Triumph - Live At The US Festival

Year of Release: 2003
Label: TML
Catalog Number: 79201
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:47:00

[Keith reviewed the CD (with limited edition bonus DVD) and the (full-length) DVD in one review - they are listed separately in the database -ed.]

I have not heard these great rock songs in a long time. They all sound as good now as they did when they first came out. Rik Emmett (guitars/vocals), Gil Moore (drums/vocals) and Mike Levine (bass/keyboards) are Triumph, a vastly underrated band in comparison to the other famous trio hailing from Canada, Rush. They did not make their name by having any hit singles; it took them time to gather their audience through endless live performances. On this CD and DVD, the live performances are the focus. The results of all that hard work unfold before your ears and eyes leaving no doubt of the importance of Triumph as a major force in recorded rock music history.

Live At The US Festival is a remastered version of the original concert held before a half million people in 1983 in the burning heat of the Southern California desert (http://www.woz.org/US). It is now available in glorious 5.1 surround sound and you have the option of choosing two different formats of Dolby if you wish as well. This is quite a package. It seems to be more of common occurrence to get a DVD with a CD now. The competition to fill the consumer's need for a more complete entertainment package is becoming more challenging for the media market; however, it can provide a nice vehicle for bands and labels to sell other titles in their catalog.

The CD includes a limited edition DVD, which is a teaser for the full length DVD. I listened to the CD first, which got me all pumped up for watching the concert. The bonus DVD did exactly what it was supposed to do?whet my appetite for more.

The sound is enormous and the video quality absolutely perfected. I did not see any inconsistencies throughout my viewing of this DVD, which I find amazing considering my personal experiences with the format.

The performances presented are fantastic. What an awe-inspiring and authoritative trio Triumph is. They have two equally fantastic rock 'n' roll voices with Rik Emmet and Gil Moore. Considering there are only three people in the band, the odds are that every song you hear will be enjoyable is a certainty. I really enjoyed the special feature rockumentary as well. I had a chance to understand the band better by hearing what they had to say about their career and the way they felt about their fans. I have to say that I was impressed with their attitudes. They all feel that they should give their best to their audience every performance because each person that attends a concert is a paying customer. If more bands had that attitude, when they became successful, breakups and over-inflated egos would not be the cause of such unrest. They are a great example of success story made on the road and being true to one's self and art.

[Total time listed is for the CD only, not the bonus DVD -ed.]

Tracklisting:
CD: Allied Forces (3:41) / Lay It On The Line (4:30) / Never Surrender (6:37) / Magic Power (5:49) / World Of Fantasy (5:32) / Rock & Roll Machine (10:31) / When The Lights Go Down (6:18) / Fight The Good Fight (7:38) / Spellbound () / Follow Your Heart (4:06)

Limited Edition DVD: Fight The Good Fight / Spellbound / Follow Your Heart

Musicians:
Rik Emmett - guitars, vocals
Gil Moore - drums, vocals
Mike Levine - bass, keyboards

Discography:
Triumph (1976)
Rock & Roll Machine (1977)
Just a Game (1979)
Progressions of Power (1980/1995/2004)
Allied Forces (1981/1995/2004)
Never Surrender (1982/1995/2004)
Thunder Seven (1984/1995/2004)
Stages (1985/1995/2004)
The Sport of Kings (1985/1995/2004)
Surveillance (1989/1995/2004)
Edge of Excess (1993)
In the Beginning (1995)
Cleveland 1981 (1996)
King Biscuit Flower Hour (In Concert) (1996)
Live at the US Festival (2003)
Livin' For The Weekend: Anthology (2005)
Extended Versions: Triumph (2006)
Greatest Hits: Remixed (2010)

A Night Of Triumph (DVD) (2004)

Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR

Origin CA

Added: October 5th 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.triumphmusic.com
Hits: 2032
Language: english