friendlyvoice

QUOTE (bigalfan @ Sep 24 2012, 06:23 PM) AWESOME pics! Loved that crowd pic - nailed it. All night long - just like that! Ditto that. One of the best crowds I've ever experienced...maybe THE best.

Amazing show and it ranks with among the best I've seen. The abundance of 80's/early 90's material that so many have whined about sounded fantastic live...much more ballsy than it did back then. So great to see so many young people at the show and really enjoying it. There was a boy in front of us--maybe 9 or 10--who was standing on his chair (we were on the floor) and really into it. And right in front of me, a couple maybe in their late teens/early 20's who clearly knew the music and enjoyed every minute of the show. And on the other hand, there was a couple sitting next to us--probably mid-40's or so--who were long-time fans, but had never seen them play live. So it was a great experience for them. As my wife & I were walking into our hotel, a guy stopped us and asked, "Is Rush playing here tonight?" We said yes, in just a couple of hours. He said he'd seen 3 people at the hotel (including us) wearing Rush t-shirts and realized that couldn't be a coincidence. Unlike us TRFers, he obviously wasn't keeping up with tour dates...but he wasn't one of those so-called "fans" I run into all the time who have a copy of Moving Pictures and aren't aware they're recording new music. He was mentioning being a fan since CoS and FBN, so he sounded legit....and he was totally freaked out that Rush was in town. Don't know if he made it to the show or not...I hope he did.

QUOTE (Chief2112 @ Sep 10 2012, 12:16 PM) I think this recent interview question and answer with Geddy is quite telling. I'm not sure people appreciate how difficult it is to do what they do night in and night out. I believe it's reasonable to expect them to pick songs that they enjoy playing AND that might be, at least, a little easier on Ged's voice. Your first concert for the upcoming tour is Sept. 7 in Manchester, N.H. Is touring easier these days? Easier? I find it more stressful than when I was younger. I think the physical part of it takes its toll on me, and the other guys I know for sure. Staying healthy becomes a more difficult challenge, and as the tour winds on, nerves fray in a different way than they used to. Although, you have more confidence than when you were younger, and more command of your instrument [and], as a result, more command of your audience's attention, which makes it easier. There is kind of a physical price you pay as the tour winds on, whereas when I was younger I could be in almost any condition, get out there and bang it off. I'm grateful for the audiences that we have, wherever we go. But it's a difficult thing for me to do right now. If they played all the 70's stuff we ALL would love to hear them play Ged's voice would probably be shot by show #10. As much as I'd love to hear some of the 70's classics, there's just no way that's going to happen. At least not in a major way. Maybe in the future they'll drop in part of Xanadu or the Hemispheres prelude or part of By-Tor, but I wouldn't count on more than one of those in a setlist. I think these new setlists make that pretty clear. So if you're dreaming for all of Hemispheres or 2112, that'll probably have to remain a dream. At least we have the DS version of 2112. (and some people even bitch about that) As far as an R40 tour, that may also stay "stranded in dreamland." The quote above gives a clear indication of the physical toll touring takes on them...and Ged has also said recently that he expects to take a few years off after wrapping this tour, which will extend well into next year. I don't see any way they come back for an R40 in 2014. I'd give it a less than 10% chance. Besides, they've always refused to tour unless they have something new to play...even if it's cover tunes. They don't want to be seen as one of these pathetic old bands playing 40 year old tunes in a casino somewhere. So do you really think they'll wrap up the CA tour next year, then head back to the studio to record something new and turn around to go back out on the road? Maybe if they were all 30, but not now. I say quit yer bitchin', enjoy a fantastic new album and great tour while you have the chance to do it...because if they do take a few years off and reconvene as they're all approaching 65, they may still decide to make some new music, but they may also decide that they've had enough of the touring grind. Sorry...didn't mean to go on so long. (stepping off soapbox now)

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Sep 10 2012, 06:36 AM) I was thinking last night, after all the bitching and moaning I've done about the set lists that these guys have really gone out of their way to ensure us fans have a great experience once again. Call it a moment of clarity on my part or whatever but these guys are really great to us. Not only are they providing us with 3 hours of music but they took it a step further and prepares another half hour worth of music so us fans that attend more than one show have something different to experience. Other bands would just provide us with an hour and a half of the same set night after night and not give a shit about it, Not Rush! With RUSH you always get more and with these guys hitting 60 it truly is a gift from the heart! Bravo guys! You truly are the best band in rock history! Well said. Good to read a rational point-of-view on the setlist for a change. Can't say the same about every post so far in this thread, but there's always gotta be at least one, right?

