Rush - R30

Of all the major bands of my teens, only Rush and U2 have never done a "comeback" or a "reunion." This, of course, is because they've never been gone.

There is something almost eerie about that. Twenty years ago, my friends and I were playing furious air guitar with pool sticks in my parents' basement, while a vinyl copy of "2112" did its best to exceed the limits of a hand-me-down stereo.

Today, I'm a husband and father, working very hard to keep the gut away. Yet somehow, Alex, Geddy and Neil are still here, just like they always were - and like me they've gotten older and (except for Geddy) a bit wider around the middle. Which makes it even cooler that they still ABSOLUTELY ROCK!

During the Overture on this R30 DVD, they seamlessly present themes from 2112, Fly By Night, Rush, Hemispheres and more. If you close your eyes, and just listen, you expect to open them and see young, skinny, long-haired Rush straining vintage 1970's equipment in some kind of Rock and Roll time warp. You expect to suddenly hear Geddy go high and start singing those searing notes that he used to hit.

When you open your eyes, you see older, wider, short-haired (except for Geddy) Rush straining modern equipment, changed physically by time but obviously still the exact same band that inspired me, for example, to take my speakers off my wall in college and lay down between them so that I could catch every last nuance of the entire "Farewell to Kings" album on one of the first CD's I ever bought.

As the years went by, I moved on to other bands, and my complete Rush CD collection began to scatter into the piles with the hundreds of others. I thought that I had moved on.

In watching this concert with the headphones cranked up, I got that same sense of awe and excitement I had in college. I found myself sitting upright, not just listening but mentally cheering for my onetime heroes, who were suddenly heroes all over again.

I haven't seen the "Rio" DVD, but in R30 Rush will remind every true fan of why we're all so happy that they have never gone away. I have a huge DVD music collection, and some of it is buried way in the back. R30 is one to keep on the front row.

DVD
Rush - R30 is released on DVD in two different packs. The 2-DVD Package includes the Frankfurt concert on disc one with a second DVD of rare vintage performance footage and interviews culled from the last three decades. The Deluxe Edition contains both of the aforementioned DVDs, but also includes the Frankfurt concert on two bonus CDs which are not available separately. The Deluxe Edition also includes two limited edition Rush guitar picks and a souvenir backstage pass.

Audio
Forget the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. It is vastly inferior to the PCM stereo track offered as an alternative. The surround mix has a tendency to sound booming with echoing vocals, no great definition to the instruments or sharpness to the tight drum sounds. It is slightly warmer and less clinical than the stereo track however, it has to be said. The audience noise - such a major and controversial element on the mixing of Rush In Rio, is kept well down in the mix here, only faintly audible on the rear speakers between tracks. Despite the controversy, I enjoyed this enveloping mix on Rush In Rio - but it certainly didn't please everyone.
The PCM track then is the only way to listen to R30. I mean, seriously. The difference is incredible - deep, sharp and reverberating, with fineness of detail and clarity of tone. A little clinical in places perhaps, but that's what we want, isn't it? Well, obviously, not everyone...

Video
Despite the use of hi-definition video, the picture quality is inevitably going to find it difficult to cope with stage lighting and unfortunately there are the usual issues with chroma noise, pixilation, dot crawl and combing. Few of the problems can be easily detected in normal playback, but you will get the impression of a slight blurring in movement from the combing and a jaggedness or kind of crystallisation around brightly-lit objects caused by some nasty pixilation. An example of this can be seen in the screencapture below. Overall though, the transfer is well up to handling the variety of colour schemes in the concert lighting. There are no complaints about the filming style. The show uses less cameras than Rush In Rio, but they are well placed and unobtrusive, avoiding too many quick cuts and they have no effects applied other than the occasional dissolve, picking up the right angles and focus for each song.

Extras
The second disc of the set includes an hour and a half of fascinating rare archive performances, both mimed studio and live performances and a number of television interviews. Beware of some very dodgy haircuts and fashions.


