Last night I got to ... yet again ... see Rush. I think this is about my 7th or 8th time doing so (the first dating back to the 1980 Moving Pictures tour). I paid $40 each for first row, second level seats right by the stage (overlooking Geddy's side). These were great seats especially considering the very reasonable pricepoint. The brand-spanking new (but honestly not that great) Pittsburgh hockey arena was ... a little surprisingly ... filled to the gills. It surprises me sometimes how many others love the band like I do (I really am not the only one?). Geddy Lee has been clearly struggling with his upper register since the late '90s. His voice overall was "pretty good" but notably pitichy in spots (more so than I have seen before) as he reached for those higher notes. Overall, they delivered an extremely entertaining set three hours long (almost to the minute) ... that, as a bonus, had hilarious videos opening the concert, post-intermission, and at the very end after the band left.

The set: There were some nice deep track nuggets like La Villa, Working Man, Stick It Out, and Time Stand Still. The standards like 2112's Temples, Closer to the Heart, Spirit of the Radio, and Freewill were ... as usual ... in place and always appreciated. The tour's "time machine" theme was centered around playing Moving Pictures in its entirity. This makes very logical sense as it was their most successful album and was released exactly 30 years ago. As a devout Rush fan, my only issue with this is they always pull heavily from this album in concert anyway, so it kinda diminishes the "specialness" of doing this. But in addition to the radio standards of side one, it is always wonderful (in particular) to hear side two's Camera Eye, Vital Signs, and Witchhunt ... so I am not complaining. Additionally, they played lots of new stuff that included three tracks from Snakes & Arrows and two tracks from their upcoming album. I am okay with this as these newer songs are quite excellent (I especially loved "Working Them Angels" and "Caravan"). It was a great balance of keeping both the fans and the band happy.

Overall, a great show ...

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Love Rush. I just watched the "Beyond the Lighted Stage" DVD, which was great. They are the most universally maligned band out there. Critics hate them, music snobs disregard them, fans love them. I was surprised to see in the DVD the variety of other musicians who point to Rush as a major influence, and the respect they have from other musicians.

Hey 01GT,
I was there too last night!!! Loved the show!! I am so impressed that those guys have been doing the rock star thing together for 30+ years, and they still have the stamina for a huge tour with 3 hour shows.
Nice set list, awesome lighting(like the moving light rig my wife called the robot lights)cool video and wonderful playing. I thought Alex had some really nice guitar tones he was playing on those Les Pauls with the Floyd Rose, the ES-335 at the end, and the PRS.
It reminded me of my old band that would cover YYZ, LaVilla Strangiato, 2112 and more.
I wore my 1980 tour shirt from Permanent Waves, and my wife wore my 1981 Moving Pictures tour shirt. These are not repros, but the original tour shirts I got at the Spectrum in Philly when I saw them in the 1980s. We got quite a few positive comments about them, it was cool. It was nice to be a teenager again!!

_________________
A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

Hey 01GT, I live in Morgantown WV, just south of you. I get up in PA a bit to see shows in Burgettstown and the city. Got to see the Vans Warped tour, Kiss, Stone Temple Pilots, Clapton, and Rush up there this year. We should get together and jam sometime!!! I have a bunch of guitars, amps and stuff to make noise, so let me know if interested.

_________________
A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

Agreed on all accounts. The (not-so-typical for Rush) flames, steam and pyro were all pretty cool too. Also, I noticed in the second half of the show that sausages were coming out of the "time machine" behind Geddy -- a hilarious tie-in to Alex's character in the videos. Too funny.


I did not see them on that tour, but that was a VERY special tour. That was the LAST tour that they opened with the entire 2112 suite (as had been their concert standard since the release of 2112). It was not until many years later (Test for Echo tour in 1996) that they went to the (now standard for them) 3-hour set with an intermission and no opening act, and played 2112 in its entirity for the first time since Permanent Waves. I saw them twice on that tour. Amazing.


Totally agree but right now I am struggling to find any time to pick up a guitar, being sandwiched by a brutal work schedule and three kids in school. Some time, though ...

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Eibach,

You were not impressed with the Consol Center? Was it accoustics or were you unhappy with the way it's set up? I saw the Foo Fighters at the Peterson Events Center on the Pitt campus and I was not impressed with the sound. Just curious...

_________________
2008 MIA Telecaster Crimson Red
2009 Highway 1 Telecaster Sunburst Maple
2010 Martin D-1
Vox Pathfinder 15R
Vox Night Train 15W
WhiteBox Cab w/12in Eminence Man O' War

It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive...

Acoustics were good -- I will give it that. But the seating was ridiculously tight. There is so little room that (even with your toes against the seat in front of you), you still must have your legs angled down under your seat instead of straight down. After three hours of Rush, my feet were numb ... and I am only 5'9". For instance, when someone wants to get by, everyone must stand up to let them by as there is no (as in none) room otherwise. Also ... no cupholders??? Inexcusable for a new arena. And the concourses are very confined. It is a lot fancier than the old outgoing Mellon Arena, but I was very unimpressed. By comparison, the San Jose Shark and Dallas hockey arenas are far superior in my opinion. Far superior. Just my opinion.

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...