Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[Nick]

Really fun evening of Rush music last night! the Keswick was packed with die hard Rush fans, many of them sporting their really cool Rush gear. I broke out my R40 jersey that I don't wear very often.
The first set was YYNOT performing some great Rush covers as well as a few originals. I was really impressed with Patty, the singer. She had a very powerful voice and brought great energy to the classic songs I have loved for so long. She had a great stage presence and danced around all night, really looking like she was loving it.
The second set kicked off with John Wesley and Frank Bello joining the band (drummer and singer) for 2 songs. Next was Joe Bergamini  drums for 2 songs followed by Seven Antonopolos who was a beast on drums. Next up was Jason Bittner who was really powerful on the drums. When you see top level musicians playing Rush you can really see just how hard this music is to replicate properly! Somewhere in here was Jon Dinklage who guested on violin for a really great version of Losing It. The last guest drummer was none other than Mr. Mike Portnoy who garnered a great crowd response. I could feel his anxiety as they kicked off 2112. He motioned to the YYNOT guys  that he wanted to have a visual on the syncopated beginning and they both turned around to play to the crowd! I'm sure he didn't want to be the guy that messed up a NP part! It turned out great though. Michael Mossberg came out and said a few words about donating to Cedar Sinai as well as the bass player giving a few shout outs but it would have been nice to have a few NP visuals and maybe have the guests say a few words about Neil. I wanted to get a shirt but the merch line was crazy going in and even crazier after the show as all the musicians were making themselves available to meet the fans. I will just make a donation on line.
Overall a great evening and i would definitely see YYNOT  next time they make their way through the area.

I generally love the Keswick, but if there are a few downsides, the congestion around the merch/bar areas can be rough, and the bathroom situation is always especially atrocious.

Given this was originally YYNot show turned tribute, not surprised that there was no extra visual setup, but am surprised that no one had any short tributes about Neil. Especially from guys like Wesley and Portnoy who actually knew him.

But I had a great time, whole band was great, got a few deep cuts to actually be excited about, and the guests did a great job.

[frogprog]

Absolutely correct about the short comings of the theater. The seats are like something from my high school auditorium  40 years ago!! I tend to overlook some of the deficiencies as the theater is 5 minutes from my house and I am lucky to have seen so many great shows locally. Great show. Thanks for posting set list. During  the show I'm so into it and then when I get home I'm like " wait...what songs were played?!"

[KevShmev]

Nothing from the last 30 years of their 40-year history played?  Ugh, how boringly predictable.

[Nick]

Nothing from the last 30 years of their 40-year history played?  Ugh, how boringly predictable.

They had one very small keyboard on stage and pedals. My guess is that's the era they naturally keep themselves to in a technical standpoint, not a snub towards newer material.

[ReaperKK]

Wait john Wesley was there? The same John that toured with Porcupine Tree?

[HOF]

Wait john Wesley was there? The same John that toured with Porcupine Tree?

Yeah, he and Neil became buds. I believe they used to ride motorcycles together. He’s also covered some Rush tunes in the past.

[pg1067]

I saw the video of MP with Billy, Tim and Patty for 2112 and La Villa.  Great stuff.  I also saw video for Losing It.  Absolute tear jerker.

YYNOT never fails to impress.

[DTA]

Nothing from the last 30 years of their 40-year history played?  Ugh, how boringly predictable.

Yeah it bums me out when I see a tribute band just doing the same shit live the original band did. This is your chance to throw a bone to die-hards who never got to see stuff like Prime Mover or Chain Lightning or Cut To The Chase or Vapor Trail but it's just the same old late 70's/early 80's stuff Rush beat into the ground over the years. I like YYNOT's original stuff a lot but I think they could easily expand their live set to cover more ground.

[pg1067]

This is similar to the argument about Dream Theater set lists.  A small but vocal chunk of the hardcore fan base loves it when they pull out Don't Look Past Me and could live without ever seeing Pull Me Under again, but the majority of the crowd is going to stare blankly at DLPM and wants to see PMU.

Same with tribute bands.  If you nix The Spirit of Radio in favor Prime Mover, you might make a few folks happy, but you're going to cause more casual fans to stare blankly and cause folks like me (who think Prime Mover sucks) to be annoyed.

