Bob Dylan has just announced an ambitious line-up for this year's summer concert tour. Along with fellow troubadour Willie Nelson, this summer The Bob Dylan Show will also feature John Mellencamp, marking just the second time in the past 24 years that these three performers have shared the concert stage.

bobdylan.com is happy to offer pre-sale tickets for all ballpark shows to its visitors, going on sale starting on Monday, April 27. At each venue, the gates will open 30 minutes early for holders of tickets purchased during the bobdylan.com pre-sale. For details, see the bobdylan.com Tour page.

Since first embarking on a tour of minor league baseball parks in 2004, over a half-million fans have come together to spend a night under the stars. With free admittance for children*, these tours draw a multi-generational fan base rarely seen on the concert circuit, causing one reporter to describe it as, "more like a backyard party than a rock concert." The Boston Globe ranked the tour amongst "the most relaxed, enjoyable shows of the year. "You Can't Beat Fun At The Old Ballpark," came a headline from the Chicago Sun Times.

All concert tickets are priced at $67.50 and most shows are general admission, allowing fans to grab a seat in the stands or find a place to watch from the field. Tickets will go on sale throughout the month of May and will be available at the local ballpark ticket office and affiliated ticket outlets. There is no baseball game on the day of the show. *Children 14 and under get in free with each adult ticket holder.

Showtime is 5:30pm and gates open at 5:00. Gates will open at 4:30 for holders of bobdylan.com pre-sale tickets.

For more information about Bob Dylan's summer tour dates and pre-sale opportunities, visit bobdylan.com

Date    City    On-Sale    Pre-Sale
7/2    Sauget, IL at GCS Ballpark    5/2    4/27
7/4    South Bend, IN at Coveleski Stadium    5/2    4/27
7/8    Louisville, KY at Louisville Slugger Field    5/9    5/4
7/10    Dayton, OH at Fifth Third Field    5/2    4/27
7/11    Eastlake, OH at Classic Park    5/2    4/27
7/13    Washington, PA at Consol Energy Park    5/2    4/27
7/14    Allentown, PA at Coca-Cola Park    5/2    4/27
7/15    New Britain, CT at New Britain Stadium    5/9    5/4
7/19    Syracuse, NY at Alliance Bank Stadium    5/9    5/4
7/21    Pawtucket, RI at McCoy Stadium    5/9    5/4
7/23    Lakewood, NJ at FirstEnergy Park    5/2    4/27
7/24    Aberdeen, MD at Ripken Stadium    5/9    5/4
7/25    Norfolk, VA at Harbor Park    5/9    5/4
7/28    Durham, NC at Durham Bulls Athletic Park    5/9    5/4
7/29    Sevierville, TN at Smokies Park    5/16    5/11
8/4    Round Rock, TX at The Dell Diamond    5/16    5/11
8/5    Corpus Christi, TX at Whataburger Field    5/16    5/11
8/7    Grand Prairie, TX at QuikTrip Park    5/30    5/25
8/11    Glendale, AZ at Camelback Ranch    5/16    5/11
8/12    Las Vegas, NV at Cashman Field    5/30    5/25
8/14    Fresno, CA at Chukchansi Park    5/30    5/25
8/15    Stockton, CA at Banner Island Ballpark    5/30    5/25

Following Bob Dylan around Europe for the 3rd time in 5 years left me breathless, hopeful, thankful and ready to do it again. Concerts in Stockholm (the 2nd night, tickets too dear for The Berns), Oslo, Jonkoping (sorry missing the dots over the o's), Malmo - both in Sweden, Berlin and Erfurt (Germany.

Could have caught a couple of more, might have missed some of the ones I saw. All-in-all a decent and respectable showing. Since going without tickets is always dicey the connections made with the "traveling Bob crew"  have been priceless. There is a very eclectic and passionate group. People helping people, so you can enjoy a show. Doubling on a room, sharing rides, helping find tickets - it's all part of the deal if the people who are the experts take you in. I was the recipient of countless acts of generosity and kindness. It is humbling and terrific fun. 

 So the thought is, if you love a musician or a band, and you are reasonably sure you will hear different songs, arrangements, etc. from city to city, you will be rewarded - or you might find the music doesn't change enough. That isn't a problem with Dylan.

