Rush is like licorice. Not everyone likes licorice (or Rush). But people who do, really really really love licorice. Long derided as music for the “smart kids” and “elitist geeks”, Rush has experienced a renaissance as a “working man’s” band over the last couple of years. Their cameo in the hit movie I Love You Man from which the term “slappin da bass” has become a de rigueur in-joke; as well as the lauded Beyond The Lighted Stage band documentary last year; have put them in the public limelight (bad pun intended) as noticeably as they have been since their early 80’s mainstream success.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, the band has been touring with a “Time Machine” motif over the past year. Focusing on a second set run full run thru of their classic 1981 record Moving Pictures , the band has recently started up part two of a world tour.
I caught them on their stop in Hershey, Pennsylvania. To my ears, nothing has changed. Though the years have transformed the band visually from young long haired robe wearing sci-fi mystics into (at least in the cases of Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart) more distinguished looking elder statesmen; the band still are absolute virtuosos on their instruments. Peart’s drum solo was a thing of beauty (interpolating video of 40’s big band drummers as well as some midi effects to simulate a horn section). Lifeson only took a star turn on 12 string acoustic with the chestnut “Closer To The Heart”. When was the last time a power trio’s least musically heralded member was the guitar player?
And where to begin about Geddy Lee. Still retaining his castrato vocal range and powering his Fender bass into jaw dropping interludes, Geddy is the focal point. 57 years old, and (despite his announcement before intermission that “they had to take a break because they’re old”), the man moves around stage, can play synth, bass and sing all at the same time; and has the comic sense of a Borscht Belt comedian. In fact, before each set there are short videos starring the band (as “Rash”) in various comedic guises (Lee as an old Yiddish counter man (nice to offer the the pre-ordained $40 RASH (sic) T-Shirts with and a Yiddish countoff on the backs!) and hipster Brit director, Lifeson as an obese lunatic inventor and Peart as a grumpy cop). And ya know what? Rush don’t care if you don’t like Rush! As Geddy Lee’s character states at one point (after a video showing various guises of bands and music playing “Spirit Of Radio”: “Crap yes! But sometimes people love crap”. That’s another great thing about Rush, despite the years, Lifeson and Lee still look like they truly are having a great time playing and wear shit eating grins quite often. Peart, on the other hand is pure grim determination. It’s hard work playing eight thousand different drums all at the same time (only slightly exaggerated!).
The first set consists of “greatest hits” (hence the Time Machine theme). Starting out with “Spirit Of Radio”, the band focuses primarily on their 80’s and 90’s output. Much criticism was fired at Rush (and especially Lee during the mid 80’s) for their more slick and polished “New Wave” sound on such songs as “Time Stands Still” and “Subdivisons”. Live though, the power and force of the band’s chops overpower any thoughts of FM radio sell-out. Three songs (“Far Cry”, “Faithless” & “Working Them Angels”) from their latest release, 2007’s Snakes And Arrows were also featured during the show.
Two new songs were played from the “forthcoming” album (yeah guys, it was forthcoming last summer when you played these songs too) Clockwork Angels . And hey haters- it’s spozed to be a “concept album”! Both songs, “BU2B” and “Caravan” were warmly received by the crowd.
The draw for many was the lure of hearing Moving Pictures as a suite. After another comedy bit, the synth flourish opening of “Tom Sawyer” heralded the 7 song cycle that had the entire crowd in thrall.
Along with the aforementioned follow-ups “Caravan”, the Peart drum solo, and “Closer To Heart”, this would have been sufficient. But the “whooooooosh” of the opening of “2112” was played and we were launched into the “2112 Overture” and “Temples Of Syrinx”. Just perfect.
The encores featured more classic Rush. Another short video and the instrumental “La Villa Strangiato” (featuring a polka!). Finishing up, “Working Man”- a tribute to the blue collar crowd (not many Trekkies evident) and the band themselves.
Afterwards, another video featuring the stars of “I Love You Man” and a lesson to be learned about touching Neil Peart’s after show sandwich.
And there’s nothing elitist about a sandwich!
Setlist:
Set 1
• “The Spirit of Radio”
• “Time Stand Still”
• “Presto”
• “Stick It Out”
• “Workin’ Them Angels”
• “Leave That Thing Alone”
• “Faithless”
• “BU2B” (from Clockwork Angels)
• “Freewill”
• “Marathon”
• “Subdivisions”
Set 2
• “Tom Sawyer”
• “Red Barchetta”
• “YYZ”
• “Limelight”
• “The Camera Eye”
• “Witch Hunt”
• “Vital Signs”
• “Caravan”
• “Love 4 Sale” (Drum solo)
• “Closer To The Heart”
• “2112 Overture / The Temples of Syrinx”
• “Far Cry”
Encore:
• “La Villa Strangiato”
• “Working Man”
