Rush - aging like fine Molson, eh?
If you were wondering why Rush has not toured with an opening act since 1994's Counterparts tour, it is probably so that they can get away with the marathon three hour shows they have been putting on ever since.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Logan
I went to Rush last night in SLC. As a first-time Rush-concert-goer, I thought the concert was amazing. After following the band's work for 10 years, it was a dream come true to see Alex run out on the stage playing "Limelight" to open the show. I was giddy the rest of the night! That's one experience I will never forget!
27 - Josh
Saw the Sacramento, CA show on 6 August. Excellent, as always. The sound was definitely muddy for the first three songs or so, but then it got better. And after the intermission the sound was nearly flawless.
For those detractors who only want to hear "the hits", STAY HOME. RUSH are far too busy making great, relevant music.
For me, S&A is the best album from rush in a very long time and I enjoyed hearing those songs live. Xanadu, The Trees, 2112, etc have been played and played and played. It was refreshing to hear some unexpected song choices.
If you want to see a washed up has-been band play the same predictable set of songs, then go to a KISS concert. If you want to see great musicians demonstrating their musical prowess, then RUSH is your band.
28 - Mike
Red Rocks August 8, 2007. Awesome show put on by RUSH in the greatest outdoor venue in perfect weather. A couple of minor glitches in sound did not detract from the great musicianship of these three men. The set list worked well and for the songs that were not favorites of "mine" I took advantage of the short bathroom lines. I would highly recommend this tour to any RUSH fan and I am already looking forward to seeing them in NYC at MSG.
29 - Big Al
Just saw Rush for the 3rd time in my life just two nights ago at Red Rocks, the premier location to see any band on any tour. It had been 20 years since my last viewing of my favorite band of all time. Kids, family all took priority for a while. Now I can get back to seeing them every chance I get (and I hope this wasn't the last chance). Geddy's voice sounded better than I ever expected. He hit a lot of notes I wasn'te expecting him to hit. Alex sounded perfect and Neil, well, what can you say. He is the best to ever sit behind a drum kit. The set list was awesome, I agree there was too much S&A. I fell in love with Rush to all of their albums up through Signals. From there, their music hasn't been as good in my opinion. I think S&A is their best effort in a long time, but I haven't been able to get into it as much. But they are still the best band in the world to me. Someone above here posted a comment about a 12 hour concert to hear all of the great stuff, I would pay to see that. Pay big bucks!
30 - DQ
Well... I haven't seen the show yet (scheduled tommorow in Selma - San Antonio Verizon), but I am looking forward to it. After reading that they won't play 2112..etc. old hits. That's kinda sux, but maybe they'll surprise us since San Antonio was very big early in their start. We had a couple of DJ's in 1975 that were very ahead of their time and were a major influence for bringing them to America. I'll let you know what they bring us. Can't wait.. DQ
31 - DQ
Early radio airplay won Rush its fans (The S.A. connection)
Web Posted: 08/09/2007 08:00 PM CDT
Here's a article on RUSH.....
Hector Saldaña and Ramiro Burr
Express-News Staff Writers
Longevity is not a word usually associated with a rock band these days.
But Rush has been recording and touring since the early '70s, and with a lineup " Geddy Lee, bass/vocals; Alex Lifeson, guitar; Neil Peart, drums " that hasn't changed since the second album, "Fly by Night" (1975).
Long a San Antonio favorite, the Canadian trio is coming to town Sunday on a tour in support of its 18th album "Snakes & Arrows."
Its beginnings as a heavy-metal power trio with artistic ambitions met with mixed results. Some considered the group artsy or pretentious. Its 1975 albums "Fly by Night" and "Caress of Steel" were thought to be "too Zeppeliny."
That changed in 1976 with the hard-rock concept album "2112." Later gems included "Permanent Waves," "Moving Pictures," "Signals" and "Roll the Bones." The sound softened, with synths playing a bigger role, but Rush remained a thinking man's rock band.
With dozens of gold and platinum albums and sold-out or near capacity tours, one would think Rush would have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
An evening with Rush
•Where: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 16765 Lookout Road, Selma
•When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
• Tickets: $32-$82 at Ticketmaster outlets
On the Web
•Official Rush site
• Rush at musicmoz
• Rush at WikiPedia
Not yet " though the band is in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, alongside Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and The Band.
But after three decades, the band still matters; here are some reasons why:
The S.A. connection
Unlike other markets, Rush broke big in San Antonio right from its debut album, "Rush," in 1974, recalled KZEP-FM's Tom "T-Bone" Scheppke.
"(The late) Joe Anthony and Lou Roney were the DJs at KMAC/KISS that really played the group heavily," he said. "They played all the cuts on the first album, but the big tracks were 'Working Man,' 'Finding My Way,' and 'In the Mood.'"
Dave Risher, owner of Hogwild Records, says Rush as always been a popular seller.
"I can still remember when they advertised their first concert here, at Randy's Rodeo. Through the years, I would say '2112' is their classic album, sort of like their 'White Album' and 'Sgt. Pepper' album. That one plus the first two live albums, 'All the World's a Stage' and 'Exit ... Stage Left' have been big sellers through the years."
After making its San Antonio debut Oct. 28, 1975 at Randy's, Rush got its first headlining gig June 7, 1976, at Municipal Auditorium with Styx opening and Thin Lizzy second-billed.
