The Main Monkey Business on R40 Live

[78jazz]

I watched the DVD this weekend, and think this song worked better on this tour than it did in 2007-2008. Anyone else seem to find the versions better on R40? I chalk it up to the bass part being played different (octaves, it seems). The song seemed to make more sense to me in KC in July than it did on the album or the other 3 times I saw it before then.

[The Analog Cub]

I watched the DVD this weekend, and think this song worked better on this tour than it did in 2007-2008. Anyone else seem to find the versions better on R40? I chalk it up to the bass part being played different (octaves, it seems). The song seemed to make more sense to me in KC in July than it did on the album or the other 3 times I saw it before then.

 

I'm more partial to the Snakes version because Alex used the acoustic guitar on it, but Geddy's bass playing was better on the R40 version. Both live version are great, but I think the acoustic guitar better serves the music in that case.

 

I was definitely thrilled when they pulled that out when I saw them in KC too!

[78jazz]

I watched the DVD this weekend, and think this song worked better on this tour than it did in 2007-2008. Anyone else seem to find the versions better on R40? I chalk it up to the bass part being played different (octaves, it seems). The song seemed to make more sense to me in KC in July than it did on the album or the other 3 times I saw it before then.

 

I'm more partial to the Snakes version because Alex used the acoustic guitar on it, but Geddy's bass playing was better on the R40 version. Both live version are great, but I think the acoustic guitar better serves the music in that case.

 

I was definitely thrilled when they pulled that out when I saw them in KC too!

 

Make no mistake - I was not thrilled at first. As they played it, I seemed to get it with this tune (although it is probably still the 2nd worst Rush instrumental IMO. I would have much rather seen Limbo. Alas...)

 

Edited to add: Yes, the bass seems to have made the R40 renditions far more enjoyable of TMMB.

Edited February 1, 2016 by 78jazz

[The Analog Cub]

I watched the DVD this weekend, and think this song worked better on this tour than it did in 2007-2008. Anyone else seem to find the versions better on R40? I chalk it up to the bass part being played different (octaves, it seems). The song seemed to make more sense to me in KC in July than it did on the album or the other 3 times I saw it before then.

 

I'm more partial to the Snakes version because Alex used the acoustic guitar on it, but Geddy's bass playing was better on the R40 version. Both live version are great, but I think the acoustic guitar better serves the music in that case.

 

I was definitely thrilled when they pulled that out when I saw them in KC too!

 

Make no mistake - I was not thrilled at first. As they played it, I seemed to get it with this tune (although it is probably still the 2nd worst Rush instrumental IMO. I would have much rather seen Limbo. Alas...)

 

Edited to add: Yes, the bass seems to have made the R40 renditions far more enjoyable of TMMB.

 

TMMB demands a lot more to appreciate, I think, than say something like Limbo or Leave That Thing Alone.

 

Limbo would've been a great one to throw in, too, or at least show T4E some recognition. The title track is some awesome work and they threw it under the bus after one tour.

[78jazz]

It also dawned on me that I read some of your initial post wrong. Sorry.

[pfrushfan0122]

Ged developed the bass part in a very unique way this time around and I aboslutely love it. It's already a very challenging song as it stands, but the R40 version takes it up a notch. I would have definitley have rather heard Limbo over TMMB, but still getting to see this one live (I only became a fan right after TMT) was definitely a treat. Also, the lighting was crazy during the song. I feel it was truly bliss to see it live every time I saw them this past tour... Edited February 1, 2016 by pfrushfan0122

[Anthemic]

love this song, one of their best!

[HemiBeers]

I watched the DVD this weekend, and think this song worked better on this tour than it did in 2007-2008. Anyone else seem to find the versions better on R40? I chalk it up to the bass part being played different (octaves, it seems). The song seemed to make more sense to me in KC in July than it did on the album or the other 3 times I saw it before then.

