Concert Review: Rush - June 27, 2015

In what may have been my last opportunity to see the band live (their words, not mine), I had the honor of witnessing Rush at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. As with previous Rush concerts, I was completely mesmerized and left in awe of their ability, showmanship, and complete dominance on a stage.

Once again I saw Rush with the same two people that I have seen them with every time---my Uncle Steve and my cousin Mike. And once again I was looking forward to an amazing evening of exceptional rock music. Having seen them in the past, I knew that this band could, and would, deliver.

Prior to the show, we stopped off for some great pizza and beer at Mercato Tomato Pie, an exceptional brick oven pizza/restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pizzas are exceptional. There was an option to build your own pie, so I made a nice gorgonzola cheese and fresh garlic pizza that was out of this world. I am sure that my breath was out of this world as well after I finished consuming the pie.

As we entered the arena, I took in the fact that it would be my first time ever seeing a concert at the Prudential Center. I had seen hockey games there, but never a concert. I also took in the sea of people and chuckled inside as I noticed once again how the male fans dominated the arena. If I was pressed to give a number, I would have to say that it was easily a 7 to 1 ratio in favor of the males. Women are hard to find at a Rush concert.

For this tour, Rush was performing the songs in reverse chronological order. It was an interesting take on the concert to say the least. That meant the first songs out of the gate would be from the band’s latest record, Clockwork Angels. That was just fine with me, as I thoroughly enjoyed the record, and if it is the last studio album the band ever releases, they definitely went out on a high note. “The Anarchist” opened the night followed by “Headlong Flight.” The latter is one of my favorite songs from the record, so I was extremely pleased to see them perform it live.

Disappointments were few and far between, but they did exist. My biggest disappointment came in the form of a mess up to begin “Closer To The Heart.” This is an impeccable song that has a sensational acoustic riff to open, and the sound guys completely flubbed it. As Lifeson picked up the acoustic guitar and started plucking the opening notes, a crackle and buzz was all the audience heard. There was a technical issue with the connection and it ruined the intro. Fortunately it was fixed rather quickly and all was back on track before the vocals kicked in. I still would have rather the song been played mistake (or glitch) free.

My other disappointment was the fact that no songs from Presto were performed. It is my all time favorite Rush album and not one snippet of a song was produced. I know it’s hard to please everyone when you have a catalog as vast as Rush’s, but I was disappointed nonetheless. I’ve always felt that Presto is the band’s most underrated album, and although I may be biased as it is my favorite Rush album, I still feel that the band needs to show those songs more love.

Highlights of the evening included “2112” in its entirety, “The Spirit Of The Radio,” and the encore to end the night. A four song encore of classic Rush songs to end my evening! How divine is that? In typical Rush fashion, the concert ended way too quickly, even though they performed for nearly three hours. Rush is an insanely amazing live act and every time I see them I am amazed. Once again the band did not disappoint and left me wanting more. The question that remains is will they be back for more? According to them, that just may not happen.

Setlist

Set One

The Anarchist

Headlong Flight

Far Cry

The Main Monkey Business

How It Is

Animate

Roll The Bones

Between The Wheels

Losing It

Subdivisions

Set Two

Tom Sawyer

The Camera Eye

The Spirit Of The Radio

Jacob’s Ladder

Cygnus X-1 – Book Two

Closer To The Heart

Xanadu

2112 – Overture

2112 – The Temples Of Syrinx

2112 – Presentation

2112- The Grand Finale

Encore

Lakeside Park

Anthem

What You’re Doing

Working Man

Upcoming Concerts I Plan To Attend

Typically, I will not attend my first concert of the year until the weather is much warmer and there is zero chance for snow in the forecast. This year however, concert season is coming a little earlier for me. The reason for the early arrival is that Mrs. Vie and I have tickets to see one of our favorite live acts, Nickleback, on Valentine’s Day. We felt it was the perfect way to celebrate the day. And with that show right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time for me to figure out which other performances I will be attending this year.

 Caveat – I am trying to attend less concerts this year than I have in years past, due to financial constraints. But as the days wear on and more and more concerts are announced, I see myself bending that self imposed rule rather quickly. I’ll be sure to provide an update to this post as additional shows are added to my 2015 list. Here’s what I have, or expect to have for now.

