01GT Eibach

Living in Pittsburgh, PA, I saw Rush twice on this tour (Pitt & Cleveland). But I ended up getting a work promotion that moved me to Scottsdale, AZ in May. Best of all, this allowed me to catch Rush for a THIRD time by catching the Phoenix show. Here is my overview ...

 

1) Ridiculously hot -- Does this venue typically have AC issues?? And $7 for a soda for the final temperate insult.

2) Geddy clearly said that Clockwork Angels "hoped to be out by the end of the year".

3) Geddy's voice was the most strained in the Phoenix gig compared to Pittsburgh and Cleveland shows I saw earlier. The Cleveland show was (easily) the best of the three shows, with Geddy's voice the tightest and overall higher energy performance by the band. No surprise there as it was the DVD filming.

4) Phoenix was also the most expensive. Because I got tickets so late I had to use a ticket service. I paid $240 (for a pair) including all fees, but tickets were excellent -- lower bowl right next to Geddy. Last I checked, that is why I go to work ... to earn money to buy Rush tickets.

5) Overall ... they were awesome. It was my boys.

Awesome guitars, but to me ...

 

double locking = PITA for tuning and string changes

 

Great if you have a guitar tech, but ... last I checked ... I do not.

QUOTE (FeelingUnlimited @ Jul 1 2011, 04:24 PM)

I took Geddy to mean that the recording of the album would be finished by the end of the year, not that it would be released by then.

QUOTE (MCM @ Apr 17 2011, 05:47 PM)

... This show far exceeded the show I saw in Pittsburgh last September ...

I was at the Cleveland show last night, after catching Rush back in September in Pittsburgh. First off, I really liked that Q-arena ... much more so than the brand-new Pitt one. We had club seats just to the side of Alex (fabulous seats). Sound was excellent. Compared to the Pittsburgh show, Geddy's voice also was much more "tight" and together ... no real off notes. In Pitt, he hit a few clunkers (poor thing).

 

My one gripe: It has nothing to do with Rush. This was my first time ever in Cleveland. We were there at the arena (in our car) an hour before the show, andstill could not find parking for seemingly ever. "Lot Full" was posted everywhere. The Cleveland Indians were in town and playing right next door to the (sold out) arena. Finally we found parking and made it in ... but missed the opening and first three songs (which is okay, as I have seen them on this tour before). But, Cleveland, was' up with no parking anywhere??

 

Also: "RUSHGIRL" passed us on the way there. Nice license plate!

My biggest surprise was Geddy's voice. He definitely hit a couple of scary-off notes in the first couple of tunes. Thank goodness that his voice seemed to come together with no real glitches after that.

Personally, I am not buying this "exact same set" thing until it kicks off and we find out for sure. It is hard to believe that they won't change the set by a song or two (or three) just for their own sanity. I really think Alex may be trying to hedge a surprise or two. I saw the Who back in 1982 and Peter Townshend in a tour interview said they were not going to play "My Generation". Riiiight ... it turns out that they friggin' opened with it!

QUOTE (Phantom @ Jan 29 2011, 12:39 PM)

I don't thinkg I'd take an 8 year old girl to an nfl game either...

Wow ... an 8-year old at Rush. As far as I am concerned there is nothing wrong with it; I would only be worried about possible boredom. Rush is a long show ... and if the "can we go now?" questions start to arise, it could be a little trying. I have a 7 and an 8 year old ... and I would not even consider bringing them to Rush as -- I know -- they would not enjoy it. Luckily I also have a 16-year-old daughter who does not like Rush, so the babysitter choice for 7 & 8 year olds is built in. haha

Always stupid.

To me, anything over $150 for two tickets is too much ... for anyone. I know alot of people seem to complain about the high cost of Rush. Personally, I think it is very reasonable. They sell some VERY good seats at the lower price point. For me, I like a nice elevated view that is "somewhat" close to the stage. Then I am happy ... being third row on the floor for twice the price is not for me. At an outside amphitheater, I will pay to be within 25 rows of the stage ... you don't see as well in those venue IMO.

QUOTE (Torgo @ Dec 15 2010, 10:13 PM)

QUOTE I saw Rush on the S&A tour in Austin. Evidently that was their first visit EVER to Austin.   Actually, Rush has been to Austin several times, but S&A was the first time they'd been here in a really long time. They played the Erwin Center on the "Power Windows", "Hold Your Fire", "Roll the Bones", and "Counterparts" tours. It was great to see them come back again. Can't wait to see them this year! Maybe it was their first time in "ever" as opposed to first time ever. Between Counterparts and S&A was 15 years or so (right?) which is a very long time ... maybe that's what it was.   Also ... Austin in a fine place to raise a family. I lived there for a number of years with my family of five. Great schools.

A free concert under the stars ...

..... or maybe an "unplugged gig??

Question finally answered:

I just got the low down ... they are going to play Caress of Steel in its entirity.

Okay, so I understand the venue a bit better ... For any one who does not already know, the Q arena has 14 rows initially in the lower bowl, then 10 rows in a first Club level, then another 5 rows in a second (upper) Club level. Above that are luxury boxes, and above that is the 200 level.

 

In my particular case, my seats are 8 rows back on the first (lower) Club level. And in a section close to the stage. Cool ... I can live with that ...

QUOTE (osubeatum @ Dec 7 2010, 12:43 PM)

The reason for the lower price is Sec 125 row 22 is not the lower bowl.  You are in the Club section 8 rows back.  There are only 14 rows in the lower bowl for the middle sections. Still decent seats at a great price but that explains the difference.

QUOTE (tjtull @ Dec 7 2010, 11:04 AM)

I ended up with Sec 125 (Alex's side), row 14. It's cool with me. Unless I'm up front, I don't like floor seats at large arena shows...can't see a thing.

QUOTE (MCM @ Dec 5 2010, 08:11 PM)

... theater will cost that much, as will hockey tickets anywhere near row 22 to the glass ...

I saw Rush on the S&A tour in Austin. Evidently that was their first visit EVER to Austin. It was in the Frank Erwin Center but with the much smaller "theater configuration". I have seen a bunch of concerts there, and Rush was the only one in this smaller configuration (was not sold out, either). It is particularly nice as makes it a much smaller venue as they use only half the arena, essentially. This makes every seat an excellent vantage point. When I saw the current TMT tour here in Pittsburgh, PA, it was the normal "entire arena" configuration with a LOT more people than when in Austin on S&A. If your Austin gig again utilizes the "theater configuration", make sure you go. It is an AWESOME way to experience Rush. I promise you that.

QUOTE (IChoseFreeWill @ Dec 6 2010, 07:41 AM)

"They say the heart of rock and roll is in Cleveland" Which is a very credible mondegreen, given the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame IS in Cleveland indeed.

Hmmm ... as additional bonus, it looks this gig will be filmed for a DVD. Or should there be a concern that the cameras will block some of the view?

The figure on the back of Counterparts is very well known in psychology circles. For those that took Psych 1 in college, you likely saw it there, too. It is used to demonstrate how the mind will interpret shapes that are not actually there. In this example, there are three pac-man shape circles and three sngles ... yet the mind extrapolates and interpoloates to see two full triangles.

QUOTE (MCM @ Dec 1 2010, 06:43 PM)

... but I'm on the east side of the city.  If you're west or south of the city, I'm halfway there by the time you would even get to the turnpike.

QUOTE (Mr Rush @ Dec 1 2010, 01:25 PM)

I paid the regular $140.05 ea (all fees) for C1 Row 10?

That's good ... beats buying the VIP package, for sure ...