- Mar 7, 2009
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As I've mentioned in a few threads recently, I'm a huge Rush fan and take every opportunity to see them when they come to my area of the country and last night was the night they were here. They played 25 songs spread out over 3+ hours and it was fu#%ing great!!!
My wife and I meet up with my brother at the waterfall bar in the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT for a few drinks and some dinner before heading into the arena to get ready for the show. My seats were in the back of the arena, but given that this is probably by far the smallest venue Rush will play on the 2010 Time Machine Tour, they were great seats with a great view of the entire stage and the what would be awesome light show.
As 8:00 approached, the crowd continued to fill in from the casino, within a few minutes, the lights went down and the video started rolling - as is normal with recent rush tours the intro film was a comedy sketch involving the members of Rush in various costumes, Alex dressed up in a fat suit acting as a band manager for the fictitious band "Rash", Geddy as the owner/operator of the restaurant "Gershon's", and Neil dressed as an Irish cop at the end of the serving counter. As the video progressed a machine called the "Gefilte" gets pressed into action and with each press of the button "Rash" is given new sounds going from an oompa oompa version of "Spirit of Radio" all the way through a bunch of versions up to the one we know and love. Just as Alex tells the audience to "never, ever, touch this button", the band took the stage to a huge roar and broke into the opener "Spirit of Radio".
And on and on it went, one great Rush song after another. The band was on fire tonight and the crown felt it and feed the band more and more energy. Favorites from the first set for me were:
"Time Stands Still" (I always loved the sound of Aimee Mann's voice singing the title of the song in the chorus with her ethereal voice)
"Presto" (first tour they have played the great title track of their 1989 album)
"Leave that Thing Alone" (I think this is such a cool and funky instrumental with some truly awe inspiring bass playing by Geddy)
"BU2B" (brand new track from their to be released new album "Clockwork Angels" - combined with "Faithless" prior to it and "Freewill" afterward, it was a great trio of songs about similar subjects)
"Subdivisions" (probably one of my all time favorite Rush songs and yet another one that spoke strongly to me a a young kid in high school so long ago)
Here was the list of the songs in Set 1:
* "The Spirit of Radio"
* "Time Stand Still"
* "Presto"
* "Stick It Out"
* "Workin' Them Angels"
* "Leave That Thing Alone"
* "Faithless"
* "BU2B"
* "Freewill"
* "Marathon"
* "Subdivisions"
Being the "older men" that they are, they always have a quick 15 minute intermission between set 1 and set 2. A countdown timer that came up with about 5 minutes in the break left started counting up the year from 1974 (the year their first album was released) slowly till the year 1981 (the year the definitive Rush album "Moving Pictures" was released. As the timer hit 1981, the second set introduction video began - another comedic sketch with the band members playing various hilarious roles in a fake video shoot for the band "Rash" - Alex again in a fat suit, this time as a caricature of Ray Daniels (Rush's long time manager and friend), Geddy as a Timothy Leary looking video director, and Neil as the camera operator. Another very funny skit if I may say so but we all new what was next.
This is the "Time Machine Tour" and it is also the 30th Anniversary of that classic Rush album "Moving Pictures" (well it will be when they finish the tour in 2011) - it was time for them to play "Moving Pictures" in it's entirety, from front to back the crowd roared as that ultra cool beginning to "Tom Sawyer" came blasting through the PA. I have to mention here that the sound at this concert was awesome - it was deep and well defined, I could hear every bass note, every chiming chord Alex played, and the drums were felt in the pit of my stomach with each kick drum hit or tom roll, this was a physical experience as well as an aural one.
It's tough picking a highlight from such a great set list for the second half, but I'll simply choose the entire album. Ultra highlights included the often requested by so infrequently played "Camera Eye", but others included:
"Witch Hunt" (they made this a truly creepy experience with a little "red Riding Hood" video playing in the back and deep red stage lighting pulsating to the eerie intro keyboards and then bursting forth with Alex's vicious riff that opens the song - other effects included huge columns of flame during the song)
"Vital Signs" (Probably my favorite song off of "Moving Pictures" - I've always loved the quasi heavy-reggae vibe and Geddy's work with the OB-X synthesizer - I was in my own heaven during this song)
But the second set list did not end with "Moving Pictures - oh no, Rush gave us all so much more than that. It continued on with another of the new songs "Caravan", it seemed the volume was really cranked up with this song - the band feeding on the energy of the crowd so worked into a frenzy after hearing "Moving Pictures" in it's entirety.
All this brought us to what for many would be the highlight of any Rush show - Neil Peart's drum solo. He was so on his game tonight - as he is almost every night. For being nearly 58 years old, he still put's many other drummers to shame. He pounded the ever lovin' shit out of that kit, mixing both the acoustic kit as well as the electronic one as his kit did a 180 degree turn and he did the second part with a much more tribal sound. He finished it up as he has for many many years with his tribute to Big Band sounds he loves and his hero, the great jazz drummer, Buddy Rich.