Nickleback at PPL Center in Allentown, PA

As mentioned above, my wife and I will be attending this show. This will be the 4^th time that I am seeing Nickleback in concert and the first since they toured behind Dark Horse. From the first time I saw this band in concert I have loved them live and I have never been disappointed by their performance. I suspect that Valentine’s Day will be no exception.

Sixx: AM at Starland Ballroom, NJ

Metal Eddie caught me via text recently and inquired if I wanted to see this show. I haven’t seen Sixx:AM since Cruefest back in 2008, so I felt that it was time to check out the band live again. Of course this means that I will have to spend money on their new CD prior to the show. Man, why can’t bands just give me everything for free at this point? I give them enough coverage!

M3 Metal Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion, MD

Kix! Europe! Quiet Riot! Warrant! Queensryche! Yes, the annual metal festival returns once again. This will be my sixth year in a row travelling to Baltimore to hang out with my good buddy Rob Rockitt and enjoy some of the greatest 80s metal music around. All over the course of 2 fabulous days in May! Horns out….rock on!

Dave Matthews Band at PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ

This is a definite must. Anytime the mighty Dave Matthews Band performs within 90 minutes of my house, I have to see them. I will be on the lawn for another wonderful summer night to enjoy one of my all time favorites in concert. Where I am torn is that the band is playing in CT two nights later. It’s a Friday night show and it is only a 3 hour drive for me to get there. I really want to go to that concert too, but I am conflicted, because the cost of the show, plus travel, plus hotel for the night adds up fast! And if I go to CT, the next night DMB plays in MA, and that’s only 90 minutes from CT… Stay tuned for updates on what I do regarding these extra shows.

Rush at Prudential Center, NJ

My uncle doesn’t own a country place, but he is a big fan of Rush. He reached out to me regarding attending this show and had the opportunity to purchase pre-sale tickets. Knowing how incredible Rush is in concert, I didn’t even need to give it a second thought. Okay, that’s a slight lie. I did ask my wife to validate that I could justify attending this concert. She did and told me I had to go, its family. I love my wife.

O.A.R. at TBD

While they haven’t yet announced tour dates for 2015, O.A.R. seems to be on the road every summer, and I would believe that this year would be no exception. And seeing as how I am a big fan of this band, I find no reason why I wouldn’t attend one of their shows, especially if it is a summer show at PNC on a Saturday night, as it has been for the past few years. So even though this is not official, due to no announcements having been made, I am pretty certain that I will be taking in another wonderful night of O.A.R.

AC/DC at TBD

The rumors are flying that AC/DC is on the verge of announcing their world tour and that Chris Slade will be their drummer for this tour. Remember him? He performed on The Razor’s Edge album and was with the band for 5 years. He was actually with the band when I attended my first concert ever (http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/01/acdc-november-11-1990_17.html). AC/DC doesn’t come around too often, so needless to say, the second this tour is announced and a local date has been declared, I am in.

So even though I am trying to attend fewer concerts in 2015, I still have quite the slate of shows listed. However, I did skip out on U2 at The Garden, although I really wanted to see at least one of those. And, I am foregoing Billy Joel at The Garden this year, even though his last performance was amazing. I also skipped out on Extreme at the Bergen PAC, I’m skipping Kix at The Bergen PAC, and I opted to be a no for Foo Fighters at Citi Field. While 7 concerts may appear to be a lot for 2015, it could have been almost double that. I say good for me!!! And I still say bands just let me come to their shows for free…. *SIGH*

UPDATES: 
The AC/DC concert is official. They will be performing at Met Life Stadium in August, and I will be attending that show. O.A.R. will be at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. I will also be at that show. I also plan to see Guster in July in Bethlehem, PA. And I have tickets for Def Leppard/Styx/Tesla at the PNC Bank Arts Center. That brings my total concerts for the year up to 9. And I still may see Twisted Sister in June.... expect more updates as they arrive.

RUSH - April 10, 2011

It was the fastest three hours of my life. Rush came to Madison Square Garden for their “Time Machine Tour” and I never recall a concert moving quicker. Yes, I had seen them once before on this tour. Yes, they played the exact same songs as they did last time. Yes, I knew what was going to be played. It didn't matter. It was still an exhilarating experience that went by way too fast.