Jack Orbin, whose Stone City Attractions brought Rush to San Antonio 18 times from 1976 to 1996, called it the hardest-working blue collar band (with a taste for fine wines, he noted) that he ever promoted. He recalled that the band even played during an ice storm in Dallas in 1977 for fewer than 200 brave souls who showed up for their first appearance in that town.
Orbin recalled that when they came to San Antonio, they hung out at Mr. Pizza, which was run by Anthony.
The band's most recent visit was a Verizon show in June 2004 on its 30th anniversary tour.
They made '2112,' OK?
Although the title track was 20 minutes long, "2112" became Rush's commercial breakthrough, with complex tunes and lyrics about a future where technology ruled. The multipart title song, based on the writing of Ayn Rand, featured the radio staple "2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx," while the flip side had the rockers "Something for Nothing" and "A Passage to Bangkok" (which the band reportedly is playing on the current tour). It was a must-have album for S.A. rock fans in the '70s.
"2112" also gave Rush fans that naked man and star logo, seen in other album artwork and other places.
Stage show
Like Pink Floyd, Rush was known for its early use of props, film and video. Old-school San Antonio fans may recall when a giant pink brain hovered inside HemisFair Arena during a concert March 3, 1979, in support of "Hemispheres." Balcony tickets went for $8 back in the day. That's a large beer in today's world.
Sense of humor
What other band do you know that has used the Three Stooges' theme song as part of its concerts? On previous tours, they've brought up clothes dryers as stage as props. For this tour, it's reportedly rotisserie chicken ovens.
Then there's "Take Off," the musical skit by SCTV's Bob and Doug Mackenzie with Geddy Lee singing like a banshee. And the fan site Power Windows reports that "Tom Sawyer" is preceded by a "South Park" video on the current tour.
Virtuoso musicians
Guitar Player magazine compiled its "Top Ten Rush Riffs of All Time" and named "The Spirit of Radio" from the "Permanent Waves" CD as No. 1 because "this airtight shift in meter suggests more of a mystical connection between band members than even their headiest lyrics might imply."
Guitar Player digs Lifeson, but Modern Drummer worships "The Professor," Peart, who has released a two-DVD analysis of one of his drum solos.
Fanatic fans
In recent years, Rush has been ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Superfan Suzanne Bonney has organized the Rush Hall of Fame Campaign Petition online. So far she has collected 27,000 signatures. On the Web site, Bonney notes out that "with 22 consecutive gold records, they are fourth behind the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Kiss in all-time gold record acquisitions."
Will it take until 2112 to see Rush in the hall?
San Antonio resident Danny Sanchez, 38, has seen Rush 14 times.
"They're a thinking man's band," he said. "Most of their songs are not about getting a girl or losing a girl. They're about life, faith, death, politics, war and some literary references. That band may grow old, but they never get old."
"All the World's a Stage" was the first album an 8-year-old Danny bought. "It's like your first girlfriend. It's still my favorite (Rush) live album (of four)."
So, does that mean he knows the lyrics to every Rush song?
"Well, pretty much once the downbeat goes down, everything comes back (to me)."
rburr @express-news.net
Express-News publish date Aug. 10, 2007
32 - DQ
Cool & Very Rae Rush, "Fly byNight"... Like Rush in '75
33 - Dave
Just saw the show in Dallas....15,000 fans with almost everyone of them on their feet from the start. This is no small feet for a band in their mid 50's with a career spanning over thirty years & playing the kind of music that play! These guys play with more fire and energy than bands half of their age and for somebody who has seen the band on every tour since The Signals tour this was one of the best shows I have seen them play. The sound was clear from the start and their playing was some of the best I have seen from them in quite some time. Which brings me to a point about the "FEW" quibbles I have seen about the set list.
One of the reasons I have seen them so many times and never left disappointed is because of the fact that they are always pushing themselves to explore new musical territories and are not afraid to throw in odd gems and new material even though their "commercial" peak may have been in the early to mid 80's and my best guess is that most true Rush fans are in the same boat as me.
They just did the 30th anniversary tour where they pulled out every big song in the catalog they possible could so maybe the fact that they drastically changed their show and are playing so many tunes from one of the better late career records they have released is the reason their playing seems to have so much energy and life this late in the game. I am a local musician myself and I know nothing takes you further off your game than having to play the same list of songs over and over. You lose focus and your mind begins to drift.
I love Trees but it has been played on every tour I have ever seen I believe and ditto for Closer to the Heart, La Villa Strangiato & 2112 (once the entire 1st side) & Working Man. How as fan could I not be stoked to see Circumstances, Digital Man (great syncopated drumming), Entre Nous (never played), Passage to Bangkok, and Witch Hunt (not a b or c side one on Moving Pictures) in the set list? I was stoked when I read the set list on line.
So all that said the show was great. Geddy was in fine voice (a little shaky on the opener Limelight but great from about the 3rd song on. He even nailed all the high notes in the lst verse on Freewill! Alex playing was absolutely on fire this time. I think sometimes being in a band with one of the most popular drummers since Buddy Rich and Geddy he sometimes is a little underrated and last night he showed himself to be one of the true R&R greats. And Neil was of course the master with totally reworked solo that just killed. I did see him miss one thrown stick this time though. The lighting was tasteful and I thought the video bits were great showing their trademark quirky sense of humor. If you get a chance to see them do yourself a favor and go because if your are a fan you will not be disappointed and who knows how many more times you will get a chance to see these greats. Be ready San Antonio and get on the ball R & R Hall of Fame!
