Review: Rush

Photos by Garvey Scott/The Star

The opening music for Rush’s Thursday night gig at Starlight -- early ‘70s album tracks by Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson -- set the profoundly nostalgic tone which seems to be the theme of its “Time Machine Tour.” 

Yet, despite the group’s cultural (or just cult) cachet, Rush's music has never really had much in common with those Euro-prog giants. Rush’s ambitions are distinctly North American and more about solo-sport athleticism. And whatever its aspirations, they are nearly always subsumed by simple compositional frameworks that provide the maximum spotlight time to each band member -- singer-bassist-keyboardist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer Neil Peart — without really departing from the 3-minute pop song, even when they double or triple that length. 

For a group whose self-consciously nerdy-fanboy status is based primarily on its alleged intelligence and complexity, Rush’s actual material is distinctly middlebrow stuff, a mix of smarter-than-average arena rock with a streamlined, vaguely New Wave aesthetic. 

As on other stops of their current tour, the group played two sets (each about 70 minutes and separated by a 15-minute intermission), the second of which began with the entirety of their now-30-years-old "Moving Pictures." 

Though the career-spanning setlist was surely pure fantasy for die-hards, the length and breadth of the show did the group no favors in the eyes and ears of this unconverted writer. While their skills are basically undiminished, almost two and a half hours of solid playing took an obvious toll on Lee’s voice, and Peart’s youthful tendency to rush has been replaced by an occasional drag; as ever, his fills end when they end, and the downbeat is wherever he says it is. 

Speaking of those fills, each was precisely as recorded over the course of the last three and a half decades, and a troubling automatism underlay both sets. Rush is the only band I've ever seen whose use of pre-recorded elements (the odd keyboard part or backing vocal) is a problem, not because those recordings stick out as glaringly artificial but because they actually seem no less like production-line premeditation than the supposedly "live" content. 

About half an hour into the first set, I realized I was sitting next to Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who air-drummed literally every one of Peart’s fills, each performed to sterile perfection and utterly lacking in the spontaneity that makes live music a worthwhile proposition.

The virtual-lip-synch element of the whole thing was less in evidence during the "Moving Pictures" set, which perhaps ironically featured the group’s most spirited playing: “The Camera Eye” in particular sounded lean and hungry. 

That a 30-year old track far outstripped its recent contemporaries, however, presents the problems both of a career-spanning retrospective show by a band whose stylistic gradations are miniscule at best and of the live-or-Memorex approach to studio re-creation.

Left to fend for themselves exactly as recorded, the roughly two-dozen songs tended toward an indistinct haze, and the new material didn’t fare well in such a setting. It was an especially ill-advised choice to set back-to-back “Faithless” and “Brought Up to Believe (BU2B),” both written within the last three years, both with similar lyrical themes and both with almost identical choruses. 

At best, the band’s mechanical precision evoked the postmodern sterility that is one of Peart’s lyrical fixations (“Subdivisions,” the aforementioned “The Camera Eye”); at worst, the triviality of older material highlighted the lack of progress in more recent stuff: "Freewill” and “2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx” are as preposterous as ever.

That the band is still playing both is either the product of continued dedication to the material, outright cynicism, fan loyalty, or all three. And which of those factors holds most sway is perhaps unimportant in a live show that, quite frankly, might have been quite as well performed by a CD player plugged into the theater’s P.A. 

Everyone miming Peart’s fills, stroke for stroke, and singing along with Geddy Lee surely owns the records. Why, then, their evident delight in paying $50 essentially to witness the records being played back while the creators nod approvingly? 

| Michael Judge, Special to The Star

Set 1: The Spirit Of Radio; Time Stand Still; Presto; Stick It Out; Leave That Thing Alone; Workin' Them Angels; Faithless; BU2B; Freewill; Marathon; Subdivisions.

Intermission

Set 2: Tom Sawyer; Red Barchetta; YYZ; Limelight; The Camera Eye; Witch Hunt; Vital Signs; Caravan; Love 4 Sale; Closer To The Heart; 2112 Overture / Temples Of Syrinx; Far Cry 

Encore: La Villa Strangiato; Working Man

Comments

[five]

1
Interesting review, thanks for speedy post. Good job, but I am afraid the RushNerds will be asking for your head, but that is a small price to pay for printing the truth.

