Rush: Classic or Dud?

they don't call themselves a progressive band. but yes, the new 1 is a throwback. also, the band first concept album.

Circumstances is such a jam

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

I might be interviewing Alex Lifeson next Saturday. Not confirmed yet. Definitely going to the show (Newark, NJ) though.

Lifeson seems like such a chill interview. You should ask him about the lightbulb moment that lead to his shift from flashier lead stuff to more subtle shading and Andy Summers-y stuff. Also, Rush may be the most mysterious songwriters outside of New Order; I'm just not sure how their tracks come together, and they're one of the very few bands that has not left behind a trail of demos. Ask him how songs with so many different parts come together as cohesive 5-minute compositions. I've always thought sprawling 3o-minute prog epics were, ironically, sort of easy, because there's the luxury of time and space. But Rush's stuff, busy though it may get, has always been remarkably efficient.

Man, "La Villa Strangiato" really is some sort of apotheosis, isn't it?

aero going to see Rush after complaining about them on the Rush/Dead/Yes thread??

lol I think I just said Peart's philosophy was gross which I got corrected on. show was really something, really fun

That's the thing about Rush: complain all you want, but when someone gives you tickets, any sensible person says "yes."

lol I paid for these seats myself!!

music should be like business. efficient. how dare bands "waste" notes!

Glad you got your money's worth aero! :D

Aero, did they do a medley? Haven't seen Rush in a number of years and am just curious if they still do this.

Ticket for Rush on Saturday night in Newark, NJ: CONFIRMED. Request for interview with Alex Lifeson: still pending...

cool!

This really was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Bit of a dream setlist really.

More haikus!

music should be like
business. efficient. how dare
bands waste any notes!

The voice is the gate
To keep out smarmy hipsters
Like Stephen Malkmus

By efficient I
Meant that the band fits so much
Into so little

i am bummed clockwork
angels the novel doesn't
rule like the album

What if Geddy Lee
played drums and Neil Peart sang lead?
(Alex is Alex.)

Saw them last night in Newark. Amazing set - tons of mid-80s material, nine songs from the new album (everyone at work is fucking thrilled about that)...the one thing that was hugely apparent to me is that Peart continues to evolve as a drummer - his playing is much looser and more human-feeling than it was in 2011, and he wasn't wearing the huge gun-range headphones he did that time, so I feel like he was definitely listening to and playing off the other two much more than in the recent past. Also, rather than take one epic solo mid-set he took three shorter solos at various points, and that really kept the show moving with much greater momentum and overall energy. And between what he was doing, and the addition of the string players (who mostly added surges in the background), it was really intensely rhythmic, all about driving forward at all times. The version of "YYZ" at the end of the second set almost sounded like metal. (And by the way, it is sort of more than a little impressive that one of Rush's most beloved live moments is an extended, berserk instrumental.) When Lifeson stepped forward for HIS solos, that was when the songs really came to a frozen halt for a minute or so.

Possibly because as awesome as he is, guitar heroes are generally more dime a dozen than bass heroes or drum heroes. I've said before that one of the funniest things about Rush concerts is watching fans frantically air drum, air guitar and air bass at the same time.

Wanna see my photos from Saturday night's show? Here you go.

won't load :(

The website was going in and out this afternoon, but it should be fine now.

Great photos! And I'm glad you dug the new show.

Amazing set - tons of mid-80s material

I'm seeing the show in both Dallas and Atlanta. This does not bode well.

I don't know if everyone already picked up the three Sector boxes (I didn't have the funds), but they're all on sale this week for $25.49 each via the Amazon Cyber Monday deals week. Sector 1 tomorrow morning, and Sectors 2 & 3 on Saturday. Crazy cheap.

I have 1 and 3, so thanks for the tip!

I plan on getting all three. At $5 a disc you can't beat it.

Is this worth getting if you have the original CDs? Is there a substantial difference?

My understanding is yes, but hopefully Adrien or someone who owns them can confirm.

Sector 3 is ace, tremendous remasters of the '80s albums in my opinion. 1 and 2 had problems a year ago, a couple discs were sloppily reproduced, but have since been fixed.

Not seeing this for sale on Amazon right now. But I suppose I'd be most inclined to buy the third one as well ... if I hadn't bought those albums several times already.

You have to look at the Cyber Monday Week deals in music. Only on sale for a couple of hours on the days mentioned above.

Dammit! slept in and Sector 1 sold out.

Just fucked around on there for awhile, am I correct that the deal for Sector 3 has expired?

the deals for Sector 2 & 3 don't go live until Saturday. Sector 1 sold out within 30 minutes this morning.

Oh! Then I'm buyin' me Sector 3 on Saturday morning. Those are the only Rush records where I really crave a remaster.

Deal goes live Saturday at 11 am PST.

finger on trigger...

Wow that was insane. 70% of Sector 2 and Sector 3 were claimed in less than 1 minute. Managed to get both for $59 total w/shipping.

100% gone in less than four minutes, unreal. I got Sector 2, thankfully.

Gonna have to keep these at work for awhile so my wife doesn't know i spent the money. That's ok-- I do 90% of my listening there anyway.

I missed out on the sectors deal, but my consolation prize is that I got to see them live in San Antonio last night with my wife and son and it was awesome!

I'm still amazed that they did 5 tracks off of Power Windows: a dream come true. Really loved the strings and the whole run of Clockwork Angels songs and oldies plus strings.

I saw Rush in Dallas the other nite. Apparently they filmed it for a DVD. This was a good choice of a gig to do so, because the place was PACKED. Not my favorite setlist (I would prefer a heavy dose of 70s), but overall a great show.

Looks like they're off to England. Hopefully they'll tour America again. They usually do a couple per album.

Rush finally got into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame!

And yes, they've already announced that they will have more US dates in the Spring and Summer.

Public Enemy, Heart, Randy Newman, Albert King, and Donna Summer. Lou Adler and Quincy Jones

Best all-star jam ever!

Minus Donna, RIP.

Bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee told Rolling Stone, "It's a terrific honor and we'll show up smiling...It made my mom happy, so that's worth it." He added, "It was a cause [Rush fans] championed," he says. "I'm very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure."

The band also issued an official statement: "We are honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 3 of us are especially appreciative of our loyal fans whose support and dedication has gone a long way to making this possible. P.S. And special thanks to our moms for voting 6000 times!"

Mixed feelings. Love Rush, hate the Hall of Fame. If they're happy, I'm good.