Guardian

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: News

Wright State's Nutter Center will host two Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame members when Bob Dylan and His Band, Elvis Costello and Amos Lee perform separate acts on October 16.

LiveNation, a live event promotion agency that has produced over 28,500 events to audiences exceeding 61 million people, approached event staff at the Nutter Center earlier this year to inquire about the possibility of booking the concert at the Dayton venue, according to Misty Cox, Marketing Manager.

"In an effort to strive for diverse acts, this concert is a great opportunity for the Nutter Center to host members of the community who are fans of well-known artists like Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello…it's good to have people come to Wright State," says Cox.

The event presents more than an opportunity for members of the community to see a concert; it will bring artists of "iconic" status who have produced music that has impacted society and culture to the Dayton area, according to David Baxter, communication professor.

Bob Dylan was "at the vanguard of folk music's protest genre" during a time when the U.S. was teeming with political turmoil as an anti-establishment movement rallied around the civil rights movement and American involvement in Vietnam, according to Baxter.

Songs such as "Like a Rolling Stone," "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Times are A-Changing" were among the first to address these issues, forever making the name Bob Dylan synonymous with the social movement and controversy that swirled around the 60's.

"Bob Dylan's music came at a time when there was a lot going on in America. He was at the forefront of writing songs with a social conscious that were used as a sort of rallying point for several causes and movements," said Baxter.

Dylan is touring to support the October release of a three-disc, 51 track career retrospective bearing the simple title, "Dylan," the 45th album of his career, which spans five decades.

While some may have been content with the opportunity to see Bob Dylan by himself, Elvis Costello will warm up fans by playing his first solo performances in 12 years.

Costello was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 for his impact on music during his career that has spanned 28 years and produced 27 albums. Costello's music, which addressed social movements aimed at Britain, played an integral role in the New Wave Movement that grabbed the world by storm during the late 70's and early 80's of the previous century, according to Baxter.

Also joining the event is Amos Lee, whose music style fuses folk, soul, and jazz elements. He has released two albums on Blue Note Records and has previously toured with artists such as Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, and Merle Haggard.

"I think that Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are coming to Wright State…who could ask for more?" said junior Eric Cheuvront.

Tickets for the event on Tuesday, October 16 are still available and range in price from $30 to $70. Fans can purchase tickets at Wright State's box office or through Ticketmaster services. Gates for the concert will open at 6 p.m. and the first act will take the stage at 7 p.m.

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