About Us - A Bob Dylan Tribute Band
The music, the vibe, the legend...
The Bob Band, a Bob Dylan tribute band, is a group of veteran musicians based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to capturing the vibe, spirit and arrangement of Bob Dylan's original recordings. A faithful musical journey through the amazing Dylan catalog – 50 years of folk, rock, country, blues, even gospel.
L to R: Peter Kahn, keyboard, vocals; Dennis Bailey, lead vocals, guitar, harmonica; Paul Goldstein, drums, vocals; Steve Chambers, bass; (not pictured: Jason Byrd, lead guitarist, vocals.)
The Songs
Just a few of the many songs from the band's set list includes:
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Tangled Up in Blue
- All Along the Watchtower
- Stuck Inside of Mobile (with the Memphis Blues Again)
- Hurricane
- Serve Somebody
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Make You Feel My Love
- Just Like a Woman
- Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Bios
Dennis Bailey, lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
Dennis grew up in Maine and is a veteran of numerous bands that performed in New England and much of the Northeast. His family owned a music store, and he began playing guitar and forming bands while in high school, playing everything from pop to country. Ironically, it was Johnny Cash that lead Bailey to Dylan. He asked his mother to buy the album Nashville Skyline because Cash performed on it and wrote the liner notes. “I was aware of Bob Dylan, but I really didn’t know who he was, so I got the record, and I was like, who is this? I went back and got all his albums.” After moving to Washington, D.C. in 2016, he placed an ad in Craigslist for musicians to back him in a Bob Dylan tribute band. After a year of auditions, the band was formed and was soon playing in notable venues including the legendary Gypsy Sallys, The Soundry, The Hamilton and more. “To me, Bob Dylan is a genre all to himself. There’s blues, rock, country, hip-hop, but there’s only one Bob Dylan.” Guitars: Takamine EG-43BC, Gibson J160E, Fender ’71 Telecaster. Harmonicas: Hohner Marine Band, Lee Oskar.
Peter Kahn, keyboard, vocals
Peter Kahn has been performing since his first gig playing “Old King Cole” on the piano for his kindergarten class. But it was rock and roll and especially the Beatles that inspired him to form his first bands playing the guitar and as the vocalist. Sometimes switching to the bass, depending on what was needed, they were able to find gigs at school dances, store openings, fairs, and the like. As the bass player for “December’s Children” during high school, the band had lots of success with opportunities to perform in the Eastern U.S. After some time he began to concentrate again on the piano, and performed with groups such as “Sadbird” playing all over the East. Always a fan of Bob Dylan, Peter is inspired to be working with The Bob Band especially with such an amazing number of wonderful tunes in Dylan’s catalogue. Peter uses Yamaha, Hammond and Nord keyboards.
Paul Goldstein, drums, vocals
Paul Goldstein has been a WashingtonDC session player for over 30 years, who began his career as one of the founding members of Al Johnson & The Northstar Band. After two albums and touring, Paul honed his styles playing with other artists such as Cathy Ponton King, The Whiskey River Band, The Goldust Band, Fancy Pants, The Lost Highway, and Lips Lackawitz. Paul has also played with Michael Melcheone (Buckwheat Zydeco), Stuart Smith(Eagles), Danny Gatton, Tom Principato, Chick Hall, Duffy Kane, Bobby Smith, Earl Ball, and so many other DC musicians too many to mention. Paul says, “The best part of my profession has been sharing the stage with many of my country favorites including George Jones, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Alabama, Gene Watson, and Earl Scruggs.” Playing all styles of music has help prepare him for the wide variety of music that Bob Dylan has written throughout the years. Drums: Yamaha Maple Custom Born: Cymbals: Sabian Origin
Steve Chambers, bass guitar
“When I was 8 years old, mom said ‘You will learn to play the violin.’ That's how it started. At 17, I had switched to the bass guitar, and I was out gigging shortly thereafter. For over 35 years, I have been a bassist playing around the Mid-Atlantic region. Playing a variety of music: blues, standards, rock, jazz, fusion with Cheyenne, Starsong, Crosswind, Quadrant 4, Shades of Blue (aka Tough Luck), Catoctin Band, Burn the House, Unfortunate Sons, Death Ray Tango, and The Bob Band. Looking forward to many more great gigs with these talented musicians with The Bob Band.
Jason (Jay Byrd), lead guitar, vocals
The newest member of The Bob Band, Jason has been a professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter since his late teens. In his early twenties, he co-founded the blues-rock trio The Groov, and in 1996 joined the then-Grateful Dead cover band Wavy Train. Byrd's original songs and guitar work helped Wavy Train to forge a sound that combined pop-oriented melodies with extended improvisation. After moving from NC to the Washington, D.C. area in 2001, Jason began crafting songs with a decidedly Americana bent. In 2005, Jason's composition "Olson Still" received an honorable mention in the Mountain Stage NewSong Festival Folk category. In 2010, he won the NewSong People's Choice Award for the Northeast Region. He also won the Gold Award (Acoustic/Folk category) and the BMI Songwriter Award in the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest. He has released several solo recordings, as well as three EPs with the band South Rail. Jason continues to write and perform original roots-influenced music and play guitar with numerous bands in the DC-area.