Bob Dylan Plays Rare Tracks, Debuts “Nervous Breakdown” on 2026 Tour Kickoff
Bob Dylan launched the 2026 leg of his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour Saturday night at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, with a setlist marked by both familiar favorites and unexpected surprises. The 84-year-old singer-songwriter debuted Eddie Cochran’s 1958 hit “Nervous Breakdown” live for the first time and resurrected “Man in the Long Black Coat” from his 1990 album Oh Mercy, a song he hadn’t performed since 2013, according to fan reports.
The concert signaled a stylistic shift for the tour, with Dylan opting for a smaller keyboard instead of his usual grand piano and instructing guitarists Bob Britt and Doug Lancio to perform acoustically, despite an electric guitar remaining present on stage throughout the evening. Dylan performed six songs from “Rough and Rowdy Ways,” a reduction from the typical nine, signaling a deliberate re-arrangement of the show’s structure.
The evening began with “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” a staple of the tour, but quickly diverged from the established pattern with the inclusion of “The Man in the Long Black Coat.” Other less-frequent inclusions included “Don’t Reckon Twice, It’s All Right” and Bo Diddley’s “I Can Notify,” which Dylan had previously played only at Outlaw Festival appearances. The performance of “Nervous Breakdown” near the set’s conclusion proved to be the night’s biggest surprise, captured in audio recordings by attendees despite a ban on mobile phone use during the show.
Dylan’s previous American performances occurred during the Outlaw Festival tour in September 2025, shows notable for their unusual staging. He obscured his face with a hooded sweatshirt and employed bright lights and a music stand, making it tough for audience members to see him. The motivation for this approach, which he did not publicly explain, was likely a response to widespread unauthorized filming and photography at summer concerts, a practice he circumvented at smaller theater shows by requiring phones to be secured in pouches upon entry. Axs.com lists upcoming tour dates.
Despite the enthusiasm for the setlist changes, the concert wasn’t without its technical difficulties. A report from Matt Simonsen, published in Ray Padgett’s “Flagging Down the Double E’s” newsletter, described the performance as “the roughest concert of the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour,” citing issues with microphone placement. “Bob was too far from it when he sat, uncomfortable when he leaned into it, and picked it up and plopped it down about 10 times throughout the night,” Simonsen wrote, adding that the sound of the microphone stand hitting the stage often overshadowed Dylan’s vocals.
Dylan’s spring tour continues Sunday night at Mary W. Sommervold Hall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is scheduled to conclude May 1 at Abilene Auditorium in Abilene, Texas. Additional U.S. Dates have been announced for this summer, including performances on June 6 and 7 at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington, and July 2 at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Ticket Omaha is an official retailer for upcoming performances.