Without fail, Rush rises to the occasion and embraces the moment. So, it should
only follow that on the heels of their immensely popular concert DVDs, 2003’s
Rush In Rio and 2005’s R30, the Canadian progressive
hard rock group would take a step back and re-evaluate three exceptional concert
videos from a highly productive period: the 80s. True to form, Rush fans are
undoubtedly salivating at Universal’s hefty offering, cleverly coined
Replay X 3. We’re talking three DVDs of previously released
home videos of Exit… Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure,
and A Show of Hands, along with a bonus CD,
and other extras well worth the-under-$40 price tag.
With so much Rush on hand, it’s difficult to know where to start. In
this case, let’s stick with the beginning. Exit… Stage
Left, filmed on March 27, 1981 at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
accurately documents the trio graduation to the superstardom. Touring behind
what is perhaps their most revered album, 1981’s Moving Pictures,
Rush undoubtedly sustained their relevancy from the 1970s by infusing their
technically advanced, proggish tendencies with a modern and metallic shine.
All of which gives classics like “Limelight,” “Tom Sawyer,”
“Red Barchetta,” “Closer To The Heart” and “YYZ”
a timeless sheen. From here, it only gets better.
Originally released in 1985, Grace Under Pressure was shot
at a 1984 Maple Leaf Garden concert in Toronto, the band’s hometown. The
set list is shuffled and dealt like a five-course meal, superfluously bolstered
by Rush would-be staples like “The Spirit Of Radio,” “New World
Man,” and “Distant Early Warning.” As the epics are trotted
out, namely the notorious Fear Trilogy (“The Enemy Within,”
“The Weapon,” and “Witch Hunt”) and “Red Sector
A,” it becomes crystal clear that filler of any kind has been discarded
from the menu. The bonus CD, which replicates the Grace Under Pressure
DVD’s soundtrack (the other two DVDs already have companion CDs
in wide circulation), will astound your friends and co-workers during long road
trips, quick jaunts around town, and festive gatherings.
Filmed in April 1988 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England,
A Show Of Hands takes things up a notch with additional material
from 1985’s Power Windows and 1987’s Hold
Your Fire. By this time, guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist/vocalist Geddy
Lee, and drummer Neil Peart interact in a more refined, majestic manner, which,
along with a visually enhanced stage show showered by snazzy lasers and fanciful
animation, facilitates in projecting astral renditions of “The Big Money”
“Turn The Page,” “Manhattan Project” and “Force Ten.”
Still, with a 15-year history at that stage in their storied career, Rush can’t
easily dodge their colorful past. For this reason alone, old-school fans will
rejoice and gyrate during the encore comprising a 70s medley of “2112,”
“La Villa Strangiato” and “In The Mood” — each tidied
up, tightly wound, and polished off to near perfection.
Superbly remixed in 5.1 and PCM stereo by Lifeson and rounded out with stunning
reproductions of Rush tour programs that complement the three DVDs, Replay
X 3 is a must-have for diehards and casual fans alike. Even as Rush
In Rio and R30 prove that the band is as in-demand
and significant today as they’ve ever been, Replay X 3
vividly captures Rush at the absolute peak of their powers. Fans can only wish
and pray they’ll eventually release a concert from the 70s on DVD to keep
the momentum flowing.
~ Shawn Perry