When my Uncle called and asked if I was interested in seeing Rush again with him and my cousin, I jumped at the chance. The band was so great the last time that I saw them in concert; I just had to see them again. Rush was still out on their “Time Machine Tour,” only this time around, they were performing in cities they had missed on previous legs. That meant New York City in April.

For our pre-concert enjoyment, we went to dinner at a restaurant near the Garden that had the Masters on a big screen, exceptional beer on tap, and great food to consume. The restaurant was called Feile and it was delicious with exceptional service. If you are ever looking for a place to dine while visiting Madison Square Garden, I highly recommend this gem.

Entering the Garden, I got the all too familiar blast of excitement that always washes over me before I see a live concert. Gooseflesh covers my skin, my heart beats a little faster, and the anticipation of an exceptional night of music fills me with joy. Having seen Rush the summer prior, I knew what they could and would deliver. I knew it was going to be an incredible evening of rock and roll.

There is nothing like witnessing a concert at Madison Square Garden. It has always been my favorite venue for concerts. Between the energetic crowds, the acoustics of the building and the nostalgia that it holds, MSG is the place to see a concert. The building just seems to enhance whatever performance is being held. And though I had seen Rush twice in my life (both times at the PNC Bank Arts Center), I knew before even taking my seat that this was going to be their best performance yet.

When the opening notes of "The Spirit Of The Radio" launched the night, the crowd went wild! Once the guitar intro kicked in and Neil Peart banged the drum kit, pandemonium erupted. These fans were excited and Rush was just as excited to be playing for them. I've always loved "The Spirit Of The Radio." It's been one of my favorite Rush songs since I started listening to the band, and hearing them open their concert at Madison Square Garden with that song just made me giddy. Always the consummate professionals, the band performed it note perfect. It was hard to tell if it was live or just being played off the original record.

That's part of the beauty of live Rush. They perform their songs live exactly the way the songs were recorded in the studio. There is no reinterpretation of the music. There is no changing of the lyrics. There is no drawing out of the songs. It's only a repeated blast of what the fans expect to hear. Rush delivers quality over and over and over again. It's a big reason why they have such an alluring fan base. Of course, the fan base is mostly men, but that's all right with both the band and the fans.



The first set lasted about an hour, but felt like 6 minutes had passed. I was surprised when the first set closer, “Subdivisions,” started. I looked at my watch and thought to myself, "There's no way this set is over already!" Alas, it really was.

The band took their usual twenty minute break, giving the crowd an opportunity to use the restroom or get food and drinks. I stayed in my seat, soaking in the environment of the Garden. I also knew that Moving Pictures in its entirety was coming up next and there was no way I was going to miss a moment of that.

Hearing Moving Pictures in its entirety again was a real treat and it made me more than thankful that I had agreed to see that concert. The opening notes of "Tom Sawyer" got the crowd back into their seats and from there, Rush really took over. If set one had been fast and furious and awesome, set two was going to be twice as grand. Once again, Moving Pictures was spectacular. Every song was amazing and hearing "YYZ" after "red Barchetta" was as stupendous as when I sit in my living room and listen to the album. It was perfect symmetry and it was perfect in the live format. Side two of the album was even better the second time around and I was slightly let down when the band finished. I almost wanted them to play the entire thing again.



The rest of the night breezed by from there. Neil Peart's drum solo, "Closer To The Heart" and the "2112 Overture" were highlights of the second set. Alex Lifeson was exceptional on guitar, and I still think that he is one of most underrated guitarists in rock. Having Neil Peart in your band can do that to a guy. Lifeson is a wizard in his own right and should be recognized for his amazing ability. At Madison Square Garden he showed off his talent song after song after song.



The encore was "La Villa Strangiato" followed by the reggae version of "Working Man" that I am not a huge fan of. If Rush is a band that performs every song note for note like it was recorded on the album, then why would they try to change one of their signature songs? Thankfully, the reggae version is only for the first verse, but I would still prefer the entire hard rock edition.

When "Working Man" concluded and I looked at my watch to see that more than three hours had passed since the opening notes of "The Spirit Of The Radio," I was in disbelief. How could one band be so entertaining that I lost track of time entirely? The answer is simple...if that band is Rush.

