5      THE NEVER-ENDING TOUR CONTINUES. 1

5.1       Introduction. 1

5.2       The musicians. 1

5.3       The show.. 2

5.4       US Winter Tour. 3

5.4.1        Dates and venues. 3

5.4.2        The songs. 4

5.4.3        Statistics. 12

5.4.4        Comments. 12

 

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JOKERMAN

 

 

5      THE NEVER-ENDING TOUR CONTINUES

5.1                           Introduction

The Never-Ending Tour rolled on with no less than 119 new shows an all-time high, 3 more than during 1995. This year there were five new "legs":

 

January – March

US Winter Tour

28 shows

April – May

Europe Spring Tour

21 shows

June – July

US Summer Tour with Paul Simon

38 shows

September

US Fall Tour with Paul Simon

10 shows

October – November

US Fall Tour with Phil Lesh

22 shows

 

5.2                           The musicians

 

Bucky Baxter left the band after more than seven years and a staggering 731 shows! He was replaced by Larry Campbell and he in turn was replaced by Charlie Sexton.

 

Larry Campbell

electric and acoustic guitar, back-up vocal, fiddle, pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, electric & acoustic slide guitar, dobro, bouzouki, mandolin.

Bucky Baxter (January – May)

pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, electric & acoustic slide guitar, dobro, mandolin, back-up vocal

Charlie Sexton
(from June)

electric and acoustic guitar, back-up vocal.

Tony Garnier

bass

David Kemper

drums

 

[TOP]

5.3                           The show

For the first time since the start of the Never-Ending Tour the format of the show changed from the

standard set:

5-6 electric songs

3-4 acoustic

2-3 electric

and then 1- 5 encores:

1-2 electric

1-2 acoustic

0-3 electric

used during the first two shows to a format starting with an acoustic set as follows:

5-6 acoustic songs

4-6 electric

and then 1- 5 encores:

1-2 electric

1-2 acoustic

0-3 electric

 

5.4                           US Winter Tour

5.4.1                       Dates and venues

 

JANUARY

 

26

Fort Myers, Florida

Everblades Arena

28

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

National Car Rental Center, Sunrise

29

Daytona Beach, Florida

Ocean Center

30

Tampa, Florida

Ice Palace

 

FEBRUARY

 

  1

Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center

  2

Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola Civic Center

  3

New Orleans, Louisiana

Nat Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena, University Of New Orleans

  5

Memphis, Tennessee

New Daisy Theater

  6

Nashville, Tennessee

Municipal Auditorium

  7

Birmingham, Alabama

Boutwell Auditorium

  9

Dayton, Ohio

Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University

10

Columbus, Ohio

Veterans Memorial Auditorium

12

Carbondale, Illinois

SIU Arena, Southern Illinois University

13

Normal, Illinois

Redbird Arena, Illinois State University

14

South Bend, Indiana

Joyce Center Arena, Notre Dame University

15

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Van Andel Arena

17

Cleveland, Ohio

CSU Convocation Center, Cleveland State University

18

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Stabler Arena, Lehigh University

19

Binghamton, New York

Broome County Arena

20

Lake Placid, New York

Olympic Center

22

Troy, New York

RPI Fieldhouse, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

23

Buffalo, New York

Marine Midland Arena

24

Amherst, Massachusetts

Mullins Center, University of Massachusetts

25

Portland, Maine

Cumberland County Civic Center

27

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Copa Room, Sands Casino - early show

27

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Copa Room, Sands Casino - late show

 

MARCH

 

  1

Las Vegas, Nevada

Club Rio, Rio Suite Hotel & Casino

  2

Las Vegas, Nevada

House Of Blues, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

 

 

[TOP]

 

5.4.2                       The songs

AB      acoustic with the band

SONG CHART

 

January

February

March

26

28

29

30

1

2

3

5

6

7

9

10

12

13

14

15

17

18

19

20

22

23

24

25

27

27

1

2

S

Gotta Serve Somebody

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

24

I'll Remember You

2

2

2

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Bl

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

5

3

3

14

Blind Willie McTell

4

4

4

11

4

Watching The River Flow

5

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

1

1

10

My Blue Eyed Jane

AB

6

6

6

3

Mr. Tambourine Man

AB

7

6

6

6

6

7

7

7

8

Tangled Up In Blue

AB

8

9

8

8

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

8

9

8

8

8

8

8

9

8

8

8

8

8

8

28

One Too Many Mornings

AB

9

7

2

Can't Wait

10

5

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

10

5

3

3

3

10

16

Highway 61 Revisited

11

11

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

10

10

11

11

28

Love Sick

12

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

14

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

11

13

11

11

12

26

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

13

13

14

14

14

14

15

14

14

14

14

14

12

Blowin' In The Wind

AB

14

14

15

15

15

15

15

16

15

15

15

15

15

12

14

Not Fade Away

15

15

14

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

13

13

14

13

27

Forever Young

AB

16

9

9

3

Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)

