Kevin's Watch

damn, I get either Red Barchetta (the first Rush song I fell in love with) or YYZ? life is not fair.

I'm really torn now. On the one hand, this is it....The last big tour with big shows they're ever going to do. On the other hand, I'm not the least bit excited to see them.

I can't believe how bummed-out I am over the song selections.

I'm sure it will be a good show. I don't think I have seen any part of Cygnus X-1 live, and perhaps I would develop a deeper appreciation for it. (Or perhaps I am a lousy fanboy. ) That actually happened to me with a band (not Rush) that I saw last year - their encore song was something that had never been one of my favorites, but the performance totally changed my opinion of it for the better.

Given that this is a 40th ann. tour, I can't imagine any fan (or fanboy, like me and Sorus ) being disappointed with the 2nd set. There's a few poor choices in the 1st, but the fact that they're mixing up the setlist every show to this extent is almost unprecedented for Rush. It gives fans who go to multiple shows something different each time ... a chance for more songs. They are really going all out for their diehard fans on this tour.

Over on the Counterparts message board, they've been posting links to something called Periscope. I've never heard of it, but apparently it's an app that allows you to stream the show live. They've been having a virtual party over at CP for every show so far. It might be fun to join on a weekend show. [It would be way too tempting to have a few beers during the week (and it looks like they succumb to the temptation without hesitation over there at CP ). I can't drink during the week. My sleep is awful if I have anything even close to bed time.]

Gosh, I guess I'm just not a Rush fan then....

What can I say? I like what I like, and I think the setlist could be better. It'll still be a good show, and when it's over I'll be glad I went, but it's not the songs I really want to hear.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that dissenters aren't fans. I was just expressing my surprise, since the epic songs from classic Rush are what they're most famous for doing. We all have favorite time periods for the band, but this is without question their core material, and appropriate for a retrospective look back. Closing the circle, you might say, since this will probably be their last tour.

I think it's great that they have such a diverse catalog where fans can find little niches to like. It's fun digging into the 'deep tracks' and finding surprising gems that the masses have overlooked.

It's all Rush ... this is just Epic Rush.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that they're playing "Natural Science" and "Jacob's Ladder". And I'm genuinely stoked to hear "Xanadu". But nothing from T4E.....That hurts. A lot. Especially when they're playing "Working Man" again.

I know Ged's not a fan of Fly By Night, and nothing against "Anthem", but I'd rather hear "In the End".

I get what you're saying about the epic stuff, and I suppose I should have expected both the 2112 and Cygnus stuff....But as I said earlier in the thread, that's just not the Rush I prefer to listen to any more. I'd probably be bitching a lot less if "La Villa" took the place of "Cygnus" though.

The reality is (and it's truly a great thing about the band) that with the massive body of work they have, there's no pleasing everyone.

Again, I was floored on the last tour when they played both "The Pass" and "Middletown Dreams". But I also remember that I was the only one in my section going batshit over those two songs.....Everyone else left for the bathroom and the beer lines.

Cail wrote:
Again, I was floored on the last tour when they played both "The Pass" and "Middletown Dreams". But I also remember that I was the only one in my section going batshit over those two songs.....Everyone else left for the bathroom and the beer lines.

They left? During "The Pass"? They left?

Why don't we have an 'outraged' emoticon?

The Pass is an awesome song, tons of emotion. I remember hearing it during sound check waiting outside (way early) at my first Rush show, on the Presto tour. Geddy shaking the concrete with those bass chords. It's an easy, but fun song to play on bass, too.

Sorus wrote:

Cail wrote:
Again, I was floored on the last tour when they played both "The Pass" and "Middletown Dreams". But I also remember that I was the only one in my section going batshit over those two songs.....Everyone else left for the bathroom and the beer lines.

They left? During "The Pass"? They left?

Why don't we have an 'outraged' emoticon?

Swear to God, I thought I somehow got mis-assigned to the "heard Tom Sawyer on the radio and thought I'd go to the concert" section". Had I not been so overcome with emotion, I would have forceably corralled the entire section and forced them to pay attention, "Clockwork Orange" style.

