Bob Dylan kicked off his tour last night at the Alumni Arena in Buffalo, NY. The legendary singer-songwriter was joined by his backing band, which currently includes Tony Garnier (bass), George Recile (drums), Stu Kimball (acoustic guitar), Donnie Herron (banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel) and Duke Robillard (electric guitar), with Robilliard replacing longtime Dylan associate Charlie Sexton on lead. (Robillard will also be releasing a new album, Independently Blue, with his own band this Tuesday, April 9).

Dylan and his band started the show off with “Things Have Changed,” which he recorded for the 2000 film Wonder Boys, followed by “Love Sick,” from 1997’s Time Out of Mind and “High Water (For Charley Patton),” from 2001’s Love and Theft. Dylan mostly stuck with his newer material throughout the night, and he performed four tracks from his latest album Tempest—“Soon After Midnight,” “Early Roman Kings,” “Pay in Blood” and “Scarlet Town.” However there were still a number of classics like “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Visions of Johanna,” “Highway 61 Revisited” and an encore “Ballad of a Thin Man.”

Last night’s show was also the first in which up-and-coming rockers Dawes opened for Dylan and his band. Dawes—who will be appearing on the cover of the June 2013 issue of Relix—will be playing in support of Dylan for the remainder of the tour.

Bob Dylan and Dawes will perform tonight in the Mullins Center, Amherst, MA.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Boblinks.com

Friday, April 5, 2013, Bob Dylan, Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY

Things Have Changed, Love Sick, High Water (For Charley Patton), Soon After Midnight, Early Roman Kings, Tangled Up In Blue, Pay In Blood, Visions Of Johanna, Spirit On The Water, Blind Willie McTell, Beyond Here Lies Nothin’, What Good Am I?, Thunder On The Mountain, Scarlet Town, Highway 61 Revisited

E:
Ballad Of A Thin Man