For someone like me, who’s spent countless hours on the road with nothing but music as a copilot, my tastes have evolved well beyond the mainstream. Over time, I found myself drifting away from anything “pop” and diving headfirst into outlaw country, Americana, roots, and bluegrass. So when I heard that the legendary Bill Kirchen was coming to the picturesque Manor Mill in Monkton, Maryland, there was no question—I was going.

This tour, aptly named the “Bill Does Bob” Tour, finds Bill joined by Rick Richards and Jack Saunders, paying tribute to none other than Bob Dylan. Before launching into the set, Bill shared stories of seeing Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in both ’64 and again in the iconic, history-making moment of ’65—when Dylan famously went electric. That experience clearly left a mark, as the evening’s setlist leaned heavily into Dylan’s rich catalog.

Of course, Bill Kirchen isn’t just a Dylan fan. He’s a Grammy-nominated artist and co-founder of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, the band that gave us unforgettable tunes like “Lost in the Ozone” and “Seeds and Stems.”Bill’s solo work is equally revered, especially classics like “Tombstone Every Mile” and “Looking at the World Through a Windshield.”

Catch a video of Bill Kirchen and Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen performing “Seeds and Stems (Again) Live in 1971:

The show was nothing short of electric—figuratively and literally. Watching Bill masterfully pick and bend every note on his iconic Telecaster was a true privilege. I’ve included a photo of Bills handwritten setlist with my pictures from the night. It might look a bit cryptic at first glance, but with a little imagination, it’s not hard to decode the musical journey they laid out.

All in all, it was a night where Dylan was honored-for those of us in the crowd, it was a reminder of why we fell in love with this kind of music in the first place.

Bill Kirchen continues his tour through the Fall. Catch his amazing live show here.

The setlist included:

From a Buick 6 (Bob Dylan)
Love Minus Zero (Bob Dylan)
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (Bob Dylan)
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright (Bob Dylan)
Tom Thumb’s Blues (Bob Dylan)
To Ramona (Bob Dylan)

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Wine Do Your Stuff (Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen)
Seeds and Stems (Again) (Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen)
Semi-Truck
Hi-Jack

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Maggie’s Farm (Bob Dylan)
Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)
Mr. Tamourine Man (Bob Dylan)
The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan)

Encore:
Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan)

Here are more photos of Bill Kirchen performing at Manor Mill. All photos copyright Frank Thompson.