Thunder Bay Rush

Had to make a four hour road trip (there and back, 8hours) on the weekend, so I just “happened” to bring 9 or 10 Rush CDs along for the ride. I listened to Different Stages again for the first time in a few years or so. WOW! This is my new fave live Rush CD. If you don’t have this one, get it. The band plays SO well… Geddy sings like a MF’er… Neil’s solo is way nuts and of course, Big Al destroys his guitar on every goddam song. And if you like 2112, as you may know, this tour (T4E) was the only time ever, that they played the entire piece live. And it sounds unreal. This is where Geddy really sings his testicles off. I think most of this show was recorded in Chicago and as usual, those Rush fans are crazy!! You can hear them screaming the whole time. Hats off Chi-town. The bonus; the third CD is a part of a show from the Hammersmith Odeon in London, back in ’77. WOW! So, if you like the old stuff, pre: sequencers, tons of keys, electronic drums… just the band playing EVERY single note – you’ll love this CD. They play Cygnus X1… the whole deal. Crazy… Geddy hits every note. (Editor’s Note – It has been documented that it took both Howard Ungerleider and Tony Geranios to find Geddy’s balls after the show. They were found shaking under Pratt’s drum riser and had to be begged to come out.)

Gangster… I meant “the penises OF the people.” Your turn…

All I know is that I’m glad my kids are now well into their 20s and out on their own… I just couldn’t do it these days. Times have changed WAY too much for this old school, old prick. Hang in there...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, see what happens when people start talking about men’s penises… they get all warm and fuzzy… all over.

The Camera Eye is, I think, one of the best Rush songs ever. The lyrics are very clever and actually mean a lot. But, the music – holy shit… especially the slower parts in mid-song. Geddy’s Oberheim just kills the world there…

This is what I predicted – I thought there would be 100 posts by the weekend and it looks like we’ll hit that mark. Kind of a weird world when as soon as someone starts the topic of “Schlong Size” everyone pops up… and chimes in. It’s always been like that and always will. To answer Narpzilla’s question – I think I’ve started enough threads for a while… (TBR dives behind the couch to avoid having his balls kicked. Hey, there’s another thread topic for later.)

Too bad there wasn’t any video out there of one of Neil’s early solos… from ’75 – ’77. That would be cool to see.

This buddy of mine back in high school used to walk around telling everyone, “might not hit bottom, but it’ll sure bash the Jesus outta them sidewalls.” That guy was a crazy bastard… got laid a lot too for some reason.

Holy shit... Hobo...

Holy Christ… look what I’ve started. Again. (Smirk!)

Okay, I know most of you were already thinking this anyway, so to the men out there, if there was such a thing as a Schlong Enlargement Procedure, would you have it done? Dying to hear what the women around here are going to say about this one…

I feel sorry for his family and friends, but not for him. He chose to start using drugs. I’m pretty hard core with that attitude. I told my kids the same thing. Luckily, neither of them have ever used dope, even pot.

As always, our little Gangster friend from California has some very good points. So, like… Um... I think some of the boys would like to see some “after surgery” pictures…

I saw it played on the MP Tour, Maple Leaf gardens, Toronto. Mind Blowing...

Holy Christ... look what I've started...

Agreed... DW sucks.

Hey, Rushchick… I can see why your bank account needs a break! Holy Rush shows all over the place! I hope Geddy was happy to see your breasts (different thread, of course!) Wow, now that’s a Rush fan!

I never thought Keith Moon was all that great… showman and maniac, yes. None of his playing is hard to duplicate at all. I could play the drums along to any Who song when I was 15. For some reason, Carl Palmer is often left off of these lists…

Fake titties I don’t get it. Women spend BIG $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ just to make their headlights bigger… I used have a GF back in 2000 and she had a pair 38 DDs… $8,000 worth. It was almost like she was saying, “Hi everyone – look at my tits.” She was two months behind on her mortgage, but she had these huge cans sticking out of her shirt… at all times. We would go out for dinner and her tits were so big that they’d arrive about ten minutes before we would… personally, I think they were weird and gross. They were hard as bowling balls. And, aren’t they a health hazard? I spent two days in Hollywood, CA, back in 2010. I walked up and down Sunset Blvd for a couple hours one day. Every single woman I saw had fake knockers… and lips… and … and … ? Why?????????????????????????????

I think I have to agree with you… you made some valid arguments. Buddy, no doubt was the King of rudimentary drumming. What he could do with a four piece kit and three cymbals was shocking. (A one handed buzz roll for starters.) John Bonham was unbelievably skilled too, also on the small set (with just one bass drum.) I never thought he was THAT good until I really started watching him during his solos... wow! He was doing things integrating his bass drum and hands long before anyone else had ever even seen that kind of thing. Neil is not a skilled as Buddy, but they are oranges and apples. Could Buddy play rock like Neil? No, of course not. Could Neil play like Bonham? I say yes. He has been a huge figure in the industry for 40 years, has inspired more modern drummers than anyone (including me when I was a kid) and he can play his ass off. I could watch his solo in Rush in Rio over and over… that solos is maybe the best rock drummer solo of all time. When he was 25 or so, he was one of the best rock drummers anywhere. Look at him now… There are others who are (I hate to admit this) actually better players than Neil, like Thomas Lang, Dave Weckl, Tony Royster Jr. Mike Portnoy and Bill Bruford, just to name a few. But, none of those guys has done what Neil has done in the overall picture. Not even EFFING close.

Took me a minute or so to get that one... funny as hell though. Nice job.

Jesus... I would hate to get hit in the face by one of them...

Hey, I’m in! No dope, temper or cell phone for me… but, can you at least make us a pile of hot wings or something? (And, I’ll cancel the order for the strippers.)

I agree, we men have it pretty easy – accept for one thing. Last month I had to go for the “man check.” That’s the one where the dude says “okay, turn on your side, face the wall.” I swear to God that SOB had a thumb the size of a Budweiser can. Still walkin’ kinda funny.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a few different songs here and there… simple ones that wouldn’t require any specialized video synchronization or lighting effects… or major rehearsal. I doubt Neil has a lot to do with it. It’s a band decision. One good thing about a consistent set list is that the show goes off without a screw up 99 % of the time. I don’t know how Dream Theater does it – changing songs from night to night, especially considering how complex their music is. Beyond me…