Photo Credit: William Claxton

Over the weekend, Bob Dylan continued his Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour in Japan. The musician commenced a five-night run at Tokyo Garden Theater on Tuesday, April 11, and followed up the next night with a debut of the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin’.” Continuing the theme of borrowed material, Dylan added the Crickets’ “Not Fade Away” to his Saturday night set before cutting into 90 seconds of the Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” on Sunday, April 16.

Saturday’s main frame was packed with songs from Dylan’s expansive repertoire. After kicking off the night with “Watching the River Flow” and “Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine,” the musical master turned to his 2020 LP–for which the tour is named–and ran through “I Contain Multitudes” and “False Prophet” prior to fan favorite, “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” 

Dylan returned to his Rough and Rowdy Ways collection next, delivering a pair of songs plucked from the previously mentioned album and continued with “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.” Ensuing renditions of “Crossing the Rubicon,” “To Be Alone With You,” and “Key West (Philosopher Pirate)” dominated the midway point of the show. After “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You,” Dylan’s take on the Cricket’s favorite came to be. 

The instrumentals of “Not Fade Away” ushered applause as the crowd, which made the connection and recognized the tune almost instantaneously. Upon the arrival of the lyrics, fans wailed in excitement at the bust out, which was last performed by Dylan in 2009. After the desirable live music moment, the billed act cut into “Mother of Muses” and “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” before the last song of the set, “Every Grain of Sand.”

Dylan followed up the next night, April 16, with more of the same. The artist ran through a nearly identical setlist as his April 15 show, adding one truly prized addition to the performance: 90 seconds of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty favorite, “Brokedown Palace.” The first-time take on the Robert Hunter-penned number saw Dylan stepped away from the Dead’s classic delivery, in favor of his distinctly soulful and meandering approach to the heartfelt lyrics.

Bob Dylan singing the Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” in Tokyo a few nights ago for the first time ever. pic.twitter.com/qc40SoVVHv

— Ray Padgett (@rayfp) April 16, 2023

Bob Dylan 

Tokyo Garden Theater – Tokyo, Japan 

April 15, 2023 

Set: Watching the River Flow, Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine, I Contain Multitudes, False Prophet, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Black Rider, My Own Version of You, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Crossing the Rubicon, To Be Alone With You, Key West (Philosopher Pirate), Gotta Serve Somebody, I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You, Not Fade Away (The Crickets)*, Mother of Muses, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain of Sand 

Notes:

* Last performed in 2009

Bob Dylan 

Tokyo Garden Theater – Tokyo, Japan 

April 16, 2023 

Set: Watching the River Flow, Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine, I Contain Multitudes, False Prophet, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Black Rider, My Own Version of You, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Crossing the Rubicon, To Be Alone With You, Key West (Philosopher Pirate), Gotta Serve Somebody, I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You, That Old Black Magic (Johnny Mercer), Mother of Muses, Brokedown Palace (Grateful Dead)+, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain of Sand 

Notes:

+ Partial performance played for approximately 90 seconds 

Setlist via Setlist.FM.