Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[pg1067]

I love History of the World: Part 1

Same.  I tried watching the second one that came out a few years ago and turned it off after about 20 minutes.  It was bloody awful.

[King Postwhore]

I love History of the World: Part 1

Same.  I tried watching the second one that came out a few years ago and turned it off after about 20 minutes.  It was bloody awful.

Thankfully, I did not watch it. 

[Setlist Scotty]

Dunno if they've been mentioned here before or not, but I just happened to come across this video of the drum solo from the tribute band "The Rush Experience" - pretty impressive, especially given that he has the electronic kit in the back on the rotating platform. Didn't expect that from a tribute band! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJcndVE5S08

I did check out a few other videos afterward. Looks like they used to be known as The Omega Concern and had a different guitarist. Props to them for doing it as a trio, although "Geddy"'s vocals aren't as strong as the real Geddy, or at the very least they don't cut through the mix as well. Nonetheless I'm still impressed.

[hunnus2000]

Dunno if they've been mentioned here before or not, but I just happened to come across this video of the drum solo from the tribute band "The Rush Experience" - pretty impressive, especially given that he has the electronic kit in the back on the rotating platform. Didn't expect that from a tribute band! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJcndVE5S08

I did check out a few other videos afterward. Looks like they used to be known as The Omega Concern and had a different guitarist. Props to them for doing it as a trio, although "Geddy"'s vocals aren't as strong as the real Geddy, or at the very least they don't cut through the mix as well. Nonetheless I'm still impressed.

Speaking of Tribute bands: we are going to see Thunderhead in St. Louis in March. I've seen a little of them (couldn't make it for the entire show a couple of years ago but they are indeed quite talented. They are a 3 piece and pull off their parts very well.

That said, I've always thought that being part of a Tribute band is a waste of talent but to each their own.

[Stadler]

Dunno if they've been mentioned here before or not, but I just happened to come across this video of the drum solo from the tribute band "The Rush Experience" - pretty impressive, especially given that he has the electronic kit in the back on the rotating platform. Didn't expect that from a tribute band! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJcndVE5S08

I did check out a few other videos afterward. Looks like they used to be known as The Omega Concern and had a different guitarist. Props to them for doing it as a trio, although "Geddy"'s vocals aren't as strong as the real Geddy, or at the very least they don't cut through the mix as well. Nonetheless I'm still impressed.

Speaking of Tribute bands: we are going to see Thunderhead in St. Louis in March. I've seen a little of them (couldn't make it for the entire show a couple of years ago but they are indeed quite talented. They are a 3 piece and pull off their parts very well.

That said, I've always thought that being part of a Tribute band is a waste of talent but to each their own.

It's big money, even if it isn't pure artistic creation.  Up this way (the northeast) tribute bands are a big deal.  "Get The Led Out" plays the same venue as Dream Theater has played for the last 18 tours (the Oakdale).   I've seen The Musical Box each of the last four tours they've done, and they've sold out every show.

[T-ski]

Bless those YouTube algorithms.....

Acoustic cover of "Tom Sawyer" that is most amazing.....

https://youtu.be/tU-FiFkwY3g?si=zZZzKAxzodWwhzJs

[Zydar]

An hour of Geddy's appearance at Massey Hall, together with Alex, on his book tour. A pro-shot video from CBC Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tm2oFOEtV0

I could listen to their banter forever.

[Anguyen92]

I thought I might share this.  I’m in a barcade in Cleveland and I found a Rush pinball machine.  It doesn’t work though!!!

[pg1067]

I thought I might share this.  I'm in a barcade in Cleveland and I found a Rush pinball machine.  It doesn't work though!!!

Nice!  Supposedly, there are a few in the OC.  There's a "locator" at the manufacturer's website.  I haven't gotten around to actually trying to find one.

[ytserush]

An hour of Geddy's appearance at Massey Hall, together with Alex, on his book tour. A pro-shot video from CBC Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tm2oFOEtV0

I could listen to their banter forever.

This is on a whole other level from the fan shot video that's out there from Massey Hall.

[coz]

An hour of Geddy's appearance at Massey Hall, together with Alex, on his book tour. A pro-shot video from CBC Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tm2oFOEtV0

I could listen to their banter forever.