While I along with most of the crew wish there was more variety in the songs, when one looks at the different songs played over the course of a tour - say this one starting March 22 in Stockholm and ending May 6 in Dublin, there will be 

I first saw My Graveyard Jaw play around October 2007. My friends and I were riding that high of first semester Freshman year in college when everything in life is simple and the only thing you feel the need to do each night is go out with friends, get drunk and enjoy yourself. We were at a fraternity party. It was their biggest party of the year, and had a Bayou theme, so they'd hired a local act to come out and play some music. The first thing I felt when I saw Stix duh Clown -- the lead man and only current member of the band -- was awe. He's a mountain of a man, and has a full mane of curly dark hair and clown tattoos over his eyes. He was calm and sage-like, completely unaffected all the noise and activity surrounding him. The music reflected this image, and I was blown away. My friends and I still talk about that night as one of the best we've had together. I've seen My Graveyard Jaw play about 3 or 4 times since then and my admiration of Stix has only increased. I saw he'd be playing a show last weekend at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter following the Krewe de Vieux parade I knew I'd have to be there.

I'd had a busy day that Saturday. First my friends and I went down to "the Fly" -- a field in Audubon Park that's a popular spot for Tulane students to spend sunny afternoons. We made our way down to the Quarter that night just in time to catch the parade. When the parade reached its end we hopped in the back and marched along for 30 minutes or so, dancing behind the jazz band. By the time we got to One Eyed Jacks everyone was exhausted. Once Stix stepped out on stage, though, we jumped up with excitement.

I should take some time here to explain the style of music. The lineup has changed several times over the last few years. When I first saw them there was a guitar and banjo, and there was also a suitcase drum kit and a barrel with a large piece of wood coming out if it and single steel string stretched across it that acted as a bass. Since he's been solo it's just acoustic guitar, suitcase kick drum and tambourine (he plays all at once, utilizing both feet for the tambourine and suitcase). The songs are bluesy folky hobo jams that range from dark, grizzled dirges to light and sweet harmonic tunes. While not exactly "dance music", the rhythm is great and it's hard not to want to get up and stomp your feet along.

The show was spectacular. Many of the songs were off his most recent album, which I hadn't heard at the time, but they were all immediately accessible and enjoyable. He played two of my favorites: "I Don't Know" and "Pushed Time" (both available on his MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=77200874) He dropped a bombshell midway through the show when he announced that this would be his last time performing as My Graveyard Jaw. It was hard to be too upset, though, because his reason for calling it quits is that he and some friends are starting a new band, to be known as Death By Arrow.

My Graveyard Jaw is a a wonderful chapter in New Orleans music that I'm sad to see come to an end. Although the band comes to an end, the music lives on. I urge you to seek out the albums already released. If you find yourself in New Orleans, try and catch a Death By Arrow show -- there's a good chance I'll be there.

J. Lakin - NOLA

Changing Horses - Ben Kweller - 2009-02-02

Pre-listen feelings - hopeful and somewhat expectant - only know the artist from an appearance on Letterman recently. Was a high-energy performance of a song with a good hook and an interesting lyric. Download from iTunes. Track-by-track.

Gypsy Rose - Nice voice over guitar with drums and bass . Lots of space, love the slide guitar. 'world will make you cry', vocal not perfect but very heartfelt. Very sparse - 'world will suck you dry' - Sings about summer day and it feels that way, languid and with some regret but hope also.

Old Hat - nice pedal, he won't become the 'old hat' she puts on her pretty head. Rather set her free, nice harmony and very strong vocal. Really lets it hang out. No fade on ending, live.

Fight - shades of Pancho and Lefty, more literal, this song could be/should be a hit. Wonder if it will find an audience. Toe tapping, finger-snapping barrel of fun and cautionary advice. Honky-tonk piano and pedal. First place his voice reminded me of Gram Parsons. Very strong influence.  Another great ending. Can't beat a super ending, tight and thought out to a great song.

Hurtin' You  - Indestructible Mom, always pulling everything together, real longing and some fear - she has to survive the hurt and come back - nice tune. Well sung.

