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Irvine, Los Angles, and a symbolic wave of goodbye from Neil....


LeaveMyThingAlone
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I was lucky enough to be up front for both shows. Rush has meant more to me then can be put into words on a forum, so the fact that their last 2 shows of their brilliant/unprecedented/incredible career came in my backyard meant it was time to see them out in style, despite the setbacks to the bank accounts.

 

Irvine, CA

This has always been one of my favorite places to see a show. I've never seen one here where the sound was not crisp, and this show was no exception. I was front row Alex's side. I wanted a chance to watch the true unsung hero of Rush work his magic up close. Having watched some of the Youtube videos of the earlier shows, I expected a couple small mistakes, but Alex was absolutely brilliant that night. In fact, all 3 were on their "A" game in Irvine. They were incredibly tight and I did not hear any flubs. Sadly, it was evident to me that Alex was playing in pain, at least for most of the first set. He looked uncomfortable and like he was really straining to stay on top of it. I felt for him, but like the warrior and professional he is, he fought through it. I am not sure if he took a few bong hits during intermission, but he seemed like a totally different guy the second half. He was more like the goofy Alex we all know, He was having more fun and seemed to be playing with much more ease. Jacob's Ladder is perhaps my favorite performance from Alex, and I just watched in awe. He plays it with so much feel and so much soul. This setlist was epic with Natural Science in there. It's always such a crowd favorite that they seem to love playing.

 

Geddy's vocals were amazing. He was on it. Of course, it wasn't perfection, but it was as close to it as you can get at this stage of his career and after a zillion shows singing the way he has...

 

Neil played perfectly all night. However, he did drop his drumstick twice on his throw in the airs.....very disappointing ;) He started showing his goofy side by kind of playfully running behind his drum set and hiding between Working Man and Garden Road.

 

There was a full moon that night. From where we were sitting, there was an incredible view of that full moon as Rush was coming on stage with a very crisp clear full moon right behind Neil's kit. Based on some of the other shows I've seen online, I'd say this may have been Rush's best show of the tour.

 

 

Los Angeles, CA

So much already said on this one. I will say that the boys did not sound nearly as good as they did in Irvine, but no one cared. We all knew the magnitude of the night. There was a different feel to this show that any I've ever been to. I have never ever been part of a concert experience like this, It was just an epic night. It almost had a red carpet feel to it. There was a buzz in the air and it was a coming together of the Rush geeks in a way like I've never seen. For one, I have never seen so many girls that knew every word to every song. And I have never been with a crowd as intense as this was. The emotion and passion was everywhere. As the show was about to start, we saw the 3 guys wearing kimonos dressed as the boys circa 2112 sit in the row next to us. On the other side, was a young lady wearing her kimono. A couple rows behind us were Taylor Hawkins and Chad Smith. Jack Black was roaming around the floor by himself just rocking out (odd but cool), I also heard sightings of Michael Moore, Jason Siegel, and passed Bubbles on my way back to my seat for the 2nd half.

 

Going into this show, I felt pretty sure it would be their last. Sadly, I'm more sure of that than ever after watching the end. Neil was really getting out of his box by the end of the night. He was posing for some shots for some people in the front row by making some really goofy faces--- as early as 2112. I don't know if he knew them or not, but, regardless, it was very out of character. Then we all know about the camera, pictures, and spontaneous bow with the boys. Without a doubt, this was his way of saying goodbye to the fans and his way of telling Alex and Geddy that this is it. It was a very strange and awkward final bow, just because no one knew what was happening. Neil's look on his face was just priceless. I would bet that this was one of the most difficult things Neil has ever done. Harder than playing those drums like a monster every show. This was completely out of his comfort zone and the social anxiety kind of showed just by the way he was grinning.The way he snuck up behind them like a little kid was a memory I'll always have. He mouthed goodbye and that was it. Geddy gave us the usual "maybe someday down the road perhaps our paths will cross again possibly you never know", but he and Alex know Neil better than anyone, and they had to know there was a purpose to what Neil did.

 

As we walked out, we passed so many fans crying. We passed many many fans still sitting in their chars not wanting it to be over. People were screaming for a 2nd encore. (I was sure there would be one) But nothing ceremoniously. No tributes. No official goodbyes. No acknowledgment that this was the end, other than the subtleties already mentioned. It's just not in Rush's nature.

 

I discovered this band in 1987. I can't believe how lucky I got to have them another 28 years. What we have witnessed with this band is incredible and will never ever come close to being duplicated again. Those 3 guys gave us 40 years of music that is untouchable. At 60+, to play shows like that is just ridiculous. I think as time goes on, their legacy will only grow stronger. The "mainstream" finally started getting how amazing these guys are 10 years ago, and I am so happy that they got such deserved recognition outside of the cult band stuff, because they need to be recognized as truly iconic. Unparalleled. The best rock musicians to ever come together as band. Selfishly, I feel very sad that I won't see them do this again, even though retiring is the right thing for them to do now. They are still on top and still brilliant performers, and that's the way to go out.