In the case of YYNOT, and putting aside a unique situation like Bubba Bash, they're looking to reduce the number of Rush songs and build up to mostly originals (at least that's my understanding).

[DTA]

I saw a Rush tribute band play in Delaware a few years ago that would do some fun, obscure stuff. You know what song got an insane amount of applause and cheers from the audience? Half The World. That stupid ass song got the entire crowd going wild, probably because of how unexpected it was. I don't like it much, but goddamn I was excited to hear it anyway. If people are seeing a Rush tribute band, I'd have to imagine they're beyond the point of casual and have a good grasp on most of the catalog. I get it, Tom Sawyer and The Spirit of Radio might get some more attention because they're well-known, but they're a tribute band. They have no responsibility or obligation to play the hits, they can do whatever the hell they want.

[KevShmev]

Rush has enough mainstays from the classic era that you could leave a few out.  The casual fans would still be happy if they got 2112, Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio and Closer to the Heart.  I am not saying to bust out a deep cut like Prime Mover or Double Agent, but I would imagine songs like Dreamline, Time Stand Still, Headlong Flight and Leave That Thing Alone would go over pretty well.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I want YYNOT to do Available Light.

[Lethean]

Rush really should have played Available Light.  One of their best songs.

[jammindude]

Rush really should have played Available Light.  One of their best songs.

Even on the Presto tour, I’m certain that there was some question of whether Geddy could hit that note every night consistently throughout an entire tour.

[Lethean]

Yeah, but... Wouldn't there have been more questions about him hitting notes from 2112 and Xanadu, etc.  I think they could have found a way to play it.

[KevShmev]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

[HOF]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

Neil spoke highly of the song (and Geddy’s performance) in one of his books (Traveling Music I think).

[Kram]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

Neil spoke highly of the song (and Geddy’s performance) in one of his books (Traveling Music I think).

Probably a combination of factors (Geddy's ability to hit the high note, piano featured heavily in the song, band not as high on it as the fans) led to them not playing it live.  It's probably one of those songs that's just hard to recreate live properly.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Another "last song of the album" that I would love to hear live is We Hold On. Imagine how heavy it would sound!

[HOF]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

Neil spoke highly of the song (and Geddy’s performance) in one of his books (Traveling Music I think).

Probably a combination of factors (Geddy's ability to hit the high note, piano featured heavily in the song, band not as high on it as the fans) led to them not playing it live.  It's probably one of those songs that's just hard to recreate live properly.

Yeah, that’s a good point about the piano/keys. Not sure they couldn’t have triggered some of it like they did other keyboard heavy tracks, but probably all of that and Presto being nobody’s favorite (the band that is, I love it) probably kept them from ever considering it.

[pg1067]

Someone did a closing track survivor on the Rush subreddit.  It stalled out about a week ago, but the results of the first seven rounds were

...
14T. In the End
14T. Everyday Glory
15. You Bet Your Life
16. High Water
17. We Hold On
18. Out of the Cradle
19. Carve Away the Stone

I was seriously bummed to see Out of the Cradle go out so early and to see In the End and Everyday Glory go out while Mystic Rhythms and The Garba...err...Garden remain.

Also, I believe that In the End was the only one of the eliminated songs to have been played live.

[Lethean]

I think You Bet Your Life should have gone out in the first round.

But The Garden rules.

[Lethean]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

Neil spoke highly of the song (and Geddy’s performance) in one of his books (Traveling Music I think).

Probably a combination of factors (Geddy's ability to hit the high note, piano featured heavily in the song, band not as high on it as the fans) led to them not playing it live.  It's probably one of those songs that's just hard to recreate live properly.

Yeah, that’s a good point about the piano/keys. Not sure they couldn’t have triggered some of it like they did other keyboard heavy tracks, but probably all of that and Presto being nobody’s favorite (the band that is, I love it) probably kept them from ever considering it.

I think it's probably a combination of all that like Kram said.  It's really just a shame though. 

[Kram]

Someone did a closing track survivor on the Rush subreddit.  It stalled out about a week ago, but the results of the first seven rounds were

...
14T. In the End
14T. Everyday Glory
15. You Bet Your Life
16. High Water
17. We Hold On
18. Out of the Cradle
19. Carve Away the Stone

I was seriously bummed to see Out of the Cradle go out so early and to see In the End and Everyday Glory go out while Mystic Rhythms and The Garba...err...Garden remain.