34 - Martijn
They are going to play for two nights in my home town. I saw Rush the first time many, many years ago. Then we had to wait a decade before they returned to Europe, and now we get two nights!
Looking at the set list, I do hope they will play that list on the European Tour too! Lots of Snakes & Arrows that should be an absolute smash live. I mean, Working Them Angels, Armor & Sword and Spindrift in a row! mind blowing.
I'm not dishing out my Euros to hear another live set that I already have at three different live albums, we done that on the Aniversary show.
Entre Nous, Freewill, Circumstances, Subdivisions, Natural Science (!!!), Witch Hunt.. bring it on :-)
35 - edbud in Dallas
Another Rush fan disappointed. I know everyone wanted to hear their entire new cd Snake Oil and other Delusions of Grandeur. However I did not. You are supposed to leave a Rush concert in awe of the three greatest musicians of all time I was looking for the refund line which was quite full by the time everyone realized it was over.
So if your expecting the crowd to cheer during the pauses of 2112, get goosebumps during Strangiato or play some hot air drums all night. Stop. Do yourself a favor and get R30,X3 or the Rio dvd and listen to a real Rush concert.
By the way, last rant I promise.
Neil your the best but what was that aborted drum solo? Have you been to the islands lately ugh
sorry but I have never shaken my head at one of your drum solos
until now. my two cents
.
36 - Tom Johnson
Great review, Paul but I'm going to have to disagree with you on one point: playing too many new songs back to back in the second half. That was fantastic - one of the high points of the entire (great) show. No one in the crowd around me seemed to be in the least disappointed, and the guy next to me was singing the lyrics word for word. I'm seeing a lot fewer complaints about the setlist on this tour than any other I can think of - usually it's just complaints about "too many oldies" that we've heard on every tour.
And edbud, and anyone else like him: this tour was created for the die-hard fans who've been following the band for ages. The majority of us have been thrilled with the "unusual" selection of songs - all songs we love and have been upset to see ignored for so long. As for Neil's solo, it was the best he's had in ages. Since they've been very similar for many tours now, aside from adding the jazz play-along a while back, it was time he switched it up. I think this negative reaction is more due to having expectations of him, and the band's performance, being as static and predictable as it has been for so long.
37 - Matt
I simply do not understand those who left either Texas show with a feeling of "disappointment" and I certainly cannot put much stock in a comment about "refund lines were quite full". These first two Texas shows were ABSOLUTELY magical. These guys played as tight as ever in unbelievable heat and humidity FOR OVER THREE HOURS. I do agree that if you only want to hear 20 year old "hits" - you should stay home, and, I imagine that Rush would agree. Afterall, they make NO secret about their feelings about playing older songs. They liken it to a 40 year old's mother still keeping their first grade drawings on the refrigerator. They played one song from EVERY album during the 30 Tour to "please" the fans and now they are touring behind their most critically and commercially successful album in a decade - why shouldn't they play it live?
And, the live versions are simply AMAZING. They have already tweaked arrangements and songs like Spindrift take on new and better life live.
They cut the dated synth part from the 2nd bridge of Digital Man - but added an outstanding uptempo ending to the song that gives it a WHOLE new life. It is one of those things that makes you say, "I have to get a copy of THAT version".
Bottom line, I left these shows feeling that I got WAY more than my money's worth. And, I am a fan from WAY back. But, I change and grow from year to year in my career - why shouldn't they.
Those of you who were "Disappointed" - should probably stay home and play "All The World's A Stage" and "Exit" really loud on your RECORD PLAYER while laying on your shag rug and think about days gone by. The rest of us will forge ahead listening to some truely GREAT new music!!
38 - DQ
WEll.. Saw Rush last night in San Antonio & they played the set list exactly has I read above... I walked away satisfied & content. Yes.. I guess I would of wanted to hear some more older stuff, but I guess that's the past. They lead me to believe that they are ready to move on to the next phase in their music which is great. I can live with that. My way of getting the old stuff back would be to watch & listen to the past CD's/ DVD's.. and You Tube has some great footage of them as we all remember them. Yes... & the MEEK Shall Inherited the Earth...
39 - MRB2112
Well put, Matt.
Great take on the new tour version of "Digital Man" too, I liked how they changed it, kind of sped it up a bit there thru the bridge. However, I liked that way that at the Irvine show, Geddy did the whole, slowed down vocal part near the end, ...he's a dig-i-tall... maaaan he won't need a... bed..." that was kinda cool.
Yeah, people were lined for a refund, right. Man, go figure, the band played songs from their latest album, a tour that supports the new album, who would've thunk?
Plus, all you naysayers who are mentioning all the standards you "didn't" hear, are somehow forgetting to mention all the ones they did play. "Limelight", "Subdivsions", "Tom Sawyer", "YYZ", "Spirit of Radio", "Freewill". I think they strolled down memory lane plenty.
