Rush: Clockworks Angels Tour

Zoe Records

I’ve been a steadfast Rush fan for going on 30 years. I even tried to convince my jazz band teacher in middle school to play “Tom Sawyer,” so I could impress everyone by playing it on my trombone. However, I have mixed feelings when it comes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ new Clockwork Angels Tour concert DVD. First, the performances themselves were fantastic: Songs like “The Body Electric” and “The Analog Kid” are seldom played live, and seeing them brought back to the stage breathed new life into them. “Clockwork Angels” and “The Garden” bookended the portion of the concert that featured songs from their most recent album, 2012’s Clockwork Angels. And the inclusion of the live string ensemble—such an integral part of that album—was brilliant. But then there’s the audio mix and video editing. The sound levels are totally inconsistent, and quick cuts from shot to shot become tiresome and annoying—all of which is baffling given that the band members are notorious sticklers for precision and quality. Overall, the three-hour performance proves that Rush is still relevant as it plays to a new generation of fans. But the production of the DVD itself is not Rush’s finest hour.