Crow, Dylan a Potent Combo

Crow, Dylan a Potent Combo

2.4.97 By Ken Hoffman for the Houston Chronicle (TX)

A few years ago, before Sheryl Crow hit stardom, Bob Dylan hired her as his opening act for a string of shows in New York City.

Despite warnings that no one would pay attention - after all, the people were paying to see Dylan - Crow lit up the audiences. Her debut album, "Tuesday Night Music Club," raced to No. 1. It sold 8 million copies, and Crow ended the year a superstar in her own right, clutching three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.

So it was a debt repaid, one generation later, when Crow had the Wallflowers, with lead singer Jakob Dylan, open her concert Sunday night at the Music Hall.
And judging from the ovations the Wallflowers received, don't be surprised if they pocket a couple of Grammys next month, too.

Still, it was Crow's show and her audience. She walked onstage confidently cracking gum, her long legs packed into purple plaid hip-huggers, with a black tank top exposing her trim waist and lean, muscular arms. Her hair is back to being permed and wild, pulled off her face by barrettes.

In three short years, Crow has developed into an important artist. On her latest album, titled simply "Sheryl Crow," she's written and produced all of the songs, plus played most of the instruments. Last summer she flew to Bosnia to entertain the troops and got tight with Hillary Rodham Clinton. She was all over the inauguration.

She's a performer at the top of her game. Crow joked with the crowd, telling little stories between songs. Two numbers in, she was relaxed enough to park her chewing gum on a speaker.

The jammed Music Hall vibrated after her first hit, "Leaving Las Vegas," and Crow fed off the energy. "I was running on empty, but you've given me a second wind," she said.

After that, Crow delivered hit song after hit song, including "Can't Cry Anymore," "If It Makes You Happy" and her monster breakthrough smash, "All I Wanna Do."

Crow's voice is so clean and strong that you can make out every word. Her lyrics are so compelling that you listen intently. Even though she's a pure pop star, the audience sat quiet and still until each song's end and then exploded.

There was no evidence of Crow's switch to a more glamorous look or mention of her romantic breakup with rock legend Eric Clapton.
Crow swapped back and forth between playing guitar, piano, tambourine and even the dreaded accordion for her encore number, "Strong Enough." It was a virtuoso performance by a compelling woman who's sure to be around a long, long time.

The Music Hall crowd was just as wild for the Wallflowers. At one point Jakob Dylan scratched his unruly hair and mumbled, "We've never been treated this nice by anybody."

You don't need DNA to know whose son Jakob is. The bags under the eyes, the unruly hair, the black clothes and hunched posture behind a microphone are undeniably Dylan. He even mumbles like his father.

The best part is, he writes and sings like a young Bob Dylan. Like these lyrics to "One Headlight," from the band's current album "Bringing Down the Horse:"

"So long ago, I don't remember when
That's when they say I lost my only friend,
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease"
"As I listened through the cemetery trees."

Jakob's songs may be more melodic, but the words are just as mysterious as Dad's. Put money on it that this is the Wallflowers' last tour as an opening act.
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