SETLIST

SET ONE:
The Spirit Of The Radio
Time Stands Still
Presto
Stick It Out
Working Them Angels
Leave That Thing Alone
Faithless
BU2B
Freewill
Marathon
Subdivsions

SET TWO:
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs
Caravan
Drum Solo
Closer To The Heart
2112: Overture
2112: Temple Of Syrinx
Far Cry
Encore
La Villa Strangiato
Working Man

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Playoffs Edition

The winter sports are finally drawing to a close. Most regular readers of The Rock And Roll Guru know how much I love baseball, but may not realize that I am an avid sports fan in general. During the winter when I can’t see winter league baseball games, I follow hockey and basketball. For the first time in many years, both the basketball team that I follow (The New York Knicks) and the hockey team that I follow (The Pittsburgh Penguins) are in the post season. For me, this is a real treat. It means that there is a game on every night that I have interest in.

Playoffs are a real thrill for me, as I enjoy rooting my team to victory. After having followed their every move, shot, miss, decisive win, and agonizing loss, rooting for the team in the playoffs is extra special. I only hope that both the Knicks and the Penguins can go deep into the postseason and continue to make the thrills last.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Fantastic Video Interview With Nikki Sixx
Over at Rolling Stone, there is a great video interview with Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. He dishes the dirt on the upcoming tour with Poison and the New York Dolls, the history of his songs, and the upcoming movie, “The Dirt.” This is must watch stuff!

Guitar Center’s King Of The Blues Contest Is Underway
Continuing its support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com) the world's largest musical instrument retailer, today launched its fifth-annual King of the Blues, the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. Guitarists can sign-up at any of Guitar Center's 216 stores across the country for the chance to compete for over $50,000 in prizes including studio time with Grammy Award-winning producer Pete Anderson. Five finalists will perform for a panel of celebrity judges at the King of the Blues finals at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, playing alongside guitar titan Warren Haynes. For more information, or to sign up, click on the link above.

Interview With Rush Live From Madison Square Garden
As most of you know, I went to see Rush at Madison Square Garden last Sunday night. Rolling Stone did a great interview with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson before the concert. There is some solid show footage cut in as well. This is definitely worth checking out.

Record Store Day Arrives Tomorrow
We end this version of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup with a brief reminder. Record Store Day is tomorrow, April 16th. Get out and support your local record retailer. There will be specials galore, and in some cases, in store appearances. If you know of a local dealer near you, pay them a visit tomorrow. You just might find yourself a new favorite store.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Rush Live At The Garden Edition

This Sunday night, I am going to see Rush in concert for the third time in my life. I will be attending their concert at Madison Square Garden with my cousin and my uncle, who have attended each Rush concert I’ve ever seen with me. I am looking forward to seeing the band again. They are still on the Time Machine tour and they are still playing Moving Pictures in its entirety. It will be nice to hear that whole album live once again.

In other news, there is a big announcement coming to The Rock And Roll Guru this Monday (April 11th). Be sure to check the home page on Monday morning. It will contain all the information you need to know about the future of The Rock And Roll Guru. I am excited about this announcement and I hope that you will be as well.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Our Fascination With Bad Music
Florind Metalla takes a closer look at why so many people love bad music. Personally I think all of the views are coming from teen hipsters who are trying to stay cool with the “it” songs of the moment. They certainly can’t be coming from anyone with musical taste.

A Touching Tribute To Kurt Cobain
It is so hard for me to believe that it has been 17 years since Kurt Cobain’s suicide. I was a big fan of Nirvana and I’ve often wondered where the band would have evolved to if Cobain were still alive. Over at Blogs N Roses, there is a touching tribute that speaks to the reality of Cobain’s suicide.

Rest In Peace Scott Columbus
There is some sad news from the Manowar camp. Former drummer, Scott Columbus, passed away on Monday. The Guru’s thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family during this tragic, difficult time.

Record Store Day Is Next Week
And finally, we end this edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup with a reminder that Record Store Day is coming. Next Saturday, April 16th. Be sure to get out and support your independent dealers. They are becoming harder and harder to find. It’s a shame to think that one day we may not have a physical store to walk into and talk music with fellow passionate fans. That’s why Record Store Day is such a great day. To find a participating store near you, click on the link above.

For more news, reviews, concert updates, Record Store Day awareness, and other things that only music lovers can relate to, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Rush - September 3, 2010

With the threat of a hurricane looming overhead, we witnessed one of the greatest classic rock bands perform Moving Pictures in its entirety with a slew of other hits thrown into the mix. That night, Rush gave a dazzling performance, chock full of great music and funny moments. It was the perfect end to the summer concert season.