Thanks Zydar.  That was a treat to watch. 

[ProfessorPeart]

Alex says he has no interest in touring.

https://guitar.com/news/music-news/alex-lifeson-rush-reunion-not-interested/

[devieira73]

Totally understandable. I just hope they still have interest in create new music together.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I wonder if they might ever do, like, a mini-tour where they play two nights in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles over a couple of weeks or something. Totally makes sense why Alex doesn't want to do a full tour though. Being 70 and just sitting around in random city hotels sounds kind of terrible.

[pg1067]

I could see some sort of residency.  Obviously, they should do whatever it is they want to do, but my personal preference would be that they leave the legacy as it is.

[hunnus2000]

I wonder if they might ever do, like, a mini-tour where they play two nights in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles over a couple of weeks or something. Totally makes sense why Alex doesn't want to do a full tour though. Being 70 and just sitting around in random city hotels sounds kind of terrible.

This would be ideal to me. Maybe somewhere between 8 and 10 shows spanning the States but they need to hit the mid-west! 

[ytserush]

Alex says he has no interest in touring.

https://guitar.com/news/music-news/alex-lifeson-rush-reunion-not-interested/

He's been that way. Apparently the hints weren't working. One-offs /special events still on the table.

[ytserush]

This guy should do all of their albums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUsP14tqt8


You may have already seen Permanent Waves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD5Xo1Tkh4U&list=PLZRfqz-isrWZGiIWulDs70qNcqniDEoXS&index=2

[Architeuthis]

This guy is absolutely amazing, what a great tribute to G.U.P. Has a great voice too. Thanks for the link..

[ytserush]

This guy is absolutely amazing, what a great tribute to G.U.P. Has a great voice too. Thanks for the link..

Totally. I wonder how long it takes to put something like that together.

[pg1067]

If GUP had actually been produced like this, Stads and I wouldn't bitch about it.

[Stadler]

If GUP had actually been produced like this, Stads and I wouldn't bitch about it.

100% percent.  I went right to what is for me the worst part of the record (that lame-o synth drum fill before the "I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gates..." section of Red Sector A) and while he still had a bit of effect on the drums, it was so much more powerful.  I love that version.

(And I was surprised; with these videos I almost ALWAYS have a problem with the vocals, but I really dug this guy's voice on this.).

Does he have a CD of this?

[romdrums]

Red Sector A gave me chills.  Holy shit this guy is good!

Also, that lefty Rick on The Enemy Within ain't cheap!

What's really interesting to me overall is that he plays drums right-handed, but guitar and bass left-handed. That's not a combination you see that often, if ever!

[TAC]

100% percent.  I went right to what is for me the worst part of the record (that lame-o synth drum fill before the "I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gates..." section of Red Sector A) and while he still had a bit of effect on the drums, it was so much more powerful.  I love that version.

I think that the recording of GUP is definitely a minus, but I've been able to cut right through it and recognize that I do like most of the songs that are buried there.

Somewhere In Time is Iron Maiden's Grace Under Pressure.

[pg1067]

Also, that lefty Rick on The Enemy Within ain't cheap!

What's really interesting to me overall is that he plays drums right-handed, but guitar and bass left-handed. That's not a combination you see that often, if ever!

Maybe he borrowed the bass from my namesake.  And how often do you see guys who play guitar/bass and also drums?

I think that the recording of GUP is definitely a minus, but I've been able to cut right through it and recognize that I do like most of the songs that are buried there.

When YYNOT started playing The Body Electric (a song I have always disliked), it really kicked in for me how much better GUP could have been with better production.  It really highlighted how bad a decision it was for Rush to completely cut ties with Terry Brown and Paul Northfield.

[The Letter M]

I've been listening to my live compilation of the GUP Tour, and it's amazing how much better the songs sounded in the live setting.

I'm still hoping for a GUP 40th Anniversary box set this year with a full GUP soundboard show included. That Tour is notable for being the last tour where the band played every new song live on that tour (all of which I've also included on my "Live In North America" compilation, which has songs from Toronto, Largo, and Milwaukee).

-Marc.

