Rush
Date: June 7, 2008
Venue: Starlight Theater
Better Than: Watching Strange Brew.
By S.T. VOCKRODT
Here was the bad bit of news about Rush’s three-hour concert last Saturday night: Lead crooner Geddy Lee’s voice was way off on several songs, missing pitches and carrying off-key notes at several junctures. One casualty of Lee’s lackluster vocal performance was the band’s otherwise spot on run through “2112,” arguably its most exciting tune.
But the good news was that Lee’s peculiar voice — some call it womanly — has never been the allure of the venerable prog-rock band. It’s what has made the band perhaps rock ‘n’ roll’s worst victim of the love-’em-or-hate-’em dichotomy. Rather, it’s the immense instrumental talent the three Canadian warriors of mean, mean pride possess that has catapulted the band through seemingly countless original records and subsequent live shows.
It was obvious that the nearly sold-out crowd of mostly 40- and 50-somethings at Starlight Theatre understood this as it saved its loudest applause for Neil Peart’s drum rolls, guitarist Alex Lifeson’s whammy bar-laden solos and Lee’s angular bass riffs. As such, the crowd reacted raucously during a seven-minute drum solo by Peart that ranged in style from hard rock drum rolls to militaristic fills to finally a jazz beat that seemed to dazzle all in attendance. The solo was clearly the highlight of an impressive second half of the band’s set, which included several tunes from Rush’s newest and 19th album, Snakes and Arrows, and its top hits from the 1980s.
The second half, which followed a decent but at times pedestrian first half, included a rousing rendition of the synth-rock tale of teenage alienation, “Subdivisions,” a hard-driving version of “Spirit of Radio” and the ultimate set-closer in “Tom Sawyer.”
On the topic of “Tom Sawyer,” the song was introduced on stage’s video screens by South Park characters playing the roles of each band member who couldn’t agree whether the The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were different stories. The video, which killed the spontaneity of “Tom Sawyer’s” intro, was among several whimsical and bizarre videos the band played at various points in the show. One video for a song from Rush’s newest album, The Larger Bowl, showed imagery of the Ku Klux Klan, Asian sweatshops and threats to illegal immigrants to match the song’s lyrics about various social inequities. Oddly enough, the band saw fit to introduce the song with a waggish video starring Strange Brew actors Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis playing their simplistic characters from the 1983 parody of Canadian culture. It seemed disjointed, given the following song’s themes.
For the most part, the band raced through its 26-song set without much commentary between songs. Lee was at his liveliest in the set’s closing songs, skipping around the stage. Peart soared effortlessly through complicated drum beats and fills with facial expressions akin to someone sitting at a desk and stuffing envelopes for a living.
The encore showcased the new, the relatively obscure and the classic with the band playing “One Little Victory,” “Passage to Bangkok” and closing with “YYZ." After about three hours, it appeared that the crowd had gotten about everything out of the apparently exhausted Rushsters on a sweltering night. With the exception of Lee’s apparent vocal troubles, one couldn’t have asked for much more.
Setlist
1. Limelight
2. Digital Man
3. Ghost of a Chance
4. Mission
5. Freewill
6. The Main Monkey Business
7. The Larger Bowl
8. Red Barchetta
9. The Trees
10. Between the Wheels
11. Dreamline
Intermission
12. Far Cry
13. Workin’ Them Angels
14. Armor and Sword
15. Spindrift
16. The Way the Wind Blows
17. Subdivisions
18. Natural Science
19. Witch Hunt
20. Instrumental
21. Spirit of Radio
22. 2112
23. Tom Sawyer
Encore
24. One Little Victory
25. Passage to Bangkok
26. YYZ
Personal Bias: I own most of the band’s 19 albums.
Random Detail: Lee’s bass amp-stack included what appeared to be three dozen chickens on a rotisserie. The inexplicable references to chickens never became clear.
By The Way: Lee is known to be a huge baseball fan, but he showed his local basketball colors by emerging from Peart’s drum solo with a Kansas Jayhawks national basketball championship t-shirt for the remainder of the show.
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Old PEOPLE started, and have perpetuated Rock, Metal, Blues, etc. So tell me youngster, if you were cool, you wouldn't be blasting your fellow man. What makes YOU an authority on rock? Do you know the beginnings of rock? The evolution from southern black blues going to England, and then evolving to what we see today? You have no clue my young friend, so move forward, when you get in your 50's are you going to be still loving Rock? Naw, I bet you are gonna listen to Frank Sinatra... Give me a break fool!
You butthead...Geddy recorded those vocal tracks decades ago. How can you expect him to hit those notes at his age!
How important would you say it can be to have a weblog connected with your web page? I'm puzzled if that's the webhosting I have to get?
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
"Anonymous says:
Why are you old people going to this boring concert. It is a waste of money and time. I wolud think that you old people would sew or some boring thing like that. One other thing you old people are not cool when you are head banging. You old people should not go to these things!"
Man all I can say is a Billion sperm and you are the one who made it out, God help us for the future!
