By: Paul L., Los Angeles
Hello Jordan:
This is the first chance I've had to update you on what happened to me in
Germany. I'm sitting on the train to Zurich right now...so here it comes:
The German Rush Experience:
I started out on my approximate 4 hour drive from Munchen to Frankfurt
around 12:30PM or so. The car of the day was a brand-new (4000KM on the
odometer) Audi TT Roadster. I had rented the Porsche 911 two days earlier
for a drive to the south of Germany to Burchesgaden and Neuschweinstein
castle - which proved to be a VERY costly (but worth it - once) experience.
260KPH in a fine German automobile at the base of the Alps is a RUSH that is
hard to beat. (Side note - I went to the Eagle's Nest and the museum at
Obersalzburg - the Documentation center - you would not believe the
presentation on Hitler, the whole Nazi movement, the Holocaust, and WWII in
general. It was fantastic - and sobering.)
(Side note 2 - when I told the car rental lady that I was driving to
Frankfurt for a concert - and back - she couldn't believe it. Especially
when I told her I had no tickets. I asked her how to say, please give me a
ticket in German - but as it turns out I didn't need to use that at all.
What is interesting is that I almost had a driving buddy. The guy next to
me overheard me and said, "Are you going to the Rush concert? Have you read
Neil's new book? Do you have Contents Under Pressure?" I had just run in
to another Rush fan. I tried to talk him into coming along (I could use the
company for the long ride) but he had plans he could not change. Too bad.
That would have been fun. Back to the story...)
I simply couldn't shell out the $ for another treat in the 911. The Audi
was an awesome car as well, and was very capable of hitting a 235 KMH (147
MPH) cruising speed. But the cruising part would come far after I departed
Munchen. There was traffic. Bad traffic. Like LA on the 405 in rush hour
kind of traffic. And rain, lots of rain. Things were not looking good for
my planned early arrival.
But, after about 1.5 hours, things did open up a bit - and there were
several stretches of dry, clear pavement to hit "maximum cruising speed."
One thing I learned about the German Autobahn is that there are areas with a
speed limit. Quite a few areas actually. But when you hit the "All clear"
zones - the Germans instinctively press their right foot firmly - down.
Hard. I essentially tried my best to keep up with a BMW M3 that was leading
me most of the way to Frankfurt. Now I was having some fun. (not quite 911
fun - but very fun nonetheless)
After about 5.5 hours, I arrived at my destination in Frankfurt. After
several "Spraken zie English?" inquiries, I was directed to the Festhalle
where our heroes were playing that night. I parked the car in the Marriott
hotel across the street from the hall, and began so "scope things out - per
the Jordan method." What I found did not resemble the US experience at all
from what I can tell. Let me explain - and yes - this story has a happy
ending.
As I walked across the street to the concert hall, I saw a gentleman holding
the typical cardboard sign - only this one said "Sucke Karten." I may not
have the spelling right - but you get the idea. After initiating a
conversation, I learned that this fine gentleman had tickets in section "F"
for 50 Euros. (Less than face value by a couple of Euros.) Section "F" was
"OK" and since I had planned on having to spend more - a lot more possibly -
for good seats, I bought the ticket. Now I was "in" regardless of whatever
"upgrades" I could find. (So from your perspective I guess that I "caved
in" the moment I approached the venue...don't be disappointed in me...) I
viewed this purchase as cheap insurance. After what I had been through, and
how far I had traveled, this was a no-brainer.
Next, I approached the ticket window. To my surprise and horror, I saw A
MOB of people. I mean a BIG mob of people. I pushed my way up to the side
of the ticket window (it's about 6:30 at this time) and saw a stack of
tickets on the counter being sold in section "L." So, I thought my initial
purchase was a pretty good thing. But everyone at the window wanted the
floor "seats."
That's when I learned something totally new about the German concert
experience. (And why the Jordan method might not work here...) You see,
the Germans don't apparently like "seats." And, that's what I had bought -
a seat - in the balcony. The balcony seats wrapped around the sides and
back of the venue overlooking the "good seats." (i.e. the floor - with no
assigned seats, and nothing holding the crowd back from our heroes but some
big nasty looking Germans and a small security barrier.) The balcony
sections started on Stage left (Alex) in section "A" and then bounced over
to the other side of the venue (Geddy) section "B", then back over to Alex
"C" etc.... You get the idea. So section "F" was about mid-way back on
Geddy's side. This simply would not do. I had to do better.
I tried the "Jordan" method - to no avail. (content deleted! - ED.)
Next, I went to observe the "search" procedure - to see just how thorough
the search actually was. To my utter disappointment, they were searching
people like - well - like Germans. They were being very efficient and
extremely thorough. There was no way my HP945 was getting in. No way at
all. This is not a small camera. I even went into the bathroom and stuffed
the thing under my crotch to see if that would fly. No way. The last thing
I wanted to have happen was for some big German security dude to run his
hands up my thighs and feel something hard lurking at the top.... That
would not be cool.
So, I had to walk back to the car and ditch the camera - and grab the
binoculars. Oh well. On my way back across the street to the venue again -
I see another (now familiar) sign. So, I stopped and asked what this fine
gentleman had - and what he wanted for them. To my utter shock and
surprise, he offered me Section "A" seats for 60 Euros. Done. Sign me up.
