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Topic ClosedRush at Wembley Arena Tues. 9th October

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mystic fred View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rush at Wembley Arena Tues. 9th October
    Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:00
A Gig and a Half !!
 
It's been over 20 years since I last saw Rush here at Wembley, and how far have the boys have come along in that time?....here we see a band still very much at the top of its game, using state of the art technology to spread its message, and thankfully still manages to send itself up occasionally!
 
The band played for three hours including a short break, no support, just gold-plated world class musicianship, some great songs and many interesting little excursions in between, making full use of the now obligatory triple screens above the stage - the backdrop films and animations during this and many other songs were excellent, and covered images from monkeys and apes to Gene Krupa during most of the songs, and a short introductory comic film introduced the guys and we were away...
 
Many claim "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures" are the band's greatest achievements, their set list drew heavily from these albums, featuring "Limelight", an extremely rousing version of "The Spirit of Radio/Freewill" ( the crowd  picked up their "concert hall" cue bang on time - the "Wembley Roar" has now taken on a new significance!) , "Entre Nous" a magical performance of "Natural Science", the grandiose "Witch Hunt" went down a storm, but among  the biggest crowd pleasers were "Tom Sawyer" which included a South Park gang "Lil' Rush" cartoon introduction, and a sparkling version of "YYZ" at the encore. Rush have such a huge back-catalogue of songs going back many years they could hardly leave out "Passage to Bangkok", and "Circumstances",  they also included later songs from the album  "Hold Your Fire", "Subdivisions" from "Signals", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" from the "Grace" album. The most anticipated songs of the night though were from the new album "Snakes and Arrows" featured throughout the show, this album has to be the best material the band have offered for some years.  Geddy's voice is still on top form, he only missed one top note the whole evening, and his lightning fast fingers never let him down.
 
Neil Peart delivered a fabulous drum solo, the most innovative i have seen in many years of drum solo watching - he appeared to have two kits back-to-back which rotated on a platform, two sets - traditional drums and electronic effects, all percussion with amazing results, followed by an acoustic guitar solo from Alex,  and for some dazzling guitar solos Alex Lifeson used mainly Les Paul guitars, among these a beautiful red sunburst, he also had an acoustic guitar mounted on a stand used during songs, being replaced with a mandolin during the second part of the show.  Geddy Lee had his trademark Jazz Bass for most of the show, changing it for a red one at one point, his keyboards and - his "Henhouse" ! Those in the know may be familiar with this particular piece of Geddy's stage rig, but the "Chickens" looked  very good to me! The sound quality at Wembley is often criticised, the building was originally designed for an Olympic swimming pool, so though the sound seemed to boom and reverberate round the Hall the band's overall sound was  clear and powerful.
 
On the first occasion I saw Rush I felt very privileged to be in the first few front rows, the band were right in front of me, I could see right up Geddy's shades, everyone was happy - but in these days of thousand-hits-a-minute online booking I'm somehow always destined to end up near the back - one can marvel at the Lighting effects from the rear of the Hall quite comfortably, maybe they're lost to those seated at the front! Wink  Tony R's excellent photographs from the Newcastle concert show the stage set out the same way that it was at  Wembley, a few rows from the front it would appear!
 
The boys were back in town, what a night - or as I heard one happy punter put it..... "a gig and a half!"........that it WAS! Big%20smile


Edited by mystic fred - October 11 2007 at 02:22
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:08
Great review Mystic Fred.  It sent a chill down my spine remembering the show here in Detroit in August.  The memories are still recent, but it is nice to have them refreshed.  I am glad that you enjoyed the show.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:13
They really played The Twilight Zone ???!?!?
Wish I could've seen that one live.
Great review btw !  Thumbs%20Up
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:13
Great review Steve!    Sounds like they were well and truly on form.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:14
^^^ fabulous review, Steve.....Clap
 
...I'm quite jeallous that they played 'Natural Science' (my Rush fave) and a raft from Permanent Waves/ Moving Pictures.... and I didn't hear it...Unhappy
 
another time, maybe....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:18
thanks guys, still a bit groggy after last night but i hope my memory still serves me well....Wink
btw see Tony R's photos from Newcastle gig Thumbs%20Up
 


Edited by mystic fred - October 10 2007 at 11:19
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:21
I don't remember them playing "The Twilight Zone".
 
