More Grateful Dead Tributes In Japan: Bob Dylan Plays Complete ‘Brokedown Palace’ & Debuts ‘Only A River’ In Nagoya

Bob Dylan closed out a three-city run through Japan on Thursday night with his third and final show at Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater in Nagoya. Dylan kept a trend of Grateful Dead tributes started at the previous stop in Tokyo going during his visit to Nagoya, including a double dose of Dead-related music tonight.

The 81-year-old musician proved the third time’s a charm at the Nagoya opener on Tuesday, when he finally made it through “Brokedown Palace.” Dylan debuted a seemingly impromptu version of the American Beauty classic in Tokyo last Friday, April 14. Bob appeared to surprise his bandmates with the selection as they slowly began accompanying him before Dylan aborted the cover and moved on to “Melancholy Mood.” A more fleshed out version came two nights later at Tokyo Garden Theater. Yet Bob Dylan transitioned into “Goodbye Jimmy Reed,” leaving “Brokedown Palace” unfinished.

Bob Dylan’s first full “Brokedown Palace” came in the 16-slot at Nagoya’s Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater on Tuesday. Dylan and his band — multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron, guitarists Bob Britt and Doug Lancio, drummer Jerry Pentecost and bassist Tony Garnier — nailed the Hunter/Garcia gem.

Stream a recording of Dylan’s third attempt at “Brokedown Palace” below thanks to Ray Padgett:

The Nagoya run continued on Wednesday when Bob Dylan trotted out Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” as the 14th song of the 17-tune concert. Dylan previously dusted off “Not Fade Away” in Tokyo on Saturday, April 15 for his first performance of the song originally recorded and released by the Crickets since August 8, 2009. “Not Fade Away” was a staple of the Grateful Dead live repertoire from 1969 through Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.

Bob Dylan started the trend of honoring the Grateful Dead in Japan back on Wednesday, April 12 when he debuted a cover of “Truckin'” during his second of five concerts at the Tokyo Garden Theater. Dylan gave the song a second go tonight towards the end of his tour-closing show in Nagoya. However, he had another GD-related trick up his sleeve. After following “Truckin'” with “Mother Of Muses,” Bob Dylan and his band unveiled their take on “Only A River.”

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir wrote “Only A River” in collaboration with Josh Ritter. Weir released the song on his excellent 2016 solo album, Blue Mountain. “Only A River” has been a staple of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros performances. Dylan, on baby grand piano for the duration of the run through Japan, followed the debut with “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” and “Every Grain Of Sand” to close Thursday’s concert and the Japanese leg of his Rough And Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour.

Setlists (via Bob Links)

Tuesday, April 18

Set: Watching The River Flow, Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine), Black Rider, I Contain Multitudes, False Prophet, When I Paint My Masterpiece, 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, Mother Of Muses, Brokedown Palace, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain Of Sand

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Wednesday, April 19

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, Mother Of Muses, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain Of Sand

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Thursday, April 20

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, Truckin’, Mother Of Muses, Only A River, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain Of Sand

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