Interviews
Interview with at Hamilton Ivor Wynne Stadium (1979) (9:52). On the A Farewell to Kings Tour, Geddy Lee talks about the growing success of the band and their approach - moving away from conceptual albums - to their new album, the then unrecorded and untitled Permanent Waves.
Studio interview at Le Studio, Montreal (1980) (12:59). All three members of the band discuss their new approach to writing and recording, and their enjoyment of live performance. Neil and Geddy do most of the talking, Alex goofs around - as usual.
1980sArtist of the Decade (1990) (15:32). A fabulous interview with all the members of the band interviewed separately, reflecting on the highs and lows of their career and illustrating the indomitable spirit of Rush.
CBC Television: Juno Awards show (1994) (17:33). An awards ceremony to celebrate Rush's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, this features interview and performance clips, including a tribute from Mike Myers and other celebrity fans. Again, the band's sense of humour comes through here.
Interview for release of Vapor Trails (2002) (12:51). Alex and Geddy talk about the apprehension of going back to the studio and how the band spirit and music came together again after a long separation. There's some reflection on the hard work that made them successful, like the recording of 1974's Fly By Night in 4 days in between the 250 gigs they played that year.

The Anthem Vault
Fly By Night (3:25) is a mimed performance in a studio from 1975 - one of the Church Session Videos.
Finding My Way (4:22) and In The Mood (3:20) are of very rough quality, shown in small, window-boxed format because of the low and fuzzy quality of the video. Nevertheless they feature furious and energetic live performances of these early tracks and are well worth inclusion regardless of the picture quality.
Circumstances (3:43) is a live in the studio performance which overuses the starburst filter on the camera.
La Villa Strangiato (10:12), is a full straight run-through of the song live in 1978 - a virtuoso display from Alex Lifeson demonstrating his ability to get an incredible range of sounds from one guitar.
A Farewell to Kings (5:52) and Xanadu (11:10) feature the band in flowing capes during their madrigal period. These are mimed to studio performances on a stage setting.
The Spirit of Radio (1:02) is a brief soundcheck at the Hamilton Ivor Wynne Stadium in 1979.
Freewill (5:34) is a recording from the Toronto Rocks / Rolling Stones Concert, 2003, and by God, Geddy Lee can still hit those high notes!
Closer to the Heart (3:25) sees the band with a couple of guests performing in a recording studio for the Canadian Tsunami Disaster Fund charity telethon on CBC television in 2005. This is a lovely little performance.


Overall
Well, this definitely captures the same show I saw in Glasgow during the UK leg of the R30 tour, with the band still showing no sign of aging, slowing down or mellowing out. It has however better sound than the booming acoustics of the SEC, and you get a better view of the band than I had stuck at the front of the second block centre. I can't claim to be objective in this review or even speak for all Rush fans, but from a personal perspective, this is a great recording and wonderful souvenir from that tour, fully living up to any expectation I could have from the band in concert. There are still a few technical issues with this release, but with a stunning PCM Stereo track it is unlikely to be as controversial as the mix on Rush In Rio. In terms of extra features this is a little gold-mine for long-time fans, with an amazing selection of archive material from many periods of the band's career. We all now eagerly await another album and tour from a band who still seem to be on top form, not yet ready to rest on their laurels, but always capable of progressing their musical ability.

THE SET: (2005) There are two versions of this "R30" DVD release. The 2-disc version (DVD's only), and the deluxe 4-disc version (2 DVD's and 2 CD's). For some reason, as of December 2006, the 2-disc set is more expensive than the 4-disc set here on Amazon. Disc-1 gives you the 130 minute concert from Frankfurt, Germany (Sept 2004) filmed in 5.1 Surround. Disc-2 gives you five interviews and 10 videos (some live, some staged) from the archives. Disc-3 and Disc-4 are CD's of the same Frankfurt concert from Disc-1... both music discs run just over 61 minutes. The deluxe set comes with 2 guitar picks (with Lee's and Lifeson's stamped autograph); and a nice 22-page booklet containing numerous band photos over the last 3 decades, DVD written contents, and a list of those that labored with the band (tour crews, editors, mgmt, etc). Label - Anthem.

