Bob Dylan in Hong Kong (Sat, 26/2/94)
'It’s nearly 2030 and a few frenzied Zimmerman-iacs are
filing into the Coliseum for the first frantic face-to-face with the
phenomenon that is Bob Dylan In Hong Kong. Watching them with regal-eyed
oblivion, tinged with hop-footed eagerness are the Man in Black (aka
promoter Anders Nelson) and His Cohortic Crew. Smiles of relief and matching
comments from the fans as they realise the concert didn’t begin at 2000, as
advertised. INXS, who started 50 minutes late on Thursday, seem sure to
retain their unappreciated record. This is a safe prediction because I’ve
seen the sign announcing an “unavoidable” 30-minute delay due to…what? Can’t
be Bob and the boys. They’re here, according to at least 20 unbiased
witnesses who are now part of the sold-out throng inside The Coliseum. Must
be a heavyweight B.B.C. (Big Bob Cat) to have Anders out front, ready to
grip-n-grin. I decide to wait-n-see. Seconds later, all is revealed…
A big black car of
the type used by people who are too important to drive pulls up, parks and
almost preens itself. I casually check my appearance in the mirror polish
finish as the black door opens. Inside are Our First Couple, Bill’s buddy
and his belle, Mr. B.B.C. himself. Yes, it’s Governor Patten in a light
conservative blue lounge suit and Lavender in maroon sweater and black
trousers. I stand there in my blue jeans, rugby shirt and black overcoat,
gawping. (Jeez, he’s smaller than on TV, I think incongruously) while
nodding affably. He looks at me. I look at him. We look at each other. I say
“Hi” with great originality. He replies “Hi” pleasantly. I say “Enjoy the
show” with a great lack of originality. He says “Thanks, I will” with a
politician’s politeness. I stand there, metaphorically smacking my forehead
and thinking why didn’t I ask him something. Anything. Nevermind, I’ll get
him after the show. Time to go in.
As I enter, the
first notes of “If Not For You” are being slowly strummed. Brief pause and
roar of applause. Great, just in time for the first song? Nope. I’ve missed
“Jokerman”, according to the seat on my left. Too busy, gurning at the Guv.
Nice political irony in that choice. Is Bob a closet Chinese Communist? Or
an anti-conservative? Or another Xinhua xenophobe? Maybe he just doesn’t
like being kept waiting by mere Governors, even if they DO have all his CD’s
in their study at home. “I.N.F.Y.” smoothly segues into a rocking mid-tempo
“Watchtower” with Dylan spitting out the lies with some urgency. Nice
Knopfleresque guitar solo after second verse. The audience is agog at the
thought of more hits to come, but which ones will his Bobness play? I’m
approached by Lisa Security as I jot down these notes, but she lets me stay
where I am. Just as well, as I’m overseeing a s(e)izable cider stash for
some slightly soused Scousers.
The next song I
recognize appears to be another barb by Bob against Chris. “Tangled Up In
Blue” neatly defines (to me) the absurdity of Tory politics along with Mr.
P.’s parlous partnership with Peking. Is this in the Patten Top Ten? Any
thoughts that I am being paranoid are still born as Bob rips into an even
more vicious “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” and “Maggie’s Farm”. Wow! Good
music and political punditry! That’ll teach Chris to keep him waiting. Ooops.
I’ve just lost a bet with former HK Folk Society Chairman Paul Williams.
Outside, pre-gig, he predicted “Hattie Carroll” which he remembered Dylan as
introducing as “…a true story. I read it in the papers.” This was in
Sheffield, 1965. Paul, who hasn’t seen Bob since, it’s been a staple at
recent shows, partly because of the news reports on the Medgar Evers case.
Evers was a black civil rights worker, murdered at his home in Mississippi
while listening to JFK’s 1963 “moral crisis” speech calling for civil rights
legislation. The killer, white supremacist, Byron de la Beckwith, was jailed
for life in 1994 – 31 years after the event.
Lots of milling
about as the audience goes celebrity spotting. Media hacks, Folk society
members, Dylanologists of all descriptions. English folkie Vin Garbutt is
here – his show which should have been tonight, has been postponed. Vin
comments that he “…enjoyed the show, but wish he would come to mine though”.
Everyone’s waiting for that indefinable moment when the concert will take
off. The band are working overtime while Bob’s patented drone-chant vocals
are gruffly pleasing. Slide guitar notes bend and intertwine with the
soaring organ. Rock riffs romp out and away to the rafters while the drums
and bass mesh at lower gut-thumping volume, but it’s not quite there yet.
So, he slows it down a tad and inquires if “…everybody having a good time?”
What! Bob speaks? When did this last happen? Still, he continues. Muffled
introductions for the band precede three unidentifiable (to me) acoustic
tunes that leave most of the audience hushed of breath. We’ve had 11 mixed
goodies tonight which has drawn a muted response. Bob responds by walking
off stage, followed by the band at 2145. Surely, there’s an encore?
The crowd are
baying for more. People are squashing their way to the front. Clapping and
cheering is continuing unabated and then the band return. Within moments,
everyone is singing “Something’s happening and you don’t know what it is Mr.
Jones” in total abandon. Matches are being lit, but not for long. I wonder
how Chris and Lav are taking it all, submerged in a sea of sweaty singers.
Has he been to a rock concert before? It’s damn sure that no other HK
Governor has. More roars as ”It Ain’t Me Babe” follows on. People round me
are bellowing “No, no, no, no, it ain’t me babe” in tuneless joy. The
concert is starting to take off. I feel a horripilatory tingle on my nape,
which goes too soon. It returns as the final song commences. A squeal of
harp, a thrum of guitar and it’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” in mid-rock tempo.
Imaginary flashbacks ripple through my brain, a cornucopia of 60’s
sensations, a warm feeling and…it’s abruptly over.
I rush outside, a
paranoid pointman, and look for the Governor’s car. The crowd has dissipated
like sauna steam in the chilly outdoors. Most random comments indicate
disappointment in the show. I agree it could have been better, but as this
was my Dylan debut, I’m not dismayed. At last I’ve seen him seen and I’ll
take what I get, gratefully. I’m chatting with two Lamma neighbours,
Christine and Sean, who feel the same way I do. She’s replaying her bootleg
video of the concert when the Governor finally emerges. Right. Time for an
interview. I wonder if WAX Magazine will be able to use it. Assuming I’m not
shot dead by an overzealous police guard opposed to hippies with goatees
rushing in demented fashion at his meal ticket. Nah, don’t be that paranoid.
It’ll be OK. I mean, Chris will talk to anyone who wants to talk to him.
Besides, we sort of talked earlier. I hope Christine can get this on tape.
“Er, excuse me Mr.
Patten. I was wondering if this was your first rock concert in HK?” (Yeah,
start easy, don’t spook him)
“Oh no,. I saw
Elton John last year” (Damn. Forgot about him. He probably saw Paul Simon as
well. Dumb question. Well…)
“And what did you
think of tonight’s show? (Get his list of favourite Dylan songs. See if he
heard any political inference)
“Oh, absolutely
fantastic. I never thought I’d hear him play “Blowin’ In The Wind” here” (Ah
Haah. Brilliant. What a perfect answer to all the political commentary
earlier. What a response to Beijing about all the bollocks that’s going on
now. And I bet he doesn’t realise why this is such a good answer, i.e.
nothing really matters 200 years from now. It’s all B.I.T.W.)
“Well thanks. My
name’s Nick Lovatt. I work with WAX. Here’s a card and a copy” (Hope
Christine got that all on tape. Now I’ve gotta stop re-reading so much
Hunter S. Thompson. He makes me think too much.)