Thunder Bay Rush

This kid does a little like a girl, doesn't he? Apart from 12 year old girls, no one in Canada can even stand this arrogant little prick. We're glad he moved away... unfortunately, you Americans got him...

Is anyone surprised by his review? The guy is obviously not a fan. I'm sure he thinks Beiber is a musical genius, a real legend. Dumb ass.

Hey, cool man! Maybe I'll sit in on the drums. I used to be able to play all the 70s Yes material. I remember trying to figure out Siberian Khatru when I was 13... I got it in a few weeks of effing around! I played it by feel then because I hadn't yet learned about time signatures and how to ... uh...um.... count.

I saw Yes twice back in the 70s and it was mind blowing. But, ever since then, there has been SO goddam much arguing, line up changes, legal hassles, break ups, etc, that I just don't care any more. The biggest thing for me, is that Jon Anderson isn't on the tour. I mean, he IS Yes. The new singer, Jon Davidson is unbelievably good, but he's not Jon Anderson. And, who is on keyboards "this tour?" Rick Wakeman? Oliver? pat Moraz? Jeff Downes? Or, someone from a Yes cover band? So, my take is that there is a really good Yes cover band out there playing small venues for cheap prices and sadly, they're called Yes. I'll stick to my Close to the Edge album... and all the other YES greats.

YES, good point. It's often the $5 here and $10 there that pisses people off. "Handling Fee" is another term for "free easy money for doing sweet f - all." I once paid $40 for parking to see Rush in Minneapolis. Had I known, I would taken a cab from my hotel. Assholes...

How many years ago was 1976? Anyway, that was the year I saw my first Rush show... I wouldn't have dreamed I'd be seeing them in 2013. So, they could play ANY GODDAM SONGS THEY WANTED TO and I'd still go and support my favourite band. And, I'd love every minute, even during "Time Stand Still," my least favourite Rush song. Why? Because ANY Rush is good Rush. Stop whining about the set list. You're going to give yourself an aneurysm. Now, go make yourself some Kraft Dinner or something...

Other than the handful of the world's biggest bands, like the Stones, McCartney, U2, Bon Jovi, etc, sell out most or all of their shows these days. I'm very impressed that Rush can still (after 40 years) bring 8,000 - 12,000 to see a show. Let's not forget about places like Brazil... 40,000 - 60,000 per show. Who gives a shit if the show is sold out or not? I remember back in the late 70s and early 80s, Rush would sell out thee nights in a row in 15,000 seat venues like MS Garden in NYC, Chicago Stadium, Boston Gardens and The Forum in LA. They also used to sell out three nights at Maple Gardens in Toronto, where I used to see them. But, these are different times and if people must decide between paying their mortage or going to see a rock concert, the decision would be an easy one, at least for normal people. I'm just glad (and relieved) that my favourite band is still playing. If they booked a tour into 2,500 seat theatres, I'd the first in line to buy my seat.

I often hear people complain about the price of rock concerts these days. Not just Rush, but many bands. I heard that U2 was charging $300 for basic seats last year for the 360 Tour. And, Paul McCartney shows go for about $400 - $600 in some venues. Here's a way to make yourself feel a bit better about shelling out more than $100 for Rush or your other favourite bands. First, realize the enormous costs of keeping such a huge show on the road for months at a time. I honestly don't know how they can do it for the prices that they charge... just imagine what Rush's payroll is per DAY (whether it's a show day or not) for their crew. Everyone must be fed (local caterers?) each day... they need a place to sleep, sometimes on a bus, sometimes in a hotel room. Those tour buses must cost a fortune to lease per day. Then, the drivers must be paid... fuel, trucks, security, on and on. That's not even mentioning what is would cost to rent the sound and lighting system... WOW! Don't forget the venue takes a huge chunk of the gate receipts... so does the promotor, agents... managers. Now compare these prices to that of big name stand up comics, such as Larry, the Cable Guy, Chris Rock, Dane Cook, Russell Peters and Jeff Dunham. These guys often charge $80 - $100 a seat. BUT - they don't have a huge stage show, a crew of 40 people, six buses and trucks and food to pay for. They cruise into town with one (1) micophone (I'm exaggerating to make my point), no road crew and no buses or trucks. Very little production other than what is already present in the venue. Dane Cook sold out the hockey arena in Boston... 18,000 people. VERY little expenses to cover. I remember twenty years being dragged into the Pantages Theatre in Toronto to see the Phantom of the Opera. The seats were $120 each. 20 years ago... and they didn't have to tear down, travel to the next city and set up all over again. The place was packed. So, based on my assumptions, who is over charging for their live shows? I don't think Rush is. Or, U2, or the Stones or, or, or...

