They're Not There

Last night's "Im Not There" (Dylan Movie Sountrack) Benefit Concert at the Beacon Theater which promised a great lineup of performers, underdelivered. There were highlights, more than one of which involved Jim James (of My Morning Jacket). But save a few sprinklings of creativity and energy, the night could be best characterized as messy and uninspired.

Perhaps hopes for the show were high because more than half of the 37 songs on the album are keepers? But few of the heavy hitters on the soundtrack were even announced for the concert (No Jeff Tweedy, Stephen Malkmus, Eddie Vedder, Sufjan Stevens, Willie Nelson, Antony, The Black Keys, Los Lobos, etc). So, my expectations were somewhat minimized. And aside from the aforementioned My Morning Jacket, plus Cat Power and the always brilliant Calexico, I more than likely wouldnt have gone to see any of the other artists performing.

The 'Special Guests' teaser on said bill was really too little to hang my hopes on. Evenso, the program was sloppy, anticlimactic, poorly produced and lacking in more than a couple of moments of music revelation. While were on the subject, those were:

Jim James with Calexico...his voice rules
My Morning Jacket being My Morning Jacket (covering Dylan)
Tift Merritt channeling Edie Brickell
John Doe's moves (he of punk band X)
Dinosaur Jr. founder J Mascis shredded it for the Beacon


Setlist:
‘When the Ship Comes In’ (Marcus Carl Franklin)

‘Billy 1′ (Calexico)

‘Goin’ To Acapulco’ (Jim James and Calexico)

‘Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)’ (Joe Henry with Calexico)

‘Man in the Long Black Coat’ (Mark Lanegan with Calexico)

‘All I Really Wanna Do’ (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

‘It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry’ (Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty with the Uptown Horns)‘

As I Went Out One Morning’

(Mira Billotte and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ (Ian Ball and Olly Peacock)

‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ (Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks)

‘Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35′ (Terry Adams)

‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ (Yo La Tengo)

‘Fourth Time Around’ (Yo La Tengo)

‘Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You’ (My Morning Jacket)

‘The Times They Are A-Changin”’ (Mason Jennings)

‘Pressing On’ (John Doe)

‘Buckets of Rain’ (Jimmy LaFave)

‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ (Tift Merritt)

‘Can’t Leave Her Behind’ (Lee Ranaldo and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Santa Fe’ (J. Mascis and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Ballad of a Thin Man’ (John Doe and the Million Dollar Bashers)

‘Masters of War’ (The Roots)

‘All Along the Watchtower’ (The Million Dollar Bashers and guests)