Rush On Tour - Opening Night Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2007
 

Counting down the hours until the concert tonight.

This just off the Rumor Mill - the projected play list for the tour - it is not complete, and I do not warrenty it's correctness. But I will try to update it after the show tonight in my review.

Limelight
Digital Man
Entre Nous
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl
Secret Touch
Circumstances
Between The Wheels
Dreamline
(unidentified song... there was a long silence after Dreamline so we went to find a restoom and refreshments, upon leaving the gas station we could hear SOMETHING, but couldnt make it out before it was over - someone thought it may be 2112)

INTERMISSION

Video Intro (unable to see it... but was about 2-3 minutes long)
Far Cry
Workin Them Angels
Armor and Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
MalNar
Drum Solo
Hope
Summertime Blues =8^O
The Spirit of Radio
Tom Sawyer

ENCORE

One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ



WOW - that should be a night of it!:yougo

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Wow... that'll be great!

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Those songs in particular sound great, either not played for while or staples...

I'll miss them this year. Glad you're able to go!

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Thanks for posting. I'll be at show #2. I was told not to expect 2112 due to the amount of material they have to pick from, so if does get played it will be a bonus.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

See you in a few hours, OHD!:rockband: :yougo

Re: Rush On Tour - Opening Night Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2007
 

Well, The rumor playlist proved to be extremly accurate - in fact they were dead on. The set list exactly right as shown above. It was a very good show. I am a first time viewer of Rush, I am embarressed to admit. Now I regret all the chances I missed in the past. C'est la vie. I've heard them now.

Let me set the stage for you. All the equipment is covered as you enter. It is not until the start of the show that it is revealed. Guitar is set stage right (house left). Alex has 4 Marshall Heads, each atop a double stacked speaker cabinet. Neal's brand new drums sit dead center. They are something to behold in red with gold snake designs that glow when lit internally. Geddy Lee and bass amps are stage left. He has three custom made "Henhouse" cabinets with powerheads on top. They have a lit interior that are always on.

Above and behind the muscians are three video screens. Above the stage are a series of about 6 "cloud" banks with veri-lights and pulsar lights. These were flown in and out to many different positions for several different and imaginative effects.

Dramatic and comedic videos were used throughout the show to good effect. Sound guest vid shots include those crazy brothers from the Great White North (beer, eh), our friends from South park, and the band themselves in a scary nightmare.

The show is performed in two acts. Act I started about 7:50 (20 mins. late from ticket time). Being in outdoor venues it is the less scenic of the two, however, the lights cast a great warm wash through the show. Wonderful choice of colors by the designer. Not your usual range of colors. But then, when the performers are this old, you need to choose wisely to make them look good. Hide those wrinkles.

The show opens with a video and goes right into the first song. Here are a few passing comments and the show order:
1) Limelight - a good opener.
2) Digital Man - video screens are showing video cameras on musicians.
3) Entre Nous - personal greeting to audience followed the song
4) Mission - a video played in the background for this.

I must say the sound is excellent. Clean, crisp, heavy. Could understand all the lyrics and hear the nuiances of the music and layers or instruments when they were doubling up on foot pedals and keyboards and snyth pads.
Sound was neither too loud or too soft. Just Perfect.

5) Freewill - great bass and guitar dual in this song.
6) The Main Monkey Business - 1st S&A song, instrumental, funny video
7) The Larger Bowl - introduced by our great white north friends
8) Secret Touch
9) Circumstances - show was lagging a little here. Audience not real familiar with the new stuff and this song low on energy.
10) Between The Wheels - picked the up a little but energy still seemed low.
11) Dreamline - Okay, break out the lasers - good up end to the first act.

INTERMISSION - 25 minutes

1) Far Cry - Video intro with background music before this song.

This act was after sundown so the lights were a much bigger factor in this act. Unfortunately, there are several banks of pulsar lights on the stage level just above the amps. They would use these to create a strobe effect into the audiences eyes.

2) Workin Them Angels - good video in background.
3) Armor and Sword - lots of flashing lights, but excellent stage coloring too.
4) Spindrift - lasers made a repeat appearance.
5) The Way The Wind Blows (from S&A) cool tune, good background
6) Subdivisions
7) Natural Science
8) Witch Hunt
9) Malicious Narcissism - best instrumental of the night - good guitar/bass interplay and that is followed by a 20 minutes drum solo - including the drum stage pivoting to show the synth pad set up. It even includes a swing jazz section that really does swing. Neal is the man!
10) Hope (S&A) - a guitar instrumental solo. Very nice calmer after the solo.
11) Summertime Blues - Okay, I know they released a disc of covers. But this was the odd song out. Why is this song in the playlist - it just seems so out of place. Maybe it's the placement in the playlist. If it has to stay, please move it to the first act after the 3 S&A songs where it starts to slow down and drag a little. Here, it kind of stops the show, just when it's building such a nice momentum. I'm sure some real Rush afficianados could thing of about 15 songs to replace it with (not covers).
12) The Spirit of Radio - great rendition. Crowd really into this one.
13) Tom Sawyer - It's sing along time.

ENCORE

1) One Little Victory - Didn't recognize this song. Seemed a strange encore to me, but others were singing along.
2) A Passage to Bangkok - another one I didn't recognize, but some were singing with this one. Felt a little low.
3) YYZ - Now we're talking. This is the high energy encore stuff I was looking for. Good show closer.

I was not at all disappointed. The new songs blend in very well with the older material, musically. Lack of familiarity, however, brings the energy down during those songs. I would give the show a 7 out of 10.

Suggestions for the band: Get into it a little more and play the audience more - it took until the encore for Geddy to really connect with the audience by roaming further to the sides of the stage. I think they will get more at ease further down the road. It was a very technical show tonight, I think. They are still getting used to it. They'll be more comfortable and looser soon. That will get them in touch with the audience more and they will "perform" more than just play the songs.

Big Note: Enough with the Flashing Strobes. They gave me a migraine. You're going to send someone into epileptic shock or siezure with those things. Be sure the reason you're using them has a point. Don't turn them on just because they're cool. It's a good thing I did not bring my daughter who has epilepsy.

Well, that's one old hippies opinion. I think you will all have a great time. Enjoy, either live, or vicariously through your friends or your local favorite internet radio site (like Aural Moon). 8-)8-q

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

You came through Dale! You said you'd let us all know about the tour, and WOW! in fine detail :smoooch:
I actually waited to see if you really would bring us all what you enjoyed and experience, surprized it was your first show. Commentary was right on. I appreicate your reviews and opinions. Sounds like it'll be a awesome tour this year. Thank you Dale :smoooch:

Dale you might want to change the date to 2007 :)

Re: Rush On Tour - Opening Night Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

"2) A Passage to Bangkok - another one I didn't recognize, but some were singing with this one. Felt a little low." :???:

Huh? Really? Wow! I'm surprised you didn't know this one OHD. This is one we all hope to hear live but they have usually skip it. It was good to hear this live. They resurrected for the R30 intro but hadn't played it since Moving Pictures tour.

It was also a first for Entre Nous. This song had never been performed live...EVER! We were the first! :neener: And they played Circumstances for the first time since the Hemispheres tour, Mission for the first time since the Presto tour, Witch Hunt since Power Windows,

I thought the new songs were great. Very strong stuff. I didn't have the lack of familiarity so, unlike most shows where the new stuff slows down the momentum, I didn't feel this to be the case. The movies/cartoons were great, I thought, especially the 'Lil Rush'. "A Modern day warrior named Tom Sawyer went down a river on a raft with a black guy!" "I'm Geddy Lee and I can sing whatever it is I want!"

Alll in all, I thought it was a great show and well worth the price of admission. I give it a 9.5/10. And my rating for the new stuff may have gone up a little too.

Oh, and sorry we weren't able to meet up. I went searching before the show but had no luck. I was also unable to find a guy I work with, so don't feel too bad.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

A couple of observations from a Rush fanatic....

Great review Dale.....and thanks Crib, now I don't feel so bad about missing them....

I've seen Rush 15-20 times, on every tour but one since Permanent Waves. 1980 was the first. I am certain they've played Entre Nous in the 80's. Unless they specifically said they have not...I think they have. I used to write down set lists. Maybe I can dig one out that would be fun. yesspaz and I compared King's X setlists from 15 yrs ago until now.... and I know Circumstances was played more recent than that. Dale, that and Natural Science are their more powerful songs. Surprised the show lagged there, but maybe they're old and tired!

Speaking of that, they used to jump around a lot. Geddy, since the late 80's, has had a lot to do, with his keyboards engulfing his area and he's singing, doing pedals, bass, and keys. He's seriously multi-tasking. I would like to know how the new songs are played, cause there's no keys at all save for one tune.

I'm just happy Neil is still into it. He's never been big on live shows, and all of the shit he went through about 10 years ago, he got through and is still into the band. Bravo!

Thanks again for the review.......we need more like that!

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

I've seen Rush on every tour since Subdivisions. Looking forward to seeing them do their "home" gig in Toronto in September.

Set list looks interesting. Nice to see them do Entrenous and Circumstances. Wow, they've really dumped Vapour Trails, haven't they? Like you, I could do without Summertime Blues. Waste of a song.

All in all a good set. You can't please everybody.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Don't let my "7" disappoint you. I'm a very stern critic. You have to know I was in the theatre business most of my life. I have very high standards. A 7 is a very high rating in my book. And the musical end of the show was top knotch. Sound was impeccable. But then, I'm also too old to stand for 3 hours too for no real reason. It may have just been my section that were non afficiandos and pulled the energy down. Other sections of the theatre may not have been that way. And I did have the B&C with me. She's not a big Rush fan so she wasn't 100% into the show either.

But as I said, this is just this old hippie's opinion. (8-D

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

I may be 'new' and 'young' for the Moon, but I know what I know. I would assume seeing anyone 15-20 times you would begin to expect certain things. This is not the previous tours. This is the tour for Snakes and Arrows. Things change.

And, by the way, Entre Nous has never been played live before last night except for sound checks. The list now does not include it as 'not played live' but it has been updated. Check with the webmaster to verify.

http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/Tours.htm

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Nice review.-

Tanks Hill

I don´t think they´ll be coming to Mexico so this is as close as I´ll get to the concert.

Thanks again

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Crib, not to get into a back and forth, but the following are on the list attached, as not played live and I've seen them live. I can check with a few friends who would know but seeing so many songs on the list I doubt the validity...

Take A Friend (in a medley)
Losing It (I saw FM open for Rush in 1980 and Ben Mink came out to do this with them)
Second Nature
Tai Shan
High Water
Chain Lighting
Presto
Face Up
The Big Wheel
Neurotica
Cut To The Chase
Totem
How It Is

The rest of the above I only remember as being on that tour the songs were on.

I just wish i saw them prior to 1980...that must have been something!

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Dale, excuse me for feeling giddy. I just overwhelmed by how informed you all are. And yes, where you sit or stand plays on how you enjoy the entertainment. Went to see Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon, FleetwoodMac..I forget who else, and abunch of us we're rocking but a set of people in the back seats ...threw wad of paper at us. They look like mass of lumps. Rick And Roll, you sounds like you would really enjoy this tour...

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

http://lpe.accessatlanta.com/gallery...rts/0607/rush/

Getting psyched for the show... A little late, but I built a playlist off what Dale provided and now listening. At this course and speed, I'll barely be able to get one pass before I have to leave for the show...

Since I am not a Rush-head perse, a lot of what the URL I posted has was new to me.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Great shots..

Is that a monitor for the lyrics in front of Geddy?

Are there any keyboards this tour?

Anyone know whatever happened with that NYE 2006 arrest where Alex allegedly hit a female cop?

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Wow it was 2004, that long ago? Viva Google....

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/06/1001.cfm

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

http://music.yahoo.com/ar-262327-news--Rush

Apparently this issue is still a problem for him.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Oh Dale, please fix the date of the concert if you still can edit it.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Thanks!

I have no sympathy for him, civil rights my ass....:neener: Looks like all is back where it was. Cheeky the journalist "exit stage left" lol

I love the word "ruckus" R)

Re: Rush On Tour - Opening Night Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2007
 

Okay I have fixed the date in the lead post. If you quote from this one - it will appear correctly in your posts from here forward.