As always, a small break for Neil was needed so Alex took the stage playing a beautiful acoustic piece that lead into a new extended intro to "Closer to the Heart" - a reworked version I might add.
Next up was an amazing version of "2112 - Overture" and "The Temples of Syrinx" - it was a truly rocking affair with the crowd singing so loudly you could hear them in all their raucous abandonment. This was surely one of the highlights of the night.
Rush finished up the second set with the heavy "Far Cry" from 2007's "Snakes & Arrows" disc - it was a great opener for that disc and it was a great closer for the show. As Geddy exited the stage he noted what a great crowd it was and the crowd continued cheering knowing an encore was coming.
For the encore, Rush burst into Rush's first ever entirely instrumental piece from the "Hemispheres" album - the great "La Villa Strangiato", subtitled "An Exercise in Self-Indulgence" that is what it was - they were so pumped and cranking on this tune it was amazing to watch. Alex taking front and center for this song and amazing the crowd with his fretboard skills. He has his classic white Gibson ES-335 out for this tune and he burned it up. Neil and Geddy were stellar as well, exchanging turns to wow the crowd with their ability and musicianship.
To close out the night, Rush broke into a deep reggae re-write introduction to "Working Man" - they stayed with the slow reggae theme for quite some time before breaking into fist pumping version of the classic Rush song - the one that broke them into the American populace's conscious so many years ago. Quite an ending to a magical night 3 hours and 15 minutes from the time they took the stage.
The songs of Set 2 plus Encore:
* "Tom Sawyer"
* "Red Barchetta"
* "YYZ"
* "Limelight"
* "The Camera Eye"
* "Witch Hunt"
* "Vital Signs"
* "Caravan"
* "Love 4 Sale" (Drum solo)
* "Closer To The Heart"
* "2112" - "Overture" and "The Temples of Syrinx"
* "Far Cry"
Encore:
* "La Villa Strangiato"
* "Working Man"
There are few live shows that can top a live Rush show - In my mind their are none, but that's just me. No other band speaks to me the way Rush do, they are and always will be the band at the top on my list to see live. Unlike some bands that get on stage, take your money, and you walk away feeling it was a good show, but was it really worth the ticket price, Rush always delivers the goods. Every young musician should go to one of their shows and see how it should be done. Yes, they have the money to put on a big arena show (the lighting work for this show was phenomenal), but even if they simply had a stage and their instruments, Rush would kick ass regardless.
I had the time of my life last night - I'm on a natural high despite the little sleep I got, the sounds of the show continue to resound within me, and I'm smiling as I type this lengthy review of my evening.
If you ever get the chance - make sure you go out and see them. You will not be disappointed!
Some of the pictures I took:
My wife and I meet up with my brother at the waterfall bar in the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT for a few drinks and some dinner before heading into the arena to get ready for the show. My seats were in the back of the arena, but given that this is probably by far the smallest venue Rush will play on the 2010 Time Machine Tour, they were great seats with a great view of the entire stage and the what would be awesome light show.
As 8:00 approached, the crowd continued to fill in from the casino, within a few minutes, the lights went down and the video started rolling - as is normal with recent rush tours the intro film was a comedy sketch involving the members of Rush in various costumes, Alex dressed up in a fat suit acting as a band manager for the fictitious band "Rash", Geddy as the owner/operator of the restaurant "Gershon's", and Neil dressed as an Irish cop at the end of the serving counter. As the video progressed a machine called the "Gefilte" gets pressed into action and with each press of the button "Rash" is given new sounds going from an oompa oompa version of "Spirit of Radio" all the way through a bunch of versions up to the one we know and love. Just as Alex tells the audience to "never, ever, touch this button", the band took the stage to a huge roar and broke into the opener "Spirit of Radio".
And on and on it went, one great Rush song after another. The band was on fire tonight and the crown felt it and feed the band more and more energy. Favorites from the first set for me were:
"Time Stands Still" (I always loved the sound of Aimee Mann's voice singing the title of the song in the chorus with her ethereal voice)
"Presto" (first tour they have played the great title track of their 1989 album)
"Leave that Thing Alone" (I think this is such a cool and funky instrumental with some truly awe inspiring bass playing by Geddy)
"BU2B" (brand new track from their to be released new album "Clockwork Angels" - combined with "Faithless" prior to it and "Freewill" afterward, it was a great trio of songs about similar subjects)
"Subdivisions" (probably one of my all time favorite Rush songs and yet another one that spoke strongly to me a a young kid in high school so long ago)
Here was the list of the songs in Set 1:
* "The Spirit of Radio"
* "Time Stand Still"
* "Presto"
* "Stick It Out"
* "Workin' Them Angels"
* "Leave That Thing Alone"
* "Faithless"
* "BU2B"
* "Freewill"
* "Marathon"
* "Subdivisions"
Being the "older men" that they are, they always have a quick 15 minute intermission between set 1 and set 2. A countdown timer that came up with about 5 minutes in the break left started counting up the year from 1974 (the year their first album was released) slowly till the year 1981 (the year the definitive Rush album "Moving Pictures" was released. As the timer hit 1981, the second set introduction video began - another comedic sketch with the band members playing various hilarious roles in a fake video shoot for the band "Rash" - Alex again in a fat suit, this time as a caricature of Ray Daniels (Rush's long time manager and friend), Geddy as a Timothy Leary looking video director, and Neil as the camera operator. Another very funny skit if I may say so but we all new what was next.
