Concert review

Standing atop a black-and-white checkered stage, wearing a jazzy white suit (no tie) and flanked by a pair of guitarists almost as unique in appearance as the man himself, Bob Dylan strutted his immortal stuff Saturday at McArthur Court.
The 150-minute, 18-song set started at 8 p.m. and consisted of a few standards and songs from his latest release, “Love and Theft.” There were also a fair number of covers in what amounted to a comfortably subdued and surprise-free performance.
The arena was nearly full. The audience swayed mildly, with a few energetic anomalies on the fringes of the crowd. The stage was raised on the basketball court and was decorated minimally — an off-white curtain backdrop and colored lights.
The “and his band” on the bill comprised four other musicians. Throughout the set, Larry Campbell switched between acoustic, electric and steel guitars, mandolin and violin. Tony Garnier played both acoustic and electric bass guitars, as well as a stand-up bass. George Receli sat behind the drum set and Charlie Sexton played a variety of electric guitars during the show, supplanted by the occasional acoustic. Campbell’s musicianship was especially noteworthy.
The show opened with acoustic versions of “Maggie’s Farm” and “Just Like a Woman,” to the obvious delight of the diverse crowd.
Dylan did time on keyboard and acoustic and electric guitars throughout the show and picked up a harmonica for a somewhat creaky version of “Baby Blue.”
Among the covers, Dylan’s rendition of “Brown Sugar” was a notable jam and “Friend of the Devil” was a perfect fit for Dead-friendly Eugene.
The most timely of the covers were three Warren Zevon songs — “Accidentally Like a Martyr,” “Lawyers, Guns and Money” (both off his 1978 release “Excitable Boy”) and “Mutineer.” The significant number of Zevon covers indicates a likely connection to Zevon’s recent announcement that he has terminal cancer and less than two months to live.
The band returned for an obligatory encore — a three-song set consisting of some of Dylan’s most popular, enduring tunes — “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and “All Along The Watchtower” before being whisked away in a black tour bus.
Ultimately, the show was not amazing, but let’s face it — it’s Dylan, and that’s enough.