Last week, I got to enjoy an evening with my uncle and cousin seeing Rush perform live at the PNC Bank Arts Center, in Holmdel, New Jersey. There was the threat of a hurricane all day and we had tracked that storm for a week, wondering if hurricane Earl was going to wreak havoc on our concert experience, or possibly shut it down entirely.

Driving to the Arts Center, a quick rain squall burst onto my car, and made me nervous that this would set the tone for the evening. It’s not that I mind watching a concert in the rain, I’ve done it enough over the years, it’s just that I would prefer not to see a live show in a torrential downpour.

I also played one of my favorite Rush games while driving to the parking lot. It’s a game called “count the women,” which is a long running joke for Rush fans. Rush is just one of those bands that guys love, but women are not very attracted to their music. It’s geek rock. Rush at the Arts Center was no different – Sausage fest 2010.

Walking through the entrance gates, my uncle, cousin, and I speculated about the weather. We then wondered what time Rush would take the stage. The tickets listed 7:30, but we knew that they wouldn’t take the stage then. My cousin guessed 8 and I was pretty confident in 8:15. So, after picking a spot on the lawn, we made a bathroom/beer/food run. At 7:50, while standing on line for beer, Rush took the stage. I was surprised to see them come on that early.

I grabbed the food and beer and high-tailed it back to my seat. Rush showed a comical movie as their intro, which led into the first song, The Spirit Of The Radio. I was floored. What a great opener! The crowd loved it too and showed their appreciation by roaring at the start of the song. As for sound, the band was impeccable. Geddy’s voice was a well oiled machine, and of course the guitar, bass, and drums were spot on perfect.

Time Stands Still and Presto were the next two songs, and at the end of Presto I turned to my cousin and commented how this was an excellent setlist so far. I love Presto and it has a special place in my heart as being the first Rush album that I bought new. I really got into the band the year Presto was released. Any songs played from that album were going to be a highlight of the evening for me. Unfortunately, the title cut would be all the band would play.



After Presto, Geddy greeted the crowd, “Hello, New Jersey!” He asked where the hurricane was, which drew a laugh and then commented “fuck the Hurricane!” That, of course, got a roar of applause. And once again the hype of the weather was much more disastrous than the actual weather.

One of the highlights from the first set was a new Rush song called BU2B. I had heard that they were playing two new songs on this tour, for an album that is rumored to come out next spring. BU2B was a great song and had me hopeful for a new Rush album. The song sounded like the band is advancing, but not straying too far away from their roots. And it’s definitely not the experimental rock of the mid-80s.

The second set started with another goofy little movie, filmed in the same fashion as the first one. This movie led us into Tom Sawyer and the performance of Moving Pictures had begun. It was an excellent idea to open the second set with Moving Pictures. The crowd was warmed up from the first set, and to come back and launch into the over familiar beats of Tom Sawyer was magnificent!

Moving Pictures was the first Rush album I owned, having purchased a vinyl copy at a yard sale when I was 10 or 11 years old. That album spoke to me and side one was particularly enjoyable. Red Barchetta, YYZ, and Limelight are all spectacular songs, and they sounded brilliant in their live setting. The real treat, however, would come with the performance of side two.

The Camera Eye is a song that Rush supposedly hasn’t performed live in 28 years. I don’t know if that’s 100% true or not, but man did the band nail it. Their performance was a note for note translation of the album version and the crowd was blown away. Witch Hunt was next, and I’ve never been a huge fan of that song, so I sat through it waiting for the big album closer, Vital Signs. It came next, and was superb live. And with that, Rush had given us Moving Pictures.

The rest of the night would continue to be fun, but couldn’t compare to that moment of hearing the album in its entirety. A new song, Caravan, would come next and then Neil Peart’s drum solo (which was as mesmerizing as ever). The night though, belonged to Moving Pictures.



Rush closed the second set with Far Cry, from Snakes and Arrows, which I found to be an odd choice for a closer. I would think they would choose a more well known song, but what do I know? The encore came in the form of La Villa Strangiato (which took me a minute to recognize) and the show closer of Working Man.