2
"Moving Pictures" only has 7 songs on it? I thought "Black and Blue" owned the "fewest songs on an album" record.

3
Did they have to use the ole "broom stick trick" or was Geddy hitting the high notes without it?

4
Where is the Jon Dee Graham review? did the Star cover his show?

[James Millsap]

For those interested in an objective viewpoint, Judge's ineptitude as a reviewer is glaringly obvious...perhaps he will eventually explain how a drummer who ends fills and places downbeats 'wherever he wants them' can be reconciled with a band 'playing robotically' or 'too closely mirroring the recorded versions of their songs.' Ridiculous (both the review, and the Star printing it). The most talented rock band in history just played a fantastic show ("Freewill" alone contains more musical/compositional complexity and lyrical/intellectual richness than the entire catalogs of U2 and REM combined...or any other pop garbage band), yet Judge is still pining away for the next American Idol winner, or perhaps the next campish Euro-hipsters...what a shame.

[David]

See, that's the point- they do it live. That's the enjoyment of it. Am I biased? Yes- next Wednesday will be my 28th time seeing them. I figure, as long as they don't retire, I won't either.

Trust me-- if you don't want to be a fan, then don't. It's not going to change anything for the vast majority of those who are.

[Noah Fecks]

It's amazing how far a thesaurus and a $50 journalism degree can get you in Kansas City. I'm willing to bet probably not the same 40 year career with the substantive body of work that only Rush has produced. Maybe you should focus on things with which you actually possess a modicum of knowledge, because it's painfully apparent that music is not one of those areas.

[Sarah]

Perhaps this quasi-vitrolic rant of a review is due to the lack of talent and integrity possessed by the writer...yes, talent and integrity, the two keystones most evident in the forty year career of this incredible band...the writer sounds like a tired clone of the anti-intellectual "Rolling Stone" crowd that despises anything that isn't simplistically packaged for the the average (or worse) masses.

[Jay]

Um, if the reviewer actually attended/listened, and did some research, he would have to admit that the versions of several songs performed strayed widely from the recorded versions...see, "Working Man" was not recorded as a partially reggae song...and "Red Barchetta" doesn't dampen down during the final measures of the 7/8 instrumental section (not, obviously, that this reviewer would know anything about music theory)...and "La Villa Strangiato" actually was recorded with a classical guitar intro...I could go on, but why bother? For those interested in a neutral point of view, the show was excellent (particularly the second set), and the band could only be faulted for including a couple of less popular/obscure songs in their set selection ("Presto" and "Faithless"). Seeing Rush live one time is worth a lifetime of seeing the detritus that this writer normally promotes.

[five]

Oh my, it appears the RushNerds may ask for more than your head, but still, a small price to pay for printing the truth.

[trainor]

too bad tim finn or bill brownlee didn't cover this one. i wasn't there, but this review made the concert sound cheap and mechanical. i'm sure that wasn't the case, as evidenced by several posts, particularly jay's.

[Gary Dean]

Another Great show, and I got a boot of it
musicatto@hotmail.com

[Joel]

Jay is absolutely correct. Several songs where changed from the original. This doesn't touch the fact Alex Lifeson changed minor parts in YYZ and La Villa Strangiato. I would like to know why Judge wants ANY band to play sub par live. Yes, Rush sounds live a lot like they do recorded, and isn't that what you pay to hear. That assertion a band should screw up and be less than what the recording is absolutely absurd. Here is why other bands can't sound live like they sound recorded: they can't play it the way it was recorded. You can record parts a 1000 in the recording studio, and then the produce can rearrange, cut the best five notes from take 5 and the best ten 10 notes from take 500. RUSH can play the songs live, and no it wasn't flawless, but then Judge would have had to actually listened to the songs before hand. This review is just like everything else in this paper, biased against the subject. This is why the print edition keeps getting smaller and smaller. The journalism is sub par.

[wadkc]

Fantastic. One of the best Rush shows I've seen. My first 1978, with April Wine opening up is No. 2. A beautiful night, with great sound. I actually saw 2 things I had never seen at a Rush show. a) Neil actually smiled during the show B) He dropped a drumstick the first time he threw it up to catch it!

What? No mention of the hilarious videos? "Moving Pitchers" was a classic line.

"Unconverted writer" indeed. Either you "get it" when you first hear them or you don't. You don't get "converted".

