TRIUMPH
Live at the US Festival DVD
TML Entertainment 2003
www.rikemmett.com

What’s the 4-1-1?
Canadian arena rock trio who had several hit records in the seventies and eighties. They are known for their combination of power and melody, and their amazing live shows.

Genre
Arena / Melodic / Classic rock

The Good

The US Festival:
Triumph was part of the best line-up ever to take a stage at the time (Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Scorpions, and Van Halen). Get this; Triumph went on after the first four bands. On this DVD however, you only get Triumph. What a great show! A nearly flawless performance. If you’re not familiar with them, they can be compared to Boston, REO Speedwagon, and Styx. Great melodic vocals that are split between drummer Gil Moore and guitarist Rik Emmett. Nine of Triumph's best songs (at the time) are performed here; "Allied Forces", "Never Surrender", "Rock and Roll Machine", and "Spellbound" to name a few. All songs are catchy and written in that 70s-80s format: riff, verse, chorus, lead, and repeat. Triumph certainly don't look like rockstars, Mike Levine looks like a trucker, and the Rik and Gil look like guys you'd run into at your local bar (in the eighties). In between songs the band discusses the event and how tough it was for them to get there. Although they were known for their over-the-top live shows, this show was stripped down. They didn't even use their own equipment.

The Extras:
A fifteen to twenty minute documentary about the band entitled Inside the Rock And Roll Machine gives you a behind the scenes look at how their shows are put together. Everything from lighting, pyro, smoke, and lightening techniques are explained. The whole thing is set classic Triumph tracks. It's great to see the fans with the big hair and eighties fashions. They interview celebrities that are at the show to get thier opinion. Ronnie James Dio chimes in, but why did Eugene Levy? Rik Emmett explains their songwriting process in his home studio as well. Love the technology.

Two videos are included. “Spellbound”, which has a story line to it, complete with an 80's character actor I'm sure you'll recognize, and “Follow Your Heart”, which showcases a live performance.

Gil Moore and Mike Levine reminisce about the performance in a fifteen minute interview from 2003.

DVD Specs:
Region 1
Single disc
Full Frame
Dolby 5.1 or 2.0

The Bad
CD version of the show is sold separately. It has the same songs too. DVD is you're best bet.

The Verdict
A great performance and an awe inspiring event. You take your chances with any "live" performance DVD (or CD). Triumph hits every note and lyric of their classic melodic rock songs (so you decide). The extras are decent, but nothing spectacular. Fun to see the old videos again.

Did You Know?
500,000 people attended the US Festival in 1983. For more information: click here

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne