Getting ever closer to the heart
Rush, SECC, Glasgow, 14th May 2011

Rush.
The very word inspires fanaticism or derision in equal measures within the world of rock. Yet, love them or loathe them, there’s no denying their staying power after 37 years, 19 studio albums and their focus on their craft.

In an age where so many older bands struggle to retain credibility and often end up tarnishing their legacy, it must be reassuring to Rush fans that the band seem to be bucking the trend and, in my personal opinion, exceeding expectations when it comes to the live shows.

I expected a slick and professional show, as befits a band with one of the finest tour crews around, and sure enough everything was meticulously co-ordinated to produce a combination of sight and sound that rewarded the faithful gathered in Glasgow that night.
Each time I see the band I come away thinking “Well, it’s not going to get any better than that” and each time I come out of the concert hall eating my words.

Playing the Moving Pictures album in its entirety was an inspired move.
It’s their most popular album and, given that many of the songs already feature in the live set, it’s not too much of a stretch for the band to re-learn the additional songs. And with the Moving Pictures suite opening the second half of the show, you could feel the rising anticipation, particularly as some of the audience were perhaps less excited about the lesser known songs closing the first half of the show.

And yet, even though I know the album inside out, hearing it live in sequence was a novelty, and the band threw in some subtle re-workings along the way to keep the songs fresh. I also liked the fact that they’d scanned the album cover and recreated the characters as digital animations to accompany each song – an indication of the level of attention and detail in producing this show.
    
Most reviews have highlighted ‘The Camera Eye’ as the standout track on this tour, and I agree: less for the fact it hasn’t been played since 1981 but rather that it sounded so damn good live, with Geddy Lee’s bass pounding the song along in exhilarating style.

Yet the rest of the set was just as rewarding for the long-time fan, with some of the lesser appreciated tracks like ‘Presto’ and ‘Stick It Out’ getting an airing after a lengthy absence (in fact this may have been the first time ‘Presto’ has been played live.)

The two new tracks – ‘Caravan’ and ‘BU2B’ – sound promising, but didn’t quite hit the crowd’s sweet spot in the same way that classics such as ‘2112’ or ‘Freewill’ did, but that’s to be expected. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re greeted like old friends once the Clockwork Angels album has bedded in to our collections.
And it was a nostalgic moment when the crowd sang heartily along to ‘Closer To The Heart,’ 31 years after it was recorded live in the Glasgow Apollo. 

And of course, no Rush show would be complete without Neil Peart’s master class in drum solos. He’s the only drummer I know where the audience comes in from the bar to hear the solo! 
To my ears, it sounded like the old familiar drum fills had been given a complete overhaul, and ‘in fascination we watched and stared’ as he kept the audience’s attention for over ten minutes while he hit everything on his kit in a carefully planned sequence that showed his skill and discipline.

It’s easy to get cynical after seeing bands for so many years, but for me this was more than another gig, it was a celebration. I’m not ashamed to admit that I had a lump in my throat when the opening chords of ‘Spirit Of Radio’ rang out across the hall to announce the band’s arrival on stage.

Three hours later it was all over, but the warm memories will be treasured for years.

John Stout
May 2011


Setlist:
The Spirit Of Radio; Time Stand Still; Presto; Stick It Out; Workin' Them Angels; Leave That Thing Alone!; Faithless; BU2B; Freewill; Marathon; Subdivisions
(-Intermission-)
Tom Sawyer; Red Barchetta; YYZ; Limelight; The Camera Eye; Witch Hunt; Vital Signs; Caravan; Drum Solo (Love For Sale); Closer To The Heart (with new 12-string acoustic intro); 2112 (Overture/Temples Of Syrinx); Far Cry
Encores:
La Villa Strangiato; Working Man (intro)