QUOTE (D3strukt @ Sep 9 2012, 12:42 AM) QUOTE (Mr. IsNot @ Sep 9 2012, 12:32 AM) QUOTE (D3strukt @ Sep 8 2012, 10:30 PM) I don't like how it's made into this gigantic media shitstorm every year. It's getting old. Yeah. I remember five years back we had a class discussion around when the need for this anniversary would end. Probably never in the US, similar to Pearl Harbor. I mean, don't get me wrong, Yeah, it's sad, and it sucked. But, well, yeah... It's time it was relegated to P. H. status, a mention on the news, and that's it. It's depressing as shit, and I dread the 11th every year. I'm sure the families of the 3000 people who were murdered that day dread it too. But probably not even close to how much you do, right?

1st Set: Tom Sawyer The Analog Kid Nobody's Hero Jacob's Ladder Force Ten Losing It YYZ Clockwork Angels The Anarchist Carnies Halo Effect Seven Cities of Gold The Wreckers 2nd Set: Headlong Flight BU2B2 Wish Them Well The Garden Red Barchetta Cut to the Chase Far Cry Malignant Narcissism Drum Solo Alex's solo Xanadu (partial)/ Hemispheres (prelude) Limelight Encore: 2112 (Overture/Temples/Grand Finale) The Spirit of Radio

The Garden and I keep humming the bass intro of Headlong Flight

QUOTE (goose @ Jul 2 2012, 09:14 PM) QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 2 2012, 06:45 PM) QUOTE (friendlyvoice @ Jul 2 2012, 05:50 PM) QUOTE (WCFIELDS @ Jul 2 2012, 12:13 PM) QUOTE (metaldad @ Jul 2 2012, 09:06 AM) QUOTE (GeminiRising79 @ Jul 2 2012, 09:56 AM) I'm confident that more than a few people on this board could do a significantly better job than the last three productions. It's unreal how many production issues they've had with their recent albums/live DVD's.... Yeah, these ass clowns have absolutely no freakin' clue...Geddy, Neil, Alex, Nick, and this Gardner guy who's been mastering records professionally for almost fifty years...idiots. Really...what a bunch of morons. Listening to CA is like listening to wet elephant farts. I was so pissed that CA didn't live up to my exacting standards...so vexed that CA couldn't cut the mustard when I ran it through a series of audio tests that would probably make Geddy, Neil, & Alex piss themselves with feelings of inadequacy...that I boxed up my copy of CA, along with every piece of Rush music I own, and sent it to the Anthem offices with an enclosed note telling them to go screw themselves...that they're dead to me now. I told them I was going to find a band whose audio quality would consistently live up to my concept of perfection. I no longer care about trivial things like music and lyrics. I must have the Nth degree of technical perfection in all things I see and hear. In fact, I think I can only achieve this by forming my own band. And the level of absolute technical perfection I will achieve will be so stupendous that only dolphins will be able to actually hear the music. I sense a subtle undertone of sarcasm in the post. You are correct, sir. Just finally had enough of all the arrogant "people on this board could've done a better job" BS. I know there are some musicians and audio experts on TRF, and I respect their opinions. But I also think there are some technogeeks who have just enough knowledge to be dangerous. (something we used to say in radio about the knob twiddlers who thought they knew better than the station engineers how the station should sound because they had an equalizer on their quadraphonic Blaupunkt...we had at least one at every station I worked at) The easy availability of audio software and other gadgets in recent years has just made 'em worse. It's spawned a bunch of arrogant, self-appointed critics of all things audiovisual. They show up on message boards like this and in review sections of sites like Amazon, pontificating on their perceptions of perfection. (I'm absolutely all about alliteration) And all this hyper-analysis kills the enjoyment that supposed to come with new music. It's almost like these people can't find the joy in anything...they feel the need to pick everything apart on technical merits alone and leave the bones to bleach in the sun. Get over yourselves, people. Please. There's more to music than waveforms and db's and over-saturation.

