Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers Head to Boston on Tour

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I love it more than ever,” he adds. “If you can physically tour and you enjoy doing it, what would be better?”

The apples don’t fall too far from the tree.

Bob Dylan There was no way to easily grow a tree next to it, let alone have it thrive, but Dylan did it beautifully with The Wallflowers. Some 32 years after the release of his self-titled debut album and 28 years after the seminal T Bone Burnett-produced 4xPlatinum single “Bringing Down the Horse,” Dylan’s Grammy-winning Wallflowers—in all their incarnations—are going strong.

I’m currently touring with Jeff Slate, a musician and freelance journalist who interviewed Bob for Wall Street Journal in ’22 – The Wallflowers move in Wilbur in Boston, November 6th, and The Strand in Providence, November 8th..

But in conversation, Dylan is a witty live wire. He speaks quickly and jokes often. Our wide-ranging conversation—from Tom Petty to his brother’s days in Massachusetts to Ken Burns—is peppered with jokes and laughter.

So, the latest Wallflowers record was “Exit Wounds” (2021). You told me that you “collect songs” and hope to release a new record soon. What is your songwriting process?

It varies. Look for new ways to do this if you have any advice.

(Laughs) I don’t.

(Laughs) I don’t know. The more you try, the less you get. You’ll have to wait for good ideas to come, and when they do, hopefully you have a pen, paper, and guitar handy. It’s a lot of work. Maybe I’m taking too long to think through the whole process, but I need time to finish the songs and record the album.

You were the executive producer and presenter of the documentary “Echo in the Canyon(2018). What was the impetus for creating this project? It’s almost like a Ken Burns-type telescope viewing the music of Laurel Canyon. This is a big undertaking.

This is a big undertaking. When I started, I didn’t realize how big of an undertaking it could be. I thought it might take six months. It took about three years. You start a documentary about one thing, then you collect all the information, interviews, and suddenly about something else. It is developing. I admire anyone who does it, and Ken Burns does it all the time.

Would you work on another?

If the right opportunity comes along. I have a knack for musicians: I’m not a journalist, I’m a peer. People talk differently to their peers.

True. I think you had your last movie interview with Tom Petty. You said the song “Who is this man walking in my garden?” was inspired by Tom.

He’s been on my mind for quite some time. I was able to see him up close when I was a teenager, when music meant the most. You can listen to music your whole life, but there is nothing better than being 15 years old.

And he was very encouraging. I wouldn’t say that all of the old guard are necessarily encouraging. Many of them have a competitive nature and I understand that this is one of the reasons they continue to work. Tom became a guiding light of support.

This is interesting. You created the group at the age of 15. Have you always wanted to get into songwriting? Have you deviated?

When I started, I was sure that I would become a guitarist. I still want to be one (laughs). We played covers when we were kids. Eventually you realize it’s great to have your own songs. I realized pretty early on that I at least understood how to write a song – not necessarily a good one – but was surprised that it didn’t come naturally to everyone. I started writing because someone in the group had to do it. I’m glad I did it. Anyone can do it. It’s not difficult. I mean writing good songs that people like that’s another story.

(Laughs) But sometimes songwriters say they couldn’t help but write.

Should I have done this? I don’t think I needed it. There are many songs in the world. I just loved it. I still don’t know a better natural high than writing a song, showing it to people and hearing it through the speakers. I don’t know anything that moves me so much. You build something out of thin air that didn’t exist before. It’s very important when it works. This is a gift to yourself.

The Wallflowers’ name was The Apples.

(Sighs) Yes, I noticed that this is not a very good name.

(Laughs)

(Laughs) I don’t think we imagined the logos and the name on the marquee. But yeah, that was the beginning of what became The Wallflowers.

You have also recorded solo albums. What do you like about being in a band and solo?

I don’t know if I’ll perform solo again. I think I found a way to combine these two sounds (different sounds I was looking for). I thought there was another sound I was looking for that didn’t require the noise of a rock band. I didn’t find it at the time I could fit it into what The Wallflowers were doing.

Who came up with “Wallflowers”? It’s such a classic, strong band name.

To be honest, I don’t remember. It was probably me. But I feel sorry for today’s bands – they’ve all run out of names. You won’t be able to pronounce half of them. We left.

(Laughs)

I like the classics: The Sonics, The Ventures. I don’t know how you’ll do it today. Everything is busy. We appeared at the end of that era.

The industry has changed a lot since the 90s. Do you think you could start The Wallflowers today?

I don’t envy today’s people. I don’t know how you do it. Obviously, there was no social media back then. The good news is that there are many more opportunities. Bad news means much more opportunity. It’s just packed. I don’t know how someone can be noticed because of the noise.

Your children play music. Do they want to enter the industry?

They like it. No one mentioned that they work in this industry. I no longer know if these dreams go hand in hand. No record business. This is a tourism business, a travel business, a social media business.

Your dad tweets more than you do these days.

Yes, like most people, I can’t tell you what’s going on with them. I’ve seen these. I can’t (laughs) I can’t tell you what it’s about. I’m not sure. But you’re right: whatever it is, it’s bigger than me.

(Laughs) I know you’ve been asked this a million times, but growing up you said it wasn’t weird being the child of a famous guy.

I mean, I knew it wasn’t the same as the next person. But your reality is what it is. I can’t say it’s strange because I haven’t walked in someone else’s shoes.

(Laughs) When I did the interview Cat powerChan Marshall, she told me she knew your brother Sam from his time at Supreme Dicks at Hampshire College in Western Massachusetts.

Yeah, maybe he should take some of the heat off me. He started the group before me. He saw some good bands there – I think Nirvana was playing in the dining room (in 1990).

Wow. So the Wallflowers debuted in ’92, but everything changed in ’96. Was there a moment when you felt like you made it?

The first time you hear your song on the radio, it’s exciting. You can make CDs, cassettes, press a piece of vinyl, and it’s all yours. But when it comes on the radio and other people hear it, it’s an amazing moment.

Would you go on tour or do a concert with your father?

I’m available. He knows how to find me.

COLORS

In Wilbur, Wednesday, 8 p.m. thewilbur.com

The interview has been edited and condensed. Lauren Daly can be reached at: [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1.