Its been many years since I have seen Rush play and I'm glad I finally got to see them again. Rush has a very dedicated fan base and when tickets go on sale for their shows, they sell out in minutes. That was the case with this years Red Rocks show and is also why they added an additional second show to their Colorado run. The other reason these specific shows sold out so fast, is because Rush has been spending this tour covering their 1981 classic 'Moving Pictures' in its entirety.
In typical Rush fashion the band started the show with a comical skit played out on a large screen before the band took the stage. Due to some technical difficulty the video was cut short, but all it took was Alex Lifeson running out with his arms in the air to bring the roaring crowd to his feet. Rush pounded out the opening riff to 'The Spirit of the Radio' and the place went wild. The band spent the first set rocking through a long history of music, both new and old, and even played a few new tracks from a forth coming album. One of the new tracks is called BU2B (Brought Up To Believe) and may be one of the heaviest Rush songs I have ever heard live. After a very strong first set Rush left the stage to a cheering crowd hungry for more music.
The Rush Time Machine Tour has a great stage set up. Neil Peart was center stage and sat on a rotating drum set placed upon a Victorianised golden geared wheel. Alex Lifeson's Triamp and Coreblade amps were fused into custom cabinets that look like three old time wooden radios. The Hughes & Kettner built rig had Steam and Fire shooting from the top of it at different times during the show. Not to be out done, Geddy Lee had four similar, yet unique, time machine looking amps with the words 'Real Time', 'Half Time', 'Bass Time, and 'Sausage Time' lite beneath them. The funniest thing was through the whole show you could see actual sausage links spewing from the last amp with the words 'Sausage Time' lite beneath it. The fire and steam erupting from the amps were joined by random exploding fire balls that flew across the stage through out the show.
The second set was preluded by another Rush video. As before, the band members played different roles in a comedic skit almost poking fun of themselves for what was about to happen. The video stopped and the very familiar intro to 'Tom Sawyer' was soon bringing smiles to every ones faces. Rush continued on to play the whole 'Moving Pictures' album and I was amazed to hear the crowd never stop shouting from excitement the whole time! So many good songs on this one album and I was surprised how much I really loved every minute of that show. After they completed the last song off of 'Moving Pictures' the band was rewarded with a long standing ovation from the crowd. They then went on to play another new song called 'Caravan' off of their yet to be released new album and finished up the set with two songs from the always popular 2112.
The encore was short but very sweet. Alex Lifeson started playing a Polka Style intro to 'La Villa Strangiato' and then in true Rush fashion, the whole band broke out into the actual song and rocked it! Even better was the reggae intro to 'Working Man' and the ending where everyone at Red Rocks singing the last song together ....'Seems to me I could live my life, much better than I think I am. I guess that's why they call me, they call me the Working Man!'
The wonderful show was at its end, but Rush had one more gift for its fans. A final video showed two actors, Paul Rudd and Jason Segal, from the movie 'I Love You Man' sneaking into Rush's dressing room back stage. If you are a Rush Fan and have never seen the movie, then I suggest you go see it now. All I need to say is that there is nothing better than hearing Geddy Lee say 'I slap-ah the bass' and seeing the humor that this great band has and its appreciation to its many many fans, both young and old. Rush does play one more show at Red Rocks this Wednesday August 18th 2010. If you can get a ticket, I highly suggest you go!
SET ONE:
The Spirit Of Radio
Time Stand Still
Presto
Stick It Out
Workin' Them Angels
Leave That Thing Alone
Faithless
BU2B
Freewill
Marathon
Subdivisions
SET TWO:
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs
Caravan
Drum Solo
Closer To The Heart- Extended Intro
2112 Part I: Overture
2112 Part II: The Temples Of Syrinx
Far Cry
ENCORE:
La Villa Strangiato Working Man
