Amherst, MA (18-Nov-99)

Very well filmed show. Camera work is steady with properly used zoom in and out, although extreme closeup is not found. Sound is excellent throughout and well synchronized. Bob is rather quiet and his voice sounds a bit weak in some acoustic songs but overall performance is solid. I can't help but mention hard to find performace, "Highlands" in the first disc. It's very sweet between two delightful songs. Bob looks like in Highlands as well as his heart. All Along the Watchtower is great as always. I like Friend Of The Devil and Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 in disc 2.
Highly recommended.

This is my first review. I'm quite new to the world of DVDs, but I have about 25 concert CDs. Having seen so few DVDs, I don't know that I can comment effectively on the quality of the filmwork. The first disc seems to be a little sharper than the second, but I found the quality of both quite good. I liked the good use of the zoom to vary between Bob and the whole band. Due to the viewing angle, though, Bob and Larry get the bulk of the screen time. During several of the quieter songs, Bob's vocal is hard to hear on my computer, but I had no problem getting it loud enough on the TV.

This is a fine, fine show. The menu for each of the discs has an old film projector playing selections from the show (see the first 2 screenshots); it's a fun and creative addition to the great experience of the concert itself.

For me, the first disc, in particular, consists of one high point after another.
Beginning with a frequent 1999 opener, Somebody Touched Me is solidly performed. Next, Tambourine Man is performed with Bob paying unusual attention to making nearly all the lyrics plain and distinctly enunciated. His facial expression seems more animated than usual (compared, at least, to the pro-shot video I've seen, and the 3 concerts I've been to). It's Alright, Ma begins weakly, with a false start ("Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn"), but Bob starts over, and, beginning with the line "so don't fear, if you hear," the performance just gets better and better. Rather than just run through the words, Bob sings them as if this time he's trying to communicate distinct meaning with them. At times it's almost conversational. Altogether a special version of the old song. Next up is a soft, tender, and wistful Spanish Boots. Tangled, one of my favorite songs, follows, but it's a mundane performance. He rushes through the words, and leaves out the verse "she was working in a topless place." Next up, though, is a sparkling version of the rarely-performed Man of Peace. The band stays electric, but delivers a sensitive rendition of another rarity, in You're a Big Girl Now. Up next is a splendid Watchtower. It seems to have more energy in this spot than it has in its frequent encore spot. Rarest of all, Highlands is next. How does he do it without a lyric cheat-sheet? The performance is rather quieter than most of the other vocals, but it's a solid version, and a real treat to hear and see it live. Highway 61 is not really one of my favorite songs, but this is a rocking, fun version. Warren Haynes guests, providing soaring, wailing, and delightful leads during the instrumental breaks.

Disk 2 highlights for me are Love Sick and Rolling Stone. Love Sick is moody, brooding, and sounds a bit as if he is actually addressing it to a woman who is present, and he is trying to convey some of the depth of his wounds. Nicely done. How can Rolling Stone, one of his most frequently performed songs, possibly be fresh? This one is fresh. It's played slower than it usually is, and that allows Bob time to use inflections for emphasis, as he does so very well. In this case, he uses all his tricks: he pauses, he sings a word or 2 of a phrase, then repeats the start of the phrase. He draws out words, he sings high, he sings low, he sings stacato, and through it all, his facial expressions show that he again appears to be interested in conveying real meaning through the song. Wondrous and a true delight.
I'm usually not a big fan of cover songs, so I don't have much to say about the next three songs. I like the mandolin on Friend of the Devil, though.
It's always good to hear Blowin in the Wind. It's fun to have the band sing along on the chorus. An average performance of a great song. I don't care for Rainy Day Women as a closer to any show, but especially not as a closer to this one, with its rarities, its emotion, and the quality and effort invested in the classic songs. But I like this more than most, because he aims at the "everybody must get attacked" meaning, more than at the "everybody must get high-let's party" version.

I apologize for the long, long review. I'll try to control myself on the next one. Need I say that I love this concert? Few weaknesses, many highlights, rare songs, and real expressions on Bob's usually stoic face. A treasure.

Mary's short review:

FIVE STARS for stealth audio and video - the best of the FAN PROJECT - hearty thanks to all involved pre and post production!
Recommended for any Bob fan who collects audience shot Bob video - that's a different game than PRO shot video.