COMMENTS: This is a must own for any Rush fan. As of this release, Rush has 28 studio/live/compilation releases... a massive career beginning with their 1974 debut. Simply a ton of great music. Disc-1 opens with a very cool 2-minute animated intro - incorporating all the artwork from each of their albums; followed by a short intro (not sure what else to call it) from comedian Jerry Stiller. Rush's Frankfurt concert itself is shot beautifully and the camera speed it moves from shot to shot is not too fast (as many music DVD's are). The track list is great - though with such a large catalog of songs to choose from, there was going to be some glaring omissions of some classic songs (i.e. - "Fly By Night", "Freewill", "New World Man", "One Little Victory", "The Trees", "Closer To The Heart", "Distant Early Warning", etc). The band sounds absolutely awesome. As much as Lifeson's guitar solos are highlights, Peart's drum solo ("Der Trommler") is mesmerizing. Geddy Lee's bass is a constant, and his voice can still hit the high notes (well, most of the time). The interviews on disc-2 (about 55 minutes in total) are a nice insight to the band. From Geddy Lee's interview in 1979 outside Ivor Wynne Stadium (in Hamilton) through their 2002 Vapor Trails band interview... discussing a wide range of topics - from their albums, concepts/ideas, successes, failures & hard times, image, touring, audience reactions, influences, unique sound, anger, memories, balance and staying power. My favorite of these interviews was the Juno Hall Of Fame induction - with many famous faces contributing (Tom Cochran, Mike Myers, Sebastian Bach, Tragically Hip, Kim Mitchell, Primus, Soundgarden, Joe Carter & Paul Molitor from the Toronto Blue Jays, and more). The videos on disc-2 were neat for the nostalgia buffs - great songs being played (or lip-synced), complete with corny sets, dated clothes, bad haircuts/perms, terrible sound and a much smaller drum kit for Neil Peart. The highlights are probably "A Farewell To Kings" and the more recent in-studio "Closer To The Heart". The compact discs are a bonus to listen to on the home stereo or cranked in the car. A truly awesome package all the way around (5 stars).

I was disappointed on behalf of Rush when I learned, from Rod Stiffington's review (below) of the R30 DVD, that the product is of poor quality. I had been really looking forward to this release considering the 14 HD cameras, 16:9 format, 5.1 Surround, superior lighting, performance, historical context, liner notes, interviews, photographs, packaging, unseen studio footage from the 70s, etc. Oh wait - Rod Stiffington has not actually seen or heard the DVD. He gives it one star not because of the performance, sound or video quality, but because the band decided only 22 of 30 songs were performed well enough or were appropriate enough (i.e. non-redundant) for inclusion. I feel robbed and under-appreciated. Maybe Rush had good reasons to eliminate a few tunes (ya think?). Thank heavens they dropped One Little Victory, Secret Touch, By-Tor, and Red Sector A, neither of which made much sense to repeat only one year after the VT tour and its accompanying DVD (on the other hand, I could have tolerated YYZ and Bravado yet again). I'll give R30 five stars in advance to counter Stiffington's less-than-enlightening assessment.

I bought the Deluxe set last night. I bought this set primarily for the CDs and DVDs. The other extra content (the guitar picks, etc) didn't add much value for me.

I threw the CDs into my car stereo, started to listen, and found some initial joy. The sound quality is great. The crowd noise is much more muted and doesn't get in the way of the music. (Personally, the crowd noise from the Rio set didn't bother me much, and it actually added something to the recording, but that's a matter of taste). The "updated" synth sounds on "A Show of Hands" are out - 80s tracks like Subdivisions go back to their synth roots while retaining a fresh sound.

Also, when I played the DVDs at home, the production is very clean (no comment on the 1 sec layer-switching pause). The music is VERY clean. I haven't checked yet to see if they utilized the multiple camera angle feature (like being able to watch Neil play the entire concert) - that would be cool. I would have preferred a little less jumping around from camera to camera, but everyone to his own on that.

With all that said, I have a bigger overall complaint about the content. In the end, R30 left me wanting more varied content. If you already own Rush in Rio, there's some substantial repetition here. Also, of the tracks not on the Rio set, only Between the Wheels (perhaps because it's "new") and the intro medley truly stand out.

