Distant Signals

Distant Signals is brutally good. Dave their drummer is a great guy. Don't miss them!

Thank you very much

So, now that I'm back visiting the forum somewhat regularly....

 

What's the typical Rush head using for synths today? Are you an analog kid or a digital man?

 

What do you use to get that intro Tom Sawyer dive sound? Are you a dedicated keyboard player playing Rush, or are you a guitarist or bass player that plays keys on the side?

 

Just checking to see if there are enough here to get some good keyboard conversation going.

I play in a Rush tribute and am the dedicated Keyboardist. You can see my rig listed in the signature below. 7 keyboards. :)

 

I had a DW8000 back in the 90s and loved it. I remember getting decent sounds for 2112 intro and Subdivisions. Nowadays I'm using just a Kronos 61-key with a Novation X-station61 MIDI controller. I also use an FCB1010 programmed as bass pedals. Surely you don't bring 7 keyboards to setup and teardown at every gig? If so, kudos to you... that's dedication.

Yes, the DW8000 has some great analog patches. A lot of fat bass type stuff which I control with my PK-5 pedals to use on those synth/bass heavy songs, when the bass isn't actually being played. Yes I do use 7 keyboards at every gig. Actually, I stopped using my EX8000. It was not working right for quite awhile, so I have been used to not using it.

Last call for tomorrow nights R40 Experience. Set list will be posted later

:bump:

For anyone interested, Distant Signals will be playing this weekend in Pittsburgh, PA at The Hard Rock Café for their final show of 2015. This will be a full night of Rush music, in the R40 format (with a twist), and featuring at least 1 song from every studio album including 1 song never before played live by Rush. Tickets are $10 presale or $12 at the door. www.distantsignals.net/next-show.html

Anyone interested in joining Distant Signals Rush tribute at this event entitled "The R40 Experience"?? Saturday Nov. 14th in Pittsburgh, PA

https://www.facebook.com/events/1080201395326221/

This topic is RIGHT up my alley, as I play keys in a Rush tribute band (solely) and my favorite era is the "synth" era. Ok, so Ged may not be Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, or Tony Banks, but he accomplished what he wanted to musically for the songs with "heavier" keyboards. I've been playing piano/keyboards for over 30 years and while the music of Rush on keys is farily easy to replicate, the HARDEST PART is finding those unique sounds and samples from the studio albums. eg: Playing Subdivisions to ANY other patch that isn't closely related to the original recording just doesn't sound right. Ged has some flashes of creativity and brilliance on many Power Windows and Hold Your Fire songs. Currently, my tribute band just learned Open Secrets which is VERY heavy in the synth department. Not musically challenging, but again finding the right patches and sounds to MAKE it sound like Open Secrets from the studio album is the tricky part.

 

Rush never did Open Secrets live, so it'd be impossible to copy what Rush did for that song. I'd expect though that Ged would play bass the entire time and the synths would be played using the foot piano.

 

It wasn't until the CA tour that Geddy himself used a sound similar to the old school oberheim synths he used on Subdivisions. For the longest time he used this horrid synth-brass section sound that did not work AT ALL.

Agreed. I think I've found a very good set of patches for Open Secrets. Not sure how Rush would have pulled of Open Secrets live. Probably have the entire keyboard track on a sample and play to a click track. Kind of why I use so many keyboards playing live, so I have many options and different patches to use.

This topic is RIGHT up my alley, as I play keys in a Rush tribute band (solely) and my favorite era is the "synth" era. Ok, so Ged may not be Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, or Tony Banks, but he accomplished what he wanted to musically for the songs with "heavier" keyboards. I've been playing piano/keyboards for over 30 years and while the music of Rush on keys is farily easy to replicate, the HARDEST PART is finding those unique sounds and samples from the studio albums. eg: Playing Subdivisions to ANY other patch that isn't closely related to the original recording just doesn't sound right. Ged has some flashes of creativity and brilliance on many Power Windows and Hold Your Fire songs. Currently, my tribute band just learned Open Secrets which is VERY heavy in the synth department. Not musically challenging, but again finding the right patches and sounds to MAKE it sound like Open Secrets from the studio album is the tricky part.

2 shows left for Distant Signals this year. 10/24/15 - Brunswick, OH at the 42Eighty Concert Club 11/14/15 - Pittsburgh, PA at The Hard Rock Café (featuring "The R40 Experience" with a song from every studio album and 1 song NEVER played live by Rush)

Wow! I came across this 10-year-old post tonight. I replied to this back in 2005 and now I actually play in a Rush tribute band called Solar Federation. If anyone is around Central PA, come check us out!

Or near Western PA, check out Distant Signals :)

I can do any and all keys for Jacobs Ladder, Xanadu and Natural Science

I have the intro sample for NS already (water with seagulls). Can shoot the .WAV file to whomeever

Never been to Enid, OK

Anyone care to see the setlist from last week?

Here is a final teaser, about the "twist" of our R40 Experience event this weekend. Instead of starting with Clockwork Angels and stepping back in time, we are starting with the album RUSH and working our way forward to the present. Set list will be posted after the show

I'm available for whatever keyboard parts, SFX are needed. Just send me a message.

We can try for NJ next year. Any suggestions?

Let me clarify. I am an ACTIVE keyboardist in a RUSH tribute band (for 7 years) and know well over 50 songs. :)

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/distantsignals to see updates about our show coming up.

I think I was involved in doing Witch Hunt a few years back. I'm a keyboardist and would gladly like to fill in any keyboard slots if needed

Sorry. Yes 1 from Hemispheres

And as a teaser, without revealing specific songs, here is the breakdown of songs per album. Clockwork Angels - 2 or 3 Snakes and Arrow - 1 Vapor Trails - 1 Test 4 Echo - 1 Counterparts - 1 Roll the Bones - 1 Hold Your Fire - 2 Power Windows - 1 Grace Under Pressure - 2 Signals - 2 Moving Pictures - 4 Permanent Waves - 3 AFTK - 2 2112 - "secret weapon" :) Caress of Steel - 1 Fly By Night - 1 RUSH - 1

 

Ever come to New Jersey?

 

Not yet, but you never know. :)

Might I suggest you just do Setlist C from the R40 tour? :)

We already have our setlist prepared. Set 1 is 70 minutes and Set 2 is 80 minutes, but it is very close to Setlist C, but even BETTER :)

 

Could you please post the setlist after the shows for those who cant attend or even better work out periscope experience for those who cant come.

 

Yes, we will post the set lists from each show

And as a teaser, without revealing specific songs, here is the breakdown of songs per album. Clockwork Angels - 2 or 3 Snakes and Arrow - 1 Vapor Trails - 1 Test 4 Echo - 1 Counterparts - 1 Roll the Bones - 1 Hold Your Fire - 2 Power Windows - 1 Grace Under Pressure - 2 Signals - 2 Moving Pictures - 4 Permanent Waves - 3 AFTK - 2 2112 - "secret weapon" :) Caress of Steel - 1 Fly By Night - 1 RUSH - 1

A tribute band that plays post-Signals songs. That's certainly noteworthy.

We actually do MORE post-Signals songs than pre-Signals, if that's what your into..... :)

 

Into balance which is why the R40 set was so cool. (Although I still may like the Clockwork Angels Tour set better)

 

Though I've been heavily into the post-hiatus years because of the quality, I'm just as stoked to hear Before and After, Here Again or In The End...

Our song selection is large enough that we tailor each show, unique and with balance.