Working Man started in a slow, reggae sounding style, and my uncle, cousin, and I all looked at each other with curiosity. What the heck was going on here? Was this the Bob Marley version of Working Man? After the first verse, the song picked up the rhythm and kicked into its correct rock and roll style. Experimenting with a much loved classic is always a bit of a risk, and for Rush it was no different. As this was the last song of the night, I would have played Working Man straight up.

The band took their bows and left the stage, but the night was not over. A third and final film appeared on the screen. The guys from I Love You Man revised their roles as die hard Rush fans and they got backstage at the current Rush concert. Geddy, Alex, and Neil all have a part in the short film and it was funny to watch.

We dodged the Hurricane, we saw live Rush, and we brought the summer to a close, all on the same evening. My second time seeing Rush was an exhilarating experience, and should the band decide a tour is in order for next year, sign me up for tickets.

Setlist
First Set
The Spirit Of The Radio
Time Stands Still
Presto
Stick It Out
Working Them Angels
Leave That Thing Alone
Faithless
BU2B*
Freewill
Marathon
Subdivisions
Second Set
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs
Caravan*
Drum Solo
Closer To The Heart
2112: Overture
2112: Temple of Syrinx
Far Cry
Encore
La Villa Strangiato
Working Man

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Labor Day Weekend Edition

Another summer comes to its unofficial end. Where did the summer go? I could have sworn it was Memorial Day only last weekend. Weren’t we just discussing the Rolling Stones release of the remastered Exile On Main Street and watching a video for Plundered My Soul? My, how the time flies!

For summer’s last gasp, Cathy and I will be attending a dinner party, and a barbecue. In addition to that, I will be seeing RUSH at the PNC Bank Arts Center tonight. I am looking forward to hearing Moving Pictures in its entirety along with some choice RUSH classics. It should be a fun-filled evening!

Here’s what rocked this week:

Bruce Springsteen To Release The Promise
As you already know if you read The Guru with any regularity, Bruce Springsteen is releasing a 6 disc box set for Darkness On The Edge Of Town. I personally cannot wait for this and I even have the money sitting aside in an envelope marked November 16th. November 17th may be a sick day at work for me.

Arcade Fire – Making Videos Cool Again
Talk about wild – Arcade Fire has unleashed an interactive video experience. In the video, the viewer can actually view their childhood home and write a note to their younger selves. As creepy as that is for some, it’s an interesting concept for me. What exactly would I write 12 year old Ryo? I’d probably say something like “Hey buddy, freaking grow a pair and ask Kristine out already!”

Vie’s Verses – What Album Should Kiss Perform Live?
That’s the question I pose over at Hard Rock Hideout with my latest installment of Vie’s Verses. With a lot of bands performing albums in their entirety, perhaps it’s time for Kiss to throw their hat into the ring and play one as well.

For more new release news, innovative tech talk, and nonsensical ramblings, you should follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/ryovie

RUSH Beyond The Lighted Stage Clips

RUSH is going to be releasing the documentary Beyond The Lighted Stage on DVD tomorrow, June 29th. Beyond The Lighted Stage is the premiere documentary of the band, told by the band. Think Iron Maiden The Early Years.

Beyond The Lighted Stage debuted in theaters across America and Canada and now it is getting released on DVD for everyone to enjoy. To celebrate this excellent occasion, here are a few clips from the film.

First is the official trailer to the movie:


A clip from the movie discussing the early years:


Closer To The Heart:


And finally a teaser featuring the hottest band in the land Kiss:


RUSH: Beyond The Lighted Stage will be in stores tomorrow (June 29th) on DVD and Blu Ray disc. Be sure to pick up your copy and check it out. I know I will.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Memorial Day Weekend Edition

It’s Memorial Day here in the USA. The unofficial start of summer, regardless of what the calendar says. And of course the holiday is punctuated by a long weekend. Backyard barbecues, parades, and spending time with friends and family are all highlights of a good Memorial Day weekend. I’ve got all three jamming my schedule this weekend, with 2 BBQs on Saturday, a trip to the shore with old friends on Sunday, and a parade and another BBQ on Monday. No wonder I’m so stressed lately. Even my downtime is a whirlwind of activity!

Memorial Day is more than just beer, beaches, and babes in bikinis, it’s also a time to reflect. The holiday is a way to remind us of all the soldiers (past and present) that fought for our freedoms. Take a moment this weekend to remember them in some small way. Thank a veteran. Shake hands with a member of the armed forces. Say thank you to a member of the military, past or present. They fought for us, so that we would not have to. To me, that’s an invaluable debt that can never be repaid.

