30 January 1974 Bob Dylan & The Band was at Madison Square Garden

This was the concert where I sat front row centre (see other Dylan post). I found this picture on the internet so there’s a good chance that the back of my head is among those at the front. This is my review from Melody Maker, dated February 9, one of the longest concert reviews I ever wrote. It was the first (and best) time I ever saw Bob Dylan
THEY CHEERED and clapped and waved for 15 minutes even though the house lights were up and ‘Greensleeves’ was playing through the PA system and Bob Dylan had already played a couple of numbers for encores.

Bill Graham, at the rear of the stage, looked perplexed and wondered when in hell the 20,000 Madison Square Garden crowd was ever going to leave.

Then Dylan returned, on his own and looking slightly sheepish. He’d discarded his black suit and was wearing a blue sweater with a white Maple Leaf on the front which indicated that the wearer was a supporter of a Canadian football team.

The cheering reached greater heights as Dylan walked to the microphone and looked as if he wanted to say something. Then he changed his mind and walked across the stage, smiling and holding his arms aloft like a prizefighter who’s just knocked out Cassius Clay.

Then he went back up to the mike and said somewhat briskly, “Thank You. See you next year.”

Then everyone knew it was over.

Bob Dylan’s return to New York last week will doubtless be the highlight of his current 21 city tour of America. He played four concerts at the Garden, selling out each one. There were two concerts last Wednesday and two concerts on Thursday.