2

1

Silvio

3

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

6

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

20

Just Like A Woman

4

4

2

4

4

4

6

Stone Walls And Steel Bars

AB

6

6

6

6

6

5

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

AB

7

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

12

13

13

The Times They Are A-Changin'

AB

8

8

8

9

9

5

Make You Feel My Love

10

11

4

4

4

4

10

10

10

4

4

4

4

9

10

15

If Not For You

2

1

Cold Irons Bound

3

5

10

3

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

4

1

Ballad Of A Thin Man

5

11

11

3

Roving Gambler

AB

6

1

Love Minus Zero/No Limit

AB

7

8

2

My Back Pages

AB

9

15

10

3

'Til I Fell In Love With You

10

10

11

11

10

10

10

11

8

You're Too Late

11

1

Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35

16

14

14

14

4

Man In The Long Black Coat

2

1

Never Gonna Be The Same Again

4

1

Cocaine Blues

AB

6

6

6

3

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

AB

7

1

Million Miles

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

19

Desolation Row

AB

7

8

7

3

Honky Tonk Blues

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

8

Queen Jane Approximately

4

1

Rock Of Ages

AB

6

1

Masters Of War

AB

7

7

7

7

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

12

Friend Of The Devil

AB

8

8

8

7

7

7

9

9

9

9

9

11

Everything Is Broken

14

14

14

14

14

5

Girl From The North Country

AB

8

8

9

9

4

Maggie's Farm

3

14

14

3

3

3

3

3

8

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

AB

7

7

7

8

8

8

6

It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To

10

1

Simple Twist Of Fate

4

1

Shelter From The Storm

4

11

2

Rank Strangers To Me

AB

7

1

Positively 4th Street

12

11

11

4

4

She Belongs To Me

4

4

2

You're A Big Girl Now

4

2

2

I Want You

4

1

Mama, You Been On My Mind

AB

7

1

To Ramona

AB

9

7

2

Every Grain Of Sand

11

1

Tears Of Rage

4

1

Boots Of Spanish Leather

AB

7

1

I Shall Be Released

11

1

To Be Alone With You

14

1

1

3

All Along The Watchtower

3

1

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

4

1

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

AB

7

7

2

Like A Rolling Stone

13

13

2

I Don't Believe You

10

1

Visions Of Johanna

AB

7

1

Pledging My Time

10

1

Lay Lady Lay

2

2

2

It Ain't Me, Babe

AB

6

6

6

3

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

AB

12

1

Total # of songs

16

15

16

15

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

13

13

14

13

436

 

[TOP]

 

ALPHABETIC SONG CHART

 

