Encounters with Bob Dylan: If You See Him, Say Hello, Humble press, 2000. ISBN 0-9647009-2-1. Cf. story "1975: Abandoned Love" by Joe Kivak. "On a Thursday night in July 1975, I headed out to see Ramblin' Jack Elliott at The Bitter End in New York City ... Their first song was 'Pretty Boy Floyd,' with Bob singing harmony and his guitar buzzing right along. Then Jack started 'How Long Blues.' After the first verse, he looked at Bob in a way that seemed to ask him to sing a verse. Bob simply shook his head and mouthed something inaudible. When the song finished, however, Dylan began strumming his guitar. But since it was still buzzing, he asked Jack to trade instruments with him. At that moment, everyone in the room was in a trance; it's not every day one gets to hear an impromptu Bob Dylan performance in a tiny club. After a couple of lines, we realized he was performing a new song, with each line getting even better than the last. The song was 'Abandoned Love,' and it still is the most powerful performance I've ever heard."

Happy Birthday, Bob. Thanks for everything.


(What do you mean he probably isn't reading this!?)