 

Thank you Alex, Geddy, and Neil for putting your heart and soul into every show and every song on record and never settling for less than the best you can give us!

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I was going to ask if anyone cried, but no one mentioned it, so I didn't. I don't know how anyone could not have cried. For sure and certain I would have at the end, especially when I saw Neil coming forward instead of running off stage.

 

Thanks for your on the spot report! :) :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

 

I was there and I'm actually feeling more sad now after having time to think about it and watch the videos again than I was then.

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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........
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Really enjoyed the op but just want to say that, while I have no doubt that there was a profoundly different feel about the show, I think that more than one thing can be true; i.e., I think that it could well be that the door is open to another outing in some form or fashion in the future, but it won't be what it's been---for decades---and that still makes for a huge transition. They have very compelling reasons to leave the grueling nature of a national tour behind. So maybe it's the residency thing. Some time passes, they get plenty of rest, I suspect they'll start to kick it around a bit. I hope so anyway. Edited by sun dog
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I attended both shows....

 

Irvine was Mind blowing....Great set, amazing sound...Their performance was excellent.

 

LA was Heart pounding ....Great set, Amazing vibe...You could tell the boys and even the crew had a little nervous emotion. Rush played great... you could tell they were very appreciative of the crowd.

 

Hopefully there will be a bonus cd...... Aug 1st - Rush in LA

Edited by WIDE-ANGLE WATCHER
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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

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I was going to ask if anyone cried, but no one mentioned it, so I didn't. I don't know how anyone could not have cried. For sure and certain I would have at the end, especially when I saw Neil coming forward instead of running off stage.

 

Thanks for your on the spot report! :) :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

I mentioned it a few times.

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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

Yeah... Saturday night... I was pondering at the start of the tour, with the first few Periscopes what I would do for the last show... When I flipped the calendar to July and saw August 1st was a Saturday I was happy I didn't have to watch... My brother died on Dec 28 2013----Ever since then we've had to deal with the psycho he married, who basically has taken my Niece (9YO) and Nephew (6YO) away from my Dad & I... Watching my band "die" was a little too much and something that didn't need to add up to all the other stress of the past year and a half.... The tour was great and I was sooo HAPPY to enjoy all those scoping nights... But the last one, for now, was a little too much.... I'm hoping the whole show will pop up on youtube, I will download it, and watch it some other time, when things are better.... Just posting the last pic yto my FB page yesterday, when I got back was hard enough.....
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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

Yeah... Saturday night... I was pondering at the start of the tour, with the first few Periscopes what I would do for the last show... When I flipped the calendar to July and saw August 1st was a Saturday I was happy I didn't have to watch... My brother died on Dec 28 2013----Ever since then we've had to deal with the psycho he married, who basically has taken my Niece (9YO) and Nephew (6YO) away from my Dad & I... Watching my band "die" was a little too much and something that didn't need to add up to all the other stress of the past year and a half.... The tour was great and I was sooo HAPPY to enjoy all those scoping nights... But the last one, for now, was a little too much.... I'm hoping the whole show will pop up on youtube, I will download it, and watch it some other time, when things are better.... Just posting the last pic yto my FB page yesterday, when I got back was hard enough.....

 

I certainly understand. But think of it this way, they're still here, they're still planning on making more music. It's not like they're gone or anything.

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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

Yeah... Saturday night... I was pondering at the start of the tour, with the first few Periscopes what I would do for the last show... When I flipped the calendar to July and saw August 1st was a Saturday I was happy I didn't have to watch... My brother died on Dec 28 2013----Ever since then we've had to deal with the psycho he married, who basically has taken my Niece (9YO) and Nephew (6YO) away from my Dad & I... Watching my band "die" was a little too much and something that didn't need to add up to all the other stress of the past year and a half.... The tour was great and I was sooo HAPPY to enjoy all those scoping nights... But the last one, for now, was a little too much.... I'm hoping the whole show will pop up on youtube, I will download it, and watch it some other time, when things are better.... Just posting the last pic yto my FB page yesterday, when I got back was hard enough.....

 

I certainly understand. But think of it this way, they're still here, they're still planning on making more music. It's not like they're gone or anything.

 

Hopefully so.... But that little Neil act seemed pretty final as far as he's concerned... But I have no doubt Geddy will go on... Hopefully with the other 2! :)

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Not going to lie. I welled up two or three times when I saw them in Austin. It usually happened when my brain stopped to process the fact that these three people are the ones responsible for this music that has made my life better, and that I am seeing them in person right now.
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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

Yeah... Saturday night... I was pondering at the start of the tour, with the first few Periscopes what I would do for the last show... When I flipped the calendar to July and saw August 1st was a Saturday I was happy I didn't have to watch... My brother died on Dec 28 2013----Ever since then we've had to deal with the psycho he married, who basically has taken my Niece (9YO) and Nephew (6YO) away from my Dad & I... Watching my band "die" was a little too much and something that didn't need to add up to all the other stress of the past year and a half.... The tour was great and I was sooo HAPPY to enjoy all those scoping nights... But the last one, for now, was a little too much.... I'm hoping the whole show will pop up on youtube, I will download it, and watch it some other time, when things are better.... Just posting the last pic yto my FB page yesterday, when I got back was hard enough.....

