Rush - Exit Stage Left
Performance
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Rush - Exit Stage Left
Performance
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I remember back in the mid-80's, cruising to the beach in my buddy's pickup truck, drinking an ice cold brew, and jamming to Rush's Exit...Stage Left. Although my own car was a much more comfortable ride, it's stock stereo system just didn't do the music justice. The truck, however, delivered the goods. Music overrules comfort of course. Every time Neil Peart launched into his epic "YYZ" drum solo, we would literally pull over to pay our proper respects with a ferocious bout of air drumming - driving with a beer in your hand was already stupid enough. That is still one of the best drum solos ever laid down to vinyl, because it is essentially a song within itself, something you can actually sing - if that makes any sense. Watch Rush in Rio and you'll get my drift. Exit Stage Left was filmed at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec on March 27, 1981 and was originally released on VHS and laserdisc. The video captures Rush on their Moving Pictures tour, and you are treated to a mesmerizing performance of the entire first side of that now legendary album, although not in order. You see kids, back in the old days, there were two sides to an album, and you actually had to get up to flip the damn thing over. The video begins with footage of the crew setting up the concert venue, as "The Camera Eye" plays in the background, and Neil Peart provides some insightful commentary. He will provide more commentary between each of the song performances. Kicking off a concert video with vintage performances of "Limelight" and "Tom Sawyer" is already enough to send any Rush fan to near orgasm, but the highlight of this show was the magnificent progressive-rock epic "Xanadu". You will find no audio samples this night, as Professor Peart methodically maneuvers about, hitting each and every wind chime, triangle, temple block, orchestra bell, and other form of percussion that made the song's intro so magical. The performances of "Red Barchetta" and "Freewill" are two of the finest live versions you will ever hear, although they don't stray too much from the album versions. Then again, Rush always have stayed very faithful to the original versions when playing live. The setlist provided with the DVD, lists "YYZ" as anchoring both sides of the closing medley, "By-Tor and The Snow Dog", "In The End", "In The Mood", and the "2112 Finale", which is a little misleading since it only really plays over the closing credits and very briefly during Neil Peart's commentary that preceded the medley. This was a huge disappointment, because the Exit Stage Left album version is jaw-droppingly powerful. The Exit Stage Left audio was remixed by Alex Lifeson and Mike Fraser and is presented in DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, and PCM stereo. All of the tracks sound exceptional and are clear improvements over the original recordings. The DTS track sounds especially good and is on par with most new concert DVDs I have reviewed. The show is presented in its original full frame format and does not show much improvement over the original VHS version. The picture is very hazy and dark in most places, like the majority of concert videos shot back then, but if you are only used to watching newer, digitally recorded videos, then you may be disappointed. The camera work was a little choppy and didn't present the best angles, but you do get a good feel for what it must have been like to be at the show. No special features are to be found, but an excellent miniature reproduction of the official tour program was included. Unfortunately the total running time is only a meager 59 minutes. As good as this video still is, considering the short length, it could have been absolutely mind-blowing had they included the entire set that appeared on the album version. Missing are "The Spirit Of Radio", "Beneath, Between & Behind", "Jacob's Ladder", "La Villa Strangiato", and the full performance of "YYZ", but, in return, you do get "Limelight" and the medley, which were not on the album. This DVD is also included as part of the Rush Replay X 3 box set. Exit Stage Left captures Rush at their creative and performing peak and is a must see for any fan of this magnificent Canadian export. Reviewed by Paul M. Roy - June 2007 |
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Running Time: 59 Minutes |
DVD Release Date - 2006/2007 |