Geddy might have been sick, to describe his vocals being off. Pick up the S&A DVD. His vocals sound excellent on the first two discs. The third disc (bootlegs from Atlanta) , his voice is just awful.
Rush does not have very many filler songs it's almost all good the first album wasn't great but Neil wasn't there yet by fly by night they became legends
For the reviewers that comment on the amount of new vs. old stuff that Rush plays at their show - the LAST thing that I want to see is a concert devoted to every great song of the past. Sure, I want to hear some of the classics...but this was my 9th Rush show, so I've seen all the classics at least a few times already. Their new album is relevant, it has a nice edge and great melodies at the same time, it's one of their best in years. So I don't mind that they want to come out and play (most of) it for me! Also, the reviewer who commented on "throw away" songs from Snakes and Arrows, or any other one of their albums, doesn't listen to much Rush Some of their B (of C!)sides are the best recordings!
My wife and I drove from Kimberling City Missouri to see RUSH at the Starlight. I knew the show would be awesome. I was not dissapointed. The three hours flew by. I never sat down. I have been a fan since the 70's. I dont know of any other three individuals that can play together at the level RUSH does. They are in their own league. The show was worth the 3 1/2 hour drive home. Got home at 2:30 AM.
Geddy Lee and his band mates have been recording and touring for almost 25 years, are each about 60 years old and they are still good friends. Not too bad for a bunch of geezers, like me who is just a spry 50, who get up on stage 5 to 6 nights a week, bang it out for three hours each night and enjoy doing what they do best...making and playing music for us to enjoy. I only wish that a few of the new and younger bands had this kind of stamina and displayed this kind of unbridled enthusiasm. Thank you Geddy, Alex and Neil. I will pay to see you again and again. Christopher
S.T. Vockrodt, your review was just fine. Most Rush fans, but unfortunately not all, respect other peoples opinions. And that really is what a review is about, isn't it? Someones opinion?
Perhaps some took exception that you started off with the bad news. As EVERY Rush fan now knows, "Give me the good news first!"
Now get out there and fill up that cd collection of yours!
Regards,
Greg
I still haven't heard from anyone who took exception with my review on the show, particularly with the comments about Geddy Lee's voice.
I'm still around.
785-979-7845
S.T. Vockrodt
I think people are being over-sensitive to the comments on Geddy's voice. I was at the show, 9th row from the stage.
I later got a copy of the show that someone else had taped. I did notice that Geddy was a little off-key during a few songs. I didn't notice this while at the show (too caught up in the moment I guess).
It doesn't make you less of a fan to say Geddy's voice was a little off. Rush has been my favorite band since I was 13 years old (31 now). I still thought the show was great, and I really hope they tour again.
I've seen Rush every time the've came to K C sence 1976! It was and always will be a GREAT!!! Show... Come see Hemispheres July 18th 2008 at the Pig in Indep. go to myspace.com/hemispheresrushtri... to get more info and see for yourself...!
I made a post earlier about the reason Lee uses crazy stuff on stage in place of his bass amps .Two more things---most recordings are made with the bass played (direct )into the studio mixing board --its hard to mic a bass amp and get a good sound when recording to tape or hard drive . Being a musician for 30 some years and owning a 24 track home studio i also do this when recording a bass track --you add effects direct also.And to respond about Lee's vocals.It takes TALENT which i think some (music reviewers)dont and never will have to stand on a stage night after night and sing 20 or so songs!!!! His vocals that night were amazing--I was there!!
What an excellent show! Was there, 5th row center and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Unlike the Kansas City Star, who couldn't be bothered with reviewing the show, the guys never disappoint. Geddy's vocals were spot on. The man is the ultimate multitasker who can sing, play bass, play keyboards, hop across the stage on one foot Chuck Berry style, cut up with his buddy Alex, and still never miss a beat. Alex is the same. Neil is amazing. His drum solo was a thing of beauty as always. I feel badly for any Rush fan who missed this show. It was unforgettable! And The Starlight is a perfect venue for them. The show just plain rocked. I'm sorry there are those who weren't happy about them performing the new material. I for one feel fortunate to have seen Alex do 'Hope,' to have watched them do 'Malignant Narcissism,' and 'Spindrift' was magical. Again, I wouldn't have missed this for the world!
What an excellent show! Was there, 5th row center and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Unlike the Kansas City Star, who couldn't be bothered with reviewing the show, the guys never disappoint. Geddy's vocals were spot on. The man is the ultimate multitasker who can sing, play bass, play keyboards, hop across the stage on one foot Chuck Berry style, cut up with his buddy Alex, and still never miss a beat. Alex is the same. Neil is amazing. His drum solo was a thing of beauty as always. I feel badly for any Rush fan who missed this show. It was unforgettable! And The Starlight is a perfect venue for them. The show just plain rocked. I'm sorry there are those who weren't happy about them performing the new material. I for one feel fortunate to have seen Alex do 'Hope,' to have watched them do 'Malignant Narcissism,' and 'Spindrift' was magical. Again, I wouldn't have missed this for the world!
