Bob Dylan surprised audiences in Boston on November 10th with a performance of “long Black veil,” a traditional folk ballad he hadn’t played live in 34 years. The unexpected inclusion of the song, originally popularized by Lefty Frizzell and later covered by artists like 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 songs by Willie dixon, Leonard Cohen, Muddy Waters, John Mellencamp, and the Grateful Dead, including “Truckin'” and “Stella Blue.” These choices demonstrate Dylan’s ongoing engagement with musical history and his willingness to reinterpret classic material.
Beyond his performances, Dylan recently accepted an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music and has reportedly been working on new material with his band in Albany, New York. A fan site operator was recently asked to leave a Glasgow show after sharing live photos and footage, highlighting the artist’s strict policy against recording during performances.