40 - tompolk
ok josef, your a dumb ass. Rush put on one of the best shows i have seen since maybe moving pictures, roll the bones was great and so was t4e, but this tour kicked ass. Bringing out songs like witch hunt(which is great sounding live), digital man(one of the greatest bass lines ever written), circumstances and mission. Those are really complex and musically amazing songs. If your dumbass went to the show to see hits, you went to the wrong show. If you wana see hits go to a fucking styx show or something, if you want to see musicianship and some great music then go to a rush show. Plus half of those songs you named in your list have never and should never be played live. Half the world, scars...c'mon man what the fuck.
The reason Rush is so tight and good is because they enjoy playing the songs that they play. The other half of the songs on your list have been played on every tour since they came out. If you played a song 100 times a year for damn near 15 or 20 years, you would get sick of it and the quality of the music goes down. The band has been playing for 35 years, they have more material to play than a fuckin jukebox...they have every right to mix it up, and the crowd they really play to are the fans who have kept them in the business. Rush has some of the best and most loyal fans in the business. To most of us, there is no b and c side tracks, rush doesnt get radio play anyway so how the fuck can you say that? rush plays music that sounds good live, period.
As for the new stuff, sounds great live and the only one id take out is the larger bowl, the beginning of the second set was fantastic.
41 - wringho
I was thrilled to hear Natural Science, Circumstances, Passage to Bangkok, and especially Entre Nous. But then, I'm an old guy!
42 - Microbio
My friends...as a veteran of 28 years and 137 shows I can only say that whatever they want to play is justified considering that some of their biggest hits they play EVERY tour with the same enthusiasm. Stop moaning and just enjoy the virtuosity! It may be the last time...(hint, hint)
43 - scott
I have tickets to see the Rush show in Indianapolis Aug 26th and cant wait. I have witnessed the Rush experience 12 times dating back to the Hemispheres tour. There have been times when "The Trees" and "Closer to the Heart" bored me since they have been played to death. How about some live "Necromancer" or "Cygnus X-1"
I cant wait to hear the new stuff live. Really, has anyone that has complained about the new material being played live actually listened to the Snakes and Arrows? I would really like to hear them play "The Bravest Face" and "Faithless"
Guys - quit bitching and let Geddy do the talking.....
44 - monte
I live in North Dakota, Rush hasnt played a concert in N.D. since Signals.Thats ok I just go to Minneapolis.The concert on Sept. 9th will be my twentieth Rush concert since my first in 1977 or was it 76?.It will be my 11 year old sons first Rush concert.This might sound kind of dumb to some people but my son is named after Alex Lifeson.Yes Alex is named after Alex.I consider myself a super fan.everyone who knows me knows that.Iam a Rush advocate.I offer to bring people with me to the concerts for free all the time,I call up my high school buds and tell them rush is coming and when tickets go on sale -no one ever goes with me anymore. Their loss.A Rush concert to me is like Christmas morning to a child.It is simply one of the highlites of my life.Alex is not very excited about the concert and thats good because he is in for quite the show.Hes like sure lets go.When he was 8 he said dad why did you name me after some stupid Rush guy.I said because he is to me the best sounding guitar player in the world in the best sounding band in the world who I very much look up to as musicians and people.When i was a teenager I used to learn Rush and Zeppelin songs on guitar because most other stuff that people were playing in bands did not interest me.Last but not least you were supposed to be named Neil but mom didnt like that name as well and Geddy eez real name is Gary how would you liked to be named Gary?(no offense to people with the name Gary)the reason I wrote in was to say that I always really like the setlist to change up since I see them on every tour.They play alot of those songs on the radio and I kind of get sick of hearing them on their also .Radio is so damn repetitive.I get sick of hearing the same songs all the time and appreciate them pulling out old stuff that has not been played for a long time or ever.They have so much stuff it has to be hard to chose.Music is like food everyone has different tastes.A song that I have wanted to hear live for the longest time is Digital Man.I suppose some fans who have rarely or never seen them would like to see them play the popular radio songs.They themselves realize that some of their top songs from radio need to be in the concert but knowing in interviews and just from seeing so many tours you come to realize they like playing the new stuff .It challenges them.Some of the other songs that I have been excited to see played are Natural Science ,Bytor,Xanadu,the intro compilation from r30 mystic rythms the whole first side of 2112(first side of the album idiot)etc.I would have liked to see a different song from vapor trails say one they didnt play on the last two tours but no big deal.It has to be a hard decision for them and they have to be happy with it too cause they are playing it 70 times on tour and probably fifty times before that in rehearsal and a million times before that.I find it humorous to see people bickering in cyberspace about what is the best rush album ,the best Rush album is the one you like the most and their is no use or room for argument(idiots).I like counterparts the best but at the same time Dog Years is one of my favorite songs .I would rather be a tortoise from Galapagos than listen to anyone bash Rush.It is not warranted .The set lists are always available online if you dont like it dont go to the show(Idiot)I do not feel that any other group is going to be able to accomplish what Rush has musically or in the context of a concert performance.Of course Rush is Rush and you cant really compare them to other groups and of course this is just my opinion and if you dont agree that is really just fine.Iam ok with that.Just dont piss me off and disagree with me or bash Rush.So anyways now that agree on all that.On the way to Rush I am going to calmly(even though I will be excited as all hell cause well be on our way to a Rush concert!!!!!!!!) tell my son Alex that he probably never in his life will ever see as good of a musical performance in a rock concert as what he is about to experience unless of course he goes to another Rush concert on another tour in wich they will put on an even more hundred gazillion billion times better show than the last tour cause it always happens.In wich my son Alex will probably say WHATEVER!I think he listens to hanna montana or something.He certainly doesnt listen to me.So until next time eat eel and fried spam,sniff shrubbery,and last but not least bye bye Lard Ass!
