quote author=KevShmev link=topic=16371.msg1175606#msg1175606 date=1324964332]
Call me a party pooper, but unless the new album is a modern day Rush masterpiece that is accepted as such by most of the fanbase, casual fans included, I say, keep the number of songs from it down to no more than four or five. Bottom line is, too many new songs don't go over well with their crowds nowadays. As much as I like S&A, doing five songs in a row from it at the start of the 2nd set on both legs was a killjoy at both shows I went to (and I read it was similar at many other shows as well); the crowd was getting restless for something familiar by the 4th song.
When I saw Rush the first time it was my first time hearing a lot of Rush songs, whether they were familiar or not. I quite liked all the new songs they played and made me more and more convinced that they weren't a classic prog act just using new music as an excuse to tour. If the rest of the album lives up to Caravan and BU2B's level of quality I would have no problem with them playing the whole thing. Plus, all the S&A songs they played on that tour were fantastic.
I agree for the most part, but crowd energy is something that adds a lot to a concert, and having it sucked away because they are playing too many new songs is a bummer. I definitely want a handful of new songs, but the whole thing? No way. That would zap the life out of the crowd.
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I'm with skydivingninja on this one. The more new stuff, the better. I loved the Snakes and Arrows tour for that reason. Can't speak for the crowd, but my energy level as just as high if not higher for the Snakes and Arrows songs. I wish they had done the same thing with Vapor Trails.
RE: SuperconductorAs much as I love Presto, that tour was the least favorite that I've ever witnessed. I know they've said they they were inspired on that tour, but I guess that didn't tanslate well in my case.
RE: SectorsI wasn't planning on getting these, but the slightly different mixes on Hold Your Fire are far too tempting for me not to try and track down. I may just wait until they are released individually (probably within a year).
I haven't had the chance to read many reviews, but the ones I did read are mixed. Some love them and others hate them. It probably depends on if you are a fan of more high end, a fan of more low end, or a fan of more mid-range.