Acoustic Bob 2000

D821.su TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR ~ ACOUSTIC D 2000

Bob opened his triumphant late summer 2000 tour of northern Europe in Dublin on 13 September, the first of 18 dates through six countries in three and a half busy weeks. Of the 19 songs played to that lucky Vicar Street crowd, only the first six circulate and, until now, the only place to catch them, off-camera and non-upgraded (though watchable enough still) was D689 - but no more. For D821.su re-offers the same 35 fast-flying minutes, newly re-dubbed, cleaner, brighter and, except for some brief D&B panning, now sounding uniformly sweet. The DVD is rounded out with five picks from two shows later in the tour - three from D164.su, two from D105.sse - to give an eleven track all-acoustic 2000 compilation fit to cheer even Will's mother. (In fact they’re nearly all-acoustic, for last cut Fourth Time Around features Larry on cittern and Charlie on electric - together with Bob in fine voice, an effortlessly winning combination, reminiscent of D178.su's similarly-arranged Heaven's Door, a goose-bump take that just might be the best live version of that song you'll find. Incidentally, it's been five years now since we last heard Knockin' - time for a recall, Mr D?)

Larry plays a big part here - his sparkling mandolin carries Ramona, his vocal support in Tomorrow is exquisitely pitched (Charlie also has a mike but doesn't sing), his capoed cittern brings a new dimension to John Brown (Tony is effective here too) and the swoop and soar of his steel guitar in One Too Many Mornings is just part of what makes that cut so special (indeed, Bob's soulful closing harp caps a performance of which the whole band can be proud). D twice (Bells then John Brown) loses his lyric way - his uninspired Bells vocal actually brings that song to its knees (though the world's on its side remains one of the most haunting images in the canon) - but then nails Visions superbly in another magnificent tour-de-force reminder of who and what he is and why we continue, still fast in his thrall, to pass this stuff like stars from the darkest night around.

Total running time is 67:50. For individual film info, see D689, D164.su and D105.sse reviews. All audio is very good, though Münster and London both have slightly more presence than Dublin. Apart from a short, barely noticeable splice in the intro of Mornings, all songs are complete and authoring standard is fine.

THANKS Aunt Nelly Dingpad - a pleasant, funny surprise.
STARS If you have D164.su and D105.sse already, this disc can hardly be considered a must-have. All the same, if it should come your way and you've ears to hear, it's unlikely to disappoint. Better, anyway, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Four and a half.