Dave2112
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I just got my hands on the long-awaited live DVD of "Rush in Rio", and I'm utterly blown away by this two-disc set. Fans of Rush will find this collection utterly indispensible, and those who are just getting into the premier Canadian trio will find a sample of thier entire history here.
The great thing about this set is that the special features disc is something you actually want to watch. There's a very intersting story behind Rush finally playing in Rio, and the surprise at finding so many deeply devoted fans.
The crowd, in fact, is almost the "Fourth Rush", so to speak. Never has Rush played to such a large audience...40,000 people; on the heels of the previous 60,000 at San Paulo. The fans were rabid, most singing along word for word on almost every song. The feeling is huge as you watch this and take it all in (especially on the six-speaker Surround system I have, hooked up to a 42" screen...) American audiences have become a bit jaded to the "Big-Rock-Concert-Experience", which is why I love watching videos of bands playing in other countries. (Asia Live in Moscow is another good example of this.) These fans acted as though the Beatles or Jesus had shown up.
Surprisingly, the show starts off with a blazing rendition of the band's most recognizable hit, "Tom Sawyer". After that's out of the way (and cunningly making you wonder what the encore will be now) they relive a few '80's moments with "Distant Early Warning" and the very cool "New World Man." "Roll the Bones" follows, with the audience even knowing the words to the rap part.
Song after song, Rush rips through thier long history, bringing along some familiar sounds, and some old friends we haven't heard from in decades. The finale is pure Rush history, bringing back the classic epics "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" and "Cygnus X-1" before screaming into the rousing blasts of "Working Man" off of thier debut album.
Neil Peart's drum solo "O Baterista" is, in his own words, a history of drumming, combining jazz, rock, African, Carribean and many other styles, while still throwing in snippets of familiar Peart Solo acrobatics.
Following this is a Rush first, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson sitting down with acoustic guitars for an unplugged version of "Resist" from "Test for Echo". This is one of the disc's highlights, being both haunting and sonically gorgeous at the same time.
With a history as long as Rush's, it's hard to make a truly complete set list without making it a box set, and there were a couple of disappointments for me. "The Pass" is the only track from one of my favorite CD's, 1989's "Presto"...although it is one of the better songs played. I would have liiked something from 1987's "Hold Your Fire", there's no "Test for Echo", "Half the World", "Nobody's Hero" or some other favorites...but that's nitpicking. However, I finally got my wish and Rush put out a live video with "Limelight" in it. This is my favorite Rush tune, and was absent from "Exit...Stage Left" and "A Show of Hands".
There are a couple of cool Easter Eggs in the disc, one which allows you to watch the hilarious new animation that plays on the screen when they play "By-Tor"...the epic battle turned into first a flexing match between a Flash animated Geddy and Alex, then into an anime-like dance-off between robots...but then again, this is Rush we're talking about. Another unlocks an archive performance of "Anthem" from 1975.
The documentary film is very entertaining, especially the story of how the film almost never happened, due to torrential rains the previous night that threatened to ruin Peart's electronic triggering percussion and midi stuff, archaic recording equipment and every other Murphy's Law moment that came up. You get to see Rush for what they really are...the most down-to-Earth and intelligent men in rock. They're honestly overwhelmed by the huge reception Brazil gave them, and moments of modesty are so rare in the world of rock. The documentary also touches upon the spirit of Neil Peart's return after the tragedies in his life since they last toured five years ago. Unlike most other bands, you never really see Rush as rock stars, just regular guys who happen to write and play great, meaningful songs.
Being a Rush fan is kind of like being into tickling. You always think you're the only one. When I was younger, I thought it a little corny to say that Rush's music affected my life. But after watching this video and listening to the comments of fans half a world away, there's a general consensus among all Rush fans. The music has meaning, the lyrics say something. The ideals are universal and the varying styles of music cross over cultural differences. And if you ever think you're weird for being a rabid Rush fan, consider this newly-gleaned tidbit...
...Brazilian TV uses "Tom Sawyer" as the theme music to "McGuyver".
