La Spezia, Italy (20-Jul-01)

DISCS (2) D638.su
SOUND Beautifully balanced audience tape. Fine.
IMAGE Check the screenshots - what you see there is what you get. The camera is up in the right side tiered seats, quite well back. It takes an oblique view of all the stage and, apart from three brief pull-backs during LARS to show the crowd, holds it - steady, yes, static, no - more or less throughout. This means that, with the exception of Larry, who disappears periodically behind the right side monitors to play steel guitar, all players are seen all the time. Picture quality is moderately good - less than 100% sharp but nicely tinted (with pleasing variation afforded by a punter-friendly stage lighting policy) and always easy on the eye. No heads whatever and mostly excellent, attentive camera control (some fall-off during the last four songs, when we get a bit more straying, though nothing disastrous). Overall, not compulsively riveting, perhaps, but more than adequate. Well done that taper.
RUNNING TIME Disc one: 62 minutes. Disc two: 60 minutes. Complete show.
PERFORMANCE I can imagine that some will watch this through and think: yes, it's okay, but it's too bland, lacks fire, not enough bite. And though it's a point of view, I have to say that DVDs such as this little gem are right up my street. We see here a man, just turned 60 but wearing his years very lightly, laying his mellow magic on a respectful and appreciative Italian crowd on a balmy Mediterranean night. He leads his crack band near faultlessly through a long set full of memorable and richly satisfying performances. If I don't single any of them out it's merely because all are equally sound. Anyone who doesn't enjoy this a great deal can't (or is it me?) like Bob Dylan.
HIGHLIGHTS To be honest, my heart always sinks a bit when Larry's ringing A-chords signal another Tangled. Why? Just because I've heard it so many times. Enough times. But, at its close, the song drew the best crowd reaction of the night thus far, so clearly a highlight for them and surely justification, at least in his own eyes, of D's enduring faith in its viability. And he finishes it with some passionate harp (Mama, Messenger, Mornings too) that’s always more than welcome. Otherwise, a lovely grungy Serve Somebody features some extemporized lyrics, nicely wrought. He messes up the first line of Mama again (see D297.su review). In fact, though, highlights start with the fine acoustic opening threesome and run on all the way through to another bonus acoustic plum, two quick-flying hours later, to close.
COMMENT Oscar, won just four months back, is proudly on show. And see if you can spot two name-checks for Zinedine Zidane. And, having done that, then start to wonder why??
ACHIU/THANKS The two Vs
STARS Uplifting. The best kind of medicine. Five.

This was a great tour, featuring long sets and the one two punch of CS and LC on backing vocals as well as guitars. This night finds everyone well up to snuff, and Dylan's deliveries are solid and enthusiastic. Dylan boogies, highsteps and marches through the set, missing barely a word.
As noted, the video is not off master. the focus is never quite sharp, but good enough to make it clear that the SU is excellently executed. Colors are not bad, pretty life like. The video suffers from some slight pixelation (is that the word) at a few points. The angle from far stage left allows us to observe the entire band most of the time which is quite entertaining . The film is entirely unobstructed and overall easy on the eye.
The audio source and upgrade are absolutely top notch.
Personal highlights included a loose, swinging Serve Somebody and solid rockin Tom Thumbs, both with Dylan on Guitar solo. and of course Heaven's Door with the extra chord change, alternate lyrics, and backing vocals section of hundreds...One Too Many Mornings closer?!..
this set certainly will bear repeated viewing. My thanks and congratulations to the filmer, taper, and author.