Bob Dylan tonight at the arena.

[Dougie Do'ins]

This man seriously needs to call it a day.

 

He started at 7.30 and had done five songs by the time we got in there. He stood sideways on to the stage and didn't move. Anybody sitting to the front right of the stage will have just seen a motionless person standing at a set of keyboards.

 

There was no interaction with the audience no introduction to songs, nothing. Worst of all we couldn't understand a word he was supposedly singing. Think Vic Reeves pub singer and you'll pretty much be on the right track. By 9.20 we had had enough and left with plenty of others.

 

I'd read a few reviews that alluded to what I've already said but honestly didn't think it could be that bad, but it was.

 

£48, well and truly fleeced.

[Harry Squatter]

Sorry to hear you got ripped off mate but this made me laugh. Not because you got ripped off but only because when I finished work some twat stopped by the lights when I was walking to the car park from my office and said out of his car window "ha ha, i'm going to see Bob Dylan tonight, and you're not, ha ha ha ha ha".

 

He thought he was the "big I am". So if you are fed up tonight, be safe in the knowledge that some tit has well and truly been had off.

[zimmie]

It was actually better than what I expected. Thought it was a decent gig

[torahboy]

Sorry for anyone who didn't like the show tonight, but I fucking well loved it! Always idiosyncratic and never representing his songs as they sound on the studio recordings, Dylan presented us with a couple of hours of well known and not so well known songs that, I thought, were actually quite brilliantly delivered. 'Watch The River Flow' opening the show was more than just a nod to where he was performing - it was as much a reverential tribute to the audience as his surprising inclusion of 'Something' was an act of love to an old native of the city. He came to a city that we believe to be special and he showed us that he considers this place to be worthy of a special effort.

 

Ok, his voice isn't that great, but it never was, and his rephrasing of some of his songs might have confused and pissed off people who were waiting for a 'Greatest Hits' re-run. Yet I loved the show - and this was the first time I have seen the guy live.

 

Anyway, enjoyed the whole night: good 'swally' before and after and am now going to kip for Europe. "When the rooster crows at the break of dawn....." it'll be wasting its fucking time around my drum.

[philyhamann]

should've gone the wrestling instead

[Teflon Don]

Have to say I enjoyed the show too, but agree that Bob's voice was a bit Club style at times. Good version of 'Something', which I thought was a bit of a suprising choice of (Beatles) track for him to cover, clearly chosen with the venue in mind. As for the 7.30 start, I'd been warned in advance that there was no support so made sure I was in there beforehand.

 

Would love to know what happened to the couple on my right who left their seats around 5 songs in, never to return and as for that bloke who invaded the stage during 'Blowin' In The Wind'....

[Faustus]

It said 7:30 on the tickets so I assumed that was the time the doors would open and the support would be on. Fucking got in there at 9 and only saw the last 5 or 6 songs.

 

Fucking gutted.

[King Emlyn]

It said 7:30 on the tickets so I assumed that was the time the doors would open and the support would be on. Fucking got in there at 9 and only saw the last 5 or 6 songs.

 

Fucking gutted.

Jesus mate that's shite. I've seen the great man a couple of times but missed last night, could have well fallen into the same trap myself, half seven is ridiculously early.

[Faustus]

Jesus mate that's shite. I've seen the great man a couple of times but missed last night, could have well fallen into the same trap myself, half seven is ridiculously early.

 

I'm absolutely devastated. We were speaking to some lads in the pub afterwards who made the same mistake as well.

 

We got in just in time to see him do Something. From the little I saw though, it was quality.

 

As I said though, I'm gutted I missed most of it though.

[King Emlyn]

I'm absolutely devastated. We were speaking to some lads in the pub afterwards who made the same mistake as well.

 

We got in just in time to see him do Something. From the little I saw though, it was quality.

 

As I said though, I'm gutted I missed most of it though.

Genuinely feel for you mate, that's a pisser that is, have you seen him before?

[Faustus]

Genuinely feel for you mate, that's a pisser that is, have you seen him before?

 

No, it was the first time last night. Hopefully I'll get another chance in the future and I'll know to get there early next time!

 

7:30's a bit of a joke, to be honest, but I suppose he is getting on and needs an early night!

[Paulie Dangerously]

If he didn't had support acts I don't know why people didn't get there on time. My old man went got there at 7 and said he was the best he had seen him in a decade (having gone to every gig he's done in the NW)

[Faustus]

If he didn't had support acts I don't know why people didn't get there on time. My old man went got there at 7 and said he was the best he had seen him in a decade (having gone to every gig he's done in the NW)

 

Because we assumed he would have had support acts. There was nothing going around to suggest otherwise. If the ticket says 7:30, you assume that's what time the doors open and you usually give it about an hour and a half before the main act comes on.

 

I'm not blaming anyone though because I know it's our own fault.

[Section_31]

Sorry to hear you got ripped off mate but this made me laugh. Not because you got ripped off but only because when I finished work some twat stopped by the lights when I was walking to the car park from my office and said out of his car window "ha ha, i'm going to see Bob Dylan tonight, and you're not, ha ha ha ha ha".

 

He thought he was the "big I am". So if you are fed up tonight, be safe in the knowledge that some tit has well and truly been had off.

 

Fucking hell, that's a bit like saying you're going to the dentist. From my perspective, anyway. You couldn't pay me to go to something like this at the Echo Arena.

[JMARKH]

I went with my folks and my uncle but we had a few pints first and didn't get to arena till about 8.15 so missed a fair bit of the gig. Also I could hardly see him being right at the back and thought they should have had the big screens on like they did for Roger Waters. It was good to see a legend but I can't help but feeling a little underwhelmed as I struggled as well to decipher the words of the songs I didn't know.

