my thoughts / photos from last night's show

[cygnify]

Enjoyed the show last night - though it was far from my favorite Rush show, it was not the worst either. Though it was probably my least favorite of the 5 TM shows I saw...

 

Had decent seats on the floor - just Alex side of center about half way between stage and board. I would have thought the sound would be excellent at that vantage esp for an indoor show. Well, the sound SUCKED! Everyone I was with agreed - we just could not make out the bass. Just a muddy mess. Much worse than other shows I've seen on this tour sound wise. I went to the ear plugs about half way into the first set to try and cut some highs and maybe give more definition (I wear plugs when I play, so I am used to them) but this did not help. Yuck sound.

 

The place was pretty full - the upper bowl was curtained off, but all in all a good size crowd.

 

We had an absolute prick head of an usher, who approached me when I took one pic (I wasn't being obnoxious - maybe took 30 photos all night) and told me "I have to tell you that if I see you take another picture, you will be escorted from the building." This was pretty funny, considering that I could point out about 50 other cameras in our immediate vicinity. I mean, I'm all for watching the show and not being distracted with photos, etc. but to snap a couple pics - give me a f***ing break!

 

Anyway, on to Rush:

 

setlist was the same, as was reported.

 

I noticed some tempos were kicked up a notch (that's good!) Marathon was one in particular that I noticed.

 

Neil's solo did not strike me as much as the prior TM shows in FL or at Red Rocks. It is the same skeleton structure - same ostinatos, with improv over. Didn't feel particularly inspired to me.

 

Neil was wearing headphones - I wonder if he still has the ear issue or if prefers them to the in-ears.

 

MP is always great to see live!

 

Ged's voice sounded very good.

 

Alex shreaded Working Man.

 

A good show, not the best. Still glad I went. Here's some pics including merch (nice baseball shirt, but I'll wait until comes down from $100...):

 

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150406.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150374.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150402.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150392.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150410.jpg

 

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150422.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150426.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150427.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150428.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad352/cygnify/Rush%20in%20Sunrise%20FL%20March%2030%202011/P1150349.jpg

[Gilbertk]

All the photos are superb! The first especially!!

[Oziumrules]

Nice pics !

[garbo]

Awesome photos! Thanks for the write up.

[Unattractive Truth]

Those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing them!

 

 

[tripdad]

That Rush jersey on the right side of that last picture is awesome! Sign me up for that!

[Derxst]

I was at the show last night in Section 102, Row 1. I have to completely agree about sound. Geddy and the bass were clipping. Wasn't the best show sound wise, but I did enjoy it.

 

Saw Ray Daniels walking back and forth; so I said "hi," and asked about the sound guy. He agreed about the sound quality

 

Alex's new Gibson is gorgeous and the solos were excellent. Geddy's vocals were excellent. Neil was great, but appeared tired. There was a top-down shot on the bigscreen during the solo, and Neil has put on some weight! The solo, to me, did not seem to drag like the first leg of the TM tour. More of a "train" feel than a slow tribal thing. The "big band" portion wasn't as long, and seemed less "big band."

 

4 stars. 1/2 star removed because of the sound.

 

 

[cygnify]

Edited April 1, 2011 by cygnify

[ordinary]

[FOH Lights]

QUOTE (cygnify @ Apr 1 2011, 09:44 AM)

Glad you guys liked them (not as good as those fantastic photos from the front row, but maybe these give a little more of the full stage perspective, heh...)

OK, I'll be the d*ck here and say:

OP admittedly disrespected the venue, disrespected the band, disrespected John Arrowsmith, was specifically told by security to not take another picture and still did. Yet, he's being hailed here and told what a great job he did? I just don't get it??

 

I could care less if there were a thousand other people taking pictures. If the ticket, venue, & security say "no pictures"... you just DON'T take pictures.

[D3strukt]

I highly doubt the band was like: "OH HEY, USHER THAT GUY, YEAH HIM! RIGHT THERE, ORDER HIM TO STOP TAKING PICTURES THIS INSTANCE!!!"

 

Bull. I would do the same thing. f**k security, most of the time they are the venue security.

 

And if you think i'm gonna FOLLOW the "no pictures" policy that the VENUE has? Considering i'm going there to see MY band, I paid GOOD money to get in. Like hell i'm not taking pictures.

 

 

Now, i'm not in the situation, that's just how I feel about all of that crap.

[MysticDigital]

I had seats at the back of section 5 on the floor, on Alex's side. I thought the sound was the best sounding Rush concert I've seen in a while. The subs shook my chest, Alex's guitar was flawless, Geddy's bass had a twang to it but I thought it gave it a great sound, vocals perfect, Drums outstanding. All in all it was the best show, sound and visual wise.

 

Great photos, my iPhone did not do as well so I'm glad to see some great shots of a GREAT show. Looking forward to more!