But if you quote another post - it will keep the old incorrect date. Sorry, I was excited. R) 8-)

Thanks for the post of the pics gr8sho92. I couldn't get my camera in. Those are cool.

Rick - yes, there were keyboards. Sure looks like a monitor, can't tell what's on it.

Secret - I don't mind giddy! :smoooch: No harm there.
I hope you enjoy your concert when they reach Portland.

And I hope all of you who get to catch them across the US and the European leg of the tour.

I hope to bring a fun report back from NearFest next week.

Rush - Snakes & Arrows World Tour 2007 - West Palm Beach, FL - June 15, 2007
 

Here are my random musings on the show.

I highlighted my favorites from the West Palm show using OHD's provided playlist. The live performances of the new songs were all well done and in most cases seemed better than the studio versions. I absolutely agree that Malignant Narcissism was for me the highlight of the show and was just outstanding. I also really enjoyed the Eric Clapton tribute on The Way the Wind Blows. Dreamline (I loved Roll the Bones when it was released) was quite well done. The drum solo is a hallmark of Rush shows and everything written above is dead on. When the drumset spins around and he starts playing these other percussion instruments, there is an overhead shot of a simple looking keyboard he plays with his drumstick. Very slick and I do understand why Mr. Peart gets the acclaim he gets. It is well deserved. In fact, he is so good at what he does that he appears to be a machine. Perfect right down to the snarl/frown he wears for pretty much the whole show.

About Summertime Blues. I'm okay with this being in the concert. The song is short and is wrapped by some excellent riffs on both ends. But OHD is correct that this could have been omitted without concern.

We take some things for granted at times when it comes to ease of certain things. I met someone who flew down from Memphis and there were several that flew in from South America to see this show. I would say the show was very close to being sold out based on how little grass remained in the lawn section.

Wasn't really bothered much by any of the effects. It must have been damn hot on the stage because the ambient temp must have been mid 80s with high humidity. Alex was clearly sweating up a storm.

Geddy did very well IMO considering the burden he carries having to worry about his bass and the keyboards. He did manage to wander the stage a few times and almost mastered the Chuck Berry duck-walk.

If you're sitting on either wing, you won't get a lot of real close views of the players. I was sitting literally 6 rows from the stage, but off to the side. When Alex came over he was real close, but the stage is very wide in an amphitheater and there are only 3 guys to take up all that real-estate. I would say what we got was fair.

My buddy (a real Rush-head) said he believes S&A really makes this tour work in the sense that the new album is Moving Pictures caliber, and that says a lot.

I know AM is prog, and Rush is accepted as prog, but the concert itself to me was straight-up in your face hard rock. Nonetheless, it was vintage Rush (sans 2112) and the show is highly recommended.

Yes it was! :D

I actually managed to get quite a bit of the show on my Treo 650 using camcorder mode. No one seemed to be bothered by what I was doing. The sound quality as you can imagine is quite poor but it does give me something to remember the show by besides the T-shirt I bought.

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Excellent reviews, will try to match it with mines ;)

Monday, June 18, 2007
(Secret touch....
Just try and NOT like this song...
Dedicated by: cribguy)
Thanks for requesting...enjoyed it

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

I had the pleasure of seeing Rush in Raleigh on June 20 and enjoyed the show. It was the first big concert event for my 15 year old son who very much enjoys prog rock and classic rock. He plays drums and has learned several of the Rush standards. I used to play drums but have switched to bass. I really enjoyed the mix of new and old material.:rawk:

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

PeterG and I saw them on Wednesday, June 27. I haven't seen them in 15ish years. I thought it was a great show. Except for Summertime Blues :moresnore
And for some reason I have an unrelenting craving for rotisserie chicken!:knowing:

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Hmmmmmm! Something you're not telling us Julieval????????????

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Those who have seen the show will know what I mean....:winkies:

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

Read back to my original description of Geddy's amp setup. :horsepoop

Re: Rush - Snakes & Arrows - Atlanta, GA - June 13, 2006
 

"Henhouse" :LOL: