RUSH: THE REVIEW

Last night was Rush and they were awesome. When you watch the stage you forget they are 60. They could be collection a pension but they choose to rock harder and better than most of these younger bands.

The show easily went over three hours and it was all about their music. No openers, no presentations for World Vision (ie. Fred Hammond), no thirty minute rant by Geddy telling me how to live my life only to go and do the opposite (ie. Tye Tribbett), and most importantly, they didn't mail it in like so many artists do.

About the song selection. When a band like Rush is going 35 years strong on making great tunes, you can't put all the favorites into three hours. So subtract approximately 40 minutes to play moving pictures and you've got approximately 32-33 years of music to play in 2 hours and 20 minutes. But I have to say they pretty much nailed it. I didn't prefer every song but they show isn't the "Rush plays whatever Randall wants to hear" tour. Let's break it down.

SET ONE (11/11, a perfect score)

1. Spirit of Radio - Been there and done that, however, with the new video intro that was very entertaining it worked. I was very pleased with the opening.

2. Time Stand Still - I love this song so I was excited to see them do it.

3. Presto - I didn't really know why this song made it in the set but I remembered how they used to play "Bravado" a lot and was just thankful I didn't have to hear that one.

4. Stick it Out & 5. Working Them Angels - These songs rock out hard.

6. Leave That Thing Alone is my favorite instrumental that they do.

7. Faithless - I have to be honest. I don't really remember this one.

8. BU2B - A great new song from their upcoming album.

9. Free Will - This was up there with one of my top performances of the night.

10. Marathon - This is one of my favorite Rush songs of all time. I really liked how they came out of the guitar solo near the end. I was thinking to myself it would be really cool if they did that, and then they did. I always appreciate it when that happens.

11. Subdivisions - A lot of people love this song. I'm only lukewarm to it. My friend went and used the facilities during this song as the intermission was imminent. A great call by him.

SET TWO (9/11)

1. Moving Pictures Album - Loved everything except Camera Eye and Vital Signs. Rush has never played Camera Eye before this tour. I'm thinking there's a reason for that. I would rather hear tunes like Xanadu, or Jacob's Ladder before Camera Eye. Vital Signs I'm not big on either.

2. Caravan - I believe this is the first single from their upcoming album. I really like this tune.

3. Love 4 Sale/Closer to the Heart - There was a time when I would dread this part of the concert. Rush used to play Closer to the Heart EVERY time. After a while I would like to hear something else. They retired it for a number of years and brought it back, and it was nice to hear it again.

4. 2112/Temples of Syrinx - Fantastic. I'm glad they put this in there.

5. Far Cry - This is my favourite song from the last album so I'm glad I got to see it live.

ENCORE (2/2) Another perfect score.

1. La Villa Strangiato and 2. Working Man are classics that were well executed.

OVERALL

The albums Fly By Night, Caress of Steel, Grace Under Pressure, Test For Echo, and Vapour Trails were not represented in set this tour.