45 - Sweetmiracle
Your son will love Rush live...mine went away saying that it was the best show he would ever see in his whole life!!
Have a great time at the show!
46 - Paul Roy
Hey Monte, I wish I had a friend like you. You wouldn't have to ask me twice to a free Rush concert.
47 - monte
You do ,I consider all Rush fans friends.
48 - Stu Freeman
I've read most of the above articles and it's good to see so many passionate people in a debate over their choice of music. At the end of the day, we're all here because we're fans of Rush. Me, i was crazy enough to bid on and win a couple of concert tickets for Madison Square Garden, then realised i should probably buy some plane tickets and book some accomodation-not too mention get the time off work. This is no easy feat, seeing as i live in Australia-where i know the band will never tour. All my friends/workmates think i'm crazy, but these are the things you do when you feel passionate about something. And i'd wanna feel passionate, cos these two tickets to see the band are literally costing me over $10,000. It was either Rush or curtains for the house-tough call! I've seen the set list-and i must say, there's some good stuff, some great stuff and other stuff somewhere in between-in my opinion. However, i will simply be grateful to hear with my own ears, music as it is being made by these guys-live. That will be it's own reward. So for now, i wish you all the best. See you in New York.
49 - Scott
Monte-
Great post! My 12 year old son is going with me and a friend as well to Indy to see RUSH!
The story behind Gary Lee going by the name of Geddy Lee is cool. I first heard it from Alice Cooper on his radio show.
I concider all RUSH fans friends.
50 - DQ
Hey Stu Freeman,
Man you are a man on a mission & It's great you are going to see the New York show from way down under... You won't be let down. Rush is awesome anyway you can get to see them. They'll give you a thrill with their latest Snakes & Arrows & a touch of the past... Perfect mix XYZ, Entrous Nous... Hopefully you will sit close. I was pretty far back in San Antonio (Selma), but I had my binocs to see that the front ten rolls were really getting into it. I wish I was there, but there is always next tour.. Have fun dude.... & remember... "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROLL.... "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROLL.... "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROLL....... MMMMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMmmmm...
51 - Gary
Just seen Rush last night 23 August 07. Doesn't matter if it is an old song or new. It was like seeing the band 25 years ago all over again. Well worth seeing if all they did was baste chickens. Not many bands left from that time frame let alone today that can play that well together and have fun doing it. AWESOME show, This is Rush not some of the new crap that is played today. Take some younger people to see the concert and show them what a real band is suppose to be like. Be thankful they are still going strong. Can't wait to see them again.
52 - ds2112
Yesterday I saw RUSH, the awesomest band in the world, in St Louis at the Nameless Cell Phone Provider Pavilion :)
We were at the front, front row, directly next to the floor-level bass speakers on Alex's side, and directly in front of the area microphone to catch crowd sounds.
If there was one word to catch the atmosphere, it would be HUMIDITY - for as we were driving into STL, the temp guage dropped from 100F down to about 75F within a 10 mile part of I-70. They had some incredibly nasty storms in the area, but it didn’t damper the sounds, nor the energy of the band.
While Alex, Geddy, and Neil were taking a sweat shower within minutes of taking the stage from the humidity, it sure as hell didn’t dampen their spirits. They were as perfect as possible, Neil's solo was beyond incredible, the South Park intro to Tom Sawyer just rocked. During YYZ, Geddy came over to our side of the stage and played right to the circle of friends that I had for that magical night around me. He was about 5 ft from me.
Like I said, we were on Alex's side, directly in front of the floor-level bass speakers, and every time that Neil kicked a double-bass triplet, I felt my entire insides vibrate due to the bass - which was nice :)
Alex was his traditionally goofy self, and seemed to have a complete ball. I thought the woman next to me was going to throw her bra onto the stage. The way she was pressing herself against the bass speakers, looked like she was trying to achieve something else entirely - hey, cool :)
Geddy played the majority of the show over on his side of the stage, but finally came over and played to us (right in front of me) on the far stage during YYZ - so he was forgiven :)
Neil, well, after that solo, could do no wrong, and before it as well. However, it looked like he had some incredibly nasty bags under his eyes.
I also noticed that someone on Geddy's side who was signing sign language for the deaf - who would come to a rock concert deaf - kinda defeats the whole purpose.
Once the house lights finally went up after an almost 3 hour marathon (and remember, these dudes are well into their 50s), we were all well stoked (some near me were well toked too) over the incredible artistry. These guys have been together for 35 years, and continue to make incredible music, and still put on fantastic shows.
And the front row seats (well, 3rd row, but with the curve of the row we were next to the barrier in front of the stage), weren’t bad either :D :D
Simply the best RUSH show I have seen. It was very well worth the cash for the tickets (and I did pay face value)
53 - WARING
I'm going tonight here in Indy. It'll be my 5 or 6th time seeing them. There's nothing in the world like a live RUSH concert. NOTHING.
