|
|
|
“BobFest: A Dylan Birthday Celebration by Uncle Mike Photo by Scott LongFeld |
 On the night of May 23, local musician Pat Guadagno once again gathered his Tired Horses at the Two River Theater in Red Bank to pay tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan with “Bob Fest 07 – A Bob Dylan Birthday Celebration.” Produced by co-founder Tom Moog and hosted by 101.5’s Big Joe Henry, the sold-out concert was held for the benefit of local charities, The Rock & Roll Music Fund and the Anthony X Guadagno Scholarship Fund.On the eve of Bob Dylan’s 66th birthday, Pat Guadagno and the Tired Horses treated their audience to three hours and twenty minutes of pure magic with a two set, 34-song music extravaganza. Accompanied by Rich Oddo (electric guitar/vocals), Phil “Red River” Rizzo (bass/vocals)Steve Delopoulos (acoustic guitar/vocals), Andy McDonough (keys/backing vocals), Rene Wolley (drums), Mary McCrink (vocals/tambourine), Aura Guadagno (vocals) and last but certainly not least, Yuri Turchin (violin), Pat Guadagno (lead vocals/acoustic guitar) was spectacular as he led the band through a first set featuring outstanding renditions of “Visions Of Johanna” (terrific opener featuring Pat’s lead vocals and Yuri’s violin), “Boots Of Spanish Leather” (wonderful vocal by Mary McCrink/simply put, a beauty), “Blowin’ In The Wind” (very somber rendering with Pat, Mary and Steve Delopoulos sharing lead vocals), “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (Johnny’s in the basement baby as Pat’s acoustic guitar play kicks off one of the band’s most explosive numbers/Tired Horses were anything but), “License To Kill” (quintessential Dylan and Guadagno), “From A Buick 6” (Rich Oddo steps up on electric guitar as the Horses do a little honky tonkin’/ big crowd pleaser), “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” (Yuri shines/big finish), “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry” (Horses get rowdy behind Rich’s slide guitar and Yuri’s fiddle), “Love Minus Zero/No Limit” (featured Rich and Yuri like old times/partial standing ovation), “Oh, Sister” (emotional number with Steve and Mary on vocals), “Desolation Row” (Bob and Pat doesn’t get any better than this), “Idiot Wind” (Rene and Yuri come up big/lucky #13 a monster/breathtaking), |
|
“It Ain’t Me Babe” (must be in the genes as Aura and Pat soar/standing ovation), “I Want You” (all the Horses kick up their heels on this house rocker), “I Shall Be Released” (Red River on lead vocals guides the Horses through this most moving rendition), “TombstoneBlues” (everybody up as the Horses get down/like a freight train going 190 the band totally rocks/another standing ovation) and “My Back Pages” (Pat G. and Tired Horses brilliant/ life is good). As for the second set it was just as good if not better than the first with Pat Guadagno leading the band through inspired renditions of “Ballad Of A Thin Man” (killer Dylan and Guadagno/deep, dark and edgy/Horses bust loose), “Gospel Plow” (electrifying as the Horses kick it up a notch with Steve D. on lead vocals), “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” (Mary McCrink shines as Andy McDonough tickles those ivories/sultry Dylan/fine change of pace), “Simple Twist Of Fate” (Rich gets down and dirty), “Tears Of Rage” (haunting lead vocal by Pat), “This Wheel’s On Fire” (Horses rip it up rollin’ down the road/huge crowd favorite), “Masters Of War” (Pat and Steve provide the night’s darkest moments), “Make You Feel My Love” (Mary owns it/pin drop time/Andy and Yuri perfect/partial standing ovation), “Man Gave Names To All Of The Animals” (big band number/Yuri steps front and center), “The Times They Are-A-Changin’” (Pat, Steve and Mary make it seem like just yesterday), “Forever Young” (Aura and Pat brought a tear to more than just one eye/chilling vocals), “Chimes Of Freedom” (never sounded better/big finish with Pat, Steve, Rich and Yuri), “Like A Rolling Stone” (42 years later it still cuts like a knife/brilliant band effort/place was a rockin’/Horses garner yet another standing ovation and big cheers) and “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (great encore/standing ovation). Now, while local Dylan fans may argue whether last year’s tour de force performance was better than this year’s, the point is really moot. How can you lose when you take this area’s finest interpreter of song and best acoustic guitarist, Pat Guadagno, accompanied by some of the Jersey Shore’s best musicians, performing the music of America’s greatest songwriter Bob Dylan? Well, you can’t! Not that it isn’t a huge undertaking, it most certainly is. But there is no one better suited or more up to the task than Guadagno to successfully take on this type of tribute. And take it on he did. From song selection to performance Guadagno and the Tired Horses were outstanding from first song to last. And as for which performance was better, in all honesty, each performance was brilliant in its own right. t has been 45 years since Bob Dylan, at the tender age of 20, released his self-titled debut album in March of 1962. Little did we know that “Talkin’ New York” and “Song To Woody” were just the beginning of a stream of consciousness that would turn the world of popular music on it’s ear and lead a cultural revolution who’s repercussions are still being felt today. Nor did we realize that we were witnessing the birth of a cultural icon and a voice that would go on to be heard around the world for over five decades. Bob Dylan is arguably his generation’s most important and influential poet and songwriter. His music is as relevant today as the day it was written. Just give a listen to “Blowin’ In The Wind” or “The Times They Are-A-Changin’,” and tell me it isn’t so. Pat Guadagno and the Tired Horses’ performance at “Bob Fest 07” made it absolutely clear that there is no one quite like Bob Dylan, nor will there ever be again. Bob Dylan is one in a million. He is the voice of his generation. |
