drbirdsong Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 (edited) It was an up and down experience last night. When I got the tickets I had to go for the club level because of the friends who also wanted to go, but didn't want to pay for floor seats. At the last moment they pulled out and sold their tickets to someone else. It's too long and boring to go into here, but I will never sacrifice good seats for someone else again. I don't know what the show sounded like on the floor, but at the club level it started as a wall of mud. The opening video was hard to hear and then The Spirit of Radio started and I knew I was in trouble. The review of Greensboro was very close to my experience. The first set was loud and painful with muddy sound. Set two was an immediate change for the better. Moving Pictures sounded a LOT better. They did the best version of Witch Hunt I have ever heard. Caravan was stunning. Last night's version of Working Man was so amazing that I thought Alex's guitar was going to explode. Best of all? Soaring above all the mixed bag of sound was Geddy's voice. I don't know what he was doing on his time off, but I didn't hear a bad note all night. He was hitting all the highs and enunciating very clearly and just impressed the entire crowd with that amazing Geddy voice that he is capable of. I applaud his outstanding efforts. A+ Alex was brilliant as usual. He almost needs longer necks on his guitar so he can get more in. It was hard to get the details in his playing at first, but as the night went on and the sound got better (or maybe my ears just got used to it) he just gave me yet another great guitar listening experience. Neil seemed to be spot on, but the details were about as lost as most of the more delicate keyboard parts. During the first set he seemed to be playing beats. As the night wore on it was more like he was playing drums. I saw them back in August in St. Louis and last night's solo was better I thought. Standout moments: Freewill (someone fired up a joint nearby, which seemed kind of oddly appropriate), Subdivisions (great intense version), Moving Pictures (especially Witch Hunt just because Alex played it so well, but the whole thing was awesome), Caravan (the best I've ever seen), Working Man (incendiary). Funny moment: As Geddy introduced BU2B he mentioned that it had a Nashville connection (they recorded it here). He pauses for a beat and says, "Wow, that sounds so weird... a Rush/Nashville connection." Overall I give them a giant A+ for the performance and venue a C- for sound. I hope someone got a good recording from the sweet spot. Maybe it sounded better from below. I've got some photos that I'll get up here as soon as I can. The battery on the camera was fading fast so I'm not sure how good any of them are yet. Shout out to Broadway Brewhouse. It was wall to wall Rush fans for several hours before the show. They were playing nothing but Rush songs and the beer was flowing and the poor staff looked like they had never had a Sunday like that before, but 95% of Rush fans are cool and I hope everybody tipped well. Edited April 4, 2011 by drbirdsong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordinary Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I know what you talking about! After seeing many concerts (Rush, Marillion,Peter Gabriel, Toto, Dream Theater, Genesis, Police, Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Saga, U2,Porcupine Tree, B.Adams etc.) You can compare different concerts and in that race: Rush is just okay, but i think they could be much better with different sound engineer. Of course the music style make difference and some bands are much lighter than Rush, but i heard that with Robert Scovill Rush sound was quite amazing. Band could do nothing with sound system and it all depends, how professional the sound crew is and especially the sound engineer. I hope mr. Madix make good sounding concert for upcoming Helsinki and Stockholm gigs, but in 2004 and 2007 they were just okay and many friends of mine were disappointed after concert with sound quality. Cheers everybody ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfy Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 The band has a few Nashville connections. Not only were the two new songs recorded at Blackbird in town but producer Nick Raskulinecz lives there ( I met him last night, a great guy) and the company that puts together the bands lighting is based there. Oh and I THINK -not positive- that the motorcoaches the crew rides in are based out of Nashville. Overall I thought the production was spot on. The guys brought their "A" game and the lighting was by far the best i've ever witnessed. Once again they amazed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masque Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 i'm going to be seeing them lousiville tomorrow....but my buddy saw them in nashville and it's so weird how sound is affected by where you sit......i think they were in the lower part of the upper arena a few sections down from the stage and he said it was the best sound he's ever heard at a rush show and i think he's seen them about 5 times now. he was really happy with overall show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfy Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 It's also in the ear of the beholder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 I think in the case of the Bridgestone Arena it is where you sit. I've sat in the club level twice and both times the sound was an issue. When I've been on the floor or the first level of seats it's been great. Please tell me someone was taping this show. I'd want it no matter what the sound because I was there, but if there is boot that has good sound it will make a good one to collect for a very energetic performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBluePhoenix Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusheagle Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I don't post much, but I am a long time Rush concert goer. I had floor seats, Section 6 and the sound was by far