Bob Dylan’s band made a rather unconventional entrance at a recent concert, leaving the crowd in fits of laughter. The legendary musician is currently on the Outlaw Music Festival tour across the US, and his latest stop in New York has caused quite a stir.
Duluth-born Dylan, who spent his early years in New York, returned for a gig yesterday (August 1). Fans were left in stitches on social media platform X, debating whether it was Dylan himself or his long-time bass guitarist Tony Garnier who made an unusual arrival by boat, as per a thread that lit up with excitement.
The initial post on X exclaimed: “BOB IN A BOAT.” A close-up video uploaded to the platform shows a figure dressed in black and donning a hat embarking on a small craft that headed directly towards the stage.
The performance took place in Wantagh, New York, near the shoreline, suggesting that reaching the stage from the usual tour bus required a more nautical approach this time.
A boat was the chosen mode of transport for the musicians, and spectators are convinced they caught a glimpse of either Dylan or one of his bandmates en route to the event.
The footage sparked joy among fans, with one commenting: “Brings me so much joy to see Bob in a boat. Thank you.”
Another added: “Yes, I saw that! Yes, he was with Tony headed to the stage at Jones Beach. Great show!” While a third expressed their excitement: “Oh my God, I hope he’s having fun.”
Speculation was rife among fans as to whether it was Dylan’s long-standing musical partner, Tony Garnier, making his way to the stage. One enthusiast speculated: “Could be Tony.”
Another shared: “Guy in the hat is definitely Tony Garnier, I saw another video of them getting off the boat and Bob is in a white hoodie.”
Dylan’s gig received high acclaim from those who were there, with the iconic musician delivering a mix of covers and classics from his extensive catalogue.
An attendee shared their experience on the r/BobDylan Reddit page, revealing how they and another fan took turns using binoculars for a better view of the performance.
Their post read: “My microscopic view of Dylan tonight at Jones Beach. Thank you to the person beside me for sharing binoculars so I could see him.”
They continued to express their awe: “What a night. I was absolutely floored by how amazing he sounds live, and by how ethereal his presence is. Also thoroughly enjoyed Lucinda, Wilco and Willie Nelson, won’t forget this day anytime soon.”
Adding to the praise, they noted: “The energy of the crowd and performances were just top notch, I think it helped that the weather was really nice and cool today. And yeah, I was a bit sceptical about how Dylan might sound but he blew me away.”