Earlier today in Nagoya, Japan, Bob Dylan continued his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour by making a stop at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater. During the stacked 18-song frame, Dylan returned to the Grateful Dead’s songbook, tapping into their original “Truckin’.” The run-through represented the second time Dylan had performed the favored number during the current leg of his tour, today’s performance came after an April 12 delivery of the American Beauty standard. As a follow up, Dylan offered a debut of Bobby Weir’s 2016 tune, “Only a River,” in full. 

The April 20 performance got underway with “Watching the River Flow” and “Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)” before the musical master turned to his 2020 LP–for which the tour is named–and ran through takes on “I Contain Multitudes” and “False Prophet” prior to fan favorite, “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” After, Dylan cut into “Black Rider” and “My Own Version of You,” which he performed on the baby grand piano. 

“I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” came before band introductions. Then, Dylan returned to his set and played renditions of “Crossing The Rubicon,” “To Be Alone With You” and “Key West (Philosopher Pirate).” The musician added “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself to You” ahead of his take on the Grateful Dead favorite and the night’s debut. 

With Dylan seated at the piano, the musician ran through “Truckin’” and nodded again toward his 1987 tour partners. To follow, he added “Mother of Muse” and continued with Weir’s original “Only a River.” The song appears on Blue Mountain, an LP co-written with Josh Ritter and Josh Kaufman. While Dylan has typically stuck to a stock setlist, the current leg of his tour has brought forth fresh musical moments and debuts, many of which have Dead ties.

For more information on Dylan’s current tour, which has included Grateful Dead-associated song choices, read more. 

Scroll down to view the complete setlist from tonight’s show in Nagoya, Japan.

Bob Dylan 

Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater – Nagoya, Japan

April 20, 2023 

Set: Watching the River Flow, Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine), I Contain Multitudes, False Prophet, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Black Rider, My Own Version of You, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Crossing The Rubicon, To Be Alone With You, Key West (Philosopher Pirate), Gotta Serve Somebody, I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself to You, Truckin’, Mother of Muses, Only A River+, Goodbye Jimmy Reed, Every Grain of Sand

 Notes:

+ Bobby Weir cover, debut