Dylan Songbook Shines At Keswick Theatre Show: Review

GLENSIDE, PA — Legendary music icon Bob Dylan is still making his mark on the tour circuit, continuing his never-ending tour as part of "The Outlaw Festival," headlining with Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow.

"He's still out there," singer Joan Osborne told the crowd during a performance at the Keswick Theatre on Wednesday night as she showcased a healthy dose of Bob Dylan's songbook, everything from classic cuts to some obscure tracks from obscure albums.

Osborne, known for her 1985 song "One of Us," didn't even play her No. 1 hit during the encore, instead focusing on "Dylanology" for the entire night in a 20-song, two-set engagement at the iconic theater.

With the success of the movie "A Complete Unknown," Dylan's early beginnings have sparked an interest in music lovers exploring his wide body of songs dating back to 1962.

Backed by a five-piece band on the second show of her "Sings the Songs Of Bob Dylan" tour, Osborne offered a varied selection of songs, pretty much avoiding the major songs made classic by The Byrds and Peter, Paul, and Mary.

There was no "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Like a Rolling Stone," or "Blowin' in the Wind," and Osborne also stayed away from the songs Dylan is performing himself on tour this summer.

But she still had plenty of selections.

Opening with "She Belongs To Me," Osborne began by strumming an acoustic guitar, as she did throughout the night. She also let members of her band take lead vocals. That band included Anders Osborne, who provided some stunning electric guitar and tough vocals.

Osborne's first experience with the Bob Dylan songbook came when she covered "Man in the Long Black Coat" on her debut album "Relish." That cover made such an impact that Osborne said Dylan's people reached out to her to perform a duet with him.

That song was featured in the second set.

With Timothy Chalamet transforming into Dylan for the movie, drummer Lee Falco took a page out of the actor's book with a solo spotlight on acoustic guitar of "Song to Woody," the first song Dylan penned on his first album in an ode to folk legend Woody Guthrie.

Philly's own, Bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, took a turn right before on the Dylan hit "Lay Lady Lay," showing off soaring vocals that Dylan himself never had the range to reach. Dorsey also shared a singing spotlight with keyboard player Will Bryant on "Shelter from the Storm."

Osborne reached deep into Dylan's songbook, bringing out solo efforts on "Everything is Broken" from "Oh Mercy," "Trying to Get To Heaven" from "Time Out Of Mind," and "Shooting Star" from "Oh Mercy."

Osborne pulled out all the stops, even digging into a song from when Dylan became a born-again Christian by performing "Saved" to close her first set.

Osborne, though, didn't shy away from all the classics, playing "When I Paint My Masterpiece (with Falco on vocals)," "Highway 61 Revisited," "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35," show closer "Tangled Up In Blue," and Dylan's first Top 40 hit, "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

The surprise was special guest Anders Osborne, who shredded on several Dylan songs in both sets.

The guitarist tore through "The Man In Me" and the classic "Maggie's Farm," but was even more forceful in the second set by taking it to a higher level with his guitar gymnastics on two songs from Dylan's album "Desire:" "Mozambique" and "Isis."

He combined forces with pedal steel guitar virtuoso Cindy Cashdollar, who was her own force of nature throughout the evening.

Dylan's songbook, for its lyrics alone, rival Lennon and McCartney for the greatest songwriter ever in music history.

What Joan Osborne did with these songs and her band brought Dylan back into the spotlight even though the artist himself likes to remain in the shadows.

But Bob Dylan should be celebrated for his body of work, and Osborne certainly delivered the goods for a magical evening and a set of songs that deserved the touch she and her band provided. Catch this show if you can.