Dylan Dives Deep: 'Basement Tapes' Rarities Resurface on Summer Tour
Music icon Bob Dylan has kicked off his summer tour with a startling exploration of his legendary Basement Tapes catalog, unearthing deep cuts not heard live in decades, including the shocking debut of a 59-year-old obscurity.
Two days after an electrifying tour opener, Bob Dylan continued to delve into his legendary Basement Tapes catalog, treating fans in Woodinville, Washington, to another rare gem. Following the stunning debut of the 59-year-old obscurity "Baby, Won't You Be My Baby," the second night of his summer tour kicked off with "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere."
While not as utterly shocking as its predecessor – "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" has seen covers from the likes of The Byrds and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – this marked its first live appearance by Dylan since 2012. Adding another layer of surprise, guitarists Doug Lancio and Bob Britt contributed subtle harmony vocals.
This return to bandmate harmonies harks back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period defined by collaborators like Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton, a practice largely abandoned for over two decades.
The remainder of the setlist for night two largely mirrored the opener, though Dylan swapped out his cover of Bo Diddley's "I Can Tell" for "Love Sick" and subtly rearranged a few other tracks.
Supporting acts Lucinda Williams and the John Doe Folk Trio also graced the stage. On the first night, Doe delivered tunes from his band X – including "See How We Are" and "The New World" – alongside the timeless Judy Garland standard "Over The Rainbow." Williams, meanwhile, thrilled the crowd with classics like "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" and "Joy."
The tour, which was initially nameless, has taken on an unofficial moniker on merch stands. While we'd love to imagine this is Bob Dylan's nod to the 25th anniversary of the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, it's almost certainly a happy coincidence. (For those genuinely looking to celebrate that Wet Hot milestone musically, Ken Marino and David Wain's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band are indeed touring for the anniversary, promising a sensational blend of music and comedy).
Dylan's tour continues with a second performance at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington, before wrapping up on August 1st in Nashville. The chances of him playing further Basement Tapes deep cuts like "I'm Not There" or "Sign on the Cross" remain astronomically low, yet after the "Baby, Won't You Be My Baby" revelation, anything feels possible.
It seems The Basement Tapes are in the air. On June 5th, during Dylan's night off, Bruce Springsteen performed "I Shall Be Released" with Sheryl Crow at a special concert in Long Branch, New Jersey, commemorating the opening of The Bruce Springsteen Center. It was Springsteen's first time playing the Basement Tapes standard.
Perhaps this trend will continue: Ariana Grande might trot out "Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread," Rush could tackle "Open the Door Homer," or Gracie Abrams might surprise with "Tiny Montgomery." For now, we'll happily settle for Dylan keeping "Baby, Won't You Be My Baby" in his set. His band's faithful recreation of the original recording deserves to be heard all summer long.
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