Rush - Rush In Rio
	Released: 2003 Label: Rounder/Zoe-Anthem Cat. No.: 011-431-040-9 Total Time: 128:00
	Reviewed by: Keith Muzikman Hannaleck, November 2003 I could not wait to see this DVD! When it arrived, I felt a Rush of excitement come over me. This gorgeously packed two DVD set is Rush In Rio, a documentation of one of the band’s performances in Brazil. While their fans have been patiently waiting to see their heroes perform, Geddy Lee (bass), Neil Peart (drums) and Alex Lifeson (guitar) had no idea that there were so many rabid fans awaiting their performances in Brazil. This year I purchased all the remastered Rush CDs and rediscovered this great band. I always enjoyed their music but never jumped in so deep into their catalog as I have recently. They are surely one of the most famous rock trios since their inception in the ‘70s. I realize there have been many, but who comes close to their output and popularity since their career began? The one thing that struck me as amazing while viewing this DVD was their breathtakingly potent sound. For three people to create such magnificent and authoritative music is a bona fide accomplishment. The fact that they are all very talented musicians and extremely creative is what makes their music so incredible; there can be no denying that. Neil Peart is amazing; he is completely surrounded by percussive instruments on stage and manages to get more sounds out of his equipment than I have ever witnessed. Geddy Lee has one of the most distinctive voices in rock and plays the bass and keyboards with model professionalism. What can you say about Alex Lifeson? What an amazingly gifted guitar player. He is a complete riot as well. On the backstage and behind the scenes footage he had me laughing all the time, he is such a character! Geddy Lee commented in an interview that he was not a methodical player but an instinctive one, which is the highest compliment you could possible give a musician as far as I am concerned. Twenty-eight songs is quite a lot of music and they offer up a nice career spanning set for the massive throng in Brazil. They also do some tracks off their latest studio offering Vapor Trails (which I highly recommend). I have to say that I enjoyed watching the crowd of thousands that gathered in the massive soccer stadium to watch them play two memorable sets. To witness such an immense group of human beings swaying back and forth and jumping up and down in unison as one single entity is a site to behold. I cannot imagine what it looked like from the band’s point of view. The videos playing in the background on some of songs are terrifically entertaining and so is the laser show, in fact every aspect of their show is exceptional. I did not get the three dryers spinning on stage with clothes in them though, what was that all about? I guess they give the fans the shirts and it says on them something like “Taken from dryer #1 at a Rush concert.” Along with the main event on disc one, there are plenty of bonus features with backstage and additional concert footage on disc two to make this a real keeper. I never can seem to find those Easter eggs though; I guess the little bunny knows how to hide them. If you are a progressive-rock nut like me or a Rush fan you simply cannot miss this DVD. It is without a doubt the best DVD I have had the pleasure to enjoy to date this year. Rating: 5/5 [See also Bobo's review of the CD; Dave's review of the CD and DVD; Steph's review of the DVD -ed.] More about Rush In Rio: Track Listing: Tom Sawyer / Distant Early Warning / New World Man / Roll The Bones / Earthshine / YYZ / The Pass / Bravado / The Big Money / The Trees / Freewill / Closer To The Heart / Natural Science / One Little Victory / Driven / Ghost Rider / Secret Touch / Dreamline / Red Sector A / Leave That Thing Alone / O Baterista / Resist / 2112 / Limelight / La Villa Strangiato / The Spirit Of Radio / By-Tor & The Snow Dog / Working Man Bonus Features: Documentary by video director and longtime Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughton that includes band interviews as well as rare rehearsal and backstage footage / Multi-angle viewing options on "La Villa Strangiato," "YYZ" and "O Baterista" / Easter eggs: "By-Tor & The Snow Dog" cartoon created specifically for the tour and an extremely rare live performance from 1975 of "Anthem" that was recently discovered in the Rush vault Musicians: Geddy Lee – vocals, basses, keyboards Alex Lifeson – guitars, vocals Neil Peart – drums, percussion Contact: Websites: www.rush.com www.rushinrio.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Rush (1974) Fly By Night (1975) Caress Of Steel (1975) 2112 (1976) All The World's A Stage (1976) A Farewell To Kings (1977) Hemispheres (1978) Permanent Waves (1980) Moving Pictures (1981) Exit... Stage Left (1981) Signals (1982) Grace Under Pressure (1984) Power Windows (1985) Hold Your Fire (1987) A Show Of Hands (1989) Presto (1989) Chronicles (1990) Roll The Bones (1991) Counterparts (1993) Test For Echo (1996) Different Stages (1998) Vapor Trails (2003) Rush In Rio (2003) Feedback (2004) Through The Camera Eye (VID) (1984) Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984 (VID) (1986) A Show Of Hands (VID) (1988) Chronicles (DVD/VID) (1990/2001) Rush In Rio (DVD/VID) (2003)
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