 

I certainly understand. But think of it this way, they're still here, they're still planning on making more music. It's not like they're gone or anything.

 

Hopefully so.... But that little Neil act seemed pretty final as far as he's concerned... But I have no doubt Geddy will go on... Hopefully with the other 2! :)

 

Well I think they're done with touring like they have been, but making more music together? I think it's a pretty sure thing.

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I think I would've cried if I had been at the concert. It was tough enough watching it on Periscope.

There's one scope I was happy to miss (Was at the cottage for the weekend)... I would have been unable to watch the whole thing..........

 

You mean the last one? I'm so glad I watched it. It was awesome, though it was sad afterwards. I'm just glad I could be there in some capacity.

Yeah... Saturday night... I was pondering at the start of the tour, with the first few Periscopes what I would do for the last show... When I flipped the calendar to July and saw August 1st was a Saturday I was happy I didn't have to watch... My brother died on Dec 28 2013----Ever since then we've had to deal with the psycho he married, who basically has taken my Niece (9YO) and Nephew (6YO) away from my Dad & I... Watching my band "die" was a little too much and something that didn't need to add up to all the other stress of the past year and a half.... The tour was great and I was sooo HAPPY to enjoy all those scoping nights... But the last one, for now, was a little too much.... I'm hoping the whole show will pop up on youtube, I will download it, and watch it some other time, when things are better.... Just posting the last pic yto my FB page yesterday, when I got back was hard enough.....

 

I certainly understand. But think of it this way, they're still here, they're still planning on making more music. It's not like they're gone or anything.

 

Hopefully so.... But that little Neil act seemed pretty final as far as he's concerned... But I have no doubt Geddy will go on... Hopefully with the other 2! :)

 

Well I think they're done with touring like they have been, but making more music together? I think it's a pretty sure thing.

Honestly, I would take new music over another tour for the next few years! :)
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Honestly, I don't see how RUSH could think about coming back in any form from here. I get the "love for music" thing but they played to a full house every night this tour and this (to me) would be the classic "going out on top" scenario.
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I think Rush is going to make music as well...not just Geddy not just Alex...not just Geddy and Alex...but Rush with all 3....Neil has I think for a long time wished Rush to be a studio act...he has never publically really had a bad thing to say of the recording experience...and I believe that's the part he truly loves...and has documentd in words in tourbooks for years....I think he likes the creative firing of all cylinders thing...its the touring he hasn't really been wild about for 30 years...

 

My first show was Signals...my 2nd...g/p....my friends and I waited by the busses as teens...Alex and Geddy were friendly waving to all....Neil?... as soon as he was spotted coming out of the Civic Arena tunnel....he sprinted to the bus..no smile no wave..wearing a yellow shirt and braided ponytail...actually remember him looking afraid....that's long before his personal tradegies too....

Edited by JBsDWdrums
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I'm not worried, they'll be back. The boys are just having too much fun out there. As for Neil, he's jus a drummer and can be replaced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kidding people! He's obviously irreplaceable, but I think back to their first show after Neil's personal tragedies. He said "it would have been a shame if we never did this again". I think the same thing will happen again, playing live is addictive and the longer you don't do it, the more that addiction calls to you. Look for a 10 city tour next summer.

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Los Angeles, CA

So much already said on this one. I will say that the boys did not sound nearly as good as they did in Irvine, but no one cared. We all knew the magnitude of the night. There was a different feel to this show that any I've ever been to. I have never ever been part of a concert experience like this, It was just an epic night. It almost had a red carpet feel to it. There was a buzz in the air and it was a coming together of the Rush geeks in a way like I've never seen. For one, I have never seen so many girls that knew every word to every song. And I have never been with a crowd as intense as this was. The emotion and passion was everywhere.

 

There was such an amazing energy in the crowd, in the air. If I hadn't already been in that headspace myself there was no way I could have ignored it. The only thing better than me feeling the way I did at the show was knowing there were so many other people feeling the same way.

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As people have stated in other posts. The idea of a limited number of shows is improbable. 1) They would have to scale down their production. Some may say they don't care about lights and screens but I think the guys in Rush do. 2) They would still have to rehearse just as much for a week run as they would a 3 month tour. I don't see them taking the time and effort to do this. 3) and most importantly, there wouldn't be enough of a financial return to do limited or one off shows.

 

I would say maybe they will make new music but I highly doubt they will perform again, aside from maybe 3-4 songs at a benefit or something. Neil had never come to the front of the stage for a bow, I think that was a pretty clear sign.

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