Nate1647

So we all know that Neil's kit is going to be overly sensitive to temperature and humidity this tour, which is why we assumed they were playing all indoor shows. HOWEVER What if there is another reason? What if they are opening with... 2112. A completely pitch black arena would be the most amazing setting for this. Especially if they visit their more prog-focused earlier years in the first set. Some kind of spacey intro, the opening Moog sounds from 2112 come in, and they play the intro both standing back at the drumset, until the 1:31 mark when it swings into gear, the lights and stage completely pop and come up, and we're off to the races. The badass meter would be completely off the charts. The ONLY thing I can think of is that there is no way Ged would want to open the show by singing Temples (lol), so maybe just the overture? Thoughts?

I could honestly see Xanadu as an opener.

no no no no no its just the intro like on the album. seriously its not that complicated. He holds down a trigger pedal as the intro sounds play, the bass lick plays once, then he joins in. The drum solo is just Neil triggering recorded bass and guitar hits.

What Neil plays isn't as incredibly difficult as a lot of these other guys, but the time and effort he puts into writing the parts is unmatched. That being said, any list with Buddy Rich not at the top is simply wrong. The man was a freak, doing things that will probably never ever be done again. Easily regarded as one of the top musicians of all time.

They are just recreating the album effect, where he doesn't come in til the 2nd time through.

The Garden by a long shot 2 runners up would be Different Strings and Armor and Sword

Yes. Easily. And it would sound much much much better.

Clockwork Angels The Garden Headlong Flight Carnies The Anarchist Caravan The Wreckers BU2B Seven Cities of Gold Halo Effect Wish Them Well BU2B2 To put it in perspective, Wish Them Well is lowest ranked CA song (leaving out bu2b2 of course), and even that sits in the low 30's on my all time favorite Rush list. It's an INCREDIBLE Album.

Man the Anarchist performance is incredible but you can't even remotely hear the bass in the chorus... i don't know what the hell they were thinking releasing this, and I NEVER complain.

Neil is completely buried :( I found Geddy's playing was lost at many times, as well. Alex is on fire though, that solo in Force 10 was epic.

Not sure if this has been posted here yet, but the official FB page just posted this, the entire album! http://www.pandora.com/station/play/1411412518987239135/4747042361055

This clip is incredible and I love it. So excited for this DVD, it will probably be their best live effort, ever. However, in the clip, I was a bit concerned that I couldn't hear Geddy enunciating very well. Especially putting the "t" on the end of "protect," and things like that. Then I went on youtube and watched random recordings of the show, and you can clearly hear him singing it perfectly. Seems we lose a bit in the recording process?

Damn! Seeing Neil so fired up about this (and sounding better than...ever?) makes me pretty happy. I'd say he's got some albums and touring left in him still, at least a few!

I predict that they will end on a song that THEY love. I say a huge drawn out version of bravado

Normally I would pass this off as bs, but I've got a feeling in my gut that something just leaked that the boys really don't want out yet...

if this next tour is the final one, I think Far Cry or One Little Victory would make FINE openers.

Clockwork Angels Power Windows Hemispheres Permanent Waves Hold Your Fire Grace Un..... awww f*ck it, this is going to require some serious thought!

I am so sorry for your loss. My father passed away of brain cancer in May, I know what you're going through. We, too, shared a powerful connection with "The Garden". It is amazing what music can do. Again, my condolences to you and your family.

Still lots of triggers and samples in there... Notice the pedals? lol "Pedals" do not equal samples. They are bass pedals and for years they were just used to play a simple keyboard line via Geddy's feet. They are also used to trigger sequences (the background keyboards during the chorus of Spirit) and they are used to trigger samples like the fake Geddy background vocals. In this performance they are used as bass pedals and to trigger sequences but they do not trigger any samples (except, maybe, the intro wind noise in Dreamline). Pedals are not fake. Triggering entire musical passages or background vocals are fake and are exactly what the OP asked about. I'm well aware... Sampling, triggering, bass pedals, midi pedals, its all kind of my thing. The horn shots are also fired off in Dreamline by the pedals (you can hardly hear them in this mix, but if you watch alex, and if you know his pedal part in the song, you can clearly see him doing it.) Believe it or not, even the big sweeps in Tom Sawyer are "samples" straight off of the record ;) Also, another sample at the 12:18 mark, its just one long sample off the record. (not a sequence). The piano at the end of tsor is BARELY there, too. I had to watch it 3 times just to hear it. but that is also a sample. Just nitpicking, of course ;)