QUOTE (Slack jaw gaze @ Jul 2 2012, 07:04 PM) I think Rush should outsource their engineering, production, art work, song writing, lyrics, vocals, and set list creation to fan chat boards.

QUOTE (WCFIELDS @ Jul 2 2012, 12:13 PM) QUOTE (metaldad @ Jul 2 2012, 09:06 AM) QUOTE (GeminiRising79 @ Jul 2 2012, 09:56 AM) I'm confident that more than a few people on this board could do a significantly better job than the last three productions. It's unreal how many production issues they've had with their recent albums/live DVD's.... Yeah, these ass clowns have absolutely no freakin' clue...Geddy, Neil, Alex, Nick, and this Gardner guy who's been mastering records professionally for almost fifty years...idiots. Really...what a bunch of morons. Listening to CA is like listening to wet elephant farts. I was so pissed that CA didn't live up to my exacting standards...so vexed that CA couldn't cut the mustard when I ran it through a series of audio tests that would probably make Geddy, Neil, & Alex piss themselves with feelings of inadequacy...that I boxed up my copy of CA, along with every piece of Rush music I own, and sent it to the Anthem offices with an enclosed note telling them to go screw themselves...that they're dead to me now. I told them I was going to find a band whose audio quality would consistently live up to my concept of perfection. I no longer care about trivial things like music and lyrics. I must have the Nth degree of technical perfection in all things I see and hear. In fact, I think I can only achieve this by forming my own band. And the level of absolute technical perfection I will achieve will be so stupendous that only dolphins will be able to actually hear the music.

It depends on the person. For instance, when I started introducing my future wife to Rush, I was smart enough not to dump Hemispheres or Anthem on her. Started off with more 80's-type stuff, like Mission, Subdivisions, & Middletown Dreams. She got it immediately and now she digs it all. (well, except for some of Ged's 70's shrieking) Otherwise, I'd have a tough time picking between Red Barchetta & The Spirit of Radio. TSOR more for musical content...the song just has everything musically great about Rush. RB more for lyrical content...I can see it clearly in my mind every time I hear it.

Not in any particular order (although I am very partial to the title track) Clockwork Angels Carnies Headlong Flight The Garden

QUOTE (Ghostnotes @ Jun 20 2012, 12:20 AM) There's that F#(&%*G phrase again......".power trio". For crying out loud, get out of th 80's. Ha...every time I read or hear "power trio", I'm reminded of that limp noodle Rupert Hine saying it in the documentary. Yecch.

QUOTE (AndroidOnTheRun @ Jun 19 2012, 12:24 AM)I'm a young'un... R30 tour, 31 May 2004, Pittsburgh, PA. Saw them with my Dad, who told me about how he'd never heard of them before when he saw them for the first time, as an opening act for Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep, and they blew his mind. It was at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, 30 years earlier... the fateful first show ever with Neil! Not often you'll hear a teenager say, "Holy shit, Dad, you're the coolest." Damn, your dad is the coolest. Rush opening for Manfred Mann. That's pretty funny. Everybody's gotta start somewhere, eh?

QUOTE (mazyyz @ Jun 19 2012, 04:54 PM) QUOTE (friendlyvoice @ Jun 19 2012, 05:52 PM) HYF tour, Jan. 88, Jackson, MS...in a venue that sucked so badly they chose never to return. (and it's still sucking today) Half-full arena, lame crowd...it's no wonder they haven't been back. I still have my red HYF balloon. It's a little smaller now, though. Probably has to do more with Mississippi than the venue....I kid, I kid. Little of both, I think. It's never been prime Rush territory. As long as they keep playing Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, etc, that works for me.

I'm a pretty well read person with a fairly large vocabulary, but I have never in my life seen or heard the word "koanic". I looked it up on dictionary.com and found no results. Anybody familiar with this word? I remember kids in HS and in freshman comp who were a little smarter than average and would try to prove it by using as many 50 cent words as possible in their essays. But they didn't really know how to write. This review reminds me of that. It does seem as though he kinda liked CA, but somehow felt like he had to insult it and Rush at the same time. Whatever...it's just Rolling Stone. I used to read it a while back...but decided I had much more important things to do with my time. Like shoveling up dog poop in my yard.