54 - monte
Dear ds2112 If I became deaf I would still go to rush concerts.That comment was in poor taste.I think that it is cool that those people went to the show and it is sad that they are not able to experience sound.We should consider ourselves lucky then shouldnt we.Hats off to them and the person helping them interpret the lyrics. If I could wave my magic wand I would buy them tickets to the show and trade places with them so they too could experience it as we do .I was very much enjoying the snakes and arrows cd before I even listened to it sitting there reading the lyrics looking at all the cool art work thinking wow these are the best rush lyrics ever knowing I still had the enjoyment of listening to it and the tour yet to come.So happy(tickled pink) that my favorite band was defying the odds of rock and were still recording and touring with top notch current ground breaking music.I hardly feel that it was defeating for them to attend and I hope that it was as great of a concert experience for them as it was for you.If I was sitting by them I would have high fived em with a big smile.As for Neils looks I think he looks fine I think they are all looking great .I dont like the bags under my own eyes but what do you do?either go under the knife or wear slabs of cucumbers to bed or how about this is who I am take it or leave it.Dont you read the lyrics?riding and driving and living so close to the edge.I think Neil seems to live to the fullest filling each day up with precious cargo- as in he probably rode two hundred fifty miles on backroads before the concert, all this takes its toll on a person.Ive been building a house myself for the last three years it has taken its toll on me and how I appear.I look worn and so I should,but it has been a real experience for me .Iam tired of all the little battles with this project but Iam almost finished with this house and it is something I have always wanted to do -create something with my signature that would be here long after I wasnt.I enjoy it and I hate it but it definately shows on my face that I have been pushing myself harder than I probably should.
55 - monte
I wanted to tell people of something I found on you tube that to me was especially grand.There are a bunch of songs from a concert recorded in 1994 on the counterparts tour.I just put rush into the search and kept going down the line of what showed up not to terribly far in were all these songs from this concert.to me this is a treasure of gold because i always felt that that tour should have been put out in a concert dvd (did they even have dvd concerts back then?) like alot of tours some of the music from that release is not heard in concert ever again and it was such a good heavy album for Alex to re-establish himself as a rock guitar player with .Something I feel then and ever since then he has done such a great job of doing.Good job Alex!you rock!!!!!!!
56 - Rod
I too, was at the St. Louis show, for my first Rush concert ever. So can I be faulted for disliking the setlist? No.
How can they NOT play New World Man in America, when that was their ONLY top 40 hit here!?!?! And Digital Man over Analog Kid?!?! No way. And NOTHING from my favorite album, Power Window?!?! Heresy!
But I gave them a chance with the new songs, having downloaded the CD a few weeks prior to the show to familiarize myself with them, since nearly a THIRD of the show would come from there. And to be honest, they really sounded best playing the new stuff.
For example, the first set featured a few classics, ALL of which were retarded (meaning slower than the album versions). This gave the set a monotonous, boring pace, and made me feel like I was watching a Rush-impersonating lounge act.
Yeah, yeah... lots of big screens in the background. Woopee! Except for the instrumental numbers, which tended to show each band member on their own screen (totally cool), all the rest either showed the same camera on all the screens, or showed a bunch of media-player-like visualizations that any 13 year old could come up with using his own PC. And no, they didn't enhance the songs being played. I felt like I was being treated like a Ritalin kid with a 10 second attention span.
And what about crowd interaction? Geddy could have spoken to the crowd more, and given short intros before songs, especially the newer ones, to give us an idea what they were written about. Instead we had to glean from the goofy videos some bits of inspiration. And no, I don't consider monkeys having sex during "Main Monkey Business" genius either. Funny, but not genius.
But the most damning critics of the show is not me, but the entire audience! They were basically MOTIONLESS or SITTING DOWN for every song except for a few classics like Limelight, Tom Sawyer, and Spirit of Radio. I guess 75% of the fans were just poseurs, right? Whatever. It applied to the first 30 rows as well, and those seats were expensive, so I assume those were the true fans.
The bottom line is that Rush was pushing their new album like a drug dealer pushes crack. Force the thing on a captive audience long enough, and maybe a few will actually buy the CD instead of downloading it for free. Yeah, I know I'm being cynical, but it's the truth. How many people are going to pay another $15.00 for the CD when they just paid $67.00 for crappy seats to have the same CD crammed down their throats? In my opinion, they should have GIVEN the CD to everyone for free after the show considering the price of admission, the $7.00 bottles of beer, the forced parking charge within the ticket price, the convenience fees, etc.
So for now I'll go back to watching my Rush in Rio DVD to experience what a more mainstream Rush concert is like, and doubt I'll attend another one of their bleeding heart, we're going to save the world through music, shows. It didn't work in Woodstock, and it won't work in 2007. Sorry guys. Canada needs to get some balls and DO something to make this world a more livable place instead singing softball songs about it.
57 - Steve
I just got back from the Rush concert and what a disapiontment. WAY TOO MUCH NEW ALBUM that nobody knows!!!. I looked around and literally 1 in 50 poeple were jamming to the music. Everyone else was looking around at each other trying to figure out what song was being played.
Sorry, but I disagree with some of you. People go to conterts to hear songs LIVE which they know. They don't go to concerts to get introduced to new music. I understand playing 2,3, or 4 of your new songs mixed in with the classics, but to start out with a set of 5 new songs in a row, I about left after the 1st set.
