Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan runs through classics in Macon

The lights went out, the crowd began to scream, figures moved across the stage and the sound of the guitar rang out inside the Macon City Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 27.

The lights came back on and there stood 77-year old music legend, Bob Dylan. He sang all of his hit songs like “Make You Feel My Love” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”

Dylan played the harmonica into the souls of those seated inside the venue. He danced a long as his band played behind him. He put his hand on his hip and nodded to music being made as if he were taking it all in.

The crowd was hanging on every word he sang for nearly two hours. No opening act. No speeches to talk about songs or to introduce the band. Just Bob Dylan, his band and his fans along for the ride.

The scene was very intimate as the lights were dimmed low for most of the performance. Ushers moved up and down aisles to make sure guests remained seated.

There was hardly anyone with their phones out recording or taking photos. Except the man next to me who probably has the whole concert on his phone. For the most part it was night for music, nostalgia and a chance to see trailblazing icon.

I’ll be honest: I had never really listened to any of Dylan’s music until I watched him live on Saturday night. Most of the songs I recognized were ones I had heard covered by others like Garth Brooks and Adele.

About mid-way through the concert, he had made a new fan and a believer out of me.

The first time he put the harmonica to his lips, I was in shock at the sounds that came from the tiny instrument wielded by a master musician.

Of course, you could argue without the city of Macon there would be no Nobel Prize winning Bob Dylan. He credits Macon’s own Richard Penniman better known as Little Richard as the reason he even got into music. In his yearbook, Dylan’s dreams were to “join Little Richard.”

The Hibbing, Minn., native seemed to take in the opportunity to play in front of Richard’s hometown crowd. Dylan left the stage to a thunderous applause.

Fans stood screaming for five minutes or so before they willed him back to the stage. He would play a couple more tunes before taking a bow for good to a sold-out Macon crowd.

This story was originally published November 1, 2018 at 3:44 PM.