How about the etching on the cymbals? Awesome. Best. Drum set. Ever. Copper? Cool....

[jfp]

My, my, my. Our local Rolling Stone wannabe reviewer strikes again.

You don't like Rush. That's fine. The band doesn't care, and neither do their fans.

Find another rock act that has accomplished what Rush has accomplished with the same lineup since 1974. Go.

[ABC]

I am still pissed at Bill Brownlee review of the Roger Daltry concert.
Now Michael Judge is on that list.
Maybe if Tim Finn is on vacation or can't do the review the star should just send a photographer to the show and print the setlist and let the fans do the review.

[Peter Buck]

James says of RUSH (whom I like):

"The most talented rock band in history just played a fantastic show ("Freewill" alone contains more musical/compositional complexity and lyrical/intellectual richness than the entire catalogs of U2 and REM combined."

I says Bullsh......!! Be a fan, praise your band, but don't spout nonsense like this, James.

.......BTW, the 150+ people at Knuckleheads last night were given a wonderful guitar symposium by Blues Rocker Ana Popovic and KC's own fretboard 'wunderkind', Samantha Fish. Just fantastic.

[Green]

People, its a review, you dont have to bash the guy who wrote it just cause he didnt think it was the most amazing show ever, its opinion, your acting like he blasted your mom and dad. And dont like like tim or bill would have saved the day, they both get trashed time and time again ... foolishly for the same reasons, they didnt like the show as much as you.

[kathy]

Review fits the time machine theme. The more things change the more they stay the same. Havent we all been through this before? RUSH is outstanding and still moves us, let them all make there own music and the critics be damned.

[Ditto-head]

Rush’s actual material is bombastic, pretentious, pompous and self-consciously nerdy-fanboy status is based primarily on its alleged intelligence and complexity, Rush is distinctly middlebrow stuff.

Got to admit when I read this I thought the reviewer was describing Rush Limbaugh!

[?]

Mr. Judge,

How many people were in attendance?

[david]

"About half an hour into the first set, I realized I was sitting next to Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who air-drummed literally every one of Peart’s fills, each performed to sterile perfection and utterly lacking in the spontaneity that makes live music a worthwhile proposition." - Sounds like someone was really enjoying the concert, while somone else (a self-admitted 'uncoverted') was sitting on his hands, fuming that the boys just weren't ragged enough.

One of those people is a musician, the other a writer.

[foreal]

As a non-Rush fan; I can see how a non-fan could interpret Rush that way, partly in an effort to be non-conformist since Rush has so many die hard fans (sorta like somebody hating the New York Yankees) but you can't spin the fact that Rush is a great show.

[jfp]

Green - I've seen Rush quite a few times over the years and have read worse reviews than that. Whatever Judge thought of the show effects me in no way whatsoever. However, as a reviewer, he went to review a show of a band he obviously doesn't like in the first place. He's not reviewing the show, he's ranting on how much he thinks Rush sucks to begin with along with taking juvenile pot-shots at the fans. That's not a review, that's just a silly rant from a guy who thinks he knows more about music than everyone else.

[pellboy]

Good point, Green...just like with those who unwaveringly adore Rush, it's just this reviewer's OPINION that the show was precise to a fault. He prefaced it all by admitting he wasn't a big fan and although I did not attend this particular show, as a very casual observer/'fan' of this band and at the risk of getting blasted here, I tend to actually agree with some of his assessment regarding Rush in general. Not a hater, just someone who finds their sound and playing can border on tedious at times. Carry on.

[Performer]

It's been said that you get out of something what you put in-seemingly those guys put a lot in to what they do! The so-called critics who can't articulate that fact are simply missing out on something much bigger. It was great to see a terrific performance.

[Matt]

Anytime a less than glowing review is posted here the fanboys and fangirls come out of the woodwork to criticize the author.

If you want a biased review from a Rush fan, I'm sure there are some Rush message boards somewhere.

[SB]

For a music reviewer, it's surprising that Judge is apparently unaware that it is not uncommon for bands to tour with a backline keyboardist to cover the additional synth parts. The few mistakes in these lines last night, along with the changes in arrangements, improvised guitar solos (and drum fills), and alterations to the vocal lines, all point to the laziness of this journalist. It's fine if you don't like a band, but to make the sorts of claims you make in this review while obviously having failed to do your research just points out your failure to adhere to the rules of good journalism.
(BTW, I am indeed a long-time Rush fan, but I'm also a doctoral candidate in music, and the musical criticisms in this article are simply false. Maybe Judge needs to spend some time developing some honest ears.)

