The TAC Top 25 Concert Countdown #1 Puttin' On The Ritz

[DragonAttack]

Dog, I wasn't getting laid either and I still went to the show. 

Who says I wasn’t at the time?😀  To this day, she is still my ‘sister’

[wolfking]

Killer photo at the end there. 

[TAC]

Dog, I wasn't getting laid either and I still went to the show. 

Who says I wasn’t at the time?😀  To this day, she is still my ‘sister’

[DragonAttack]

No no no. We never did ‘that’!  Silly gutter mind goose😀

[wolfking]

No no no. We never did ‘that’!  Silly gutter mind goose😀

I kinda read it the same way Tim did too lol.

[TAC]

20.          Rush
McAuley Schenker Group


December 3, 1987
Centrum, Worcester

Rush Setlist:
The Big Money
Subdivisions
Limelight
Marathon
Turn the Page
Prime Mover
Manhattan Project
Closer to the Heart
Red Sector A
Force Ten
Time Stand Still
Distant Early Warning
Lock and Key
Mission
Territories
YYZ
Drum Solo
Red Lenses
The Spirit of Radio
Tom Sawyer
2112 Part I: Overture
2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx
La Villa Strangiato
In The Mood


MSG Setlist:
Armed and Ready
Get Out
Gimme Your Love
Time
Courvoisier Concerto
Lost Horizons
Into the Arena
Rock Bottom






Here's footage of the show in Springfield Ma a month earlier..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehcyXELDCxM


This was the second night of a two night stand in Worcester. I was not into Rush during this era obviously. In fact, they played two nights in Providence a month earlier, which was so much closer to where I was at school. However, the day of the show a buddy and I decided last minute to go to the show just for something to do. So we packed a few bones and off we went.

I must say that I had such low expectations following my experience at the Power Windows show I saw. But this show had such a different vibe. The band seemed so into it. The Hold Your Fire material is actually quite catchy and the songs were great live. I had an amazing time, and I actually fell in love again with Rush that night. By the time Presto would come out, I was back to being a huge fan.

Opening the show was the McAuley Schenker Group. Being a huge UFO and Michael Schenker fan, this was no small thing. Michael Schenker is one of the musicians responsible for shaping my musical direction. It was short opening set, and they were promoting a disappointing album, but they played the best track, Get Out, off it and also the great Rock Bottom.

All around, an amazing night.

[King Postwhore]

Tim, if I remember,  there was a huge snowstorm that night as well. It was a scary drive to Worcester. 

[TAC]

Tim, if I remember,  there was a huge snowstorm that night as well. It was a scary drive to Worcester.

I don't remember. Did you go to that show or the first one?

[King Postwhore]

Went to both. I have a funny story about the mall across from the Centrum for the 1st show.

[TAC]

Went to both. I have a funny story about the mall across from the Centrum for the 1st show.

Of course you did.


A story? Let's have it!

[King Postwhore]

My buddy and I walked around the Mall. I see him walking to the information booth. We get their and he asked, "What's the diameter of the son."  The guy their, confused asked, "Why are you asking me this?"

My buddy says, "Aren't you you an information booth?"

The guy unleashes a billion swears telling us to go.   

[TAC]

My buddy and I walked around the Mall. I see him walking to the information booth. We get their and he asked, "What's the diameter of the son."  The guy their, confused asked, "Why are you asking me this?"

My buddy says, "Aren't you you an information booth?"

The guy unleashes a billion swears telling us to go.   

[DragonAttack]

No no no. We never did ‘that’!  Silly gutter mind goose😀

I kinda read it the same way Tim did too lol.

Didn't mean it that way, obviously

I'm an only child, with a half brother I met eons ago.  That female friend I mentioned was and is my best female friend, has been for almost four decades, and both my ex and current treat her as my 'sister'.  We've visited her home and spent the night, she's gone to sporting events and been the one of a few who have visited me since my move two decades ago.

But...if you perverts wish to dream......

[Lethean]

Yay, Rush.   I love all eras of Rush so I'd have loved that setlist.  I'm glad you enjoyed the set so much that it made you a fan again.