Still lots of triggers and samples in there... Notice the pedals? lol

Actually flat out sampling didn't happen until Power Windows. Everything before that was either played or sequenced. Also, an example of sequenced guitar would be Far Cry, during the solo. Personally, I love the sampling, and watching the stage dance is so awesome. As an avid drummer and bassist, learning and playing the parts is hard enough. When I recreate the sampled parts and think about firing them off on the pedals/keys/pads at just the right time, it really does complicate things. So many people think its Rush just taking the easy road out, but it couldn't be more opposite. It's ridiculously hard, and makes them that much more unique.

Man I totally forgot about Available Light until it was mentioned. KILLER ending. And seeing Digital Man live was pretty epic too, building into that final driving outro like that. A case could probably be made with about 90% of their library for this thread, lol.

Definitely!! I was just watching snakes and arrows and it's right there with bravado in terms of multitasking.

Rush has always had a knack for building up to a tremendous final chorus, or achieving a glorious rideout for the finale of a song. What are your favorites, and why? Honorable Mention goes to War Paint I just love the drum fill that breaks open into the "Boys and girls together" lyric at the end. A driving, fun, energetic romp that was sort of reincarnated with "Wish Them Well." 5. Mission Really starting with the "its cold comfort," line, this rideout climaxes one of Rush's most powerful lyrics, and explodes into one of Alex's finest pieces of work ever. The drumming during the final solo on the SnA dvd really lifts this into my top 5. Simply perfect. All of the power and emotion of the songs verses are bundled into 45 seconds of pure Rush feel-good bliss. 4. Marathon When that choir hits for the final chorus, it's goosebump time. Combine that with the key change, and the constant layering of more strings and choir, and you've got yourself a real winner. The half-time ending really brings it home. This is another one of those feel good moments that Rush is so damn good at. 3. Vital Signs Until the TMT dvd came out, I wouldn't have put this anywhere close. The sheer force that Neil plays with in this rideout live is ridiculous. Hook that up to a droning synth note, a killer bass solo, Alex's unique and constantly changing phrasing of the chords, and Geddy singing "Everybody got to xxxxxxxxx from the norm," and you've got something truly unique. That drumming though... only Neil could create a feel like that. 2. The Garden I just love the string part. Over a pretty normal chord progression, Mr. Campbell came up with some really fantastic string lines, weaving their way in and out around Geddy's best vocal delivery ever. After taking into account the solo, and the last chorus (especially live where Ged sings the high harmony), I had a real hard time putting this in second place. But there is one song that I think takes the cake... 1. Clockwork Angels Holy F***ing Christ. The first time I ever heard this song, I knew the last chorus was probably their finest moment of all time. First off, the lyrics. I love the return to the conceptual piece, the fact that we are envisioning this giant body of people worshiping these giant mechanical beings that they know nothing about. You can definitely tell Neil was going for the "church" feel. The actual delivery really reflects that, too. The "Geddy Choir" has never been used more perfectly than this. Then we've got Alex hammering away at those big open suspended Chords, and Geddy running the 16th notes underneath. When the chorus repeats though, that's where it gets unreal. That huge smack on the toms, the constant double bass drum attack (THATS HOW YOU USE DOUBLE BASS, metal drummers please take note), and keeping time on the ride, it just takes it to the next level. Then you've got the little tag at the end, just to come back and scare you one more time. When you look back at their body of work, and take everything into account, this section of the song just elevates to something I never thought I could experience in a piece of music. Share your favorites!

hahaha the drumming in "Let it Be" was too good.