Bethlehem, PA (16-Nov-04)

I was hoping to attend this show as it was only 2 hours from my house, but unfortunately I couldn't due to school. Fortunately it was filmed by two different tapers who give a great document of the show. IMO this is the better of the two. While the other one tends to concentrate on Bob with an occasional shot of Stu, this one perfectly documents the whole band. The first three songs are only partial (the camera blacks out halfway through ASM and remains blacked out until after LDB starts), but after that the entire show is skillfully captured. Highlights include a killer Honest With Me with Larry on baritone guitar instead of his trademark slide, a rocking STRYAL, a beautifully performed Under the Red Sky with a perfectly executed ending, and a ferocious Highway 61 which gave an idea of what was to come in '05 with the new band.

A truly stunning document this is, filmed from a very good position on a balcony on the right side of the hall, so that Dylan is seen in three-quarters-profile throughout. There are basically no heads in front of the taper - only when he pans right to get Larry into view, some shadows darken the screen here and there. The camera work is steady and quite sensitive - Dylan is seen in medium shot for the most parts, but the other band members were not forgotten either. Some of Stu Kimball´s guitar riffs can be studied at a very close range. The show itself isn´t the greatest ever, but very intense and pulse-quickening. Highlights include firey and ferocious versions of "Highway 61" and "Seeing the Real You at Last". A beautiful moment comes at the very end when Dylan is blowing kisses to the audience.
And yes, the sound quality on this upgraded version could hardly be better and deserves 5 stars as well.