Last night, Canadian legends RUSH brought their Snakes and Arrows tour to Vancouver’s, near capacity, General Motors Place. Over the last 34 years, RUSH has played their unique style of progressive rock for fans all over the world. Having seen RUSH many times, myself, I can honestly say that they still have what it takes to leave you in awe, wondering how just three men can make so much music.
Famed for their amazing light spectacular, Geddy’s mystical bass rhythms, Alex’s sharp, clean guitar licks and Neil’s masterful syncopated drumming, RUSH turned GM Place into a world filled with digital men, radio spirits and freewill, all with the timing and precision of a well rehearsed space shuttle landing.
Though the set list was similar to past performances, these are the songs that we all know and love; after a comical opening video, displayed on 3 enormous high definition video screens [i](concert screens and video are of such high quality that you often find yourself watching them more than the stage)[/i], they opened with Limelight then went straight into Digital Men, Entre Nous and Mission. A few words from front man Geddy Lee then carried them into what was to be a 1.5 hour nonstop mission to bring the fans what they were there to witness, Freewill, Monkey Business (a fun, high energy track from the new album), The Larger Bowl, Secret Touch, Circumstances, Between The Wheels and a brilliant rendition of Dreamline.
Having had a solid hour and a half of classic [i]and[/i] new RUSH music, one would feel quite satisfied to make their way to the exits and chalk up another RUSH tour.
But they were not finished yet, they just don’t play and go home, a quick 30 minute intermission alowed the stadium to sell more $8 beer, $4 peanuts and $6 hotdogs to an anxious crowd. What was nice is that the most affordable booths in the entire stadium were the band merchandise tables, $30 is a lot to fork out for a T-shirt, but at a concert in 2008, that’s a steal! As always, RUSH bring new designs on tour, instead of offering a collection of past tour shirts and album cover art from the 80’s, always a class act these guys.
Back to the show, for fans who are not familiar with the new Snakes and Arrows CD, the second half of the set started out a bit confusing, it sounds like RUSH but it isn’t the stuff you remember.
My feelings are that as a band playing 28 songs in one show, no warm-up act and just hours of their best music, they are entitled to play music from their new CD. It didn’t dominate the set and, while some of it hasn’t grown on me just yet, I do appreciate that they can still pull off the studio work too.
After playing Far Cry, Workin’ Them Angels, Armor and Sword, Spindrift and The Way The Wind Blows, they stood beneath a brilliant laser show and began Subdivisions. I still haven’t decided whether Pink Floyd or RUSH wins the laser competition, but with RUSH still out there and doing it every night, they have to take the cake on that one.
The second half continued with flawless performances of Natural Science, Witch Hunt and Malignant Narcissism before the audience got what they [i]really[/i] came for, Neil Peart’s famed 12 minute drum solo. Having worked in the industry for years, I have seen countless professional drummers of the highest calibre, however as a drummer myself, and I will speak for all drummers out there, Neil Peart is by far the most talented drummer on the planet today. This guy could do a 2hr show by himself and pack the crowds in night after night as people try to answer the question, “just how does he do that?”
Just as you manage to close your slack jaw again and stop saying “HOLY SH** ” ! Geddy and Alex join Neil on stage as they start the opening riffs of HOPE, then on to Summertime Blues and crowd favourite, The Spirit of the Radio. Your attention is drawn to the massive HD screens once again as they play a South Park parody of Cartman and the gang playing Tom Sawyer in their band ‘lil Rush’, Cartman starts singing the wrong lyrics
[i]”Modern day warrior, named Tom Sawyer, floated down a river on a raft with a black guy”[/i]
so they stop and tell him to get it right. He gets pi$$ed off and says that Tom Sawyer is about a guy who took a raft down a river with a black man. They remind him that it is Huck Finn and not Tom Sawyer, then count in the song again, this time with RUSH taking the ‘three’ cue and starting Tom Sawyer.
(see the South park video clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4nkbru2wXo )
The house went nuts, the lights were everywhere and the sound was immaculate.
For the encore, they played One Little Victory and Passage to Bangkok, finishing the night with the ever popular YYZ, which showcases all the bands talent and leaves you waiting in anticipation for the next tour.
If you haven’t seen RUSH, don’t miss this tour as it comes around, they have got to be offering the best value for money on the circuit today a thoroughly entertaining and skilful performance by three men who set the standards for live shows today.
Oz Media
Full setlist:
Set 1:
01. Limelight
02. Digital Man
03. Entre Nous
04. Mission
05. Freewill
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Larger Bowl
08. Secret Touch
09. Circumstances
10. Between The Wheels
11. Dreamline
Intermission
Set 2:
12. Far Cry
13. Workin’ Them Angels
14. Armor And Sword
15. Spindrift
16. The Way The Wind Blows
17. Subdivisions
18. Natural Science
19. Witch Hunt
20. Malignant Narcissism
21. Drum Solo
22. Hope
23. Summertime Blues
24. The Spirit Of Radio
25. Tom Sawyer
Encore:
26. One Little Victory
27. A Passage to Bangkok
28. YYZ