HYF tour, Jan. 88, Jackson, MS...in a venue that sucked so badly they chose never to return. (and it's still sucking today) Half-full arena, lame crowd...it's no wonder they haven't been back. I still have my red HYF balloon. It's a little smaller now, though.

QUOTE (hermy @ Jun 18 2012, 05:28 PM) It will be a small ensemble for 6-8 songs........ They won't be front and center It's gonna really flush out a few songs and gets me excited for the back catalog! I for one will buy a beer for anyone who comes away from their show still thinking it was a bad idea. Well said.

Fantastic! Excellent! Glad to hear it. Several songs on CA prominently feature strings...so are we expecting Geddy to foot-pedal some faux strings (along with everything else he has to do) and be done with it? Should they be expected to somehow keyboard-ize (I made up a word) those strings? Now we can hear CA exactly how they recorded it...and how they wanted us to hear it. And, as an added bonus, we can hear some classic tunes they've never performed live (Losing It!)...as well as a few others that haven't been played in a while. The strings will enable them to play Nobody's Hero as a tribute to Andrew McNaughtan...I'll be very surprised if that doesn't happen.

Welcome to the world, Jay...and welcome to TRF, Dave!

I thought about creating a full faux setlist, but don't really want to go to the trouble. I had hoped that in honor of being 100 years away from 2112, that they might play it in it's entirety. But I think that's very unlikely. Especially since they're more likely to play most (or maybe all) of CA. My wish list? Jacob's Ladder The Analog Kid Cut to the Chase (never played live) As much of Xanadu as possible Love to at least hear the Hemispheres intro...maybe combined with something else, like By-Tor, Cygnus, or Xanadu 2112 overture/temples with the Grand Finale If they tour with a string section to help 'em out on the CA tunes, then they should play Losing It. Why waste the chance to play something that's never been played before? (that whole thing has been much debated elsewhere...I'd rather not see an orchestra...don't think it's necessary...but a small string section would be cool) Prime Mover or Turn the Page from HYF

QUOTE (ScottT67 @ Jun 17 2012, 07:11 PM) I can't believe nobody has voted for Carnies! - That song is phuckin' crunchy! " The Glint of Iron Wheels The smell of flint & steel... A wheel of fate A Game of Chance! " Oh Yeah!!! Clockwork Angels is definitely my favorite, but I do like Carnies a lot, too. Love the chorus and it really kicks ass.

Haven't done an album ranking in 3 or 4 years. Didn't have anything better to do, so I decided to go full geek and rank each song on each album with a point scale (from classic to suck, based strictly on my opinion), then add it all up and assign a "batting average" to each album. I made adjustments to the final list, because--just a like a baseball player--numbers can't tell the whole story. For example, there's no way I can rank S&A ahead of 2112. Not gonna happen. So here's the list, with the "batting avg"...Feedback is not included. Just don't consider that a real Rush album. 1. Permanent Waves (1.000) Perfection. 2. Moving Pictures (.943) 3. Signals (.850) 4. Clockwork Angels (.783) Yeah...already...just think it's a phenomenal record. I'll put it this way: I haven't this blown away by a Rush record on the 1st listen since probably Signals. And this record rocks harder than Signals. And after another 8 or 9 listens, my opinion hasn't changed. 5. Hold Your Fire (.740) 6. A Farewell to Kings (.733) 7. Hemispheres (.900) So why is Hem. at 7 when it should be at 3? First, there's only 4 songs, so it kind of skews the avg. a bit. 2nd, while I love Hem., I get more enjoyment from the other records and many of those songs have more personal meaning for me. 8. Power Windows (.800) 9. 2112 (.680) 10. Snakes & Arrows (.708) 11. Vapor Trails (.677) 12. Counterparts (.636) 13. Fly By Night (.600) 14. Grace Under Pressure (.650) 15. Caress of Steel (.560) 16. Presto (.480) Obviously, Presto should be dead last. But I think the good songs on Presto are better than the good ones on RTB and T4E. 17. Rush (.575) Have a hard time considering this a Rush album. The lyrics are mostly cheesy and it's not as sophisticated musically. But it rocks and it's kinda fun, which is more than I can say for 18 & 19. 18. Roll The Bones (.577) 19. Test For Echo (.545) Ok...guess that'll hold me for another 3 or 4 years.

Love that, too! Best song on the album...the intro is incredible.