Once again, Rush dissapoints

[MonetBass]

Has anyone seen a show on this tour yet? No. Why? Because it doesn't open until tomorrow night, here in Tulsa. And I'll be there. So until a show actually happens, what the OP posted is merely rumor. I'll keep a set list and post it later.

 

[Ric5]

Think about what you just wrote man! Yes, Portnoy could "technically" do it. Hell, as a former drummer who ate and breathed Rush, I could do it. But no one can replace any member of an iconic band. This isn't Menudo here. Peart simply cannot be replaced, as much of a bore he has become these past 20 years or so.

I think Portnoy could walk into just about any band and replace just about any drummer ... Would he sound and play exactly like Peart? ... no ... but he would do a hell of a job.

 

[bftbassman]

I think Portnoy could walk into just about any band and replace just about any drummer ... Would he sound and play exactly like Peart? ... no ... but he would do a hell of a job.

i try to like dream theatre and just cant...saw them live on tv a few weeks ago and was done on 3rd song....not sure what it is, i just cant get into them, now saw pantera concert on tv a few days ago.even ran a cord out to my studio monitors and cranked it !!!.yeah..groove metal !!!!

 

[MGR]

i try to like dream theatre and just cant...saw them live on tv a few weeks ago and was done on 3rd song....not sure what it is, i just cant get into them, now saw pantera concert on tv a few days ago.even ran a cord out to my studio monitors and cranked it !!!.yeah..groove metal !!!!

I agree. Dream Theater, although they were awesome on the Images and Words tour where I saw them play to a packed room of 20 people, has devolved into a hot, lame mess. Completely soulless music.

 

[stigbeve]

OP here. Normally I'd agree with you, but Rush themselves touted this tour as being an "obscure, deep cut" concert to address some of the holes in their setlists the last few tours. From my observation, the opposite is true. They are playing the same old, same old. Throw in another boring drum solo, and I'm glad the last Rush tour I went to was R30.

LOL. My friends were shocked when I went to the restroom and got a beer during the drum solo when we saw Rush.

 

[Omega Monkey]

The goal is not to please the small minority of hard core fans.

Hi, I'm Rush, have we met?

The "hard core fans" make up like 90% of the audience of a typical Rush show. Then add 5% wives and girlfriends and 5% randoms who kinda dug Tom Sawyer on the radio back in the day and thought seeing them might be fun and you have a complete picture of who is spending their cash to go see a bunch of 65 year olds play some music.

The people that want a more varied setlist are not some "small minority" and they have been saying the same thing since AT LEAST the Counterparts tour (20+ years ago). The "average" Rush fan DOES want a varied and interesting setlist. Why do you think people LOST THEIR MINDS when they did all of MP a few years ago? They've been playing half those songs at every show since the album came out, but it was the inclusion of stuff like Camera Eye and Vital Signs that got people's attention.

And how many "hits" do they really even have that are obligatory? Adds up to maybe 30m of music. Then take the other 90 minutes or so and change it up. Geddy's vocals are not an excuse, that's what key changes are for. Neil's hand problems are not an excuse. He's still going to have to play complex, intense parts or it's not a Rush show. You can't have 2 hours of Nobody's Hero/Bravado/Time Stand Still kind of stuff and call it a Rush show. And if that were the best they could do then they shouldn't even go out.

I think there are a handful of guys who could pull off replacing Neil (Portnoy, Brann Dailor, Terry Bozzio, etc...), but it just wouldn't be the same. The band has had the same 3 dudes for FORTY YEARS. There's not a single other group out there that can say the same thing. Of course, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to Ged and Alex going out with Terry Bozzio for a tour (and maybe even Dalbella on vocals). Musically that would most likely be better (esp vocally, Ged's voice is pretty shot). It would only suffer in terms of nostalgia and "good vibes".

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

It's RUSH.
They can play what they want.

 

[Ric5]

i try to like dream theatre and just cant...saw them live on tv a few weeks ago and was done on 3rd song....not sure what it is, i just cant get into them, now saw pantera concert on tv a few days ago.even ran a cord out to my studio monitors and cranked it !!!.yeah..groove metal !!!!

