Bob Dylan shows us his wild side at the new Backyard venue just west of Austin

Since The New Backyard has recently opened, I’d been dying to check it out. So, when my mom bought tickets for a small group of us to see Bob Dylan out there, I was more than thrilled, as Bob Dylan is one of my favorite artists of all time.

All throughout high school, I remember the excitement of driving up Highway 71 to see so many cool shows at such a fun venue, tucked away in the hills just outside of Austin.  Alas, when the shopping malls went up and the untamed back drop went down, its enchantment somewhat faded away.

The New Backyard, however, is further removed from the new shopping centers in Bee Cave, off of Highway 620, located on 38 acre patch of undisturbed Texas hill country. I have few complaints about the new venue, except for the car entering and exiting situation. The new location is beautiful and a great set up, but unfortunately it takes forever to park, as cars are forced to wait in a long line feeding in from three directions. We ended up parking somewhere about a five minute walk away and ten dollar charge – but it was well worth it to get out of that snail speed, sloth-like line!

Once actually in The Backyard, Rick, Barbara, my mom, Chris, and I were all pleasantly surprised at the new set up. Although not exactly the same as the old, it definitely comes close to recapturing the nature-feel of what the Backyard venue stands for. Almost like a natural stadium, the stage is set at the bottom of a rolling hill, allowing a good view from all spots. With soft grass as the floor and the sky as the ceiling, we immediately felt a good vibe as we spread out a quilt and grabbed refreshments.

With no opening act, Bob Dylan and his band began to play at about 8:30pm. And what a show! I saw Bob Dylan a couple of years ago at the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), but was not super impressed. I have and always will hold Bob close to my heart, as his song lyrics and folky style are rich with substance, but I honestly had a hard time hearing him or feeling his live presence at ACL. We just didn’t connect at this massive performance.

Things were so different this time. Maybe with the crowd being smaller and the space more intimate, Bob Dylan must have felt more comfortable unleashing his wild side with a spectacular performance. He played a healthy mix of new and old songs, but all with an innovative, buoyant flair. Alongside his band, he was downright jammin’ out. My mom even nicknamed him “Party Bob” for the night. He hopped from piano to harmonica with a humble, yet zestful energy. Not at all what I would expect from the too-cool-for-school Bob Dylan that usually comes to mind. Rick pointed out that he never once had anyone else assist in his singing. No back up. Just his good ol’ unique voice, singing along for almost two solid hours.

One of the best parts of the show was that Austin’s own Charlie Sexton was the lead guitarist in Bob Dylan’s band. Together they rocked out, both seeming in awe of one another’s talent. I was touched by the enthusiasm and excitement of Charlie Sexton – he reminded me of a little boy getting to perform with his ultimate dream idol.

The crowd was a friendly one as well, so we had no problem taking turns squirming through, finding holes closer to the front. I couldn’t believe how near we were to Bob Dylan – we could actually see his facial expressions. The Bob Dylan.

What a dream the evening was. We could even see a few stars up in the sky, shining down on one of the ultimate stars of our time. As the legend played, we danced along and enjoyed the Texas night. After the encore, Bob Dylan and all his band members lined up at the end of the stage, taking an endearing final bow together. It was no secret that they’d had a great time up on stage as well, and that they loved sharing it with their Austin audience.

Although I wished he’d played maybe one or two songs in more of his traditional, folky fashion, I must say the experience will forever be unforgettable. His novel, contemporary version of “Like a Rolling Stone” made the whole audience erupt into a wave of “Ahhhh’s!!!”. We’d never heard anything like it, yet already knew every word.

Thanks, again, Mama, for making such a magical dream of friends, music, and fun come true. I love you, and I’m so grateful for the good taste in music you instilled in me!