Zarathustra wrote:Jacob's LadderGoddamn, they sound awesome! This gave me goosebumps.

Awesome video, but forgive the ignorant question - what's with all the people filming with their phones? Isn't that prohibited?

At 1:20, somebody screams "Oh my God!" That must've been a climactic moment for him.

Houston set list May 20th, 2015.


The Anarchist
Clockwork Angels
Headlong Flight
(W/ Drum Solo)
Far Cry
The Main Monkey Business
One Little Victory
Animate
Roll the Bones
Distant Early Warning
Subdivisions

No Country For Old Hens (film)
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
The Spirit of Radio
Jacob's Ladder
Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres Part I: Prelude
Cygnus X-1
(Part 1)
Drum Solo
Cygnus X-1
(Part 3)
Closer to the Heart
Xanadu
2112 Part I: Overture
2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx
2112 Part IV: Presentation
2112 Part VII: Grand Finale

Encore:
Lakeside Park
Anthem
What You're Doing
Working Man
Garden Road (tease)

What did you think of your first Rush concert Sarge? I'm going to the Greensboro show 1 week from today.

dlbpharmd wrote:

Zarathustra wrote:Jacob's LadderGoddamn, they sound awesome! This gave me goosebumps.

Awesome video, but forgive the ignorant question - what's with all the people filming with their phones? Isn't that prohibited?

At 1:20, somebody screams "Oh my God!" That must've been a climactic moment for him.

You haven't been to a concert in the last decade, have you?

Yeah, it's prohibited. But everyone has a cell phone. You'd have to shut down the show to stop it. I freakin hate it. I don't understand why someone would fiddle with their phone the entire show when Rush is mere feet away from them in real life. I hate the sea of phone-light, blocking my view. I'm short (5'7"). Not only do I have to see around heads, but now a sea of phones, too. Sucks.

You haven't been to a concert in the last decade, have you?

I haven't been to a major concert since the Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" tour. I've seen tons of small shows, outdoor events, bluegrass festivals, etc, but nothing like what this is going to be.

dlb - it was awesome. the instrumentation was strong, the band is very tight. Geddy's vocals held up for the most part.

Geddy sounded best on the first three songs, I assume they are writing closer to his range nowadays.

other than missing YYZ, I very happy.

Zarathustra wrote:

dlbpharmd wrote:

Zarathustra wrote:Jacob's LadderGoddamn, they sound awesome! This gave me goosebumps.

Awesome video, but forgive the ignorant question - what's with all the people filming with their phones? Isn't that prohibited?

At 1:20, somebody screams "Oh my God!" That must've been a climactic moment for him.

You haven't been to a concert in the last decade, have you?

Yeah, it's prohibited. But everyone has a cell phone. You'd have to shut down the show to stop it. I freakin hate it. I don't understand why someone would fiddle with their phone the entire show when Rush is mere feet away from them in real life. I hate the sea of phone-light, blocking my view. I'm short (5'7"). Not only do I have to see around heads, but now a sea of phones, too. Sucks.

I'm with you.

Peter Frampton made a rant like this on his Facebook page a few months ago, and he was right....I hate people who view the world through their call phone screens.

Cail wrote:I'm really torn now. On the one hand, this is it....The last big tour with big shows they're ever going to do. On the other hand, I'm not the least bit excited to see them.

I can't believe how bummed-out I am over the song selections.

I'm missing the Tampa show right now; I'm a bit bummed, but Geddy's voice was pretty bad last time I saw them, and I know it can only get worse.

I had a grand old time at the Greensboro show last night. My 13 year old daughter was a bit overwhelmed by the intensity, volume and the 2 drunks directly in front of us, but I think overall she also enjoyed it.

The sound in the building could have been better. It seemed to be distorted at times, other times the sound seemed to echo a bit. I knew better than to expect how the blu-rays sound through my surround speakers. Still, especially during Alex's solos, I had a hard time making out what he was doing.

I'll post some pics later.

I've read some complaints about the sound over at Counterparts. It seems the sound guy, whoever mixes the shows, boosts the highs on Alex's guitar way too loud.

I prefer outdoor concerts for sound.

Glad you had fun!