Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17381 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-05-12
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: DVD-Video, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 220 minutes

Special Features
Tracklisting

Disc 1 - * R30 Overture (Finding My Way, Bastille Day, Anthem, A Passage To Bangkok, Cygnus, Hemispheres) * The Spirit Of Radio * Force Ten * Animate * Subdivisions * Earthshine * Red Barchetta * Roll The Bones * The Seeker * Tom Sawyer * Dreamline * Between The Wheels * Mystic Rhythms * Der Trommler * Resist * Heart Full Of Soul * 2112 * Xanadu * Working Man * Summertime Blues * Crossroads * Limelight

Disc 2 - * Fly By Night (Church Sessions Video 1975) * Circumstances (Live in Studio 1978) * La Villa Strangiato (Live in Studio 1978) * Farewell To Kings (Live in Studio 1978) * Xanadu (Live in Studio 1978)

Synopsis
In 2004 Rush celebrated their 30th anniversary together in style, by undertaking an extensive world tour, and performing the classic songs that catapulted them to stardom. The show included here is taken from their date in Frankfurt, Germany, and sees the band shaking off their advancing years to perform a set packed full of energy.

Customer Reviews

You gotta take the bad with the good. Still five stars though...
Review header explanation first: the 'bad' is really a few minor niggles. First off, the crowd seems less excited to actually be there than that of Rush in Rio, which IS understandable, given they hadn't played there before. But still, the show feels more like what it is, a music DVD, than an EVENT, like Rio did. Secondly, there were several songs played that night which didn't make the DVD, including "Secret Touch", "One Little Victory", "By-Tor..." and "La Villa Strangiato" (all personal favourites). I understand that these songs were on the last DVD, but the lack of newer material on what is supposed to be a retrospective anniversary tour is quite noticeable, and besides, what's wrong with having a little repetition? Surely this "problem" would have been balanced out by the inclusion of "Between The Wheels" and "Force Ten" anyway. Anyway, these petty issues aside, I literally can't think of anything else to complain about on this set.

For a start, R30 boasts the best production of a Rush concert video to date. The picture is crystal clear and sharp. The editing is well paced, and the director clearly knows when to focus on which band member. The sound is also superior to the Rio show as well. And, most importantly, the performance is better. Geddy's singing is much more impressive here than ever before, particularly on older numbers you'd imagine would be challenging for him. Alex's solos never miss a note, and what few new flourishes there are scattered here and there always improve the material. Neil's playing is as dependable as ever, playing songs at 52 better than he could 20-odd years earlier. He allows himself a few spontaneous fills now and then, but the real treat for fans is "Der Trommler", a drum solo with distinct parts that's both hugely impressive and merits repeated listening. Forget Portnoy, THIS guy's the best in the world today.

So what of the songs? Well, the opening "R30 Overture" is a neat medley of a song each from the first six LPs. Most of the staples are here ("Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit of Radio") as well as a few surprises (the aforementioned "Force Ten" and others from that period). It's just a shame there wasn't more material from the nineties, and from Vapor Trails. Still, you realise that you don't miss something when it's not there, if you take my meaning. Highlights include the now-standard acoustic rendition of "Resist" as well as a truly rocking "Working Man", improved tenfold by Neil Peart's almost totally different drumming over John Rutsey's original performance.

The extra disc fits in with the retrospective feel, presenting performance and interviews dating as far back as the seventies. The interviews are arguably the more interesting of the bunch, as its always nice to get some artist insight, particularly in the context of making the album they're talking about instead of doe-eyed reflection. That said, there are some gems amongst the performance. A couple of tracks from the late seventies see the boys in full concept get-up, and you'd be forgiven for thinking they were pretentious no-fun lot, but when it's a full length version of Xanadu, who cares?! There's also a promo video for Fly By Night which sees Neil Peart in furious form, and the less said about Geddy's straightened mop the better.

In total, the package is worth an awful lot more than the ten quid or so you can get it for. I'm tempted to say its better than Rush in Rio, but I think the latter's documentary and set length balance the two out. That said, for sheer performance perfection, glorious sound, clear visuals and a look at how far one of the world's biggest bands has come, R30 is hard to beat.

Another great release
I deliberately avoided the Deluxe version of this, I can live without the picks and the backstage passes....what can they be worth personally if you did not collect them at a gig. I've probably got enough live Rush CD's too. I was a little concerned that maybe this was a DVD too far as well.

I needn't have worried. Excluding medleys there are only seven songs on this DVD that were on the Rush in Rio set and it's great to see classics like Between the Wheels, Subdivisions and Red Barchetta get an airing. Overall the sound is different to '...Rio,' less bassy, a little less heavy, but a bit more crisp and sharper. Lets face it every album Rush release has a different production and, as with those releases, a few tracks into the show it just seems right.

The Drum solo's great as usual, but he mesmerises throughout the whole set.

The filming is great too, you don't miss a thing, catching all the band members at the right moments. The energy level seems high too so there's never a dull moment....and they do this without having to flash between different shots every second which some DVD's are prone to do.

With about 19 songs dropped from the '...Rio' gig it's not many bands that can play a gig and leave you without feeling like youv'e been robbed and Rush must be near the top of that list.

Hair-raisingly timeless!
As ever the musicianship is faultless, though listening to old vinyl records over Christmas I can't understand why Hold Your Fire has not had much of a live-look in in recent years.

But look at the interviews and the old "anthems". There's enough hair on the trio to give extensions to half the planet! And as for the clothes, in 2006 you have to ask WHAT WERE THEY THINKING OF?

Answer - the brilliant music they produced in that period - and since. Therefore, if you didn't get it for Christmas get it now.