[HOF]

GUP sounding like the prior Rush albums would take away some of the character of that record that makes it what it is. It might have been fine like that, but I think the sound they got was perfect for the themes of the album and the time period. It would be boring if all the Rush albums sounded the same (which the Brown albums all generally did, with some notable improvements in quality over time).

[Puppies_On_Acid]

GUP sounding like the prior Rush albums would take away some of the character of that record that makes it what it is. It might have been fine like that, but I think the sound they got was perfect for the themes of the album and the time period. It would be boring if all the Rush albums sounded the same (which the Brown albums all generally did, with some notable improvements in quality over time).

I generally agree with the bolded part, with 2 exceptions. I wish Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angels sounded like the Terry Brown albums. That would have been a major improvement. I understand what happened (but not how it happened) with the Vapor Trails album. It was recorded too hot/loud and therefore the original masters were too loud. Only thing that would fix that is a re-record. I have no idea what happened with Clockwork Angels...

[HOF]

I generally agree with the bolded part, with 2 exceptions. I wish Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angels sounded like the Terry Brown albums. That would have been a major improvement. I understand what happened (but not how it happened) with the Vapor Trails album. It was recorded too hot/loud and therefore the original masters were too loud. Only thing that would fix that is a re-record. I have no idea what happened with Clockwork Angels...

Well, yeah, I think if you could have given it any sort of competent recording/mixing it would have been better. I'm talking more about the character of the sound than the quality of the sound if that makes sense.

[nick_z]

GUP sounding like the prior Rush albums would take away some of the character of that record that makes it what it is. It might have been fine like that, but I think the sound they got was perfect for the themes of the album and the time period.

Agree with this. I don't love the production on GUP, but at the same time I feel it fits it perfectly. What a fantastic album.

[Stadler]

GUP sounding like the prior Rush albums would take away some of the character of that record that makes it what it is. It might have been fine like that, but I think the sound they got was perfect for the themes of the album and the time period. It would be boring if all the Rush albums sounded the same (which the Brown albums all generally did, with some notable improvements in quality over time).

For me, I'm with you all. I really am.  I don't want all the Rush albums to sound the same.  And they don't.  And it's not the synths, or the Police-like (being kind) guitars.  I kind of really came to appreciate Alex on those records because it showed a real creativity to his playing, the way he adapted so completely to the music around him.

But p/g is the ONLY record in the Rush catalogue that utterly and completely emasculated the second best drummer in rock history.   For me, that is an unforgivable sin.   I get it when Bill Bruford did the electronic drum thing; it suited his style. I never thought of Bruford in the same way as I thought of Peart, Collins, Bonham or even his successor, Alan White.  I still always point to that one fill in Red Sector A before the "I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gates..."   FOR ME, that should have been EPIC.  I get it, artistic choices, and I wouldn't have that any other way, but that doesn't mean I have to love them. 

[ReaperKK]

This is probably a controversial take but a large chunk of Rush albums have terrible production and really do a disservice to the music.

[Architeuthis]

This is probably a controversial take but a large chunk of Rush albums have terrible production and really do a disservice to the music.

Kind of hit and miss. Vapor Trails is a casualty of bad production.  I like the sound of most of their albums but I know.what you mean. Thin sounding production in the late eighties at times. Also, their last album Clockwork Angels being a bit muddy sounding.
Also the Clockwork Angels tour was the worst live mix I've ever heard at a Rush concert. I wonder what the heck happened?? Neal's drum mix was muffled and undefined, same with the whole band. 

[pg1067]

This is probably a controversial take but a large chunk of Rush albums have terrible production and really do a disservice to the music.

I don't think I'd argue with that.  For years and years, Moving Pictures was the album I used to set levels on a stereo/graphic EQ.  Every instrument was perfectly audible and clear, and there was breathing room in the mix.  Signals wasn't quite as good, and then things went south when Terry Brown left.  Presto and the '90s albums were better, and the three 21st Century albums were not good (S&A was probably the best of the three from a production standpoint).  I think a lot of it had to do with Geddy's stylistic change where he started doing a lot more strumming (in addition to all the brickwalling that was happening), which took up a lot more space in the mix.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Neither here nor there, but my go-to album for balancing levels is, and always will be, Aja by Steely Dan. pg's post made me think of it