Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers bring their tour to Boston

“I’ve been at it for a long time, but I like it more than I probably ever did,” he adds. “If you’re physically able to tour and enjoy doing it, what could be better?”

The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

Bob Dylan it couldn’t have been an easy tree to grow next to, never mind thrive, but it’s something Dylan did beautifully with The Wallflowers. Some 32 years after they cut their self-titled debut and 28 years after their T Bone Burnett-produced 4xPlatinum album Bringing Down the Horse , Dylan’s Grammy-winning Wallflowers — in all their incarnations — climb further.

Now on tour with Jeff Slate — a freelance musician/journalist who interviewed Bob for Wall Street Journal in ’22 — The Wallflowers pull in Boston’s Wilbur Nov. 6 and Providence’s Strand Nov. 8.

But in conversation, Dylan is a witty wire. Talk fast, joke often. Our wide-ranging conversation—from Tom Petty to his brother’s days in Massachusetts to Ken Burns—is filled with jokes and laughter.

So the most recent Wallflowers record was “Exit Wounds” (2021). You told me you’re “collecting songs” and hope to make a new album soon. What is your songwriting process like?

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

(Laughs) I don’t.

(Laughs) I don’t know. The more you try, the less you get. You have to wait for the good ideas to come, and when they do, I hope you have a pen, paper and guitar around. It’s a lot of work. I may be overthinking the whole process, but I need dedicated time to complete songs and make an album.

You were the executive producer and host of the documentary”Echo in the Canyon” (2018). What sparked that project? It’s almost like a Ken Burns-type spotting scope to look at the music of Laurel Canyon. It’s a big commitment.

It is a big undertaking. I didn’t realize what a big undertaking it could be when I started. I thought it might take six months. It lasted more than three years. You start a documentary, it’s about one thing, then you gather all the information, the interviews, and suddenly it’s about something else. It evolves. I admire anyone who does it, and Ken Burns does it consistently.

Would you work for another?

If the right opportunity arose. I have a knack with musicians: I’m not a journalist, I’m an equal. People talk differently to their peers.

True. I think you had the last interview with Tom Petty at the movie. you said the song “Who is that man walking around my garden?” was inspired by Tom.

It was pretty much on my mind. I got to see it up close when I was a teenager, when music meant the most. You can consume music all your life, but there’s nothing like being 15.

And it was very encouraging. I wouldn’t say that everyone in the old guard is necessarily encouraging. A lot of them have a competitive nature, which I understand – that’s one of the reasons they keep going. Tom became a guiding light of encouragement.

That’s interesting. You started a band at 15. Have you always wanted to get into songwriting? Did you deviate?

When I started, I was sure I was going to be a guitar player. I still want to be (laughs). When I was a kid, I used to sing cover songs. Eventually you realize it’s nice to have your own songs. I realized pretty early on that I at least understood how to write a song – not necessarily a great song – but I was surprised that it didn’t come naturally to everyone. I started writing because someone in the band had to. I’m glad I did. Anyone can do it. It is not a difficult thing. I mean, writing those good songs that it’s a different story.

(Laughs) But sometimes a composer says he couldn’t help but write.

Did you have to? I don’t think I had to. The world has a lot of songs. I just loved it. I’m still not aware of a better natural high than writing a song, showing it to people, hearing it coming out of the speakers. I don’t know anything that moves me as much. You build something out of thin air that wasn’t there before. It’s profound when it works. It’s a gift for you.

The Wallflowers’ first name was The Apples.

(Opinions) Yes, it was brought to my attention that it wasn’t a great name.

(laugh)

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

You also made solo albums. What do you like about band versus solo?

I don’t know that I would solo again. I think I found a way to combine the two {different sounds I was going for}. I thought it was a different sound I was going for that didn’t require the noise that is a rock band. I didn’t find it, la la at the time, I was able to fit that into what The Wallflowers were doing.

Who came up with “The Wallflowers”? It’s such a classic and powerful band name.

If I’m honest, I don’t remember. It was probably me. But I feel sorry for the bands today – they all have no names. You can’t pronounce half of them. We are outside.

(laugh)

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

The industry has changed so much since the 90s. Think you could start The Wallflowers today?

I don’t envy people today. I don’t know how you do it. Obviously, social media didn’t exist back then. The good news is that there are many more opportunities. The bad news is a lot more opportunities. It’s just stuffy. I don’t know how one gets noticed above the noise.

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

They rejoice. No one mentioned being in the industry. I don’t know that those dreams come hand in hand anymore. There is no record business. It’s the travel business, the tourism business, the social media business.

you dad tweets more than you do these days.

Yeah, like most people, I can’t tell you what’s going on with these. I saw them. 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 more than me.

(Laughs) I know you’ve been asked this a million times, but growing up, you said it didn’t feel weird to be the famous guy’s kid.

I mean, I was aware that it wasn’t the same as the next person. But your reality is whatever it is. I can’t say it’s weird, because I haven’t stepped into anyone’s shoes.

(Laughs) When I interviewed The power of the catChan Marshall told me he knew your brother Sam from his Supreme Dicks days at Hampshire College in Western Mass.

Yeah, maybe it should take some of the heat off me. A band started before me. Saw some good bands there—I think Nirvana played in the dining room (in 1990).

Alas. So the Wallflowers debuted in ’92 – but everything changed in ’96. Did you have a moment when you felt like you made it?

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

Would you tour or do a show with your dad?

I am available. He knows how to find me.

PERINE FLOWERS

At Wilbur’s, Wednesday, 8:00 p.m., thewilbur.com

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