| The
Review |
Now that Rush has entered the DVD
age, nothing short of the best has seen release so far. A
Rush live DVD is usually two discs packed with extras and
features. The first live DVD, 2003's 'RUSH IN RIO' captured
the Canadian power trio live in South America at the end of
their return tour in support of 2002's VAPOR TRAILS, the first
RUSH album since 1996. That DVD and subsequent live CD album
was a lively show focusing on the band's live energy and their
South American fans going bonkers. As enertaining as that
was, the sound quality was perhaps a little too muddy and
abrasive for some and often the audience was louder than Rush.
Fortunately not so with R30, filmed live in Frankfurt on Rush'
s 30th anniversary/Feedback tour. Though the sound doesn't
match the glossiness of earlier videos like A SHOW OF HANDS(1989),
it's still miles better than RUSH IN RIO. This is more like
a Rush live release, and has a good flavor of familiarity
without nostalgia. Though billed as a '30th Anniversary Tour',
Rush stay current and avoid the pitfalls of your usual 'reunion'
tour where a band plays nothing but old material(YES and ELP,
stand up please). There's at least one track each from every
RUSH album from the debut up to the latest material from VAPOR
TRAILS and FEEDBACK. The one exception is 1989's PRESTO, oddly
enough. Don't think the band liked that one too much. But
Rush are as alive as ever and have a timeless quality to them.***
Having already released RUSH IN RIO in 2002 and DIFFERENT
STAGES in 1998, another live album with some of the same set
would have been a little too much, so unless you get the special
edition DVD, there is no live CD to coincide with this set.
Even so, a number of tracks were omitted to avoid repetition
such as BRAVADO, TREES, FREEWILL, the early medley and YYZ.
However there are plenty of the more obscure and period songs
such as material from their covers album FEEDBACK, the R30
medley which features a slew of snippets of early teasers
and even a few from the less fanfared 80's era such as MYSTIC
RHYTHMS and a blistering BETWEEN THE WHEELS from 1984's GRACE
UNDER PRESSURE, a personal favorite. And of course Neil's
solo, now under the title of DER TROMMLER, which seems to
grow more elaborate and mindblowing each time it appears on
a live record or DVD. The man plays so good it's just sick.
Another mention must go to the videos and intros that go with
some of these songs which just enhances them and gives them
an even more mythical quality, some of them moving and some
of them humorous- such as the short which sets up TOM SAWYER
which features 'bobblehead' figurines of the band being attacked
by the VAPOR TRAILS dragon.*** As for the extras, Rush do
not disappoint. The second disc includes early promo clips
of songs like CIRCUMSTANCES, and check out how young Neil
looks in the FLY BY NIGHT video. Plenty of vintage interviews
from throughout the years, with the band discussing their
craft, influences and dreams. These include a Geddy interview
around 1979 talking about touring and the new direction of
the band(which at the time was the slicker and upbeat PERMENANT
WAVES), and fairly decent length interviews during the PRESTO
and COUNTERPARTS eras. I would have liked to have seen more
80's interviews, since RUSH were quite successful during the
1984-88 period, but there's plenty here. More than most would
put on their DVD's. Perhaps we'll see more period interviews
and extras when Rush eventually rerelease EXIT STAGE LEFT
and A SHOW OF HANDS on DVD.*** As mentioned, the 'special
edition' features a live 2-CD set of the DVD as well as a
booklet, 2 guitar picks and a lamenated sticker. Well worth
your money, plus it's always good to have the CD version of
it for the car. Rush have always been about the music, and
have never done anything less than satisfactory. This is a
must purchase.
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