Rush @ ACC Toronto - Sep 19

[Kanada Kev]

Anyone going down to the show tonight? If I can make it out i'm going to hit this show. I had such a good time at the R30 Tour show, I'd just hate to miss them this time around.

Edited September 20, 2007 by Guest

[\/\/illy]

It's killing me to miss it.

[Kanada Kev]

What's your reason???

[Kanada Kev]

I'm in. Scored a pair of 24th row floors off eBay for only $89 Would've come to $280 through TicketBastard .

[Chewie]

i saw them in london last week...be prepared for LOTS of new songs from s&a...meh.

a few rare gems tho (circumstances, between the wheels, mission) and your standards (limelight, t saywer,, spirit of radio etc)

[Kanada Kev]

Wow. Really enjoyed this Rush gig last night at the ACC. I was impressed with a lot of the new material. Totally impressive display of musicianship. They rocked it out.

Gotta find a copy of the Lil' Rush bit with the South Park characters performing Tom Sawyer. Wayyyy too funny.

Great bang for the buck.

Here's a decent account of what went down:

Oh, what a Rush!

Hometown heroes give fans their money's worth with marathon show

By JANE STEVENSON

Fans of Canadian prog-rock legends Rush got their money's worth, and them some, as the band arrived on friendly turf last night to kick off the first of two sold-out dates at the Air Canada Centre with a marathon show.

The homecoming gigs of Toronto singer-bassist-keyboardist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart are always special events for their audiences who have, for the most part, remained fiercely loyal for the past 30-plus years.

It helps that Snakes & Arrows, the latest studio effort from Rush released earlier this year, is one of their more vibrant sounding records and was well represented last night by over a half-dozen songs, including the instrumental The Main Monkey Business (nicely complimented by some black-and-white footage of said animals doing everything from using a hula hoop to shaving a human) and The Larger Bowl with an filmed introduction provided by Canadian hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie.

The three accomplished musicians were also thoroughly warmed-up, having been on the road since mid-June when they launched their tour in Atlanta.

"So nice to see you guys in our hometown," Lee said. "We've got a lot of music."

No kidding.

The lengthy evening, which eventually clocked in at well over three hours including a 30-minute intermission, began with a new film that reflected their love for both animation and hammy acting.

And even though the opening guitar chords of the band's classic Limelight heralded a promising set list, for every major hit they played -- Free Will, Subdivisions, a cover of Summertime Blues, The Spirit of Radio and Tom Sawyer, there were patience-testing rarities such as Circumstances.

Now all in their mid-50s, the musicians of Rush don't appear to be resting on their laurels.

Lee, in particular, was an enthusiastic performer, jumping around the stage even if the audience in the stands stayed rooted to its seats until the very end of the night while those on the floor stood for the duration.

Otherwise, Rush's stripped-down stage had great sightlines with the lighting and sound rigs high above the band while a large video screen showed three-way split-screen images.

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Bells and whistles included a blue-and-red-lit rig that impressively lowered space-ship-like during Between The Wheels, green laser lights that kicked Dreamline up a notch, exploding fireworks that literally commanded attention for the new song Far Cry, and fire bursts during Witch Hunt.

The group's sense of humour also was on full display.

Having toured in the past with both clothes dryers and vending machines on stage, this time out it's three glass-enclosed rotating chicken roasters with the word "henhouse," on each. (A woman dressed in a white apron, tight jeans and high heels even came out to baste the chickens during The Spirit Of Radio.)

Meanwhile, the animated boys of South Park, called Li'l Rush in a filmed segment, introduced Tom Sawyer and rows of tiny dinosaurs lined the tops of speakers to the left of Peart's enormous rotating drum kit, which was painted blood red and had the Snakes & Arrows symbol everywhere.

And yes, eventually there was a fierce, sometimes funny, drum solo performed by Peart toward the end of MalNar that simply defied description.

Lee even brought out his digital movie camera at one point and instructed the crowd to scream in unison: "Take off, eh?" while he filmed them. When they co-operated enthusiastically, he responded: "That's beauty, Way to go, eh?"

Rush plays Ottawa tomorrow night before returning for a second Toronto date at the ACC Saturday night.

[phorbesie]

is there an opening band?

[Kanada Kev]

Nope. It's all Rush. Because of the train sched, i missed the first 15mins or so. They come on around 7:45-7:50 and played until just after 11.

[Jaimoe]

Greg Quill from The Star gave the show a middling review. My friend Don, who is one of you militant Rush fans, said the show was really good, although the sound was murky on Geddy's vocals. He also thought leading off with five new songs after their 20 minute break was an energy killer. Still, he liked it.

[phorbesie]

i thought the new stuff was fantastic and rockin. definitely not an energy killer for me!

[The Chameleon]

Great show they were in top form.

[Northern Wish]

Did they play the Rush 'classic' "Summertime Blues" in Toronto like they did in Ottawa?

LMAO at the Citizen..........

Sean

[ollie]

Did they play the Rush 'classic' "Summertime Blues" in Toronto like they did in Ottawa?

LMAO at the Citizen..........

Sean

I had friends at both shows and they say Summertime Blues was played in Toronto, and Distant Early Warning was played in its place in Ottawa.

[phorbesie]

yeah it was not played. was a little confused when i read that article!

[Northern Wish]

Write and tell them about it. Its the only way they'll make some concessions with press times or holding articles for one day to ensure their accuracy.

If they think no one notices, they won't do a thing about it.

[phorbesie]

who do you write to?

[Velvet]

Here's the typos I found in the Citizen:

Mentioned that all three were original members (Neil Peart wasn't on the first album)

Mentioned Neil just got back from motorcycling across North America (I don't know this is wrong, but I do know that Peart spends his free time bicycle touring so I doubt he motorcycled)

Mentioned Summertime Blues was a Rush classic (duh)

Mentioned they played Summertime Blues in Ottawa (they didn't)

Yep, I'm a Rush geek.

[Jaimoe]

I believe Neil has written two books which are inspired by his motorcycle travels. Ghost Rider is one of them.

Edited September 25, 2007 by Guest

[Velvet]

Well, paint me blue and call me Dusty.

[bradm]

Actually, his first book, Masked Rider, is about (bi)cycling in Africa. Later books, Ghost Rider and Roadshow, are about (or involve) motorcycling.

Aloha,

Brad

[Velvet]

It looks like one of his books is cycling while the latest is motorcycling.

Lazy fucker.

[Velvet]

Thanks bradm.

[bradm]

Thanks bradm.

De nada. I recalled seeing bits in the media about him bicycling and motorcycling, and wasn't sure if it was poor memory on my part or whether both activities might have been involved.

Aloha,

Brad

[dave-O]

And actually he has another book - Traveling Music - that is essentially about a car trip from LA to Big Bend national park.

[Booche]

What are 4 books I will never have any interest in reading. Thanks Alex and I will take Pretentious Art Rock for 500 dollars.