Here’s what rocked this week:

KISS TOURING THE US THIS SUMMER
We kick things off with the hottest band in the land making an announcement that they will be on tour in the USA this summer. The tour kicks off on July 23rd and ends on September 24th. Word over the internet is that the lords of rock will be playing the same songs that they just performed on their European tour. That means Crazy, Crazy Nights, I’m An Animal, and Say Yeah will all be played. That will make up for me not seeing those songs last October. I am so in for this show. Pre-sale tickets start June 4th. Prices are still TBD.

RUSHCON CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
I didn’t even know that there was a RUSH con. I know all about the KISS cons (and I’ve been to several of them), but I had no clue on the RUSH con. I’ll bet this will be a fun gathering, especially since it’s planned to coincide with a live RUSH date in each city. Interesting.

REMEMBERING JAY BENNETT
The Jay Bennett Foundation launched this week, on the one year anniversary of Jay’s untimely passing. Also released is the last album that he was working on at the time of his death. Kicking At The Perfumed Air is available at no cost through the foundation. Donations are recommended, but not required. It’s a nice way to remember such an excellent musician.

A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT BILLY JOEL’S THE STRANGER
Over at 3 Minutes, 49 Seconds, I stumbled across a damn good review of The Stranger, Billy Joel’s masterpieces album. I’ve always thought The Stranger was one of those extremely rare perfect albums. This review helped me to realize that I am correct in my thinking.

PAPA ROACH TALKS NEW ALBUM
Papa Roach is releasing a new album this summer. Pulling a Poison (and Kiss waaaaaaay before that), Papa Roach’s new album will be part live, part studio. As much as I love Papa Roach, they make it sound like they were the first band to ever offer new songs on a live album. I can’t wait to hear the album regardless. Look for it in stores this August.

For more rock, roll, tour dates, updates, shout outs, record reviews, and general celebrations, you should follow me on Twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Rush - July 12, 2008

No opening act. That’s the first thing I remember about going to see Rush at the PNC Bank Arts Center with my Uncle Steve, my cousin Michael, and one of his friends. There would be no opening act. Usually when a band performed without an opening act, it meant that they planned to perform for a long time. That was encouraging.

I had never seen Rush before, so for my first experience, I wanted everything. Rush was supporting a new album that I did not own, Snakes and Arrows, so I knew they would be performing a few songs from that album, but there were going to be classics throughout the night. There had to be.

My uncle, cousin, his friend, and I all set up on the lawn and waited for Rush to take the stage. It was a Saturday night and we were looking forward to an excellent evening of entertainment. I was anxious to see the performance and hopeful for a lot of classics. Within minutes of settling into the lawn, Rush took the stage for their first set of the evening.

The opening song of the night had me on my feet and cheering in no time. After showing a strange video just before the band took the stage (an inside joke that referenced chicken and would be the theme of the night), Rush belted out Limelight. There was a huge roar from the crowd who were all very happy to hear such a classic opener.

Limelight gave way to Digital Man, followed by Ghost of a Chance and Mission. Those were some solid classics to get the evening rolling. The next song was even better. The band broke into Freewill and I screamed my appreciation and clapped my hands raw. There are some Rush songs that I enjoy so much and make me feel so good that I want to hear them over and over again. Freewill is one of those songs.

Two new songs from Snakes and Arrows were next and I listened to them with an open mind. I did not own Snakes and Arrows, but I also had not purchased a new Rush CD since Roll The Bones. I did pick up a copy of Different Stages about a month prior to the show, so I was able to learn some of the band’s newer material that way.

After the two new songs were performed (and done quite well, I might add), the band pulled out one of the greatest car songs ever written, Red Barchetta. My face erupted in a full grin. Red Barchetta was one of my favorite Rush songs ever, second to only Spirit Of The Radio, and Fly By Night. Red Barchetta sounded incredible and the band performed it flawless.

Neal Peart was remarkable on the drums. Not that I expected he wouldn’t be, but hearing him pound the skins live gave me a much deeper appreciation for him as a drummer. What I really noticed by watching the band live is how talented they are musically. Alex Lifeson is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock and roll history. Overshadowed by Neil Peart and Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson is amazing with an ax in his hand. When he cuts loose, he shows what an important member of the band he is.

