At only 18 years old, Kiah Spurle takes you through a timeline of Bob Dylan’s music, including his influences and the reasoning behind the lyrics, which is easier said than done. The man is well known for keeping the inspiration behind his songs quiet.
Kiah hits the stage with Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, in reference to Bob Dylan’s hard start in his music career. She also uses his words for herself on stage, speaking specifically to any reviewers or critics in the crowd (at this point I felt somewhat like a deer in headlights), she says in the most relaxed way possible that whatever the reviews are, “I say, don’t think twice, I’m alright.”
After a couple of solo acoustic versions of Dylan’s popular songs, the Night Owl band appears from behind the curtain and join Kiah to kick off the rock folk party. More than just music, this is a tribute to Bob Dylan. The band expresses how close we are with each generation and how experiences in the 60s can still be prevalent today.
Before coming to a close, the most powerful song comes on “Make You Feel My Love”, more known now as an Adele song, but originally written and sung by Dylan is moving enough on its own, but now overlayed behind on a screen is video footage of the 60s and today, proving how interconnected the past and present are. Images of war, troubled celebrities, sports, and leaders flash by.
Kiah and the Night Owl Band should be proud of how they have twisted an afternoon of music into something more meaningful. The message and the music are an absolute delight.
Bob Dylan Undercover 13.40, theSpaceTriplex, until August 23
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bob-dylan-under-cover
