Rush in Rio was emphatically my most anticipated concert DVD release of 2003. Like a true Rush geek, I ran out and bought it the day it was released (actually I made my wife do it, because I was working) and then told my boss that I would need the next day off. This, of course, was so I could party properly (i.e. drink heavily) during my viewing/celebration of Rush In Rio, and then not have to worry about silly inconveniences like getting up at 6 AM  for work the next morning.

Prior to catching their Vapor Trails tour that summer, I had been concerned about the fate of Rush, considering that they had just taken their first major hiatus (5 years) between albums and tours, following the tragic deaths of drummer Neal Peart's wife and daughter. Although I was somewhat disappointed with the Vapor Trails album, although it continues to grow on me, the concert I attended simply blew me away. These three Canucks rocked harder and more passionately than if the Toronto Maple Leafs had won the Stanley Cup. Rush seemed to be especially fueled by the overwhelming fan appreciation and enthusiasm that they were showered with each night of the tour. I have also seen their Grace Under Pressure and Counterparts tours, and they are now playing as good or better than they ever have. I own the VHS copies of the Exit Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure, and A Show of Hands concerts, all of which are excellent, but all Rush fans have been anxiously awaiting an original DVD recording from the band. What the hell took so long?

This concert is a recording of Rush's last show from their Vapor Trails world tour, which culminated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This tour was the first time Rush had ever played in Brazil, and I'm sure it will not be the last. These psyco Brazilians were some of the most wildly enthusiastic fans I have ever witnessed at a rock concert. Rush now knows what The Beatles must have felt like at their first stadium concert in the U.S. It seemed like EVERYONE in the audience knew EVERY riff and lyric of EVERY song in the band's vast catalog, and were hell bent on singing along to EVERYTHING! OK, now that I've said EVERY a million times. One of the biggest complaints with the audio mix is that the crowd noise was too overwhelming most of the time. I agree, the crowd noise was mixed too high, especially with the 5.1 mix, but I thought it added to the overall excitement of the show. The crowd was mixed exclusively to the rear surrounds, so you could at least compensate if you wanted to. The only song that the crowd seemed to almost completely overwhelm was the opening song, "Tom Sawyer". I'm sure the crowd had worked themselves into a frenzy waiting for the show to start, and then were especially astounded when Rush opened with "Tom Sawyer". It certainly surprised the hell out of me. Great move though.