Key developments
Dayton review captures stripped-down Dylan set
Eric Gilliland's April 12 review from Dayton's Schuster Center says Dylan returned with a more stripped-down setup than in the 2010s, fronting the band from keyboard and adding occasional harmonica. The roughly 90-minute set opened with 'To Be Alone with You,' moved through 'Man in the Long Black Coat' and 'All Along the Watchtower,' and then leaned heavily on Rough and Rowdy Ways material in the second half. Gilliland also notes covers of 'I Can Tell' and 'Nervous Breakdown' and a strict phone policy.
Why it matters
It documents the current live format and setlist direction from one of Dylan's recent shows.
Sources & driving stories
BOB DYLAN: ALBUM BY ALBUM · Eric Gilliland
Bob Dylan: Album by Album coveragePadgett notes spring 2026 differs from 2025
In a new April 14 post, Ray Padgett compares a Rough and Rowdy Ways request show from spring 2025 with the current spring 2026 run. He says the arrangements are 'very different' and points out that 'My Own Version of You' was still in the 2025 version but is absent now. The piece places that comparison within his ongoing request series spanning Asheville 2004 through West Lafayette 2025.
Why it matters
It shows the current tour is still evolving rather than simply repeating last year's arrangements.
Sources & driving stories
FLAGGING DOWN THE DOUBLE E'S · Ray Padgett
Flagging Down the Double E's coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Koella kidney failure ended his gig
The April 14 post gives a specific explanation for Freddy Koella's exit from Dylan's Asheville-era touring band.
WORTH NOTING
Rare 'Unbelievable' return after decade
Padgett highlights a live 'Unbelievable' that had been absent for nearly 10 years, underscoring the archival depth of the request-show series.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will spring 2026 keep dropping 'My Own Version of You'?
Padgett's comparison suggests the song's rotation may be a useful marker of whether the current run has settled into a new pattern.
OPEN QUESTION
Is the Dayton lineup the new baseline?
The review describes new personnel and a stripped-down sound, but it is unclear whether that configuration is temporary or lasting.