[Paulie Dangerously]

Because we assumed he would have had support acts. There was nothing going around to suggest otherwise. If the ticket says 7:30, you assume that's what time the doors open and you usually give it about an hour and a half before the main act comes on.

 

I'm not blaming anyone though because I know it's our own fault.

 

It's tight on you like. I always check for any "special guests" at gigs I go to but I suppose someone with the fame of Dylan you'd expect the to leave the crowd on the edge of excitement for a while before he came out

[zimmie]

It said 7:30 on the tickets so I assumed that was the time the doors would open and the support would be on. Fucking got in there at 9 and only saw the last 5 or 6 songs.

 

Fucking gutted.

 

Gutting. Feel for you mate. There were a fair few still turning up as late as 20/25 minutes in. He was a little late on stage too, I thought they were delaying it a bit because peope were still getting to their seats as he started. Last time he was in Liverpool he was at least half an hour late getting on.

[Bloodred]

I'm a Dylan fan but didn't go as I've been told by a few friends that he's a miserable git on stage. I like to watch a show with a bit of audience interaction, and I wouldn't want my illusions of the great man shattered.

 

Unlucky Faustus, I've heard thats happened a few times at the Echo - bands starting at 7.30.

[Cunny]

It said 7:30 on the tickets so I assumed that was the time the doors would open and the support would be on. Fucking got in there at 9 and only saw the last 5 or 6 songs.

 

Fucking gutted.

 

My tickets said Doors 6pm Show 7:30pm

[Cunny]

Have to say I enjoyed the show too, but agree that Bob's voice was a bit Club style at times. Good version of 'Something', which I thought was a bit of a suprising choice of (Beatles) track for him to cover, clearly chosen with the venue in mind. As for the 7.30 start, I'd been warned in advance that there was no support so made sure I was in there beforehand.

 

Would love to know what happened to the couple on my right who left their seats around 5 songs in, never to return and as for that bloke who invaded the stage during 'Blowin' In The Wind'....

 

Where you on the front row of the side rows? If so that might have been me.

Me and the Mrs left about 30 minutes in. Worst gig experience I have ever had. Nothing really to do with Dylan, I know his voice is shot and he does not interact with the crowd. I have had some poor experiences in the Echo Arena before.

Our big mistake was having a front row aisle seat on the side. The stupid way that people who are on floor level have to go down the stairs to get to their seats was my main gripe. There were loads of latecomers who were stopped by tweedle dee and tweedle dum security guys to guide them to their seats. They were stopped right in front of us so we could not see or hear a thing apart from the conversations about where their seat where. Added to that the usual pissed up, talking through songs Liverpool gig crowd and I was livid. So we cut our losses and left. What is it with Liverpool gig crowds? I'm a scouser but I much prefer going to Manchester for gigs. I wont be setting foot inside the Echo Arena again.

[Faustus]

My tickets said Doors 6pm Show 7:30pm

 

Only noticed that after the gig. It had 7:30 in big fuck off letters and 6pm in small letters underneath it. At least put them in the same size font.

 

As I said though, it's our own fault.

 

We were in the one of the upper side parts to the right of the stage.

[She Knows It]

My mate was stewarding there last night and he said the same thing. Most people missed the whole show, and of those that were there on time, loads left because he was so shit.

 

Bob Dylan is shit. I've been saying it for ages. You should have listened to me.

[Teflon Don]

Where you on the front row of the side rows? If so that might have been me.

Me and the Mrs left about 30 minutes in. Worst gig experience I have ever had. Nothing really to do with Dylan, I know his voice is shot and he does not interact with the crowd. I have had some poor experiences in the Echo Arena before.

Added to that the usual pissed up, talking through songs Liverpool gig crowd and I was livid. So we cut our losses and left. What is it with Liverpool gig crowds? I'm a scouser but I much prefer going to Manchester for gigs. I wont be setting foot inside the Echo Arena again.

 

No, I was about 3 rows from the back, pretty central to the stage. Agree with the bit I've put in bold - why bother paying to see someone perform live, if you're incapable of keeping your mouth shut for more than 30 seconds at a time? (This has been equally true of gigs in Manchester I've been to, so not just a Scouse thing in my experience.)

 

I've been pretty impressed with the Arena, but perhaps luckier with what seats/standing I've had. Weller and the Bunnymen were both great shows at the end of last year.

[Dougie Do'ins]

My mate was stewarding there last night and he said the same thing. Most people missed the whole show, and of those that were there on time, loads left because he was so shit.

 

Bob Dylan is shit. I've been saying it for ages. You should have listened to me.

Your mate was right.

 

Anyone see that steward run for the police because some bloke at the front wouldn't sit down. When we got in most people were standing in front of the stage. once everyone realised how shit it was they soon sat down.

The bloke was escorted out the arena. Imagine wanting to stand up at a concert, eh.

[Strontium]

Added to that the usual pissed up, talking through songs Liverpool gig crowd and I was livid. So we cut our losses and left. What is it with Liverpool gig crowds? I'm a scouser but I much prefer going to Manchester for gigs. I wont be setting foot inside the Echo Arena again.

 

 

It's a fucking pain isn't it. My biggest gripe at the Arena is the endless streams of people to and from the bar during the gig that is incredibly distracting. What the fuck? Are you all that desperate to pay £4 for a bottle of beer that you have to miss half the gig and ruin the conert for everyone else? They should close the bars while the act is on, at the very least. It's ruining the Arena as a venue.