Also, I believe that In the End was the only one of the eliminated songs to have been played live.

I always really liked Everyday Glory

[HOF]

Someone did a closing track survivor on the Rush subreddit.  It stalled out about a week ago, but the results of the first seven rounds were

...
14T. In the End
14T. Everyday Glory
15. You Bet Your Life
16. High Water
17. We Hold On
18. Out of the Cradle
19. Carve Away the Stone

I was seriously bummed to see Out of the Cradle go out so early and to see In the End and Everyday Glory go out while Mystic Rhythms and The Garba...err...Garden remain.

Also, I believe that In the End was the only one of the eliminated songs to have been played live.

I always really liked Everyday Glory

I’m a big fan of Every Day Glory as well as Carve Away The Stone and High Water.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I think it is possible, probably even more than likely, that no one in the band had the affection for the song that many fans do.  If so, they probably would have found a way to play it at some point, high note or not.  I don't recall ever seeing any of the three saying anything about the song in any interviews, so I would say there is a good chance they simply viewed it as one of their solid cuts from a later album, and it's clear that they weren't one of those "let's put one of the best songs in the last spot on the album" bands considering only one album after 1985 saw its last song ever played live (The Garden from Clockwork Angels)

Neil spoke highly of the song (and Geddy’s performance) in one of his books (Traveling Music I think).

Probably a combination of factors (Geddy's ability to hit the high note, piano featured heavily in the song, band not as high on it as the fans) led to them not playing it live.  It's probably one of those songs that's just hard to recreate live properly.

I honestly don't think there was any song in Rush's catalog that they could reproduce live and do it justice. Instrumentally, the band was just on another level from other bands up to the day they called it quits. I mean, obviously health issues were starting to take a toll on Neil and Alex being able to perform at such a high level night after night.

[Stadler]

I think You Bet Your Life should have gone out in the first round.

But The Garden rules.

No offense, Lethean, but The Garden might be the most over-rated* song in the Rush catalogue.




* We had a debate as to what "over-rated" meant, and for me, here, that means the disparity between what the fanbase says about the song versus where it places in the grand scheme of things in the catalogue, all in my humble opinion. 

[pg1067]

I think You Bet Your Life should have gone out in the first round.

But The Garden rules.

No offense, Lethean, but The Garden might be is, without question, the most over-rated* song in the Rush catalogue.

ftfy

Maybe one day I'll hear it, but I really don't get it.

[Lethean]

My sympathies.

[emtee]

I love The Garden and happen to think it's  a fitting closer to a career.

[Stadler]

I love The Garden and happen to think it's  a fitting closer to a career.

It may be, third only to "Fading Lights" by Genesis (marred by the presence of Calling All Stations, but I'll credit Phil for knowing it was it) and "Adiós" by Glen Campbell (released barely two months before his passing from Alzheimers).   But it's still overrated. 

[Kram]

I love The Garden and happen to think it's  a fitting closer to a career.

I agree emtee.  Is it one of their best songs ever?  No, definitely not.  Is it a poignant closing song to a 40+ year career (and a very good song at that)? Yes

[hunnus2000]

I love The Garden and happen to think it's  a fitting closer to a career.

It may be, third only to "Fading Lights" by Genesis (marred by the presence of Calling All Stations, but I'll credit Phil for knowing it was it) and "Adiós" by Glen Campbell (released barely two months before his passing from Alzheimers).   But it's still overrated. 

I agree that it's The garden is a fitting closer to their career but I find it unnecessary to compare it to other bands careers.

[Nick]

I love The Garden and happen to think it's  a fitting closer to a career.

I agree emtee.  Is it one of their best songs ever?  No, definitely not.  Is it a poignant closing song to a 40+ year career (and a very good song at that)? Yes

I mean, I think this is the song's floor, the minimum I could say about it. I happen to love it, as I do most of that album.

[Cool Chris]

The Garden is the right song, on the right place, on the right album, at the right point in a band's career. Sometimes all those stars aligning give a song a significant boost.

The Endless River ruined what should be the flag bearer for elite level final songs on a band's final album.