January

February

March

26

28

29

30

1

2

3

5

6

7

9

10

12

13

14

15

17

18

19

20

22

23

24

25

27

27

1

2

S

All Along The Watchtower

3

1

Ballad Of A Thin Man

5

11

11

3

Blind Willie McTell

4

4

4

11

4

Blowin' In The Wind

AB

14

14

15

15

15

15

15

16

15

15

15

15

15

12

14

Boots Of Spanish Leather

AB

7

1

Can't Wait

10

5

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

10

5

3

3

3

10

16

Cocaine Blues

AB

6

6

6

3

Cold Irons Bound

3

5

10

3

Desolation Row

AB

7

8

7

3

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

AB

7

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

12

13

13

Every Grain Of Sand

11

1

Everything Is Broken

14

14

14

14

14

5

Forever Young

AB

16

9

9

3

Friend Of The Devil

AB

8

8

8

7

7

7

9

9

9

9

9

11

Girl From The North Country

AB

8

8

9

9

4

Gotta Serve Somebody

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

24

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

AB

7

1

Highway 61 Revisited

11

11

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

10

10

11

11

28

Honky Tonk Blues

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

8

I Don't Believe You

10

1

I Shall Be Released

11

1

I Want You

4

1

If Not For You

2

1

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

4

1

I'll Remember You

2

2

2

It Ain't Me, Babe

AB

6

6

6

3

It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To

10

1

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

AB

7

7

7

8

8

8

6

Just Like A Woman

4

4

2

4

4

4

6

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

AB

12

1

Lay Lady Lay

2

2

2

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

13

13

14

14

14

14

15

14

14

14

14

14

12

Like A Rolling Stone

13

13

2

Love Minus Zero/No Limit

AB

7

8

2

Love Sick

12

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

14

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

11

13

11

11

12

26

Maggie's Farm

3

14

14

3

3

3

3

3

8

Make You Feel My Love

10

11

4

4

4

4

10

10

10

4

4

4

4

9

10

15

Mama, You Been On My Mind

AB

7

1

Man In The Long Black Coat

2

1

Masters Of War

AB

7

7

7

7

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

12

Million Miles

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

19

Mr. Tambourine Man

AB

7

6

6

6

6

7

7

7

8

My Back Pages

AB

9

15

10

3

My Blue Eyed Jane

AB

6

6

6

3

Never Gonna Be The Same Again

4

1

Not Fade Away

15

15

14

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

13

13

14

13

27

One Too Many Mornings

AB

9

7

2

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

AB

7

7

2

Pledging My Time

10

1

Positively 4th Street

12

11

11

4

4

Queen Jane Approximately

4

1

Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35

16

14

14

14

4

Rank Strangers To Me

AB

7

1

Rock Of Ages

AB

6

1

Roving Gambler

AB

6

1

Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)

2

1

She Belongs To Me

4

4

2

Shelter From The Storm

4

11

2

Silvio

3

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

6

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

20

Simple Twist Of Fate

4

1

Stone Walls And Steel Bars

AB

6

6

6

6

6

5

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Bl

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

5

3

3

14

Tangled Up In Blue

AB

8

9

8

8

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

8

9

8

8

8

8

8

9

8

8

8

8

8

8

28

Tears Of Rage

4

1

'Til I Fell In Love With You

10

10

11

11

10

10

10

11

8

The Times They Are A-Changin'

AB

8

8

8

9

9

5

To Be Alone With You

14

1

1

3

To Ramona

AB

9

7

2

Watching The River Flow

5

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

1

1

10

Visions Of Johanna

AB

7

1

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

4

1

You're A Big Girl Now

4

2

2

You're Too Late

11

1

Total # of songs

16

15

16

15

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

13

13

14

13

436

 

 

 

[TOP]

5.4.3                       Statistics

 

Number of shows:

28

Number of circulating shows:

28

Number of circulating & complete shows:

28

Number of unique shows[1]:

28

Number of different shows[2]:

28

Number of different songs[3]:

73

Number of unique songs[4]:

73

Number of performed songs:

436

Mean number of performed songs:

15

Variation[5]:

4.7

 

# of

# of

songs

%

perf.

%

Electric

45

 61.6

296

 67.9

Acoustic w band

28

 38.4

140

 32.1

Albums

61

 83.6

366

 83.9

Singles

1

  1.4

4

  0.9

Outtakes

1

  1.4

4

  0.9

Covers

10

 13.7

62

 14.2

 

 

5.4.4                       Comments

 

Fort Myers, Florida 26 January

Live debut of My Blue Eyed Jane.

Daytona Beach, Florida 29 January

Live debut of You’re Too Late

Tallahassee, Florida 1 February

Live debut of Honky Tonk Blues.

Pensacola, Florida 2 February

Live debut of Rock Of Ages.

Buffalo, New York 23 February

Live debut of Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

Las Vegas, Nevada 1 March

Private show sponsored by Lucky Brand Dungarees.

 

 

Selected BobTalk

(for more BobTalk please refer to the session pages)

 

People told me I’d never get close to Normal, but they were wrong! (before Silvio in Normal, Illinois 13 February)

 

That was my version of Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing. (after Never Gonna Be The Same Again in Tampa, Florida 30 January).

Guests

 

Brian Setzer, who was the support act during this tour, played electric guitar on Ballad of A Thin Man, Highway 61 Revisited, Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35 and Not Fade Away at the show in Normal, Illinois 13 February. He returned 15 February in Grand Rapids, Michigan and played on the same songs and also on Honky Tonk Blues.

 

Members of the horn section from The Brian Setzer Orchestra played on Ballad of A Thin Man and Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35 at the shows in Normal, Illinois  13 February and Grand Rapids, Michigan 15 February.

 

Paul James from Toronto played guitar on Highway 61 Revisited, Like A Rolling Stone, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat and Not Fade Away at the show in Buffalo, New York 23 February.

 

Recommended shows

Tallahassee, Florida 1 February, Buffalo, New York 23 February.

 

Tapes

There are complete audience tapes from all shows in circulation.

 

[TOP]


[1] a show is unique if no other show has the same songs in the same order.

[2] a show is different from another show if the set of songs are different, regardless of order

[3] electric and acoustic versions are counted as different songs

[4] a song is counted as unique regardless of how it is performed

[5] variation is computed as the quote between number of different songs and mean number of performed songs