[rush fan]

Michael Judge is climbing down the ladder of credibility.
I prefer reviewers who don’t criticize a band’s songwriting, but instead focus on how well the music was performed and how the crowd reacted. But at least he admitted his anti-Rush bias up front.
The reviewer seems to have wanted more variation from the recordings, and he harps about Neil Peart’s fills being too accurate. Here’s the thing: Neil Peart is an undisputed God among rock drummers, and his fills have become Gospel, much like Randy Rhoads’ guitar solos. That’s why there are so many air-drummers at Rush concerts. The fact the Peart nails all those fills live, when many drummers could not, is a testament to his greatness.
Some other things the reviewer didn’t mention but should have:
— The enthusiasm of the first half was hampered by the fact that it was during daylight, and a few of the song choices were a little lackluster. The crowd reaction was much stronger in the second half.
— The size of the crowd was probably more than 7,000 out of a capacity of about 8,000. It was predominantly men, as evidenced by the long lines at the restrooms when the women’s room had none.
— The sound was good to very good, and it emphasized the guitar and bass, which had a more raw sound than the band’s recordings. I would have liked a little more emphasis on the snare drum and especially the kick drum.
— The single large video screen behind the band wasn’t nearly as good as the three separate screens used on the 2007 tour at Sandstone, which allowed each band member to be shown prominently at all times.

[jfp]

Matt - you are being too specific. All of Judge's reviews are wannabe tripe. It's obvious his biggest fan is himself.

[Matt]

Fair enough. I'm not familiar with any of his other reviews, so you may be right....it might be a trend of his. I'll take your word for it until I check out some of his other reviews.

I've just noticed a large amount of reviewer backlash on this site when a review isn't glowing and it typically comes from big fans of the band.

[jfp]

Well, sure.

[onthemark]

I will agree with Peter Buck, the show last night at Knuckleheads was great. Ana Popovic put on a blazing display of guitar skills.
Very entertaining all the way around.

As for Rush, sounds like the fans saw a much different show than the reviewer. Hard to beat live music played well, especially on a beautiful summer night at a gorgeous venue.

To each his own...

[Green]

Come on now, thats pretty funny!

About half an hour into the first set, I realized I was sitting next to Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who air-drummed literally every one of Peart’s fills, each performed to sterile perfection and utterly lacking in the spontaneity that makes live music a worthwhile proposition.

[Bill]

I thought it was great. I WANT the live version to sound like the recorded version.. I don't know what kind of credentials Judge has, but obviously he's not objective. Peart's fills were too accurate???? come on..... can't you do better than that?

[Luvedit]

Awesome show. I drove 4 hours from Branson, Missouri to see the show (and 4 hours home after) and was not disappointed. One would be hard pressed to find 3 musicians of this caliper who can still rock at their level.

[jfp]

Here's some irony for ya. In this review, right off the top Judge mentions Yes. Funny thing, almost exactly one year ago at this same blog, Judge reviewed the Yes show, where he commented...

"The worst is, yet again, what you’d expect: Carl Palmer, despite his unique sense of percussive composition and rangy dexterity, still can’t pin down a tempo for an entire song to save his life and still insists on the sort stick-twirling, cymbal-catching Gene Krupa gimmicks that probably would’ve thrilled Lawrence Welk but, coming from a 59-year old man who’s been doing them steadily since the Beatles’ jabs at Harold Wilson in “Taxman” were timely and daring, come off primarily as almost Classical gestures of pathos."

Translation: Carl Palmer - not mechanical enough. Neil Peart - too mechanical.

Then we have...

"Pixie-land aside, the young Wakeman consistently evinced dubious competence, rifling through simplified versions of his father’s keyboard runs using almost uniformly dreadful digital synth patches that sounded “hi-tech” at approximately the time you bought your first computer; Chris Squire sleepwalked through the same bass lines he’s been trundling out for forty years; and drummer Alan White, in brutal honesty, no longer seems capable of maintaining a solid rhythmic pulse for longer than a minute at a stretch—nearly everything started at recorded tempo and slowly slouched backed into the same three-toed sloth gait."