[DragonAttack]

My buddy and I walked around the Mall. I see him walking to the information booth. We get their and he asked, "What's the diameter of the son."  The guy their, confused asked, "Why are you asking me this?"

My buddy says, "Aren't you you an information booth?"

The guy unleashes a billion swears telling us to go.   

My wife's spell checker is blipping like crazy over this one, Joe!

[TAC]

My buddy and I walked around the Mall. I see him walking to the information booth. We get their and he asked, "What's the diameter of the son."  The guy their, confused asked, "Why are you asking me this?"

My buddy says, "Aren't you you an information booth?"

The guy unleashes a billion swears telling us to go.   

My wife's spell checker is blipping like crazy over this one, Joe!

Pretty sure I never said that.  Need to a quote checker. 

[King Postwhore]

Pretty sure you both suck at quoting. 

[wolfking]

Pretty sure you both suck at quoting. 

Haha, Joe's right.  Come on guys!

[wolfking]

I love that Rush setlist.  Beautiful.

[cramx3]

Pretty sure you both suck at quoting. 

Haha, Joe's right.  Come on guys!

 

[TAC]

 

[KevShmev]

One of Tim's 25 favorite concerts is a Rush one where they played four songs from Power Windows.

[Stadler]

No no no. We never did ‘that’!  Silly gutter mind goose😀

I kinda read it the same way Tim did too lol.

I'll take an explanation for $200 as well, Alex. 

[Stadler]

Pretty sure you both suck at quoting. 

Haha, Joe's right.  Come on guys!

 

I see what you all did there.

[Zoom E]

TAC, I’m curious why you went into the Rush show with low expectations? I remember the show I saw on the Power Windows as being pretty decent. Did they just have an off night when you saw them, or were there just too many tunes from Power Windows? 

[King Postwhore]

[TAC]

TAC, I’m curious why you went into the Rush show with low expectations? I remember the show I saw on the Power Windows as being pretty decent. Did they just have an off night when you saw them, or were there just too many tunes from Power Windows? 

Rush was one of my favorite bands as I started getting into music during the Moving Pictures cycle. The first Rush album release that I experienced in real time was Exit Stage Left. I was ready to be a Rush fan for life. But then Signals came out and while it has aged greatly, I was really perplexed when it came out. I was heading down the hard rock path and whatever Rush was becoming didn't appeal to me.
Flash forward to the Power Windows tour. One of my best friends in high school was a huge Rush fan. He begged me to go with him, so I did. We had great seats about 5 rows in front of Geddy. But it was literally the second night of the tour, and the band just seemed preoccupied with everything but the crowd. Geddy looked kind of pissed all night. Plus they played so many new songs that i didn't know or care to hear.


For the HYF show that I went to, it was a that day spur of the moment decision to go with a buddy of mine from college. We really went as a night out together and didn't look as it going to a concert. We got pretty baked and just enjoyed the show with no preconceived notions. The band was engaged and really gave it back to the crowd, something that I didn't experience at the PW show.

It really reignited my love for Rush, and luckily they would follow it up more Presto, which felt more contemporary that the keyboard era.

[TAC]

19. Iron Maiden
         Anthrax

January 25, 1991
Providence Civic Center


Iron Maiden:
Tailgunner
Public Enema Number One
Wrathchild
Die With Your Boots On
Hallowed Be Thy Name
22 Acacia Avenue
Holy Smoke
No Prayer for the Dying
The Clairvoyant
2 Minutes to Midnight
The Trooper
Heaven Can Wait
Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter
Run to the Hills
Sanctuary


Anthrax:
Time
Madhouse
Caught in a Mosh
Keep It in the Family
Got the Time
Indians
Antisocial
I'm the Man
I Am the Law





How on earth does the No Prayer For The Dying tour beat out the Powerslave tour??
Well..
Yes the No Prayer album was sure disappointing. This was their first tour after I graduated from college. Also, it had been three years since they toured, which back then was an eternity. They took a break after Seventh Son and Bruce released his first solo album in the meantime.