With all of their great songs, the great showmanship, the great musicians, this could have been a great concert. However, it was one of the worst concerts I have ever attended. I seen Rush back in 79 or 80 in Columbus, Ohio and it was a great concert. The song selection for this concert absolutely spoiled my last Rush concert I will ever pay to attend.
58 - Paul
Ive been seeing Rush since 2112 days when I was a young teen. These guys are a rock and roll treasure and whatever they play is better than 99% of what other rock bands play on any given night. Anyone who quips about what songs these great musicians play needs a serious reality check. I am going to see them at the DTE energy theater tomorrow and I will return with a new review on my hero's.
59 - Doug
I saw the show in Indy last night and had a great time. Steve must have been in a different section because everyone around me was having a great time, including during the new stuff. We never sat down except during the band's break!
I've seen every tour from Moving Pictures through today and loved this one. Geddy's voice seemed to be in great shape and I loved what Neal has done with his solo this time around. Alex played his 12 string acoustic a lot which made me happy. Ending the night on a ripping version of YYZ was phenomenal!
I liked the playlist though of course there were songs I would have liked to hear. As my wife pointed out, they could have played another 2 hours and there would still be great songs left out.
Here's hoping we see them again soon...
60 - Jackson
It sounds like Steve wasnt on the lawn cause everyone was rockin out up there. Im only 16 and love Rush. The concert last night in Indy made me more of A Rush fan. Simply amazing guitar work by alex and i really dont have to comment about the Peart solo. Geddy was amazing and im very happy with there playlist for the show. THE WHOLE TOUR IS FOR THE NEW CD so there going to play alot of the songs off that cd buut being a S&A Fan i didnt mind it. They did play my fav. song The spirit of radio so that made my night and to follow it up with Tom Sawyer, wow. They have way to many great songs to play them all but they should've carved out 11 minutes for the camera eye.
All in all great concert hope to see them again.
61 - Scott
I was at the RUSH show Sunday night in Indy, and it was awesome. One of the best RUSH shows ever. THat was myth time seeing them and they were great. For the above person, Steve I think, that didnt like it, you must have not paid much attention or not there. The crowd loved every minute of it.
Cartman was funny and YYZ kicked ass.
The song "Main Monkey Business" is one of the greatest instrumentials ever recorded.
We were sitting in the VIP section and my 12 year old son who knows only the really popular RUSH songs loved the concert. He will remember it forever!!
62 - Brian
what about us uk fans - I want to hear all the old stuff like the necromancer and 2112 - surely their best album must be 'all the worlds a stage' and some of that raw power will hopefully be present in Sheffield in October along with the newer songs which I find more bland
63 - Niko
I think they will come out with another dvd when all is done. How many more of their dvds do we want to buy with the same songs on them. The reason why these guys have been together so long is because they're smart enough to know how to bridge the business sense in with their friendship. These guys know these products will sell and one day makeup their retirement. As a fan of Rush, I love it all so I think they're right on target with the song list. They've even claimed that they love playing the new stuff cause it's different. I love the fact that they're playing material other than the radio played hits. Now wipe that chicken off your face and enjoy what they have to offer.
64 - ellwoodbloos
i havn't seen rush live since the show of hands tour at the n.e.c in birmingham. i am looking forward just to seeing them again at sheffield in october. i am taking my 16 yr old son who is a big fan of them ( it's his first concert).reading the other letters and comments i dont think it matters what or how they play they will not please everyone all the time.i would like to hear some of the old stuff like 2112 and by-tor but i'm not that bothered as long as i enjoy the night.heres looking to a good one.
65 - Kershy
Hey Stu Freeman,
Me, the wife & 20yr old daughter have just done the round trip from Australia to see Rush. We were at the Hollywood Bowl & Irvine gigs & Rush were well worth the effort. You wont be dissapointed & I guarantee you'll do it all again another day. The best we can hope for in Oz is to see Dream Theater real soon. Having read many varied comments about the set list I can only say that we didn't care what they played !! My daughter told me they're the best she'd ever heard & was struck by the quality & professionalism. Long may Rush continue & may many other Aussies make the pilgrimage.
66 - matt
Man - here I go again.... I am so sick of hearing wankers like Brian and Steve whining about not hearing "The Necromancer" - a song which, they play on ONE ANS ONE HALF tours in 1975 and 1976, OVER 30 years ago on a tour the band themselves dubbed the "Down The Tubes Tour". They are NEVER going to play that stuff - get over it and go back to dying your grey hair!! Jeez - this band has just recorded some of the best, most vibrant material of their career and is actually touring it - and I have to read comments about the concert some pot head heard 27 years ago in OHIO. Neil said it best in "Available Light" "Break of light, moving picture - the way I used to be, some half forgotten stranger - doesn't mean that much to me". You people truely don't get what Rush is about.
67 - matt
Rod - you are an idiot. Sankes and Arrows debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard charts - which is based on SALES. Rush, as a band has openly and frequently stated that they could care less about sales. They do the album for themselves as a group project - whatever happens to it after that is up to the fans. And, if you check the numbers - you will see it is doing quite well. Ahhhh, the moans of the masses. Whatever.
68 - mike
cincinnati riverbend 9-1-07, can't wait! 20 times since 75' and they're always better. the new one is best yet, so looking forward to S&A cuts. piss on you losers and posers complaining about anything they throw down. RUSH is by far, hands down, the best, most original rock band of my generation.(i'm 50) sure there were others, but these three, they're special, the longevity alone makes that clear. opinions are like bungholes, but if they are negative, piss up a rope.