After going through the "search"(and there was NO WAY I would have made it -
sorry Jordan - I was looking forward to more pictures myself) I went to my
assigned seat. Holy vacant seats batman! There was VITRUALLY NO ONE, in my
assigned section. So, I went right up to the second row in the balcony
section "A" and there I was. About 10 feet up from the floor - and about 20
feet away from Alex. I was as close as we were in the Hollywood bowl. That
was the spot I would stay in for the duration of the show - unchallenged -
despite the fact that this section did fill up before the show began. So,
there I was - up close real seats - with thousands of happy Germans. (And
Brits/Czechs/Other unknowns...)
Now for some inside information:
You may have heard that Rush was going to film one of their German concerts.
Well, this was the one. Only, it wasn't "just a film" - this was a full-on
12+ camera shoot. It was huge. There was no way (in my opinion) that this
shoot was done only for a video of one song. They filmed the whole show-
with sweeping audience pan shots, in your face shots of Neil's handwork and
footwork, the whole nine yards. I'm thinking there has to be another
concert DVD somewhere on the horizon. And, guess what - if that happens -
I'LL BE IN IT! Now that would be cool.
Now let's talk show:
Ok, the intro film starts - Jerry Stiller is talking up on the huge screen -
with German subtitles. That was funny. The crowd loved it of course. Then
things kicked off.
As usual, the boys did a fantastic job. There were no variations from the
set list that I can recall, and the show was awesome. And loud. It turns
out that my seat was about 12 feet from the left speaker stack. Ouch. And
there I am with no earplugs - I knew I forgot something. Ouch. What? Huh?
What? (I said that a lot the following day at the Oktoberfest) From my
vantage point, I could literally see every stroke that Neil took. I could
see each movement of his limbs. His limb independence is amazing. I never
realized how HARD he hits the drums. Every beat. He was working hard, and
had his usual stoic expression - until the YYZ "dryer start up." Here come
two dudes across the stage in HUGE sombrero-type Pirate Hats. Neil is
cracking up, Alex is cracking up, Geddy is cracking up. The guys in the
hats take clothes out of the dryer and hold them up (so the crowd can see I
gather) and act like they're ringing the shirts out. One guy actually
cleans out the lint trap - what had real lint in it. (I can't remember if
these guys or some other guy cleaned out the lint trap - but rest assured -
it got cleaned out.) At any rate, these two guys were up there for a long
time.
There was a slight problem with the pyrotechnics during the "One Little
Victory" intro. One of the flamethrowers did not go off on cue, but went
off a few seconds after the others. So, there was this wall of flames, and
then one lonesome flame. Oh well, everything can't be perfect.
During the show, Neil did two stick tosses, but only caught one. (I can
hear him saying to himself, "Just don't suck," while he executes these feats
of dexterity.)
During the intermission, I was scanning the venue with my binoculars, and
low and behold - what do I think I see - yes, there in the balcony behind
the stage - a dark figure - wait - two dark figures hiding in the shadows.
I can almost swear it was Neil sitting next to someone - a woman - talking
in the darkness. Just before the intermission ended, Neil jumps up and runs
rapidly away down the stairs. I'd bet money that Neil was talking to his
wife Carrie up there - sharing just a moment of personal time out of the
limelight. (Well, okay - out of any light.) Let them have it - they
deserve it.
Back to the show - and part II events:
The drum solo was fantastic - but not quite as good as the Irvine show.
(Remember, "We can play like that - we just don't want to...") What was
interesting was that post solo - and during the "Resist" acoustic number,
Neil remained backstage talking with Lorne (his drum tech). As I recall, he
left the stage at the Hollywood Bowl and at Irvine. Whatever, I guess that
does not matter at all. At any rate, they were both smiling and laughing.
Neil was wiping down with a towel - and Lorne was - well - sitting there
giving Neil whatever he needed I guess.
Alex's rant during LaVilla was a universally understood "LA LA" and "Grunt
Grunt" vocal arrangement uniquely assembled as only Lerxst can... I'm sure
he went that route to please German and English/other speaking audience
members alike....
When it came to the end (please don't let it end) the shirts came out of the
dryers, and Geddy/Alex began tossing them out - with one minor mishap. As
Alex tossed out a shirt, it landed squarely - on the camera boom for the
left front rig. There it hung, a few feet above the crowd, with the mass of
humanity jumping and grabbing for it to no avail. Finally, the camera
operator lowered the boom to a level that the crowd could reach, and it was
immediately grabbed - by two people. Then the fight ensued. Pulling,
stretching - finally ripping. The victor proudly put on his hard one trophy
(one he won by stealing from a LADY) immediately, displaying his sleeveless
prize. Pretty sad. Be a gentleman - you jerk.
At long last, it was time to go back to Munchen - having had a wonderful
time on a great adventure in a foreign land. So, how much traffic could
there be at 11:30PM? As it turns out - not much. Once I was out of
Frankfurt - the roads were very clear. Time to go 235KPH again. And again,
and again. I made it back to Munich (about 251 miles in a little over 2 3/4
hours. Now that was fun.
Talk to you later.
Best, Paul