Thanks, but all I could find on the You Tube was audio from that era. If you are able to, please post the links of the video of AFTK tour on here... Thx!

If you're one of these bible thumping screw-balls, you are allowed to believe that you like, but don't start jizzing your nonsense here.

Would have to be Xanadu. The the playing, singing, the writing... nothing else like it in the entire Rush catalogue.

2112 "kind of" did it for me... and then Xanadu "really did it" for me. Then, Hemispheres "double-dog did it" for me... am I making any sense here?

Thanks, boys... i have all of the footage you mentioned. I was really hoping for something, maybe even a whole show from tht late 70s era. the Passaic show is good for sure. For me, Rush really made its mark on AFT Kings and into Hemispheres because that's when their sound really matured. Keyboards and pedals came in to the sound, Neil's additional sounds came in and Alex starting using guitar synths and many different guitars, including double-necks, and the writing AND playing improved 100%. Plus, that tour is when they first headlined (for the most part) and had the big live show including the video screen, pyro (flash pots, which were THE pyro of the day) and really cool lights by done Howard. I'll never forget the blue and red lights (Hemispheres tour) coming down from each side of the stage... To see that era on video would be cooler than an all you can eat prime rib dinner... every day.

Does anyone know of any concert footage from the AFT Kings, Hemispheres or P Waves tours? I thought there would be something on the Google, but I can't find anything. I don't know of any commercially (professionally) produced concerts of this era. I would give my right ball for some... (and maybe the left one also if it's really good quality footage.) There is tons of footage (professionally made by the band) from the Moving Pictures tour onward, but not much at all from earlier years. Starting in about 1981, Rush produced a steady stream of concert videos (Exit Stage left, Grace under Pressure Tour, A Show of Hands, etc), but there's none from earlier that I'm aware of. Thanks in advance... TBR

Phil X was the guitar player who was in the new line up of Triumph (with Gil Moore and Mike Levine) back in the 90s. Rik Emmett didn't want to rejoin, so they got Phil X in his stead. This line up didn't last very long but I'm not sure why or what happened.

Okay, I just can't my big mouth shut on this one... As a multi-instrumentalist, I'd give the nod to Jonesy, but not by much. The guy can play anything. But, over-all, Geddy kills everyone. Remember, back in the 70s, long before sequencing and any "cheating" was part of the live gig, Geddy used to play bass (and very complex bass, in fact), keyboards, Taurus pedals, and he'd sing LEAD VOCAL too. And, he did this ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I remember seeing the AFT Kings tour in '77 and asking my friend, "How in the hell does he do all that at the same time without going mental?" And, he was only 24 then... Oh, I forgot to mention that played a fair amount of guitar then too, by way of the double-neck Rickenbacker bass/guitar. I think Geddy could own JPJ on just bass playing alone, but when you factor in all of the things he did AT THE SAME TIME, it'd be hard not to vote for the "skinny kid from Willowdale with the high voice."

I think they should play all of the Fountain of Lamneth, and then on the encore (which they'll get) they should play the Necromancer... Yep...

Dude, great story! A real "Rush family." Your little girl is adorable... and your wife is "not too shabby" either... (growwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl) Hey, was your daughter wanting to do some stage diving since you were up in first row? NICE JOB!

For me, 1976 was the BEST year to be a Rush fan, simply, because that is when I first saw them in concert. And, I was blown away!

You tell 'em , Mika! I'm with you on this on...

What the hell are you talking about? I must be mental...

I've decided that I'm going to be the one to induct Rush into the RRHO Fame. So, never mind all of your fancy little ideas... I'm the guy.

I vote this to be the BEST come back ever! Nice job, Amy!! (And, your tattoo looks great!)

Come on... that wasn't very nice. Jerk.

Dude, great story! 50 shows? WOW! And, you are one lucky guy because you have a very beautiful wife!! Her smile could cause a twenty car traffic pile up... ;)