The first noticeable thing about the stage was that it was stripped down to nothing but a full backline of Marshalls. Not props or fancy stage. Just a stage built for metal.
The other thing was Jannick Gers was now in the band and he brought so much energy to the stage. I felt like he also unlocked something in Dave because I didn't ever remember Dave being so loose. They just had this vibe about them. I also loved the way the setlist was created. this was before you would know what was coming. Playing Hallowed so early in the set was a surprise, but then following it up with 22 Acacia Avenue...talk about getting pounded early on. And I love the No Prayer title track.
I have a recording of this show and I listened to it endlessly.

The opener was Anthrax, and in this moment, I thought Anthrax hit their peak. They were touring Persistence Of Time and they hit the stage like madmen. Such a great performance.

Here's a great video boot of Maiden's San Fransisco show..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkl5_Unh3w

Here's Anthrax's Pro Shot set at Auburn Hills 10 days later..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAo3Mee7mjI



Here's some shots from the show..





















Anthrax...







I mentioned that I also saw the show at the Meadowlands, and luckily, the shirt I bought is one of the few I still have..







One last funny note on the show..
You remember the Snickers commercial where the rapper mentions the wrong city on stage? Well after Wrathchild, Bruce says "How the fuck are ya, Rochester?" 

[Samsara]

Love that shirt!

[ReaperKK]

Awesome pictures and write-up, look at the depth of those toms!

[wolfking]

I loved both that and the Fear too.  The energy as you mentioned from everyone was a joy to watch.

[Zoom E]

TAC, I’m curious why you went into the Rush show with low expectations? I remember the show I saw on the Power Windows as being pretty decent. Did they just have an off night when you saw them, or were there just too many tunes from Power Windows? 

Rush was one of my favorite bands as I started getting into music during the Moving Pictures cycle. The first Rush album release that I experienced in real time was Exit Stage Left. I was ready to be a Rush fan for life. But then Signals came out and while it has aged greatly, I was really perplexed when it came out. I was heading down the hard rock path and whatever Rush was becoming didn't appeal to me.
Flash forward to the Power Windows tour. One of my best friends in high school was a huge Rush fan. He begged me to go with him, so I did. We had great seats about 5 rows in front of Geddy. But it was literally the second night of the tour, and the band just seemed preoccupied with everything but the crowd. Geddy looked kind of pissed all night. Plus they played so many new songs that i didn't know or care to hear.


For the HYF show that I went to, it was a that day spur of the moment decision to go with a buddy of mine from college. We really went as a night out together and didn't look as it going to a concert. We got pretty baked and just enjoyed the show with no preconceived notions. The band was engaged and really gave it back to the crowd, something that I didn't experience at the PW show.

It really reignited my love for Rush, and luckily they would follow it up more Presto, which felt more contemporary that the keyboard era.

I’m with you on the disappointment with some of the material of that era. Too bad that you had such great seats but the show was sub-par.

Is it possible that being totally baked helped put the HYF show into your top 25?

Regarding the Maiden concert, the NPFTD tour was one of the few Maiden tours I didn't catch. I would have a hard time evaluating each show based on the dusty vault of my mind, as every Maiden concert has been great. Like you, it would probably be the shows where they paired up with another great band that would elevate them to a top tier ranking.

Always enjoy seeing your photos 

[TAC]

Is it possible that being totally baked helped put the HYF show into your top 25?

I believe it's totally possible. 
It was just a fun show. I saw them a bunch of times after that with my renewed fandom, but there was something special about that show.

Regarding the Maiden concert, the NPFTD tour was one of the few Maiden tours I didn't catch. I would have a hard time evaluating each show based on the dusty vault of my mind, as every Maiden concert has been great. Like you, it would probably be the shows where they paired up with another great band that would elevate them to a top tier ranking.

So, I mentioned the Powerslave show with Accept, but if I'm talking strictly Maiden, this was still a top show.

And no, we are not nearly done with Iron Maiden on this countdown.

[Zoom E]

And no, we are not nearly done with Iron Maiden on this countdown.

Oh, I was fully expecting to see more Maiden shows pop up on your list. I’m interested to see which one(s).

[TAC]

Me too!