Bobโฃ Dylan surprised audiences in Boston on November 10th with a โperformance of “long Black veil,” a traditional folk ballad he hadn’t played live in 34 years. Theโข unexpected inclusion of the song, originally popularized by Lefty Frizzell andโฃ later covered by artists โขlikeโค Johnny Cash, occurred during a concert at the Wang Theatre.
This performance arrives amid a recent string of cover songs woven into Dylan’s tour setlist,signaling a continued exploration of the American songbook. In 2023 alone, dylan has performed songsโ by Willie dixon, Leonard Cohen, Muddy Waters, John Mellencamp, and the Grateful Dead, including “Truckin'” โand “Stella Blue.” These choices demonstrate Dylan’s ongoing engagement with musical history and his willingness โฃto reinterpret classic material.
Beyond โhis performances, Dylan recently accepted an honoraryโ doctorateโค from the Berklee College of Music and โhas reportedly been working on new material with his band in Albany, New York. A fan site operator was recently โasked to leave a Glasgow show after sharing live photos and footage, highlighting the artist’sโฃ strict policy against recording during performances.
