I had the opportunity to see Rush on Saturday night at the Woodlands and it ranked as the second best concert I have seen to date (first place goes to Pink Floyd in Rice stadium). They were absolutely awesome and played a fantastic mix of old and new stuff, including several off of the cover album I understand will be released tomorrow. There aren't many bands that can sound like the music off the CD, but I guess that is what you get with a band that has been playing together for 30 years (though Kiss didn't impress me like Rush does). Somewhere in the middle of the Temples of Syrinx, I decided that it was the second best show I had ever seen and it even started to approach the best during Peart's drum solo. Nobody does it much better. BTW, I saw one fellow poster (he of the mighty hook shot ) and he seemed just as into it as I was. Was anyone else there?
There also aren't many bands who revolve around special effects and synthesizers as heavily as Rush does. FEAR THE CULT! [back when I allowed myself to admit I liked them, I considered their concert to be the best I had ever been to]
I mentioned in the other thread I was front row on Ged's side at the concert in Dallas. I had a great time(along with a great buzz). Ged had to basically stair at me any time he played or stood at his keyboards. I was air guitaring and singing along with every song. I even did some air bass guitaring and air keyboarding. Oh...don't forget the air drumming. I had it all going down. I wish I could have gotten tickets to the Houston show but I didn't have any luck on the internet pre-sale/sale and I knew anything other than first 10 rows floor would be a letdown after seeing them front row in Dallas. I think the Houston crowd is the best out of all the Texas dates. I've seen them in Houston no less than five times previously. While the Dallas crowd was okay, I don't think their as vocal and there appeared to be to many fair-weathered fans. Too many times did several people sit down during the show...mainly during the acoustic set and drum solo. I turned around during the acoustic set only to see, to my horror, the whole section sitting down. I was shocked and pissed at the same time. Lazy bastids! Some people front row center sat down during a lot of the show. These looked like rednecks from a trailer park or something. They didn't deserve front row if you ask me. They must have won some contest or something. Most of the crowd was pretty decent, though. But, they were not on par with me. Unfortunately, Alex only made it over to our side once during 2112. The rest of the time he hung out near his foot pedals(damn those pedals!). I think he caught a few glances of me air guitaring hardcore, though, as I was the only one in the front rows jamming to the air. All in all...a great and fun time. I had some disappointments with some of the choices on the setlist but that always happens. I think they should have changed the setlist a little from the first leg of the tour but they didn't. Also, the show went by too fast unfortunately. It was like the 3 hours seemed like 30 minutes. I guess that is usually the case when your in heaven mode. I think next tour I'm going to have to catch all the Texas shows and more out of state. Front row has definitely spoiled me. I cannot envision sitting anywhere else now as that is the place to be(for me, anyway). The performance was as tight as ever and they sound better than ever in my opinion. I hear the "Permanent Waves" tour was their best sounding tour but that was before my Rush time.
I was not expecting to be so good. I have seen them 3x before and they always skipped over Red Barchetta and played a piece of it in a medley. I was really psyched to hear it this time. I was right up against the front fence standing in the mud/lawn. Great show. I had a terrible hangover yesterday, but it was inevitable. Setlist: First Set: 1 - Finding My Way (medley) 2 - Anthem (medley) 3 - Bastille (medley) 4 - Bangkok (medley) 5 - Cygnus (medley) 6 - Prelude (medley) 7 - The Spirit of Radio 8 - Force Ten 9 - Animate 10 - Subdivisions 11 - Earthshine 12 - Red Barchetta 13 - Roll The Bones 14 - Bravado 15 - YYZ 16 - The Trees 17 - The Seeker 18 - One Little Victory INTERMISSION Second Set: 19 - Tom Sawyer 20 - Dreamline 21 - Secret Touch 22 - Between the Wheels 23 - Mystic Rhythms 24 - Red Sector A 25 - Drum Solo 26 - Resist (acoustic) 27 - Heart Full of Soul (acoustic) 28 - 2112 (overture, temples, finale) 29 - La Villa Strangiato 30 - ByTor & the Snow Dog 31 - Xanadu (w/ doubleneck!!) 32 - Working Man Encore: 33 - Summertime Blues 34 - Crossroads 35 - Limelight
heh...I saw you....were you writing the songs down on paper? I saw a dude wearing camo-style pants and from time to time he would write down what the songs were....there aint no way I could remember the order of the setlist..... anyway....l agree with everyone else...I have seen them several times over the years...ad imo, they sounded tighter and played with more enthusiasm than I think I have ever seen. all in all, a great show...the sound was perfect....the mix was spot-on even back on the hill, which is a problem sometimes...the special effects were about par for the course....lots of lasers and varilights....pretty cool split screens across the back of the stage... We really need to check in here before any major shows so we can meetup there...its always fun enjoying a concert with like minded folks... heh...will I alwys be known as "that guy with the killer hook" amongst the pickup game players?
This is just plain wrong. Geddy Lee is the second best bass player (when Primus came around, Claypool took 1st place away from him). Lifeson is an excellent guitarist, and Peart is the best on drums. Lee has always said he considers himself a bass player first and a keyboard player second. They're a three man band - it's tough to get a full sound from a three man band, but they have been doing it for 35 years. The keyboards complement their sound, but their music does NOT revolve around 'em. That's incorrect. -- droxford
I've seen Rush twice and was big fan in high school. I've seen a lot of club shows that have annihilated my Rush experiences, but very, very few large amphitheater shows were as enjoyable. I've always enjoyed the fact that they play for three hours without any opening band. They really give the concer-goer his money's worth.
