Thunder Bay Rush

WOW! Talk about a perfect performance. Still hard to imagine a band that is still THIS good live... retiring from the road. At least they (and we) can always say that Rush went on top... not lost in the mix of casino / festival circuits, or package tours, like some bands that were once great.

Great show, no doubt. I love Neil`s solo, but the sound man nearly ruined it near the end with too many weird effects put to the acoustic drums. I saw this tour in April, `78 in Ottawa. WICKED! 8,000 people sold out at the Ottawa Civic Centre. NO ONE sat down during the whole show... wild crowd. Wilder band.

For all of the "classic" or "early" Rush fans, this audio track of a Tucson show in '78, is in my opinion, THE recording to hear. Many of you are probably already aware of this one, but for those of you who are not... you must check this out. It's Rush live at their very best... (Again, in my opinion.)

For anyone who is complaining about Geddy's voice, the man IS 62, right?

 

Give your head a shake.

Two things - first, VERY weird seeing Alex playing a Rickenbacker guitar...

 

Second... I remember seeing the 2112 Tour in Ottawa and Alex only had two guitars on stage (that I can recall) - one, a Les Paul and two, his old Tobacco ES 355 (or, 335? Not sure.) How money changes things.

 

Wicked original post, by the way... and I thought we drummers were tech nuts!

If they're not going to play live again there's almost no way they'd make an album. Lots of work and almost no money. And Clockwork Angels is the perfect exit.

But they want to tour and write music, the problem is they are not physically able to go out on the road for that long anymore. Going into the studio and making music isn't that physically demanding, and their fanbase is bigger than ever.

 

Neil wants to tour?

 

The studio takes a ton of crafting and planning - and for what? Albums don't sell. They MIGHT make as much as in playing one night live by making one album that takes months.

 

I think the only way we see them again is some bizarre and unfortunate financial catastrophe OR Neil decides he's restless and up for hitting the road.

 

I'll be generous and call it a 10% chance.

 

You are 100% correct... We can all thank the Internet for lack of album sales these days. This is why bands tour SO much and for higher ticket prices... they have to.

 

Personally, I like the "old days" better. Almost all of Rush's albums went platinum up until Vapour Trails. That's when the Internet started to explode.

I could pick any one of AFTK, Hem, P Waves, or MP as my favourite. But, if I HAD to pick one, Hemispheres. That album defined Rush as a prog rock band that had the chops of anyone out there. I could listen it all day long.

I have to say, you did a great job with this. But, it still amazes me that in today's Internet world, people don't get in trouble doing this type of thing. Not that long ago, one would be in plenty of legal trouble for making their own DVD or audio recording of a live band's performance.

 

It seems with the Internet, all rules have gone to the outhouse...

 

This is not an attack on the OP, but an observation. I'd hire her in a second to edit video for footage for me.

I saw the Youtube shots of the end of the final show in LA. Neil, very uncharacteristically came out to take a bow with the boys, much to their surprise, I am sure. NICE to see!!

 

In Ottawa, 1977, Neil thanked the crowd (using Geddy's mic) after coming back for the encore. That's the only time I've seen that in 28 shows since 1976.

It would probably sounds like another Rush album. That's what My Favourite Headache sounds like, which is fine with me!

 

(Yes, we Canadians put a "u" in favourite! Auto correct - kiss my frost-bitten Canuck ass!)

Jazz album, no. But, a VERY prog rock instrumental YES! I would lose my shit over that one.

Well said, Librarian Person.

Back to attendance numbers... from what I heard, most shows sold out. Those that did not, were 95% capacity.

 

Montreal was packed to the ceiling.

Loved his 70's set up, but I did notice the absence of acoustic wind chimes in Montreal. I was in the nose bleeds, so maybe I just couldn't see them... ?? Would have been perfect for Xanadu.

 

About his writing (article) I think he was sort of surprised by the lack of commenting either for or against his new solo idea, and not his playing. Especially, Lorne Wheaton, his drum tech probably could / should have had something to say.

 

Neil has gotten an unfair bad rap... he's probably the most misunderstood musician out there. We all think we know him, but none of us do. Leave the guy alone.

Terry Watkinson (not Wilkinson) was Max Webster's keyboard player. Gary McCracken was their drummer. Not sure what you mean by "backed out."

Sorry... anyway, as I saying... when they played that awesome song from 1980, I nearly lost all my shit.

 

Is that okay???????????

 

Hopefully, this doesn't spoil anyone's concert experience.

I just got home from|Montreal...and after 28 Rush shows, I can honestly say this one was the best. When they started playing (spoiler), I nearly lost all my shit.

Where I live in NW Ontario, we refer to a camel toe as a “moose knuckle.” Makes sense for us anyway…

Anima >>> The first time I read Gatsby I didn't see why it was a classic. I liked it better the second time.

 

Have you found any other literature you like, TBR?

 

 

 

The quote function doesn’t work for me for some reason…

 

 

Nothing in particular… I’m not a huge reader anyway. But, the last few books have been more contemporary stories, mysteries… that type of thing. At least most of these authors keep the wording down to a “regular-guy” level.

 

 

Just finished “The Night Season” by Chelsea Cain. It’s a serial killer mystery, but a different one. Worth it… good book. Good writer…

Something I’ve always wondered about – during the Rush song, Limelight (after Alex’s guitar solo), the song shifts into an up tempo ¾ time. (Like a waltz… bum, chick, chick, bum, chick, chick…) But Neil continues playing it as a 4/4 beat (bass on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4).

 

In Kashmir, By Zeppelin, another song mainly in ¾ time, Bonzo plays it in 4/4 time. I always wondered why they would do this… is there any chance that either of these great drummers didn’t know about the time shift? They just played the way they felt the song???

I guess it’s now official. I just “don’t get” literature…

 

I don’t read a lot to begin with so at times and try to seek out the classic books by classic writers. For years, I’ve been hearing about the Great Gatsby and that it was one of the “greatest fictional works of all time.” So, I went to the library and it was available…

 

First, it was much shorter than I expected. But, that’s actually good for me… I started reading… and reading… and reading… waiting for some type of a story to develop. When I got to the last chapter I deemed this book an over-rated waste of my time. Not much a story there…

 

So, do I have a point or… do I simply not “get” literature?

 

I felt the same way about Hemingway’s “Old Man in the Sea,” a well-respected and famous novel. I kept falling asleep while reading it. A guy goes fishing, catches a tuna and a goddam shark eats the thing.

“Might not hit bottom, but it’ll sure bash the Jesus outta them sidewalls.”

Anonymous…

I don’t think I can honestly pick just one… so how about two?

I just read all the words from Hemispheres and Permanent Waves (on this site). Those are my two picks… the Trees is one of the simplest, but most clever lyrics I have ever read. It rhymes so perfectly and makes sense, even to us “non-tree” species.

Some of Neil’s more modern lyrics are a little advanced (or deep) for my little brain…

 

I can’t say enough about P Waves and Hemispheres.

Mara… into the wine???

Clearly, I missed something as I have no idea what this one is all about… something about a shoe?