RUSH!!

On Friday night I got to fulfill a desire I’ve had for quite some time. I got to see Rush perform live in Saskatoon. Rush, as you may or may not know, is a Canadian progressive rock band. They have been together for over 40 years and have produced some of the most iconic music in Canada’s history. It is a massive crying shame that they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are a trio of incredibly skilled musicians. Alex Lifeson on guitar, Geddy Lee on bass and vocals and the incomparable Neal Peart on drums. I started listening to them when I was in high school. An old friend, Kevin Driedger and his brother Dan introduced me to the band Yes and the progrock movement. Rush was a logical choice to start listening to.

Standing in row 22 of the Credit Union Centre when they took the stage and began their first set was a moving experience for me. There are some moments when you’re simply overwhelmed by the “bigness” of the moment. Here were my rock idols waltzing onto the stage and playing with grace and precision. They played for about 3 hours with a short break in-between. Nine of the songs in the second set were from their new album Clockwork Angels. With a back catalog like theirs they could have played for another 24 hours. Not once did I ever see them flag in terms of performance or showmanship. Lee’s vocals may be a little lower than they were 30 years ago, but he is still blistering when he wants to be. Lifeson’s guitar work is stunning. Precise and yet free in its form he played every song just like my mind had heard it hundreds of times before, but with a live touch that really added to the evening. Neal Peart? Another day at the office. If your office consists of a 360 degree drum kit with an insane array of percussive instruments and you are the most skilled worker who has ever picked up sticks. He is worth the price of admission alone. When the three of them get into a groove and play it is magical. They are incredible to watch and listen to.

The first 1 1/2 hours were devoted to the back catalog. Some classic rock anthems blaring out from the massive speakers above my head. The second set, featuring a six piece string ensemble who added another dimension to their music, was full of music from their new album. 9 straight songs of 12 from the disc seamlessly strung together. Following this another basketful of old Rush. After they left the stage for the first time they came back with Tom Sawyer and 3 songs from their 2112 album and we went completely nuts. Solos and instrumentals. Soaring power anthems and quiet ballads. What an amazing night!

In the end, my ears were ringing and my head was stuffed full of amazing images. It was a night that I will not soon forget.