Brick backed and stone stacked, Dibbern played for for the folks at the bar and the tenders and the servers and everybody else who had something they wanted to hear as long as he knew how to play it.
It's no surprise that the man who ran away with the Sesame Circus for a decade was stumbled onto by a couple who'd seen him once ... on ice, or in a dream, or maybe it was in New Bedford. Beside the gypsic live show travelers, was an adorable, squealing wife & her hubby who couldn't have been more pleased with whatever the bard pulled out of his tip ... top hat.
That hat being as tall as it is, there was plenty to groove to - as usual. He turned out a 2-hour set (no breaks - watch the highlights above): he broke out the Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zant - all Dibbern standards, complete with the Paul Simon closer (Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes). Some strong Tom Petty and a John Prine cameo too (with accompanying singalong between sips from the happy squealer). A well-timed Bob Weir double-feature tribute stood out: Cassidy and Me & My Uncle. Hopefully they’ll be (welcomed) additions to the apparitions that bop around in Dibbern's subconscious and present themselves for show at the appropriate moments.
The set led, like the 12 paths in Paris to the Arc, to the inevitable Tom Waits tunes. He wrapped a double feature with Clap Hands before chasing back around and encoring with Ol' 55. A born raconteur, Dibbern will wax on about the songwriting style of The Great Gravely One and his baphometic light and dark tendencies. The affectionate covers come complete with deep, dank solos and tales rich with millionaire slander.
Derek is filling out his venue docket - check him out at the Barley Neck Inn, Friday, 23 Jan 26 @ 830p.
For a full list of dates - consult the source.