the best I have ever heard in an Arena for Rush. It was also extremely loud. I suspect the upper seats had to be getting some serious bounce from the roof. Except for a few spots all parts seemed to be very clear. Lost Geddy's voice a bit on Limelight and one other late song, but otherwise it was very good sound clarity. The new Working Man arrangement needs to be recorded and put on the new album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 I'll know better than to get the cheap seats from now on at that place. I can't imagine what the folks in the nose bleed seats were hearing, but they were packed in all the way to the top. Looking forward to the boot and I have high expectations for the Cleveland show and yet another outstanding live DVD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goathunter Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I was in section 105, lower level (halfway back on the right side), and the sound was very good most of the time. The bass synth seemed was inordinately loud much of the time, but otherwise, the sound was very good for most of the show. But experience has shown that the sound can vary a lot in Bridgestone Arena depending on where you are, how it's mixed, etc. I did miss the incredible sound quality of the 2004 tour opener at Starwood, where they'd had several days to get the sound perfect.... Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarkus406 Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I know what he means about The Spirit of Radio intro being drowned out by the video. You don't even really know it's started until the first drum beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 QUOTE (goathunter @ Apr 5 2011, 08:16 AM) I was in section 105, lower level (halfway back on the right side), and the sound was very good most of the time. The bass synth seemed was inordinately loud much of the time, but otherwise, the sound was very good for most of the show. But experience has shown that the sound can vary a lot in Bridgestone Arena depending on where you are, how it's mixed, etc. I did miss the incredible sound quality of the 2004 tour opener at Starwood, where they'd had several days to get the sound perfect.... Hunter They were always great at Starwood. I still have a blood vendetta against the imbeciles that tore it down. They are even thinking of rebuilding it smaller now. AAAAAAaaaaaahhhhhh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 Forgot to mention the Cygnus X-1 ending of Working Man. I guess they didn't do that everywhere. Maybe they're getting it ready for the film. I just heard there is a recording or maybe two. Wooooo Hooooo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhuie Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My son and I had front row seats at the end of the stage on Alex's side. The sound started out muddled at first. We had a bass speaker right in front of us that rattled our clothes with every bass drum thud by Neil. They did get the sound sorted out by the second set though, and overall it was a wonderful show. Every song from Moving Pictures was awesome! Well worth the money it took to get up close... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilsugar25 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) It's so true that the sound really depends on where you are in each arena. I generally try to be up front or around the sound board if possible, but there are sweet spots and dead spots in every arena's seating plan. It is also true that the sound improves as the night goes on, because the sound engineer is constantly tweaking it throughout the evening and for each song. They soundcheck with the building empty, and you can't really get the true sense of the sound like that vs. what its going to be like when it's filled with people. Edited April 7, 2011 by evilsugar25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush-O-Matic Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 QUOTE (drbirdsong @ Apr 4 2011, 04:16 PM)Please tell me someone was taping this show. Okay. Someone was taping this show. as seen here I haven't heard it yet. Long story, but I sold my 17th row single on the street, because a few hours earlier, I bought two 4th row Section 1, inside aisle from Ticketmaster. I took a few crappy pictures with my cell phone as seen here I had a great time! The sound was quite interesting down there. I did not wear earplugs, and my ears weren't even ringing the next day. Overall, the sound was decent, but the mid range stuff was a bit muddy. I especially noticed this during Neil's solo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goathunter Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) Nashville, 2011-04-03 (though unfortunately MP3 format): http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OXGGOXRU (Found on Guitars101.com) Edited April 7, 2011 by goathunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share Posted April 7, 2011 QUOTE (goathunter @ Apr 7 2011, 03:49 PM) Nashville, 2011-04-03 (though unfortunately MP3 format): http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OXGGOXRU (Found on Guitars101.com) Previewing it because I have a hard time delaying gratification when it comes to Rush, but the FLAC is always better (and easy to convert if you absolutely have to). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 Ok it's my fault for giving this thread the "a mixed bag" subtitle. I am grateful that someone recorded the show and the sound is not too bad. I little distant. A few audience members that are too loud. But like I said, I'll take it any way I can get it when I was at the show. It sounds like an abridged version. The videos are cut off. Worst thing of all: 128 kbps. I'm still not complaining (mostly). I have heard much much worse. Thanks to the original taper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBluePhoenix Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Here are my photos from Nashville. They should be open to everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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