Dylan Fest AC 2015

CONCERT REVIEW: DYLAN FEST AC August 28, 2015


100.7 ZXL, Formica Brothers Bakery, an Atlantic City Institution in their own right, welcomed a great night of BOB DYLAN music, pop culture and the history of the legendary artist and his original ties to Southern New Jersey!

While it may be common knowledge the former Robert Zimmerman was reared in the northern tundra of Duluth, Minnesota and would later stake his claim..and acclaim as Bob Dylan. you may not be aware that this icon of early folk and electric controversy had intimate ties to South Jersey. This night was a celebration of that connection!

Bob Dylan was first to plug in electric at the Newport Folk Festival in August, 1965. It nearly caused a riot to the accoustic sensibilities of the promoters, performers and fans alike. It would change the idea of the recorded message forever.  Bob would endure ridicule and threats to his person for bucking the system. Turning up the decibels would launch the former Robert Zimmerman into the stratosphere.

Opening Act: Peter Stone Brown, artist, songwriter and composer and a holdover audience member at the Bob Dylan Forest Hills, New York concert in 1965, Bob's first electric offering since plugging in at Newport, performed Bob's opening setlist of that night: This man was channeling Dylan in emotion, looks and sound.
Mr. Tamborine Man was stellar and brought favorable response from a sold out crowd at the intimate Dante Hall, Atlantic City.  Brown was a serious musician and a quiet yet friendly, soft spoken soul. We were thankful for the complete package of Mr. Brown. A

Headliner: The Five Believers led by guitarist-vocalist Jeff Schwachter powered out a full-on Dylan setlist of his best works! From Highway 61 Revisited, the iconic album released August 30, 1965 (50 years ago) to Rainy Day Women #12  & #35 and All Along The Watch Tower, fans really appreciated the trip back into the 1960's time machine!   A++ 

Dante Hall/ What a fantastic venue for special commemorative presentations and performances like Dylan Fest AC 2015. The crowd, a mature mixture of young and old mingled well together and appreciated the Dylan wall art, books and records on display in the foyer as fans entered the showroom. Stephanie Clineman, Executive Director of Entertainment for Stockton University was a delight and welcomed dignitaries such as the President of The University and others. It was a total fun experience for all. A+

Special Presentation: Dylan Fest AC 2015 was as much about Bob Dylan's discovery of a group of musicians playing the local Tony Marts Nightclub in Somers Point as it was about the 50th Anniversary of all things Bob. The Hawks would delight south jersey patrons of The iconic Tony Marts Club by the late 1960's. The Hawks blew the roof off the place to the delight of fans and Bob Dylan himself, who requested these musicians for himself and his road warrior detail. The HAWKS would later transform into THE BAND. Dylan Fest AC would welcome family members of the late great bass player Rick Danko to the stage. Danko niece Danielle Cockburn and son Justin Grafton Danko would accept a commemorative plaque of the Hawks/ The Band influence on our great area. C