 

I'm more partial to the Snakes version because Alex used the acoustic guitar on it, but Geddy's bass playing was better on the R40 version. Both live version are great, but I think the acoustic guitar better serves the music in that case.

 

I was definitely thrilled when they pulled that out when I saw them in KC too!

 

Make no mistake - I was not thrilled at first. As they played it, I seemed to get it with this tune (although it is probably still the 2nd worst Rush instrumental IMO. I would have much rather seen Limbo. Alas...)

 

Edited to add: Yes, the bass seems to have made the R40 renditions far more enjoyable of TMMB.

The guitar part in TMMB is dull as dirt, other than the solo. No comparison to their other instrumentals.

[GabesCavesOfIce]

Ged developed the bass part in a very unique way this time around and I aboslutely love it. It's already a very challenging song as it stands, but the R40 version takes it up a notch. I would have definitley have rather heard Limbo over TMMB, but still getting to see this one live (I only became a fan right after TMT) was definitely a treat. Also, the lighting was crazy during the song. I feel it was truly bliss to see it live every time I saw them this past tour...

 

You are right, the lighting on TMMB was incredible. I saw R40 a few times, the last one from the lower bowl straight across the arena. The view from there was so much better than from up close (comparing to the other R40 shows I saw) I have never seen light emerging from lights like that, an amazing 3d effect.

[ytserush]

I love the song. I thought it was great live on Snakes and Arrows but I think they hit another higher gear on R40. In many cases I prefer the rearranged versions on subsequent tours.

[farewell to things]

I really enjoy listening to The Main Monkey Business. I think it's a lot better than Where's My Thing or Leave That Thing Alone. But defo not as good as La Villa Strangiato or YYZ. I think The Larger Bowl and TMMB were great picks to represent S&A on R40 Live, although TBH I would've preferred just TMMB and the extra minutes used to play Emotion Detector. But that's just me.

[Disk98]

I really enjoy listening to The Main Monkey Business. I think it's a lot better than Where's My Thing or Leave That Thing Alone. But defo not as good as La Villa Strangiato or YYZ. I think The Larger Bowl and TMMB were great picks to represent S&A on R40 Live, although TBH I would've preferred just TMMB and the extra minutes used to play Emotion Detector. But that's just me.

Far Cry, actually. The Larger Bowl was (thankfully) not played.

 

But I do agree that The Main Monkey Business has certainly been revitalized on the R40 Tour. It sounds much edgier than the S&A version did, and I'm glad they brought it back out.

[mrfriendly]

Honestly the less S&A the better, it really has over time become my least favourite rush album, it didn't age well. TMMB is really one only die hard fans will know, I doubt the average casual fan who knows a decent amount of their catalog will really remember it. They could have played any instrumental in that slot, it should have been Limbo like people said to represent T4E. No one except the diehards would have known the difference. To every one else it would be just another 6-7 minute Rush instrumental.

[Thunder Bay Rush]

_{ANY Rush instrumental is a good one... still amazes me that three guys can play this stuff, even with the odd bit of "cheating" with sequencers.} Edited February 24, 2016 by Thunder Bay Rush

[EagleMoon]

I thought it sounded great on R40 but as an instrumental it's probably one of my least favorites. Though I don't dislike it at all.

[Xanadu]

I enjoyed it. You're never going to please everyone.

[YYZumbi]

The Main Monkey Business is Rush second best instrumental song, after La Villa Strangiato. So Im happy that they played it again, and I am sad that I did not see the tour...

[Thunder Bay Rush]

TMMB is a wicked instrumental. I really like the guitar riff in the loud section... not sure what the hell you call it. La Villa will always be number one though. Oddly, (because a lot of people love YYZ) my least favourite instrumental is YYZ. It's kind of boring and the drum solos are pretty basic compared to Neil's other in-song solos.

[farewell to things]

The reason you don't like YYZ is because other people like it? Lol. It's a great track, specially the dueling drums & bass sections. I wouldn't have said it was boring at all, but if you've listened to anything enough times it can start to grate on you.