This is the "Time Machine Tour" and it is also the 30th Anniversary of that classic Rush album "Moving Pictures" (well it will be when they finish the tour in 2011) - it was time for them to play "Moving Pictures" in it's entirety, from front to back the crowd roared as that ultra cool beginning to "Tom Sawyer" came blasting through the PA. I have to mention here that the sound at this concert was awesome - it was deep and well defined, I could hear every bass note, every chiming chord Alex played, and the drums were felt in the pit of my stomach with each kick drum hit or tom roll, this was a physical experience as well as an aural one.
It's tough picking a highlight from such a great set list for the second half, but I'll simply choose the entire album. Ultra highlights included the often requested by so infrequently played "Camera Eye", but others included:
"Witch Hunt" (they made this a truly creepy experience with a little "red Riding Hood" video playing in the back and deep red stage lighting pulsating to the eerie intro keyboards and then bursting forth with Alex's vicious riff that opens the song - other effects included huge columns of flame during the song)
"Vital Signs" (Probably my favorite song off of "Moving Pictures" - I've always loved the quasi heavy-reggae vibe and Geddy's work with the OB-X synthesizer - I was in my own heaven during this song)
But the second set list did not end with "Moving Pictures - oh no, Rush gave us all so much more than that. It continued on with another of the new songs "Caravan", it seemed the volume was really cranked up with this song - the band feeding on the energy of the crowd so worked into a frenzy after hearing "Moving Pictures" in it's entirety.
All this brought us to what for many would be the highlight of any Rush show - Neil Peart's drum solo. He was so on his game tonight - as he is almost every night. For being nearly 58 years old, he still put's many other drummers to shame. He pounded the ever lovin' shit out of that kit, mixing both the acoustic kit as well as the electronic one as his kit did a 180 degree turn and he did the second part with a much more tribal sound. He finished it up as he has for many many years with his tribute to Big Band sounds he loves and his hero, the great jazz drummer, Buddy Rich.
As always, a small break for Neil was needed so Alex took the stage playing a beautiful acoustic piece that lead into a new extended intro to "Closer to the Heart" - a reworked version I might add.
Next up was an amazing version of "2112 - Overture" and "The Temples of Syrinx" - it was a truly rocking affair with the crowd singing so loudly you could hear them in all their raucous abandonment. This was surely one of the highlights of the night.
Rush finished up the second set with the heavy "Far Cry" from 2007's "Snakes & Arrows" disc - it was a great opener for that disc and it was a great closer for the show. As Geddy exited the stage he noted what a great crowd it was and the crowd continued cheering knowing an encore was coming.
For the encore, Rush burst into Rush's first ever entirely instrumental piece from the "Hemispheres" album - the great "La Villa Strangiato", subtitled "An Exercise in Self-Indulgence" that is what it was - they were so pumped and cranking on this tune it was amazing to watch. Alex taking front and center for this song and amazing the crowd with his fretboard skills. He has his classic white Gibson ES-335 out for this tune and he burned it up. Neil and Geddy were stellar as well, exchanging turns to wow the crowd with their ability and musicianship.
To close out the night, Rush broke into a deep reggae re-write introduction to "Working Man" - they stayed with the slow reggae theme for quite some time before breaking into fist pumping version of the classic Rush song - the one that broke them into the American populace's conscious so many years ago. Quite an ending to a magical night 3 hours and 15 minutes from the time they took the stage.
The songs of Set 2 plus Encore:
* "Tom Sawyer"
* "Red Barchetta"
* "YYZ"
* "Limelight"
* "The Camera Eye"
* "Witch Hunt"
* "Vital Signs"
* "Caravan"
* "Love 4 Sale" (Drum solo)
* "Closer To The Heart"
* "2112" - "Overture" and "The Temples of Syrinx"
* "Far Cry"
Encore:
* "La Villa Strangiato"
* "Working Man"
There are few live shows that can top a live Rush show - In my mind their are none, but that's just me. No other band speaks to me the way Rush do, they are and always will be the band at the top on my list to see live. Unlike some bands that get on stage, take your money, and you walk away feeling it was a good show, but was it really worth the ticket price, Rush always delivers the goods. Every young musician should go to one of their shows and see how it should be done. Yes, they have the money to put on a big arena show (the lighting work for this show was phenomenal), but even if they simply had a stage and their instruments, Rush would kick ass regardless.
I had the time of my life last night - I'm on a natural high despite the little sleep I got, the sounds of the show continue to resound within me, and I'm smiling as I type this lengthy review of my evening.
If you ever get the chance - make sure you go out and see them. You will not be disappointed!
Some of the pictures I took:
