Rush – Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland (Anthem Entertainment)

For those of you out there that were lucky enough to catch the Time Machine Tour in person, you know what a special show it was. That is not to say that all Rush concerts aren’t special, it just that for the Time Machine Tour the band was playing exceptionally well and they played their most successful record Moving Pictures in it’s entirety. Now, I’m not one of those fans that always wants to see the hits and let’s face it, most of Moving Pictures has been in the set list for many years but having the band play it from start to finish with the classic “The Camera Eye” included makes it a special event. This particular show was filmed in Cleveland (as the title would suggest) on the second leg of the tour. Aside from Geddy Lee’s voice not being able to hit some of the high notes, the band as a whole are great form and are playing as well as did in previous years. The first set consists of songs that are not always played like “Time Stands Still” and “Presto”. Rush has such a rich catalogue to choose from so it is great that they pull out a tune that didn’t always get much airtime. The band also played a couple of new tracks that are going to show up on their next record Clockwork Angels. “BU2B” and “Caravan” show up on this DVD just like they did on the show.

The visuals on the DVD are also very good. I like the editing (not very many quick cut-aways or goofy special effects) and the sound is crystal clear. Rush have always given value for money when it came to their DVDs and this one is no different. Since the release of Beyond The Lighted Stage documentary, the vaults have probably been pillaged for bonus material so there is not that much on this disk (not that it is needed). The bonus material starts with some out-takes from the intro films that are played at the concert. It’s really great to see the guys flub their lines and show that they really do have a great sense of humor. As far as older material, there is some footage of “Need Some Love” from very early in their carreers and some black & white footage of “Anthem” from New Jersey that looks like it is form 1975 (based on their attire).

A lot has been said on the internet that Rush have been releasing too many DVDs and that there really is no need for all of them. I say to those people “you are not true fans”. If you are a fan, then you want a visual recording of a show you saw whether it is from the same city or not. Also, the band’s playing and song selection on this one makes it special and is a worthwhile addition to the (growing) collection. Time machine 2011: Live In Cleveland is a must purchase for both casual and hardcore Rush fans alike. It’s a “no-brainer” for the hardcore fans but either newer or casual fans will find this release, in particular, a great DVD to watch over and over again.

Greg Olma