What an excellent show! Was there, 5th row center and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Unlike the Kansas City Star, who couldn't be bothered with reviewing the show, the guys never disappoint. Geddy's vocals were spot on. The man is the ultimate multitasker who can sing, play bass, play keyboards, hop across the stage on one foot Chuck Berry style, cut up with his buddy Alex, and still never miss a beat. Alex is the same. Neil is amazing. His drum solo was a thing of beauty as always. I feel badly for any Rush fan who missed this show. It was unforgettable! And The Starlight is a perfect venue for them. The show just plain rocked. I'm sorry there are those who weren't happy about them performing the new material. I for one feel fortunate to have seen Alex do 'Hope,' to have watched them do 'Malignant Narcissism,' and 'Spindrift' was magical. Again, I wouldn't have missed this for the world!
I made a trip from Los Angeles to see this concert just because it was at Star Light. The venue was great and the show was stunning. It was the best performance that I have seen by those geezers (seen every tour since Signals). Geddy's voice was fine.
Ged's vocals sounded fine; as good as he's been throughout the 2007 and 2008 shows. OF COURSE he doesn't sound like he did on the 2112 studio recording. That album was released in 1976 when Geddy was only 22! His voice has not sounded like that since at least the Permanent Waves tour in 1980.
The new songs from Snakes and Arrows also sound great live. Unlike other bands of their era, Rush is still producing relevent contempory music that deserves to be heard. Their setlist is a healthy balance of new material and "classics." Rush's core audience understands this and does NOT desire a setlist consisting of only radio-friendly songs. Fans not familiar with Snakes and Arrows should buy the album and give it a fair chance. You may discover there are fewer "throw away" songs than you think.
Why are you old people going to this boring concert. It is a waste of money and time. I wolud think that you old people would sew or some boring thing like that. One other thing you old people are not cool when you are head banging. You old people should not go to these things!
Chris,
We can agree to disagree about Geddy's voice. You make a valid point that he hit a few good notes at the bridge (not the end) of Freewill. But his vocals on 2112 were so far off of how he sounds on the record and in prior live shows that it truly watered the song down. 2112 should be the highlight of the set, but his vocals simply weren't there. The word uninspired comes to mind.
And also, a reviewer doesn't have to be a major fan as you claim in order to be qualified to review a show. I like Rush, but I'm not going to be a fanboy for the band to please them, their fans or to honor some expected angle you seem to think I should take in reviewing the band because I own most of the records.
But hey, let's not spout off on the Internet about our differences regarding the band and its show! I'm always willing to discuss my coverage about anything. Hit me up on my cell phone if you want to talk about it.
785-979-7845
Thanks,
S.T. Vockrodt
Please don't take this wrong, but I don't understand why it is that when a band comes out with a new album they think they have to play every song. How many albums do yu know of that every song is an applause getter.
It was obvious to me that people wanted to see RUSH play their classics. I think whoever it is that comes up with the setlist failed to give the audience what they want. I can understand that the band wants to promote their new album, but maybe play the best three or four songs of it, everyone knows that their are "throw away" songs to every recording.
RUSH lover Paul
The reviewer is totally wrong on his comments about Geddy's voice. His vocals were nothing short of amazing!
I've seen them 14 times since 1980 and this was probably the second best show with his voice sounded probably the best. He wasn't off on the songs, but rather some of the parts he sings slightly different which actually sounds better on some of them.
Also, some of the loudest applause was when Geddy hit the high notes on every song (particularly at the end of Freewill).
I don't the reviewer is as much of a fan or truly in tune with their live performance as much as he likes to claim. Owning "most of the bands 19 albums" is hardly bias, nor is it qualification.
Geddy`s vocals were great.
The Starlight was the perfect venue for a Rush concert.
Check out the pictures at www.rushisaband.com
Every time I see RUSH I think it will be the last, and if the Starlight show was the last then it was a great way to go out. What an amazing band! Starlight was the perfect setting on a perect night to see a perfect band. 34 years and going strong. I can't say enough of just how good these guys bring it! Simply beautiful. No B.S. - just music at it's finest.
The reason lee uses chicken rotisseries is beacause he runs his bass direct into the house mixing console and because there are no bass amps on stage he fills up that space with crazy things--on one tour he used clothes dryers . Another thing he does is put mics near them too. My girlfriend and i saw them at starlight also and it was an amazing show!!!!
I thought geddy's vocals were fine. Last years St. Louis show, his vocals literally stole the show.
I have never seen Rush have that much FUN!! This was the second best rush show I've ever seen. Second only to the amazing R30tour and right before the amazing t4e tour. They seemed so energized and were smiling so much. They were mingling with the goofy dudes in front and just having a great time. I've never seen Niel do so much improvising. Great show. One of the best.
Here's an explanation for the chicken ovens on stage left as it fits right in with the band's warped sense of humour.
Their basting (BASSting) the chickens on rotisseries (Ever heard of rotisserie league baseball?). Geddy's the bass player hence bassting the chickens and a huge rotisserie league baseball fan hence cooking the chickens on rotisseries.
There's you're explanation... I think!
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