"...and the men who hold high places, must be the ones who start; to mold a new reality, Closer to the Heart..."
😎
The great thing about this set is that the special features disc is something you actually want to watch. There's a very intersting story behind Rush finally playing in Rio, and the surprise at finding so many deeply devoted fans.
The crowd, in fact, is almost the "Fourth Rush", so to speak. Never has Rush played to such a large audience...40,000 people; on the heels of the previous 60,000 at San Paulo. The fans were rabid, most singing along word for word on almost every song. The feeling is huge as you watch this and take it all in (especially on the six-speaker Surround system I have, hooked up to a 42" screen...) American audiences have become a bit jaded to the "Big-Rock-Concert-Experience", which is why I love watching videos of bands playing in other countries. (Asia Live in Moscow is another good example of this.) These fans acted as though the Beatles or Jesus had shown up.
Surprisingly, the show starts off with a blazing rendition of the band's most recognizable hit, "Tom Sawyer". After that's out of the way (and cunningly making you wonder what the encore will be now) they relive a few '80's moments with "Distant Early Warning" and the very cool "New World Man." "Roll the Bones" follows, with the audience even knowing the words to the rap part.
Song after song, Rush rips through thier long history, bringing along some familiar sounds, and some old friends we haven't heard from in decades. The finale is pure Rush history, bringing back the classic epics "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" and "Cygnus X-1" before screaming into the rousing blasts of "Working Man" off of thier debut album.
Neil Peart's drum solo "O Baterista" is, in his own words, a history of drumming, combining jazz, rock, African, Carribean and many other styles, while still throwing in snippets of familiar Peart Solo acrobatics.
Following this is a Rush first, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson sitting down with acoustic guitars for an unplugged version of "Resist" from "Test for Echo". This is one of the disc's highlights, being both haunting and sonically gorgeous at the same time.
With a history as long as Rush's, it's hard to make a truly complete set list without making it a box set, and there were a couple of disappointments for me. "The Pass" is the only track from one of my favorite CD's, 1989's "Presto"...although it is one of the better songs played. I would have liiked something from 1987's "Hold Your Fire", there's no "Test for Echo", "Half the World", "Nobody's Hero" or some other favorites...but that's nitpicking. However, I finally got my wish and Rush put out a live video with "Limelight" in it. This is my favorite Rush tune, and was absent from "Exit...Stage Left" and "A Show of Hands".
There are a couple of cool Easter Eggs in the disc, one which allows you to watch the hilarious new animation that plays on the screen when they play "By-Tor"...the epic battle turned into first a flexing match between a Flash animated Geddy and Alex, then into an anime-like dance-off between robots...but then again, this is Rush we're talking about. Another unlocks an archive performance of "Anthem" from 1975.
The documentary film is very entertaining, especially the story of how the film almost never happened, due to torrential rains the previous night that threatened to ruin Peart's electronic triggering percussion and midi stuff, archaic recording equipment and every other Murphy's Law moment that came up. You get to see Rush for what they really are...the most down-to-Earth and intelligent men in rock. They're honestly overwhelmed by the huge reception Brazil gave them, and moments of modesty are so rare in the world of rock. The documentary also touches upon the spirit of Neil Peart's return after the tragedies in his life since they last toured five years ago. Unlike most other bands, you never really see Rush as rock stars, just regular guys who happen to write and play great, meaningful songs.
Being a Rush fan is kind of like being into tickling. You always think you're the only one. When I was younger, I thought it a little corny to say that Rush's music affected my life. But after watching this video and listening to the comments of fans half a world away, there's a general consensus among all Rush fans. The music has meaning, the lyrics say something. The ideals are universal and the varying styles of music cross over cultural differences. And if you ever think you're weird for being a rabid Rush fan, consider this newly-gleaned tidbit...
...Brazilian TV uses "Tom Sawyer" as the theme music to "McGuyver".
"...and the men who hold high places, must be the ones who start; to mold a new reality, Closer to the Heart..."
😎
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