69 - Natural Science
Rush put on a phenomenal show in Indy the other night!
Geddy was nailing notes he hasn't hit in years, and doing so with a new power. His bass was expressive, punchy, and flawlessly played. It is astounding that he can compose and pull off those riffs in the studio; but the fact that he can fly around a bass like that *live* -- even adding to the studio intricacies, well that it is downright inhuman! To also see, on the same occasion, one of the (if not the) greatest living drummers perform a freshly composed solo (with an improvised intro for each show, mind you) was nothing short of breath taking. Nonetheless, at this show, it was Alex who really blew this listerner's mind. His guitars sounded amazing; his playing was passionate; and the brilliance of his (under-appreciated) signature sound carried the night.
In respect to the new material, I cannot but commend Rush for playing so much of it. As noted by others, the R30 tour was the tribute to their history. I'm thrilled that (unlike some relic-bands slugging around out there) Rush is not content to rely on past achievements. These guys are masters of their respective crafts and continue to push their music (and, I dare say, music itself) to new heights. (They also maintain a hell of a sense of humor about themselves!) We long-time Rush fans have learned that, because of the inherent complexity, the true depth of a Rush song can only be uncovered over time, over repeated "listenings." In fact, I'd say it is this very property that has given their "classic" songs such incredible staying power -- the very reason we're so amped to hear "Spirit of Radio," "Freewill" etc. A consequence, though -- of this diachronic unfolding of a Rush song's power -- is that those among us who have not yet had the chance to immerse ourselves in the new album may find ourselves unable to appreciate the brilliance of what we are hearing live. (I venture to say that the same would have been the case on, say, the Permanant Waves tour, had one been hoping to hear only the then-classics (from Fly By Night, etc.)) Having had the opportunity to familiarize myself with the new album, and *then* hearing those songs live, my own appreciation for that material has gotten even stronger. (For instance, having now heard "Workin' Them Angels" live, that song has, for me, taken on entirely new dimensions.)
For those who were disappointed to hear the abundance of new material, I recommend that you pop in the new CD you've now heard live. Doing so, I doubt you could avoid obtaining a new appreciation for just what Rush is doing. In my view, Snakes and Arrows contains some of the most coherent and intellectually composed music made to date. And it was a privilege to hear it executed so exquisitely the other night in Indy. Full stop.
70 - monte
Great posts! especially natural science thanks your a great writer!
71 - Joe
I also saw Rush in Indy the other night. I think these guys are in their prime right now from a performance standpoint. I've seen them on many different tours over the years and I was most impressed by their abilities this time around. I also came away with a much greater appreciation for the Snakes and Arrows material. I didn't realize how complex and difficult it was until I saw it played live. I was especially impressed with Alex on Armor and Sword. It appeared that he was chording around the harmonics during the chorus. The camera on Geddy's mic stand also showed how hard he attacks the strings. Something I have never seen before. Geddy also played his Ric during Bangkok. I would like to know the story behind that because he was standing at the mic without a bass during the first few lines of the song as the tech brought out two basses. He chose the Ric, but seemed a little perturbed. As far as the crowd was concerned, we were twenty rows back stage left and from my vantage point I could see no one sitting except for the during the intermission. I thought the crowd was well into it. I would like to know what the "Bambi Forgives" sign was all about that three people were holding up a couple of rows in front of us.
Very good show. One of the best I've seen them put on. I can't wait to see them again.
72 - gregg
I was at the Indy RUSH show in the VIP sections.
Some asshole kept throwing beer in the air and soaking everybody. Other than that, the show rocked.
I was glad not to hear the trees or closer to the heart. those are old and worn out. I could always use some 2112 in any form. Did anyone notice that is what was playing before the show?
73 - Vincent
I was at the Detroit show this past Tuesday, and it was amazing (first concert since. I was glad that they didn't play Closer to the Heart, the Trees, 2112 or Working Man. Time to retire those songs. I was very happy to hear Entre Nous (one of my fav songs), Circumstances and Natural Science - those songs made the set list sound fresh.
74 - Tony
I have tickets to the Cincinnati show this Saturday. Let me preface this by saying I own every Rush album, have been a fan for over 20 years, and I've seen them in concert 4 or 5 times. Although I like some of the new songs (Far Cry, Malnar, Main Monkey Business, Working them Angels), they are not playing enough of their classics. They only tour a particular area once every several years, so when they come, I want them to perform their best material every time. Their best work is mostly from Signals and before that (1974 to 1985). Notable songs that are missing from the set list include: Red Barchetta, Xanadu, The Trees, Working Man, Fly by Night, Anthem, Temples of Syrinx, Analog Kid, Closer to the Heart, Farewell to Kings, La Stranga.... When I put a Rush album in, I don't do so because I want to hear an obscure song like Witch Hunt. The hits, familiar, and best songs are what made me a fan originally. People who claim you aren't a true fan if you want to see their hits have an elitist attitude and I'm sure are in the vast minority. I'm sure I will enjoy the show, but would like to see more of the energetic stuff they played years ago.
75 - Geddy Lee
Was at the Indy show and I am sure he will be at the Cincy show too.