Note to Rush: Please - I want more of the "B sides" (i.e. Between the Wheels) and less of the hits (i.e. Tom Sawyer). Don't get me wrong - Red Sector A, YYZ, Tom Sawyer, and Mystic Rhythms are among my favorite Rush tracks (I'm a HUGE 80's era Rush fan), but I want something new in your live records. I mean, I now own 3 live recordings of Tom Sawyer - but none of Vital Signs or The Camera Eye. I have live 2 recordings of Subdivisions and Red Sector A, but none of Losing It or Afterimage. Bring us more of tracks like "Between the Wheels"!

If you guys did a mostly B Sides (rarely if ever played on tour) show, and then released that content on DVD/CD, I'd pay a fortune to be there and own the recordings! Until then, we'll have to wade through more recordings of Closer to the Heart.

Bottom line - if you own Rush in Rio and you like the crowd mix and energy (definitely try before you buy), R30 will leave you a little flat, despite the inclusion of new tracks. Stick with Rio and maybe buy the separate downloads that are missing if/when they're available. If you hated the muddy sound and you want a cleaner recording, get this set. Buying both is a little overkill, even though they serve different purposes. If I HAD to choose, I'd take the Rio set by a nose because of the crowd energy...

This is a beautiful looking Blu-ray and the sound is amazing. This is a must have even if you have the dvd version. This is only the concert but it is the entire concert. No extras. R30 on Blu-Ray features, for the first time ever, Rush's entire sold out concert in Frankfurt, Germany from their 2004 - 30th Anniversary Tour. With the entire concert being on this Blu-Ray, this means that 8 tracks that were not on the original DVD, are here for you to enjoy. This concert was shot in High Definition, 16:9 Widescreen, PCM Stereo, and Dolby Digital 5.1. BONUS TRACKS THAT WERE NOT ON THE ORIGINAL DVD:

1.Bravado
2.YYZ
3.The Trees
4.One Little Victory
5.Secret Touch
6.Red Sector A
7.La Villa Strangiato
8.By-Tor and the Snow Dog

Pretty strong review for someone who hasn't seen anything yet! And exactly how is it that you could accuse the band of using the 8 missing songs as a way to "milk more money out of peope"? I'm baffled...as you've pointed out, there is such a cult-like following of this band, they could release junk every two weeks and it would sell. Instead, they don't. They release quality each and every time and specifically DON'T milk their fans!

The fact that anyone would go out of their way to be critical of any band for editing choices is sad. If there were technical dificulties experienced during the 8 missing songs and they included them anyway, the ignorant whiners of the world would still complain...and perhaps even go so far as to accuse the band of releasing poor quality so that they can re-release in 6 months and "milk their fans" for more money.

I sincerely hope that people will read the reviews for this DVD AFTER IT'S BEEN RELEASED to find out what people who have actually experienced the show feel about it and instead, disregard the criticism of some boob who whines that he's being cheated out of a few songs.

A review below gives the audio quality of the CD poor reviews. I can't comment on that as I only have the DVD. However, the DVD sound is amazing.

Audio:

The DVD gives you the option to select either PCM Stereo or Surround Sound 5.1. I only have 2 speakers hooked up to my system, but they have great sound. This is one of the best recorded/mixed sound for DVD I have ever heard. Top notch! I own 8 concert DVDs and this is at the top of the list for sound.

Video:

The direction is excellent. I recently bought Peter Gabriel's Live and Unwrapped DVD concert. The editing is so bad- quick cut after quick cut after crazy angle. It's horrible. This RUSH DVD is edited so well. It's all substance. It hold shots on each player during solos and great drum fills and great bass fills. You get to watch all of Neil Peart's drum fills at just the right time and this video isn't afraid to hold a shot for 5 or 10 seconds.

Conclusion: This video evokes raw emotion from the viewer. The sound is great, it really is. I am a big critic of audio on a concert DVD and this exceeded my expectations. The disc with interviews and old performances "from the vault" are a joy to watch.

This DVD can be summed up in one word: "WOW!" If you have to choose between RUSH IN RIO or this, choose THIS!

I finally received Rush's R30 DVD today (Nov. 28) - and I say finally, because I had been counting the days for a couple of months - eagerly anticipating the moment. Like most of the Rush-Brotherhood that here voice their opinions, I've not been let down by our Canadian heroes with this release.

