Chillin’ with Dylan

There is something about a late Friday night with nothing to do that allows your dorm room to become the perfect hub for great ideas. This was exactly the case for me last week when I nonchalantly decided to browse through concerts in Baltimore, curious to see if there were any interesting artists to see at some point. I guess by some incredible twist of fate I found leftover tickets to see Bob Dylan in concert the next day. The first thing I thought was, “Wait, he is still touring?”

Saturday night at 8 p.m. I experienced the ‘teenage prayer’ Dylan, who is so harmoniously sung about. You can always listen to older music which means that our generation knows the names of the legendary American musicians. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen BOB DYLAN printed on a shirt at Urban Outfitters with a black and white photo of him from the mid-1960s. At the concert, however, I experienced something that could not be seen on a generic grungy retail tee.

The concert took place at the Lyric Opera House. It provided a fitting setting for elegance, grandeur and an aged vibe.

Dylan, at the ripe old age of 74, walked on to the stage. The classic white fedora hat, fit with the black stripe, commanded his stage presence as all eyes were drawn to him.

After the claps, cheering and shrieks of excitement ended, the man opened his mouth to let out his voice and my was it amazing. I heard some people say that his voice was not the same, that it sounded worse since he was old. But I was pleasantly surprised as I heard a rasp in his iconic voice, the wear and tear of the years that made the socially and politically fired lyrics even stronger. The love Dylan has for his profession and for the power of the music was tangible throughout the whole performance.

As he belted out “Tangled Up in Blue,” the crowd went wild. A man stood up to cheer Dylan on with a shirt that read “BOB DYLAN TOUR: 1994.” He was not the only die-hard fan there. Admired by so many people, Dylan really is a legend. Seventy-four years old and he was swaying from side-to-side at the stand, foot tapping and all.

Dylan would switch from sitting at the piano to standing at a microphone stand, playing the harmonica. The lighting was filled with warm undertones, complementing the sweet and soulful music. The light rasp of his voice was just enough ­to portray the history and the hard rock required of such a respected musician. Different sets highlighted different ambiances, going from an old rock feel to a modern banger.

As I sat in my seat, accompanied by my big, I had one of the most amazing experiences. Needless to say, after a riveting encore — he sang “Blowin’ in the Wind” —  I realized it was some of the best money I had ever spent. When I told my dad, he told me he had seen Dylan perform in the 1970s. Still going strong, Dylan filled my Saturday night with a rock for the ages.