LISTENING
Travis "12 Memories"
Bob Dylan "Live 1966: The 'Royal Albert Hall' Concert"
READING
"Interviews with American Artists" by David Sylvester
"How We Are Hungry" by Dave Eggers
"Among the Believers" by A.O. Scott
WATCHING
Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (American Masters)
THINKING
The Scorsese film on Bob Dylan reminded me of how much I love the "Royal Albert Hall" concert.
During the show (which took place at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester on May 17, 1966), Dylan is heckled and jeered mercilessly by the audience for going electric in the second set.
The tension builds through the concert before reaching an inspired climax with the finale "Like a Rolling Stone" where before the song is played Dylan turns to the band and through the sea of boos and shouting instructs them: "Play fucking loud!"
There are few greater Rock and Roll moments than when Bob Dylan uttered those three words and what happened in their wake is as divine of a musical experience as one can ever hope to achieve.
