Manchester, England (25-Jun-1998)

Manchester 25 June 98 D691 - Red and blue, fittingly. United in the City.

I recently rewatched the Glasgow show D449 from 4 days before, a 5-star film, I’d say.
Is this one any good?
Early shots show just how far back on the floor the filmer is. Plenty of opportunities for close-up shots of hair and baldie nappers. If I was there with a camera I’d surely have attempted to get much closer, which just shows how wrong I can be - this DVD is splendid. At times it looks like a pro shot deal, so steady is the feel.

For the most part the screen is filled with Bob, with Tony Garnier behind, occasional shots of Larry Campbell to Bob’s right (I’d like a red jacket like that) and even more rarely, Bucky Baxter on the left. No sign of Mr. Kemper on drums and nothing of Charlie Sexton because he wasn’t there.

Red and blue - an explanation: whether due to the lighting or to focus/zoom difficulties I don’t know, but there is an overcooked aspect to parts of this DVD whereby the red sections are bleached out on Bob’s cheeks and nose, creating an almost RTR whiteface effect. The blue sections are clearer and beautifully defined.
In the end nobody should mind at all.

The sound is fine - the performance is stately, confident and imperious, and I recall from school that:
Stateliness + Confidence + Imperiousness = Dignity.

When the band start to rock Bob clearly enjoys it - right foot resting behind on the drum riser, left knee shooglin’ then a sweet salute to the crowd.
His electric and acoustic guitar work is lovely - I’ve heard the criticisms but it works for me, and overall Bob and his band make an Effortless Racket and that’s what I like to hear.

Mr. Garnier knows this is Any Good and it is Any Good.

I have just written my first review, and never mentioned a song title except Dignity which he didn’t do.
What was played is up above.

Bob Dylan came on with impressive hair, and he Kept It Up.

4 stars.