I have just recently gotten into Rush as I own only 5 of their albums. I would love to see them in concert. BTW - my tickets for the Cure/Interpol concert on July 28 in Nashville came the other day! I am so stoked for that concert!!
heh...will I alwys be known as "that guy with the killer hook" amongst the pickup game players? If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't believe it.
Couldn't make it out this weekend. I've seen Rush 4 times but I haven't seen them since 1988. I kind of phased out of them after high school. Judging from the setlist mateo posted, I really wish I would have been able to go. Talk about old school! Didn't Neil Peart lose his wife and daughter in the same year a few years back? I seem to remember reading about him taking that very hard (as anyone would) and quitting the drums all together. He became a hermit, grew a beard, and rode his motorcycle around the country for a while. Glad he's back doing what he loves.
My point is this: if Rush ever attempted to do an "unplugged" concert, they would be unrecognizable, and they would lose a lot of the appeal. It doesn't make them worse musicians, it just allows them to sound a lot more like their CD's. Ever heard someone try and cover Rush? It doesn't work, because the sounds and nuances are never right.
Ironically... the same can be said for me... except I graduated high school in '96. The set does look pretty great, though.
I don't understand how you people "phased" out of Rush. I take that to mean you don't like their newer material and tired of listening to their old material. I can't identify with you people who phased out. I don't get it. Your making it sound like it was a high school fad or something. That's bullcrap!
Yep, all of this happened. He also completely changed his drumkit setup and switched to traditional grip.
I actually like most all of their new material, which I consider to have begun somewhere around the "Signals" era. I think I'll probably buy every Rush album that comes out as long as they keep making them. "Vapor Trail" was a great album. (although, honestly, wasn't "Roll the Bones" just hideous?) Neal is obviously very innovative and great on the drums, and Geddy remains at the top of his game. And yes, Lifeson or whatever his real name is is a sloppy but talented guitarist. But something about the cult-like devotion that Rush fans tend to exemplify disturbs me. If Rush was the best rock band of all time, wouldn't they be able to produce music that was a little more appealing to the general public, and still maintain all their creativity and artistic drive? I mean... sure the Beatles were mainstream, but they still paved new roads with nearly every album.
I was there as well (row FF in the center) and not only did I have a great time but I think the band had a great time as well. It was fun and different to hear Geddy sing the Chorus to Temples... like a pirate(!) complete with ARRRRGGGGHHHH. Plus they just looked like they were having a good time, laughing a lot and being just plain goofy. For a band with the (undeserved) reputation of of being very serious they sure make fun of themselves (in a good-natured way!) a lot. The intro with Jerry Stiller was great: "Are they going to play Bancock? They never play Bancock!" then to see him rockin' out during Bancock. Also, the whole Rush bobble head movie was funny and weird at the same time. We also lucked out with the weather. Not only did it NOT rain, it was actually cool and breezy. Great show.
Because Rush is so non-mainstream, I don't think you could ever label them the best rock band like that. Like you said, it is more of a cult-like following. As far as paving new road, they try to evolve with each record. That's why they have lost so many of the early fans...cause they couldn't make the transition. So, I think their paving new road just fine. They lost a lot of fans on "Signals", "Power Windows", and "Grace Under Pressure". I find those albums to be some of their best work. You always read these reviews from so-called fans who buy a new Rush CD when it comes out and then they gripe that it all sounds the same. I couldn't disagree more. I think you have to listen to a Rush CD many times to figure it all out. I've never been able to listen to a Rush CD the first time and totally get into it. It has to grow on me. I mean...there are exceptions....like "2112", "Moving Pictures", and "Permenant Waves". On the latest album, did they not phase out keyboards and add more organic guitar sounds instead with more use of layering both guitar and vocals? That's paving new ground. I mean...one of the main reasons they went into the keyboards/synths and kept up with it was they were always cutting edge on technology and incorporating it into their sound. Their sound evolved with the technology...is how I would describe it. The whole Rush thing is to do the next CD differently from the one before. That's why they keep coming back...because they are still able to produce fresh music that is not exactly like their previous work. Once they run out of fresh ideas and feel like their re-treading old work, then they will cease to exist. I think it's all in the perspective. Obviously, we see things differently. Rush's sound has always been an evolution to me and that has not stopped. Their all about trying new things to keep it fresh.
I guess the main thing is - why do they have to have a cult following if they're so great? Outside of Moving Pictures and a few singles, they've never really had much commercial success, which is fine I guess if that isn't important to your band. But they've never really enjoyed great critical success, either. Even if not very many people own a Hüsker Dü album, for example, pretty much everyone recognizes them as great. With Rush, it seems like there's a small percentage that treat their music as a religion, and a lot of people who could care less, and more than a few people who think their music is just laughable. It's a strange phenomenon, but at the rate things are going, it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. I'm not trying to attack you or the band, Surfguy, but for some reason my perception of the band has changed, and I don't think I can ever go back.
My wife, who hates the way geddy lee sings, had a dream the other night where she gave birth to his baby then sold it on ebay because he wouldn't pay child support. She said she couldn't remember how much it went for but that she didn't think it was much because the baby had a huge honking nose. I've always been into Rush but I have to admit I like the pre permenant waves stuff much more than the newer stuff. Had I not seen them in concert about 6 times I would have gone to this show.