Otherwise, great review Steve.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 11:52
Got my ticket today... Only two weeks to go! I can't wait to see them againSmile...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 13:37
Nice review Steve! Can't wait till next Tuesday in Rotterdam!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 13:44
Great review but they didn't play twilight zone.
Great to see Rush are still on top form, I thought the second half of the show is when it really took off.
Personal highlights were Natural Science,  Tom  Sawer,  Subdivisions and YYZ.
I thought Neil Pearts drum solo was excellent as well with some new stuff in it.
I wish I was there again tonight :(

BTW, is there any tech heads out there who could identify the keyboards Geddy was playing I know one was a Roland and the other was a Moog, just wondered what Roland and what Moog?

 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 14:56
That was a fabulous concert. Amazing.

Though I'm pretty sure  Alex played his acoustic solo piece after Peart's drum solo.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 15:06
well the concert seems to have been attended by a good number of PA members which is good to see - an exciting night, and i'm pleased you all spotted my deliberate mistakes! EmbarrassedWink
 
 
when i see DT on saturday i'll take my laptop along and do an online review Big%20smile
 ...i'll have to brush up on them though Embarrassed
 
 
 
 


Edited by mystic fred - October 10 2007 at 15:10
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 15:48
^^LOL

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 16:47
Splendid review Steve! I don't regret missing it though - me and Mrs Syzygy enjoyed a super game of Scrabble on the evening in question, which more than made up for it...Cry!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 16:56
Great review Steve, I'll forgive the song errors because you were so nice about my photos. next time take notes..Wink

I was pleasantly surprised as to how well the SnA songs came over and I believe that Far Cry will be in the set for many years.
How many bands would get the ultimate accolade of a South Park original sketch?

Anyone who imagines that Rush arent Prog any more should catch them live. The degree of musicianship is way ahead of all "rock" bands and the sophistication of the band's songs makes them unique. Rock bands and pop bands do not make this kind of music, I defy anyone to name a rock band (non Prog) that makes music as complex as this.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 16:58
Originally posted by progismylife progismylife wrote:

That was a fabulous concert. Amazing.

Though I'm pretty sure  Alex played his acoustic solo piece after Peart's drum solo.
 
 
noted and amended
thankyou! Thumbs%20Up
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 16:58
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

I don't remember them playing "The Twilight Zone".
 
Otherwise, great review Steve.
 
noted and amended
 
thankyou! Thumbs%20Up
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 17:03
Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Great review Steve, I'll forgive the song errors because you were so nice about my photos. next time take notes..Wink

I was pleasantly surprised as to how well the SnA songs came over and I believe that Far Cry will be in the set for many years.
How many bands would get the ultimate accolade of a South Park original sketch?

Anyone who imagines that Rush arent Prog any more should catch them live. The degree of musicianship is way ahead of all "rock" bands and the sophistication of the band's songs makes them unique. Rock bands and pop bands do not make this kind of music, I defy anyone to name a rock band (non Prog) that makes music as complex as this.
 
errors amended, i thank my colleagues for their adviceThumbs%20Up
Tony - do you know the story behind the "henhouse chickens"..?  Confused
 
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 17:21
Originally posted by mystic fred mystic fred wrote:

Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Great review Steve, I'll forgive the song errors because you were so nice about my photos. next time take notes..Wink

I was pleasantly surprised as to how well the SnA songs came over and I believe that Far Cry will be in the set for many years.
How many bands would get the ultimate accolade of a South Park original sketch?

Anyone who imagines that Rush arent Prog any more should catch them live. The degree of musicianship is way ahead of all "rock" bands and the sophistication of the band's songs makes them unique. Rock bands and pop bands do not make this kind of music, I defy anyone to name a rock band (non Prog) that makes music as complex as this.
 
errors amended, i thank my colleagues for their adviceThumbs%20Up
Tony - do you know the story behind the "henhouse chickens"..?  Confused
 
 


well as Geddy's amped directly into the PA he no longer needs a stack behind him. This leaves a space that needs to be filled and on R30 they had washer driers. Presumably Ged likes chicken (the pre-show film attests to this) so he hatched (Pinch) the idea of the chicken rotisseries. Those arent real chickens BTW..Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 17:49
I think the chickens are better than the washer driers. Mind you, I was a bit surprised when my mate turned and said "why is there a chef on the stage?".LOL
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