Customer Reviews

Triumph - Live at the Us Festival

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What's Good About It?

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 rock stars, 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 15 to 20-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 to 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 their 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 `80s 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 15-minute interview from 2003.

Anything Bad?

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

Bottom Line

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.

This DVD features Triumph at the infamous "US Festival" in 1983. The line-up for that day was incredible, featuring other rock acts such as Motley Crue, Ozzy, Judas Priest, Scorpions, and Van Halen. Obviously, Triumph was not intimidated by the other big-name acts, delivering a smoking set of material played with depth and precision.
Triumph was touring their most recent release at the time, the fine "Never Surrender." My favorite Triumph album is the prior "Allied Forces," and several cuts from each make the performance. Also included are the Triumph classics "Lay It On The Line" and "Rock and Roll Machine." I saw this tour in Texas, also in 1983, and both were outstanding performances. The difference is with this DVD you are on the front row and the 5.1 sound is magnificent.
The included 80's videos and other various concert footage is a nice bonus, although, to me, it illustrates how Triumph got off the track of playing killer hard rock and venturing into commercial pop and ballads. I can't help but wonder if this was a main factor in the break-up of the band. Comments from Rik at the time have him sounding less than thrilled.
Also included are recent interviews with drummer/vocalist Gil Moore and bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine. Wish they could have gotten Rik Emmitt in there, too, for his overall perspective. Too bad there is much animosity between the two camps.
Overall this DVD is fantastic. For $16.99 here on Amazon, it's a no-question buy for fans of the band. I only wish it was longer. Maybe with all the great reviews from fans, a little more magic power will come through and a Triumph reunion might at least be discussed.

A great preformance from a group long forgotten by the classic
rock stations here in the U.S.
A little disappionted at first because it was during the day and
was missing the classic Triumph stage light show,,,,,
but on another viewing I realized it was about the music.
And it is truely one of the best you'll see from any band of that
genre. Rik Emmett was laying riffs that made other guitar players
famous well after he came along.
I got the new DVD,,,, Night of Triumph Live.
Alot of overdubs and camera shots of the crowd that it doesn't
have the same vibe as being as much a " LIVE " video like
the U. S. Festival.
Rik Emmett is alive and well and has recent releases available
through the Canadian market. He's doing alot of nice jazz stuff
now which shows his love of music and not just going for one
certain style or sound.

This "Triumph" concert DVD set the standard for others to follow. Filmed at the US Festival in 1983 in broad daylight, it gives rock fans a glimpse of one of Canada's premier bands. The picture is clear and the 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS sound are absolutely dynamic. Rik Emmett lights it up once again on guitar and shows why "Triumph" was one of Canada's super groups. Gil Moore's drumming is powerful and crisp and everything it should be. Mike Levine's bass is the glue that holds everything together. If you're a fan of "Triumph" then this concert DVD is a must have. If you want more awesome Triumph, go out and get "A Night of Triumph Live" complete with laser light show and spectacular lighting. The Rock n Roll machine lives on!

DVD Features Include:
-Three audio options: Remixed from the original masters in 5.1 DTS, 5.1 Dolby Digital & 2.0 Stereo
-2003 interview with Mike Levine & Gil Moore
-Bonus videos; spellbound & Follow Your Heart
-Inside the Rock and Roll Machine - A 40 minute rockumentary highlighting the explosive triumph arena rock show

SONG TRACK LIST:
*Allied Forces
*Lay it on the Line
*Never Surrender
*Magic Power
*A World of Fantasy
*Rock & Roll Machine
*When the Lights Go Down
*Fight the Good Fight

My parents made me sit down & watch this dvd, I thought it was going to be boring, but it rocked from the start of the show.
no one was lip syncing, they played they're own instruments, it was awesome. I wish they were still around I'd go see them.
music today sucks, I would definetly reccomend this dvd.... thanks.

It's 1983, and the US festival was one of the biggest and badest shows to ever be assembled. Triumph was just one of the many bands that kicked ass during these two days of Metal and Rock mayhem....

Triumph was in very solid form on this particular day, and it shows throughout the set. The song list is nothing but the best of Triumph, and the live performance is near flawless. I loved Triumph in the early 80's, and this is one show you don't want to miss. 500,000 screaming fans, and tons of excellent event footage makes this DVD a must for any Rock or Metal fan alive...

Buy it while it lasts because I have a strong feeling this wont be around forever...

I'll start by saying that I have seen triumph live twice and have owned the VHS copy of this show since 1984. I have played it hundreds of times. The actual performance of Triumph at the US Festival was terrific. They were super crisp and tight.

Rik Emmett, lead guitarist and primary vocalist was out of this world. His solo in "Rock n' Roll Machine" is a lesson in multiple style guitar work that is amazing. Rik's vocals on "Lay it on the line" and "magic power" are tremendous.

Gil Moore is a very solid drummer and a very underrated vocalist himself. He has a hard driving blues style of singing. This is most eveident on "when the lights go down", a great song live.

Other good features: the documentary "inside the rock n' roll machine" is very interesting and gives you behind the scenes stuff. Especially enjoyable is the stuff with Rik Emmett taking you on a tour of his guitars. Rik Emmett has since left the band (probably right after this documentary was made 1989?)
The interview with Gil Moore and Mike Levine gave some insight into the overall experience of the US Festival.

My "minor" complaints: This DVD was reworked in Sound and Video. My problem (most will never notice of care) is that they patched in vocals from other live shows to replace some audio of this concert. I only know this because I know every inflection and twang on this show since I own the tape. Gil Moore's final vocal lines in "When the lights go down" is NOT from THIS show. It is audio from another live show. When most people hear it, they would never notice, but it was wierd hearing it for me. The original tape was very clear so I don't know why they did that. Also, the beginning of the Drums VS. Guitar battle that Rik and Gil had after "World of Fantasy", was cut out. No idea why. Minor complaints from someone who knows the show a little too well. Plus, if the producers ever read the reviews here, I wanted to let them know I know what they did. Minor nitpick I know.

Get it though. The band was great, and the scenes of 500,000 people outdoors was terrific to see and hear.

Ok music fans, Triumph usually dosen't get credit as one of THE rock bands, and I'll leave that question up to the masses to figure out, however, they were a kick-ass rock band when I was growing up in the early 80's, surrounded by new wave and Madonna, and if you loved Rock, then you were thankful for bands like Triumph. They DESTROY on this concert!! Rik's guitar is alternately effortlessy shredding, and ROCKING power chords! The man is obviously a virtuoso muscian. Gil on drums is always fun to watch, he is an excellent rock drummer and I always find it amazing when people can rock out AND sing at the same time, and Mike on bass does a fantastic job as well. So, if you like Triumph, you WILL love this, if you don't, then it may or may not convert you. Enjoy.

This is by far one of the best live concert DVD's I've seen out there. The US Festival was a phenominal concert...why others have not released their footage is a mystery (namely Van Halen!). Thankfully, Triumph, one of the most underrated bands was wise and put out this spectacular DVD. Great songs, sound quality, musicianship and photography all make for a great concert to watch over and over. Incredible guitar solo and vocals by Emmett. A must have in your DVD concert collection. I highly recommend it!

you would find it difficult to get a better rock music dvd.this is a recording of a great concert from this stupendous underrated canadian rock band and one of my favourites.i give this dvd my highest possible recommendations.pick it up when you find it.