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Review:
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2008 was certainly a big year for change in the world.
The United States of America elected her first black president,
the world economy is in near collapse, and Rolling Stone
magazine published a Rush feature story. Not to take anything
away from Mr. Obama, or the economic hardship you all may
be experiencing, but that was a pretty historic achievement
for this much under-appreciated Canadian band. Hell, that
liberal rag also gave Rush's Snakes & Arrows album an actual
positive review (3 stars) last year. What's next, induction
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? ***
One thing that didn't change this year for Rush, is
that they completed another hugely successful tour, and
then followed it up with a live album and concert DVD. That
you can almost predict like the phases of the moon.***
With Snakes & Arrows Live, Rush have just released
what is probably their best concert DVD to date - and they
have about 20 others to compare to. Where other Rush DVDs
have been frustratingly deficient in at least one key area,
such as Rush In Rio's killer performance being marred by
a crappy audio mix, Snakes & Arrows Live finally gets everything
right.***
Snakes & Arrows Live was filmed using 21 high-definition
cameras over two nights in October 2007, at the Ahoy Rotterdam
Arena, in the Netherlands. Additional footage was also filmed
during the band's Atlanta, Georgia show, this past July,
and four songs are included on the bonus disc. "Ghost Of
A Chance", "Red Barchetta", "The Trees", and "2112/The Temples
Of Syrinx" were all added as replacements for this year's
leg of the tour.***
I attended both legs of the Snakes & Arrows tour when
it stopped by Virginia's Nissan Pavilion, and they were
two of the most exciting rock concerts I have ever seen.
Although Rush celebrated their 30th anniversary back in
2004 - they actually formed 40 years ago - they are definitely
still at the top of their game. The Snakes & Arrows album
made it's debut at the #3 spot on the Billboard 200 chart
last year, and it is one of their strongest albums in nearly
two decades.***
With every Rush tour, live album, or concert DVD, you
are going to get complaints about the setlist from all of
the die-hard fans - and Snakes & Arrows Live is no different.
My biggest gripe was the inclusion of soooo many Snakes
& Arrows songs, especially playing five in a row to kick
off the second set. Although it is a good album, it is not
9-songs-worth good. I just think of what could have been
instead; "Xanadu", "La Villa Strangiato", "Vital Signs",
"Chemistry", "The Body Electric", "Time Stand Still", oh
listen to me sounding like all those Rush geeks on the message
boards.***
I have already posted a play by play review of the
Snakes & Arrows concert I attended in 2007, so I will not
go into the same type of detail here. It was fun to see
all of the humorous video clips again, the best one being
when the South Park kids hilariously kicked off "Tom Sawyer".
The thing I love about Rush, and what has probably kept
them together for almost 40 years, is that they don't take
themselves too seriously. Just look at the giant Henhouse
rotisserie chicken ovens that Geddy has onstage behind him,
in place of any bass cabinets, or the collection of Barbie
doll groupies huddled around Alex's pedal board.***
The one thing that has always been as serious as a
heart attack about Rush is the incredible musicianship of
all three band members. Alex Lifeson still sounds like a
one-man guitar army up on stage, playing what seems like
both rhythm and lead guitar simultaneously, and Geddy Lee
and Neal Peart are easily one of the best hard rock rhythm
sections of all time. I was simply blown away watching Geddy's
fingers dance across his bass fret board all night long,
thanks to the director's marvelous close-up shots. Although
Geddy now has to sing most of the 70's-era songs at least
an octave lower than he did back in the day, his newer "mature"
voice is much easier for most people to digest. It can be
damn-near soothing now.***
Classics like "Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit of Radio",
"Subdivisions", and "YYZ" have never sounded better than
on this tour, but it was the lesser known gems that really
make this one worth watching. The absolute highlight of
the concert for me was Rush's performance of the sinister
Grace Under Pressure closer, "Between The Wheels". Grace
Under Pressure was the first Rush tour I ever attended,
and that was the album that really sealed the Rush deal
for me. Other highlights were the Moving Pictures, side-two,
epic, "Witch Hunt", which featured a spectacular, flame-engulfed,
stage show, as well as their rockin' 2112 homage to reefer,
"A Passage To Bangkok".***
Co-directors Pierre and Francois Lamoureux expertly
captured both the grandiosity and intimacy of a Rush concert.
When you wanted to see the entire incredible stage show,
such as during the Close Encounters-like spectacle of "Between
the Wheels", or "YYZ", they were right there for you, but,
most importantly, they captured the virtuosity, interaction,
and humor of the band with some remarkable close-up action.
The high definition video presentation of the main feature
looked extraordinary, and a comparison to the non-HD Atlanta
footage shows you just what a dramatic difference it can
make.***
The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix provides one of the
most accurate and well balanced concert mixes I have ever
heard. It doesn't just sound like it was recorded right
from the sound board, but you get all of the expansive echo
and reverb you would would experience from out in the audience.
And, unlike Rush In Rio, the crowd noise was mixed at just
the right level to make you feel like you were right there.
I can only imagine how good the Blu-ray version must sound.
A tighter sounding PCM stereo track was also included, as
well as a mono mix.***
Rush may have disappointed some of their longtime fans,
myself included, with most of the post-1980's studio efforts,
but they are still one of the best live acts around. Pick
yourself up a copy of Snakes & Arrows Live and see for yourself.**
* Reviewed by Paul M. Roy -
December 2008***
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