The overall sound of R30 is absolutely wonderful; clearly superior to several of Rush's studio releases. Every instrument is exactly where it needs to be in the mix and Alex's guitars have never sounded better live. The sound delivered during his solos is simply perfect.

Highlights of the concert: Between the Wheels, Red Barchetta and the R30 Overture. (Red Barchetta's R30 version easily rivals the Exit... Stage Left version; it's that good!).

Also really exciting: Xanadu, Subdivisions, Grand Finale (2112), Heart Full of Soul (acoustic). The R30 Xanadu version is great but not as atmospheric/evocative and thrilling as their Exit... Stage Left release. The R30 version of Subdivisions is perfect; heads above their ASOH release.

Still don't own R30? Go GED it!!

Now allow me for some criticism... (Blasphemy, in know!):

- Animate's tempo - established by Neil - was too slow. The song dragged.

- Rush live performances could benefit from more volume-variety (crescendos and decrescendos). Many of the songs have them compositionally "built-in" by design as recorded in their studio versions. IMO Animate is a good example of a song that needs the volume nuances. The pizzicatos (right-hand mutting) and softer playing by the "rhythm section" is needed so that when the chorus arrives again "Polarize me..., etc" it can be played in full volume to contrast and excite.

- Geddy has been experiencing serious intonation problems with Limelight for years. The song is great; the lyrical content/message perfectly suited to end their R30 show and the solo by Lerxst is masterful/classic, even "wrist-cutting material" but Geddy fails to be able to convincingly sing its melody.

- Too much material from their Feedback EP, although that is hardly surprising being their last studio effort and much easier to perform than Rush's own notoriously difficult music.

- The drum solo seems formulaic by now. New fans of Rush will find it a real treat though.

- Too bad Rush decided to drop Bytor and the Snow Dog from the R30 release but suspect the RiR version simply couldn't be outperformed.

How does R30 compare with Rush in Rio?

The sound quality of R30 is fantastic (not the case in RiR), however, the band's performance in Rio is even better. Now doubt Rush was motivated with the incredible audience in Rio (our german friends where missing-in-action) and perhaps also fueled by everything that preceeded the Vapor Trails tour. Also, Geddy's voice was in better form (more controlled, lyrical and tuned) in Rio than in R30. But, sound quality is too important a factor. Besides, the inclusion of Between the Wheels, Red Barchetta, Xanadu and the exciting R30 medley makes the R30 DVD a must buy - even for those who own RiR.

The 2nd disc full of rarities is really cool. I hope we will see more vault material in the subsequent Rush-DVD releases.

Song Wish-List for the next tour (others have done it here!):

- Freeze or Ceiling Unlimited
- Middletown Dreams or Analog Kid
- Ghost of a Chance or Alien Shore
- Presto (acoustic version instead of Resist, perhaps?)
- Finally, please don't drop Between the Wheels from the setlist!

I have never "reviewed" a product prior to its release and my actually experiencing it. But as a LONG time Rush fan, who saw this show in Vegas with his 16 year old son (a concert going experience of a lifetime), I have to say I am totally psyched about having this souvenir. Yes, I wish the entire concert were here...blah, blah, blah. I wish Rush would perform a concert for me in my backyard...but I can live without it too.

I'm stoked to see the lengthy opening montage, with bits of some long lost, never played classics. I look forward to the funny videos with Jerry Stiller, dragons and bobbleheads. I look forward to live versions of BETWEEN THE WHEELS and FORCE TEN. But I'm just as excited about DVD 2, with all the rarities. Rush has never been a band to indulge in rarities, outtakes, etc. They must have quite a stockpile...but they've never cashed in (despite the review earlier that claims Rush just cashes in on its fans). Let me see, how many rarities albums have they put out? How many concert videos after 30 years? Also, have you seen the price of this deluxe set? Less than $30. I remember a decade or so ago when Pink Floyd put out a double CD concert set, and there was a blinking red light on the CD case...that sucker cost over $30. No DVDs...no guitar picks...just a blinking light. I think this set promises real value for the $, and although they say DVDs can't be worn out through repeated playing...I'm gonna give that theory a test. Probably wear out my DVD player!!

Anyway, I look forward to posting again in late November. Meanwhile, I'm glad to see the other ravenous fans who just couldnt' wait to share the excitement.