RUSH IS A BAND

#2 - Posted 7/14/09 @1:09PM by Ricbass4003 [contact]

A prize everytime :-)

#4 - Posted 7/14/09 @3:31PM by GedHed [contact]

#3: Me either, but it will give me something to dream about! :)

#6 - Posted 7/14/09 @5:41PM by TheHonestMan [contact]

I would love to have that!! Good luck to everyone, but I hope I win.

#8 - Posted 7/14/09 @8:23PM by glortiz [contact]

I keep entering and hope to win. Like GedHed said, hold onto your dreams....

#10 - Posted 7/14/09 @10:32PM by Rocinante [contact]

Much better prize than that orange Pittsburgh poster...

#12 - Posted 7/14/09 @11:43PM by LargerBowl2008 [contact]

Thanks for the heads up. Maybe the 47th time is the charm for winning one of these contests. 57th 67th I don't Know.

#14 - Posted 7/15/09 @9:44AM by guitarlb [contact]

I've entered once, and won the Neil autographed snare head - used, no less. Framed with my concert stubs, it looks awesome.

#16 - Posted 7/15/09 @10:49AM by TheHonestMan [contact]

I think once bands reach a certain level nowadays they are expected to put on a very high quality show. Think of all the work that would have to be done if they switched up the setlists everynight. Lasers, videos, sequences, ear monitor levels, etc. It would be absolute hell for the crew. If they dropped all those special effects, the people who only were able to see them once (and not notice the repeated songs) would really miss out on the experience. Would I love RUSH to mix it up at every show? Absolutely. Do I fault them for not? No way. It would be damn near impossible to change a show that complicated.

That being said, the second leg of S&A could have used more than 4 different songs.

#18 - Posted 7/15/09 @5:19PM by main monkey business [contact]

Joe..I understand where you are coming from...but to me it doesn't matter...I have to go with what TheHonestMan said. Heck...I'd love to hear a different setlist every night, maybe I could hear The Camera Eye, Jacobs Ladder, The Necromancer, Hemispheres, Anthem, Xanadu, etc again. But asking them to go to that kind of trouble to relearn some of that material...and some of it is stuff they don't enjoy playing anymore..well that may be asking too much. They're music and show is so complicated already...that is just asking for more pressure and stress to be thrown on the band. I've seen them 40 times now...and I've learned over the years to enjoy each and every show they put on...no matter what the setlist. Just about every song they play is incredible, so I'll take whatever they give me. No matter the setlist, when they finally retire...I always have the memories of each and every show. I just hope that I see several more!!!

#20 - Posted 7/15/09 @6:51PM by Kelly D [contact]

Actually, now dating a dude who is the lead singer/bassist of a Rush cover band, I've discussed this question many a time and the short answer is putting on a rock concert- especially one with the complexities of Rush's music- is extremely difficult.

#22 - Posted 7/15/09 @8:14PM by A-CELL-OF-AWARENESS [contact]

man, i need to be a 'dude' in a RUSH cover band too!!

#24 - Posted 7/15/09 @9:25PM by Armeee [contact]

#22 - I hear you brother!

Man, I should have stayed in that Flock of Seagulls cover band.

#26 - Posted 7/15/09 @11:33PM by GedHed [contact]

#15: Fleetwood Mac still does it too. For them though, I have to say it's nothing but laziness. The music just isn't complicated in the way that RUSH's is--yet there are 3 times as many people up on the stage. And I have to say that I see more hard work out of the backup musicians than I do out of the "real" band members, a lot of the time. But I still go see them when they come around.

Regarding RUSH though, I just have missed *way* too many tours due to just "not getting it" for so many years. Such regret...but as others have said, I'll go see them no matter what they do up on that stage. I'll admit it--I'm one of those "kool-aid drinkers." I'll never, *ever*--not as long as I'm still kicking--miss another RUSH tour...and I *must* see multiple shows each tour. I cannot get enough of the guys. Never will. I have a lot of catching up to do! I'm just so grateful that these guys are not on the decline--and that they still want to do it at all. God bless the guys. Gotta' love 'em...

#21: Thanks for posting your gorgeous pics, Petie! Always enjoy seeing them! :)

#28 - Posted 7/16/09 @10:46AM by Natural Science [contact]

As someone who works for a Rush Tribute band, it is not easy to make changes on the fly, it can be done, just not quickly or easily. There are a number of issues that need attention - pedal assignments, guitar sounds, guitar tunings, sequencing assignments, electronic drum sound changes and in our show the visual projection cues. We spend hours meticulously practicing the planned set to be sure that we hit all of the cues, without slowing the show down between tunes - thats just a drag to the show attendees. And this is just for a Tribute Band.

The show that Rush puts on, almost has to be the same every night to be able to deliver the performance they do, banging out tune after tune with VERY little downtime between songs. There is so much going on behind the scenes with sequencing, guitar sounds, lighting, visuals, lasers, etc, etc. To just start changing the set nightly would be a monumental task. For just 3 guys to put on that fantastic of a show as we are now accustomed, and as many shows as they perform, it has to be this way. Believe me, I am no expert, but they sure do have a hell of a crew backing them up to do what they do.

Rush rules forever!

#30 - Posted 7/16/09 @1:39PM by Joe

How do the jam bands do it? I'm just curious. I've been to a bunch of Phish Shows, and they have a pretty good light show themselves. But not to the extent of Rush - esp the videos and lazers(which I wouldn't mind losing thruth be told)

Are there just less pedals, sequencing, and drum parts? That would make sense.

#32 - Posted 7/16/09 @2:07PM by RushFanForever [contact]

Sorry I meant Katy Perry.

#34 - Posted 7/16/09 @6:14PM by cabterp [contact]

Jam bands like Phish and Dave Matthews make up a new set list each night and play. Even Springsteen changes his setlist (or used to). I'm not suprised that U2 plays the same set each night. I bet the Stones, Aerosmith, and other bands who put on elaborate stage shows do, too.
Obviously, the members of Rush are perfectionists, especially Neil! They want fans in Salt Lake City to see the same show as the fans in Washington, DC or Rotterdam. And to enjoy the experience.

#36 - Posted 7/17/09 @12:09PM by Natural Science [contact]

Post #35, good point. I meant to mention that in my previous thoughts. I bet that it just turned out to be too much of a pain in the ass to handle the 2 tunes that were in / out of the set. Hence, why they have not done it since. Everything is so pre-programmed in a chain of events, that I wonder if it just was too much to fool with? I personally was thrilled to see the 2 tunes switched in and out, particularly if you see multiple shows. I don't remember, did they did adjust where in the set the new tune was, or just replaced it in that spot? I seem to remember just replacing the tune, could be wrong, will have to look it up. But, that would go along with not wanting to adjust all of the other possible cues for the rest of the set, just that one or two songs.

Either way it's just 3 guys triggering a whole load of sounds, that it would take 4 or 5 musicians to re-inact live. That is also just one of the under rated things about Rush, not everyone understands just how much these 3 guys have going on at once. Geddy for one is easily the most unbelievable multi-taskers music has ever seen. Just ridiculously incredible. Bass, vocals, keys, pedals, and sometimes 3 of those at once, RARELY missing a single note. Not to mention how damn handsome he is!!

The next time you see a Rush Tribute band that has 3 members in it, they sound good, and are playing intricate tunes, they are probably working their asses off!! There are some of course that are sequencing the hell out of the set and just triggering as much as possible, which can also be considered faking it, and sure does take away from the musicianship, depends on their level of talent. But one of the reasons why you see so many 4 piece tribute acts, along with the fact that so few can replicate the singing and playing of Geddy in one person.