Dylan’s Wallflowers have come full bloom

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

Dylan fans, get ready to double down.

Nearly three months to the day after his father, Bob, packed The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, Jakob Dylan brings his own band, the Wallflowers, to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay tonight at 7.

The Wallflowers are touring behind their fourth album, last November's "Red Letter Days."

Despite mostly positive reviews, the disc has failed to climb the charts, a sharp contrast to 1996's breakthrough "Bringing Down the Horse," which spawned four hit singles: "One Headlight," "6th Avenue Heartache," "The Difference" and "Three Marlenas."

The 33-year-old Jakob Dylan, youngest of Bob Dylan's five children, founded the Wallflowers in 1990. The band's self-titled debut album went largely unnoticed, but its three follow-ups have helped the Wallflowers maintain a devoted following.

Who: The Wallflowers.

Where: House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

When: 7 p.m. tonight.

Tickets: $25, $35, $40.

Call: 632-7600.

Opening act: Warren Zanes.

Personnel: Jakob Dylan (vocals, guitar), Rami Jaffee (keyboard, vibes), Greg Richling (bass, synthesizer), Mario Calire (drums, backing vocals).

Additional musicians: Yogi (guitar), Moe-Z M.D. (keyboard, backing vocals).

Latest release: "Red Letter Days" (Interscope, 2002).

Album feedback: "On 'Red Letter Days,' Jakob Dylan and his Wallflowers have returned to the hitmaking terrain of their 1996 breakthrough, 'Bringing Down the Horse.' The album overflows with catchy melodies, propelled by Dylan's urgent vocals, Rami Jaffee's keyboards ... and some chiming guitar work." (Rolling Stone, 3 stars out of 5); "Note for note, this probably has more memorable classic rock hooks than the latest from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. It's a strong effort, probably the kid's best so far, and Dad should be proud." (Spin, 80 out of 100).

Essential release: "Bringing Down the Horse" (1996).

What to expect: Through their first six shows of 2003, the Wallflowers have stuck with their basic song list, deviating slightly from night to night. The band generally plays nine or 10 of the 12 songs on "Red Letter Days" and samples from its earlier material. Dylan and Jaffee have been dueting on acoustic instruments during the encore.

Recent set list: Sunday, Roseland Ballroom, Portland, Ore.: "When You're on Top," "Everybody Out of the Water," "Three Marlenas," "How Good it Can Get," "If You Never Got Sick," "6th Avenue Heartache," "Three Ways," "Sleepwalker," "Letters From the Wasteland," "Empire in My Mind," "See You When I Get There," "One Headlight," "Feels Like Summer Again," "Bleeders," "Too Late to Quit," "Everything I Need." Encore: "Up From Under," "Angel on My Bike," "The Difference." (from wallflowers.com official site).

Tour feedback: "Some of (the new album's) songs sounded snappier and more powerful than they do on the recording, while others took on a sameness, just as they do on the disc." (Seattle Times); "Minor new wrinkles aside, the band is essentially conservative stylistically. Another limitation comes from Dylan's voice, which is often gruff and lacks elasticity." (The Oregonian).

Known Las Vegas appearances: December 1995 (Aladdin, opened for Chris Isaak); April 5, 1997 (The Joint); Sept. 18, 1997 (Aladdin, with Counting Crows); Dec. 26, 1997 (The Joint); Dec. 27, 1997 (The Joint); July 4, 1998 (The Joint); Nov. 10, 2000 (The Joint).

Says Jakob Dylan: "I'm not about to change the tuning on my guitar or grow a certain style of facial hair or don a hockey jersey just to sell records. Still, anyone who says they don't care about how their album is doing is lying" (Rolling Stone, October 2002).