Yes - didn't sound close enough to the recording. Rush - sounds too much like the recording.

http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2009/07/review-yes-and-asia-at-the-uptown.html

Judge, you're a clown.

[mankvill]

Not a very good review, IMHO.

[five]

100% of RushNerds agree;
musicians of Rush's caliper are beyond mortal measurement....

....as the RushNerds demand blood with torches in hand they scream OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!

wow, no one could have seen this coming ; )

[five]

so when can we expect that review of Jon Dee Graham's show last night at Daveys?

[timekeeper]

Since we're in attack mode, what are we to make of this inconsistency:

"Peart’s youthful tendency to rush has been replaced by an occasional drag... "

Then, in the next graph:

"Speaking of those fills, each was precisely as recorded over the course of the last three and a half decades ... "

So, first he says Peart isn't on the mark, then he says he is.

[Herbert Morrison]

It's a terrific crash ladies and gentlemen. It's smoke and it's flames now and the frame is crashing to the ground......

Oh, the humanity
and all the passengers are screaming around here. I told you, I can't even talk to people whose friends are on there.

Ah! It's–it's–it's–it's o–ohhh! I–I can't talk, ladies and gentlemen. Honest, it's just laying there, a mass of smoking wreckage

[jfp]

Five, Judge could have been reviewing a Britney Spears-Lindsay Lohan-Lady Gaga menage a trois for all I care. As a reviewer, he's worthless.

[CV]

Great show.

Some get it, some don't.

As for this review, I wouldn't of expected anything less from the same guy who reviewed the last Yes show here in town.

He doesn't get it, but he's in good company.

Maybe some of his pain that he has written down came from some of those Rush nerds who kicked his ass back in high school after he dissed their favorite band.

Who knows. Who cares.

One thing that hardly ever gets mentioned by any reviewer is the band's great sense of humor and their complete lack of pretentiousness concerning their music and their skills and how they might take their musicianship seriously, they never seem to take the music business seriously.

Another great show, as usual, from the boys.

[huh?]

Did you compare Brittney Spears to Rush because they both use quite a bit of prerecorded bits live in concert? There is nothing wrong with that, everybody does it (like that girl on SNL) Ashley Simpson, sure she is like Rush, but who cares, it is all about the fans.

[CV]

I will add...

You know you're on the right track with your love for a band and their music, when most of the hanger-ons or should I say, non-musician's, in the music business hate your band.

I personally know many people who hate Rush. And those are just my friends. 99.9% of them have never heard any of the band's music other than what gets played on the radio.

This guy seems to be in the same boat. Too bad for him. He's missing out.

[CV]

I will add...

You know you're on the right track with your love for a band and their music, when most of the hanger-ons or should I say, non-musician's, in the music business hate your band.

I personally know many people who hate Rush. And those are just my friends. 99.9% of them have never heard any of the band's music other than what gets played on the radio.

This guy seems to be in the same boat. Too bad for him. He's missing out.

[MetalHEAD]

What a waste of digital space that review was....I honestly think that may have been the best Rush show out of the half-dozen I've seen going back to '81's Moving Pictures.

As we all (who were there) know, the REVIEWER really missed this one...hopefully the Star will learn to NOT send someone who cannot even write honestly about the show details. Well over half the songs (including many of the Moving Pictures cuts) WERE NOT played verbatim.

Come on, Tim....send a pro next time.

Sounds like the new stuff is gonna be HEAVY:)...

[Kenny Hines]

Mr. Reviewer...YOU are preposterous.

[H]

Last night's Rush show was a first for me on many levels. It was my first time seeing them live, the first major show for my son and the first time seeing someone wearing a Chewbacca T-shirt at a rock concert. I must say it was great to finally see Rush and have my nine year old son there with me. Unreal experience. Great weather and crowd. 2112 was sonic as was Working Man, further proving Rush still is and always will be a power trio.

[Triumph]

What do you get when you cross 7,000 RushNerds with 3 Canucks called Rush?

You get something
FOR ME TO POOP ON ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

oh ho ho ho ho, you RushNerds make me laugh so hard, thank you so much.

[Insult Comic]

..and by "laugh so hard"
of course I mean......

POOP SO HARD!!

[gonzo]

A better review of the show, courtesy of The Pitch, enjoy.

http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2010/07/rush_at_starlight.php