The first set ended with a brilliant performance of Dreamline. After that it was time for a short break which allowed everyone to catch their breath. My uncle and I noticed that there were rotisserie ovens on stage and what appeared to be real roasting chickens inside. The joke continued.




Set two was filled with a lot of Rush songs that I did not know well or at all. A few songs from Snakes and Arrows (they were promoting the new album after all), added with songs I just did not know. While the choice of songs was a little disappointing, Rush’s performance of them was not. Played with as much passion as they had for the classics in the first set, Rush made you believe in these songs, even if you had never heard them before. In essence, Rush was brilliant live.

One of the highlights of the second set was Neal Peart’s drum solo. Now, I had heard a lot about Neal’s solo over the years, and I had seen a few videos of him in action. Nothing prepared me for his live drum solo. Engineered to a pristine science, Peart was like a chemist in the lab behind his drum kit. Every little nuance was accounted for and nothing was taken for granted. His drum kit was so large that it swallowed him inside, but we could hear him play those drums like no one ever has. No one was leaving for beer while Peart was playing. His drumming ability was mesmerizing.

The highlight of the second set (and perhaps the entire evening) was The Spirit Of The Radio. One of (if not the) my favorite Rush songs of all time, I yelled like a madman when I heard the opening rapid fire progression of the guitar notes followed by the slam of the drums to drive it home. Begin the day with a friendly voice indeed.

The opening and closing of the 2112 Overture and Tom Sawyer wrapped up the second set and set the stage for the encore. A 3-song encore of One Little Victory, A Passage To Bangkok, and YYZ closed out the night. YYZ was a great way to end the show and was astonishing live. 3 musicians making all that music with no other outside help. Wow!

All in all, Rush impressed me that warm summer’s evening. I would definitely see them in concert again, given the opportunity. They showed why they’ve been so beloved for so long.




Setlist
First Set
Limelight
Digital Man
Ghost of a Chance
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl
Red Barchetta
The Trees
Between The Wheels
Dreamline

Second Set
Far Cry
Workin’ Them Angels
Armor and Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Neal Peart Drum Solo
Hope
The Spirit of the Radio
2112 Part One: Overture
2112 Part Two: The Temples of Syrinx
Tom Sawyer

Encore
One Little Victory
A Passage To Bangkok
YYZ

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Record Store Day Edition

Tomorrow (4/17) is Record Store Day. It’s the one day of the year we get to celebrate the independent record store and remember how important they are to the community. As record store day has been gaining in popularity (or would that be notoriety?), more and more bands have been issuing exclusive releases to the independent shops. This year, The Rolling Stones are releasing a single from the upcoming Exile On Main Street remastered exclusively to record stores. Avenged Sevenfold has a special 12” album, Bruce Springsteen is releasing Wrecking Ball live, and the Flaming Lips are releasing their cover of Dark Side Of The Moon, just to name a few.

For a complete list of what stores are in your area, what exclusive albums are going to be released, and which stores will have in-store live appearances, visit http://www.recordstoreday.com/. You should always try to support your local record store. They have knowledge and passion that can’t be found anywhere else.

Here’s what rocked this week:

RUSH Tour 2010
Rush has announced a summer tour for 2010. While there is no new album to promote, the band has decided that they will perform Moving Pictures in its entirety, along with other Rush classics. I’m very interested in seeing what songs they choose to go alongside Moving Pictures. I’m also curious to know at which point in the concert will the performance of that album come out. Will it open the show? Close it? Tickets for the first group of shows go on sale tomorrow (4/17).

Roger Waters The Wall Tour
As expected, Roger Waters has announced a tour performing The Wall in its entirety. However, this time around it will be performed indoors at arenas, as opposed to the stadiums Pink Floyd performed at all those many years ago. No word on when tickets go on sale or how much they will cost, but I know Waters charged a lot for his Dark Side of the Moon tour in 2007. I’m sure this will cost even more.

Hear Ratt's New Album In It's Entirety
Ratt is streaming their new album, Infestation, over at their website. If you want to hear it before you buy it, head on over there and give it a whirl. The first single, Eat Em Up Alive is a rocking song with some massive guitar riffs. It gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the disc. The new album goes on sale April 20th.

For more news, shout outs, and moving pictures, you should follow me on Twitter.
www.twitter.com/ryovie