Bob Dylan's past two concerts in Pittsburgh, including last year's disappointing show at the American Eagle festival, were not the type of events that would move someone to say, "Hey, I think I'll spend to $67.50 and drive to a minor-league baseball field in Washington, Pa., on a Monday night to see the guy" -- even with one-and-a-half other legends, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, on board.

The thing about Dylan, though, is you never know. You never know when it's going to be one of those nights -- the magical ones. If last night at Consol Energy Park wasn't, then it was very close.

Sure, if you haven't seen Dylan in 25 years, you would have wondered what on earth happened to those golden pipes (joke, people). But those who have followed him and know that he's pretty much beat it to hell understand that there are varying degrees of road-weary 68-year-old Dylan.

The young mom near me twirling with a 4-year-old and a glowstick said, "I can't hear anything he's saying, but he's Dylan -- and I love him!"

Actually, the world's greatest singer-songwriter was lucid enough last night that the essence of the songs came across beautifully, starting with a "Watching the River Flow" that packed a wallop from his band. Dylan came out in black suit and cowboy hat back on guitar again and even played some of his semi-wacky leads. He didn't move to keyboards until after the second song, "It Ain't Me, Babe," a tune he's kind of worn out in these parts.

Things picked up again on a hard-swinging version of "The Levee's Gonna Break," although a similar "Rollin' and Tumblin'" swung on a little too long to deliver the same results. The ballad "Forgetful Heart," one of three offerings from the new album, "Together Through Life," was a beauty, with Dylan stepping away from the keyboard to focus on vocal and harmonica, and there was more melody and life to his voice than we've heard hear in years.

The ones to write home about were two from the back catalogue: the fiery, hard-driving blues take on "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)," filled with all those droplets of wisdom, and a thundering "Highway 61 Revisited" that was rockin' so hard even Dylan was smiling as he made the organ swirl.

From there, it was all money: a lovely and delicate "Nettie Moore," a fast, breezy ride through "Summer Days," a crowd-pleasing "Like a Rolling Stone" (even if he doesn't sing it with that great "feeeeel"), a jubilant "Jolene" and crystal "All Along the Watchtower."

The appearance of young kids in the crowd only made the night more joyful. The deal was that one child was admitted free with each adult ticket, so that 4-year-old with the glowstick will be able to say he saw Bob Dylan even if never remembers any of it. And his mom will be able to say "it was a good one."

Mellencamp's heartland rock is like a double to the gap in a smalltown ballpark like Consol. The accordion-fiddle combo was a bit too saturating on the opening "Pink Houses," but for the most part, the band was cooking and the 57-year-old rocker was in fine fighting form.

It wasn't a mere greatest-hits set either. Sprinkled with favorites like "Paper in Fire," "Check it Out" and the still-topical "Rain on the Scarecrow" were a few powerful new blues songs that hinted at a fixation with mortality -- "Don't Need this Body" and "If I Die Sudden." "Uh-Huh" fans got a happy ending with the rousing finish of "Crumblin' Down" and "The Authority Song."

Willie ... well, I heard he was good, and I'm sorry to say we'll have to leave it at that because there was nothing minor league about the traffic jam on I-79 leading to the show.