EXIT... STAGE LEFT (VHS)

I honestly think that the DVD/VHS version of the show is much better than the CD version, but the DVD/VHS version does have its much needed flaws that keep this from being an absolutly perfect Rush concert, but its still a keeper. One thing I may suggest is that they release a 2 DVD set with the release, and they capture a more complete concert. One main problem with this show is YYZ. The video producers only make the band talk, and its very uninteresting, but they looks of it. With that out of the way, the sound is really good for being old. The footage is classic, old, and energetic Rush back in the early days. The performance itself is really great, but I am definatly not fond of the setlist being so shortened, but there are definatly a lot of people yelling for Tom Sawyer. I have to say this is one of the better old releases for Rush. I am going to grade the performance, footage, sound, and the setlist on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the best, and 1 being, definatly, the worst.

Performance- Definatly one of the strong points of the band, they are always energetic, and they have fun on the stage, and they rarely ever give a terrible performance while playing live, or on a studio recording, its always really a great listen. Geddy seems to be up for the night, showing is amazing bass guitar skills are to the maximum this night, and his voice sounds really great. Alex is having alot of fun during Closer to the Heart, and Xanadu. Neil is much happier than he is now, and he has good reason to be mad now in these days. His drumming is very hard, energetic, and near perfection. 10/10

Footage- This definatly isn't the best Rush release, look wise, bit its definatly some classic footage taken back in 1981 that no Rush fan will want to miss. There is some pixles if you looking in a medium television set, as with mine, and there is the ocausional white blotch in the screen, due to the fact that this is a very old recording, but its not very noticable. The main thing with this is that it actually catches the band playing, and it gets the job done with pro-shot. One mention about the camera is that one by Geddy, on the lower side, it gets those color bars, and its green. The green bars are a little annoying from time to time, but its really a great footage spree. 8.5/10

Sound- This is much better than the CD version. The soundboard catches the band playing very well, unlike the CD soundboard, which really gets me in the wrong place when I'm listening. The soundboard catches the performance very well, making it seem alot more, alive to say the least. For the band being caught in this old of a soundboard, it actually sounds really good, on the choices you have, its really great. 9/10

Setlist- This is the worst part of the whole DVD. Its so short, unlike the rest of the shows that they have done, they have to shorten the Montreal Forum show by a million songs. But, for being one of the best bands out there, its not really all that bad. 5.5/10

Its a very good show caught on DVD, very good, I just wish it were longer.

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