Despite those marathon songs that took up entire sides of their '70s albums,
Rush is not a jam band. In fact, almost every note they play in concert is
premeditated, which makes them one of the few ace live acts that truly
shines while simply parroting their records.
The sound and the playing are so good that it's easy to overlook the
Canadian trio's businesslike and rather distant stage manner. On the other
hand, this is a band that knows how to please its fans: Give them an
old-fashioned light show complete with cheesy green lasers, make good use of
the video screens, show a little humor, play lots of hits (and album cuts
coveted by the hard-core) and play 'em straight. Despite the calculation, it
all still works.
Generously celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Rush played about 30
songs over three hours and 20 minutes, with a 15-minute break. The show
began with a video that brought the band's album covers to life and also
included Jerry Stiller lamenting how "they never play 'Bangkok.' " Then the
band played an instrumental medley of oldies well known to the Rush faithful
but ignored by U.S. radio. They followed that with "The Spirit of Radio,"
which made them stars on the Stateside airwaves in 1980 but snipes at the
commerciality and closed-mindedness of radio. By opening with the nonhit
medley and the cynical FM staple, was Rush making a statement about the
squeezing of rock radio and the industry in general? Were they showing some
lingering bitterness abut not getting airplay early in their career? Or was
it merely a tool to fire up the crowd early?
Regardless, any perceived commentary stopped there. We got note-for-note but
entirely satisfying versions of "Subdivisions," "YYZ" and "Red Barchetta,"
during which Neil Peart blew one of his trademark stick tosses, to the
horror of the many air drummers who worship the Professor. Singer-bassist
Geddy Lee's voice hardly soared but deftly handled the old and newer songs,
and underrated guitarist Alex Lifeson made the most of his time in the
spotlight.
The band is touring behind "Feedback," its new Atlantic EP of late-'60s
covers that Lee said were "songs we struggled to learn as teenagers."
Playing other people's stuff is a brand-new thing for Rush, so it was
refreshing to hear "Summertime Blues," which artfully melded the versions by
Blue Cheer and the Who, along with takes on "The Seeker" -- which showed Who
bassist John Entwistle's influence on Lee's playing -- and Cream's
"Crossroads." Of course, there's not a lot of blues in Lee's voice, so
"Crossroads" had to stand on Lifeson's bracing guitar solo, which he
relished.
Also unique to this tour was a surprise bit of Rush unplugged as Lee and
Lifeson sat down for acoustic versions of "Resist" and a moving read on the
old Yardbirds nugget "Heart Full of Soul."
Rush must be one of the last surviving acts whose fans look forward to, even
demand, a seven-minute drum solo. Surrounded by his usual massive kit, Peart
didn't disappoint, playing portions from the various solos he has honed
throughout the years. If he's lost a step in his early 50s, it wasn't
apparent this night.
Two songs from Rush's 2002 "Vapor Trails" album stood among the litany of
hits: an almost funky "Earthshine" and "Secret Touch," whose bluesy intro
gave way to an "Achilles' Last Stand" riff. Conversely, a pair of mid-'80s
missteps -- "Between the Wheels" and "Mystic Rhythms" -- were rally killers
that sent many fleeing to the concession stands and restrooms.
Add the live prerequisites "Tom Saywer," "Xanadu," "La Villa Strangiato" and some "2112," and you have another triumphant show from a band that's been doing it as well as anyone for the past three decades.