[cygnify]

QUOTE (MysticDigital @ Apr 1 2011, 12:00 PM)

I had seats at the back of section 5 on the floor, on Alex's side. I thought the sound was the best sounding Rush concert I've seen in a while. The subs shook my chest, Alex's guitar was flawless, Geddy's bass had a twang to it but I thought it gave it a great sound, vocals perfect, Drums outstanding. All in all it was the best show, sound and visual wise. Great photos, my iPhone did not do as well so I'm glad to see some great shots of a GREAT show. Looking forward to more!

Glad you liked the photos -

 

but strange comment regarding the sound - I was in section 5 too. I'm usually really picky about sound being a musician and all, when I just couldn't shake it, I asked my buds - they all agreed: muddy mess.

 

I have seen various comments having opposing reactions - some in the front row said "awesome!" some on the sides said "mud!" Here we are in the same section and hear it totally differently. I guess everyone hears things differently. Who knows, they say you hear what you want to hear

 

I saw 5 shows on the TMT:

 

Albuquerque

Red Rocks I

Tampa

West Palm

Sunrise

 

for me, there was no comparison - in terms of clarity of mix at my seat, Sunrise was #5.

[WIDE-ANGLE WATCHER]

Great photos.....Thanks

[hughes&kettner]

QUOTE (FOH Lights @ Apr 1 2011, 10:56 AM)

QUOTE (cygnify @ Apr 1 2011, 09:44 AM) Glad you guys liked them (not as good as those fantastic photos from the front row, but maybe these give a little more of the full stage perspective, heh...) OK, I'll be the d*ck here and say: OP admittedly disrespected the venue, disrespected the band, disrespected John Arrowsmith, was specifically told by security to not take another picture and still did. Yet, he's being hailed here and told what a great job he did? I just don't get it??   I could care less if there were a thousand other people taking pictures. If the ticket, venue, & security say "no pictures"... you just DON'T take pictures. thanks for being the dick. you seem to do a fantastic job at it.   been to a concert in the last 10 years?? about 20% of the audience has a camera or iphone filming...it's pretty much understood these days. i think there's this website...called youtube?? or something like that, they have a lot of concert clips on there.   the OP was calling out an a-hole usher. lots of those around. if it were really an issue, security would have not allowed the camera in the f-ing building. right? more of one usher on a power trip than anything else.   OP also was sharing his feelings about the band. how is that "blasting".   again, thanks dick keep dicking it up!

[USB Connector]

Nice pics, what kind of camera did you use?

[cygnify]

QUOTE (usb_connector @ Apr 2 2011, 02:49 PM)

Nice pics, what kind of camera did you use?

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30. It's our old camera - the only one my wife will allow me to bring to a show because she thinks I'll spill my beer on it. and she is probably correct.

[Todem]

Sound wise it was the absolute best I had ever heard them.

 

Fellow musician and audiophile here as well.

 

We sat right next to Alex on the side of the stage. The sound was crystal clear, his bass was a little fat but for the most part punched through. Alex's guitars were insane. Neil played like a beast all night and like you said Geddy's vocals were on point all night.

 

A tremendous show all the way around and Moving Pictures was legendary.....again. TCE was out of this world and red Barchetta cooked as always.

 

But the song that truly blew me away was Caravan. Live this song is on another level.

 

Marathon and Time Stand Still were awe inspiring as well.

 

I truly hope they ditch the sheds and stay indoors. Their shows are meant to be played indoors.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Todem

[cygnify]

[cygnify]

QUOTE (Todem @ Apr 2 2011, 03:16 PM)

Sound wise it was the absolute best I had ever heard them. Fellow musician and audiophile here as well. We sat right next to Alex on the side of the stage. The sound was crystal clear, his bass was a little fat but for the most part punched through. Alex's guitars were insane. Neil played like a beast all night and like you said Geddy's vocals were on point all night. A tremendous show all the way around and Moving Pictures was legendary.....again. TCE was out of this world and red Barchetta cooked as always. But the song that truly blew me away was Caravan. Live this song is on another level. Marathon and Time Stand Still were awe inspiring as well. I truly hope they ditch the sheds and stay indoors. Their shows are meant to be played indoors.

Hey Todem - Caravan was great!

 

Strange thing about the sound. Obviously you experienced quite a different sonic palette than I - for the life of me, I could not make out bass notes that Ged was playing. Just a big boomy mess of mud. Of course, I was a good 20-30 rows behind where you were at!

 

 

[cygnify]

Also, just noticed you were on the side of the stage - I wonder if you were getting more stage sound than FOH? Also, perhaps closer to the speakers = less ambient sound (bounce back etc) of the hall

 

hmmm, for sound, I still preferred the outdoor venues (however, I was closer to the stage then too)

 

For lights; indoor is better by far!!!

[nobodys hero]

Great pics Cygnify! Thanks for sharing