Ballad of Wendy Baker - Feel like you are in the room with him, while he plays the guitar and sings about Wendy. No one loves till it's gone. Strings, 'rain inside your eyes', plaintive and emotion-laden vocals. Sparse bass line with only the strings and vocal. Bass doubling the melody. Very nice. Never mentions title, - shades of Gene Clark with the personal writing and singing.

Sawdust Man - Dobro and loose feeling - head over heals in love - on top of the Greyhound station, won't you please come home? Sounds like the Beatles? Direct homage. Killer track - could be another hit. Find an audience. Some kind of machine voice, CB radio again Beatlesque. Fade out, oh well.

Wantin' Her Again - 'she just wants me wantin' her again' - bridge - nice change in tempo and structure - couple of bridges - guessing at what the girl from California wants but thinks he'd better be cautious.

Things I Like to Do - straightforward - thought about what he likes. Mainly with her - simple, heartfelt love song at the end.

On Her Own  - Great pop song, Katrina reference, chorus that doesn't quit. Like other songs very interesting structure, will be more fun the more listens to the song/album.

Homeward Bound - homeless - hymnal quality, lost soul, nice Dobro and an Accapella section.

The Biggest Flower  - out on the road, need some more listens - not a very strong song to finish with? Might just need a few more listens

Really like the album first time through. Both accessible and leaves the strong impression the 2nd listen will be more interesting and fun than the first listen.

Wantin' Her Again - video - in the woods with his band-mates - kind of lame but I guess there's not much budget.

tags - alternative country, gram parsons, gene clark, beatles, ben kweller

Changing Horses - Ben Kweller - 2009-02-02

Pre-listen feelings - hopeful and somewhat expectant - only know the artist from an appearance on Letterman recently. Was a high-energy performance of a song with a good hook and an interesting lyric. Download from iTunes. Track-by-track.

Gypsy Rose - Nice voice over guitar with drums and bass . Lots of space, love the slide guitar. 'world will make you cry', vocal not perfect but very heartfelt. Very sparse - 'world will suck you dry' - Sings about summer day and it feels that way, languid and with some regret but hope also.

Old Hat - nice pedal, he won't become the 'old hat' she puts on her pretty head. Rather set her free, nice harmony and very strong vocal. Really lets it hang out. No fade on ending, live.

Fight - shades of Pancho and Lefty, more literal, this song could be/should be a hit. Wonder if it will find an audience. Toe tapping, finger-snapping barrel of fun and cautionary advice. Honky-tonk piano and pedal. First place his voice reminded me of Gram Parsons. Very strong influence.  Another great ending. Can't beat a super ending, tight and thought out to a great song.

Hurtin' You  - Indestructible Mom, always pulling everything together, real longing and some fear - she has to survive the hurt and come back - nice tune. Well sung.

Ballad of Wendy Baker - Feel like you are in the room with him, while he plays the guitar and sings about Wendy. No one loves till it's gone. Strings, 'rain inside your eyes', plaintive and emotion-laden vocals. Sparse bass line with only the strings and vocal. Bass doubling the melody. Very nice. Never mentions title, - shades of Gene Clark with the personal writing and singing.

Sawdust Man - Dobro and loose feeling - head over heals in love - on top of the Greyhound station, won't you please come home? Sounds like the Beatles? Direct homage. Killer track - could be another hit. Find an audience. Some kind of machine voice, CB radio again Beatlesque. Fade out, oh well.

Wantin' Her Again - 'she just wants me wantin' her again' - bridge - nice change in tempo and structure - couple of bridges - guessing at what the girl from California wants but thinks he'd better be cautious.

Things I Like to Do - straightforward - thought about what he likes. Mainly with her - simple, heartfelt love song at the end.

On Her Own  - Great pop song, Katrina reference, chorus that doesn't quit. Like other songs very interesting structure, will be more fun the more listens to the song/album.

Homeward Bound - homeless - hymnal quality, lost soul, nice Dobro and an Accapella section.

The Biggest Flower  - out on the road, need some more listens - not a very strong song to finish with? Might just need a few more listens

Really like the album first time through. Both accessible and leaves the strong impression the 2nd listen will be more interesting and fun than the first listen.

Wantin' Her Again - video - in the woods with his band-mates - kind of lame but I guess there's not much budget.

tags - alternative country, gram parsons, gene clark, beatles, ben kweller