Sometimes great musicians are not great as songwriters ... I don't like a lot of Dream Theatre songs. But the guitarist and drummer are both excellent players.

 

[tbz]

Uh yeah on the whole subject of replacing Neil...

You guys are clear that the Rush hiatus of the late 90s was due entirely to the loss of Neil's wife and daughter, and his subsequent "multi-year solo motorcycle ride around North/South America".

At the time, in every interview I read with both Alex and Geddy they clearly stated that they would reform when Neil was ready, or they would not reform. They were not sure if they ever would play as Rush again because they were not sure Neil would come back, and they were unwilling to continue without him.

As a result, I'd say their chances of continuing as Rush are exactly 0%, if Neil cannot perform.

Weird how people forget somewhat recent history.

 

[MGR]

Uh yeah on the whole subject of replacing Neil...

You guys are clear that the Rush hiatus of the late 90s was due entirely to the loss of Neil's wife and daughter, and his subsequent "multi-year solo motorcycle ride around North/South America".

At the time, in every interview I read with both Alex and Geddy they clearly stated that they would reform when Neil was ready, or they would not reform. They were not sure if they ever would play as Rush again because they were not sure Neil would come back, and they were unwilling to continue without him.

As a result, I'd say their chances of continuing as Rush are exactly 0%, if Neil cannot perform.

Weird how people forget somewhat recent history.

I don't think anybody was really serious about replacing Neil. But it doesn't hurt to talk about it. But I agree, Rush is not Rush without Rush.

 

[buldog5151bass]

OK, then, let's try this. I am sure they are as sick of playing Tom Sawyer as you are of hearing it. They can probably play it in their sleep.

Why, then, would they put it in the set? Maybe, just maybe, it is because they think it will please the most fans. Hmmmmmmm? I think they might know just a LITTLE bit better than you as to what works (going out on limb here).

Maybe you want to see them add musicians. Then you are welcome to pay them to do so. If it is so terrible, don't go.

Honestly...

 

[bftbassman]

Sometimes great musicians are not great as songwriters ... I don't like a lot of Dream Theatre songs. But the guitarist and drummer are both excellent players.

hey i respect all musicians, there is all kinds of dif talent in dif genres, i think i am progressing these days and heart felt music is hitting me somewhere musically...not speed or guitar world mag so called virtuoso stuf...man make some music...dont make it math metal..lol

 

[Omega Monkey]

That was 20 years ago and they were at a much different stage of life as a band so the 2 situations aren't as close as they might appear.

I do think functionally it is extremely unlikely they would tour without Neil, but I would put it at more like 5% chance rather than 0. And Neil could probably still record if they wanted to do another album at some point, and then get someone in for live work.

 

[Omega Monkey]

Why, then, would they put it in the set? Maybe, just maybe, it is because they think it will please the most fans. Hmmmmmmm? I think they might know just a LITTLE bit better than you as to what works (going out on limb here).

Yes, because musicians NEVER miscalculate what their fans want. That is why every single Metallica album including St Anger and Lulu is a huge fan favorite!

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I really like the Clockwork Angels stuff, and the fact that they are opening with the best songs is gonna be great!

1 song each from S&N and Vapor Trails. personally I'd like to hear more from VT, great album.

the hits are the hits, people love em for it.

But then Animate, Camera Eye, Closer to the Heart ? that is some good stuff not normally played on tour.

I do wonder if they will do just the Overature/Temples/Finale again, or the whole thing ?

either way, I am going to 2 shows, and will see Rush any time they come to the west coast!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yes, because musicians NEVER miscalculate what their fans want. That is why every single Metallica album including St Anger and Lulu is a huge fan favorite!

Nothin' personal, I'll put my money on them over you. You've sold out HOW many stadiums over the last 40 years?

 

[Basshappi]

I haven't been to a Rush concert since the 90's.
I've got tickets to the 7/27 show in Phoenix, can't wait to go no matter what the setlist!

 

[EarnestTBass]

As far as I'm concerned, the only legitimate complaint about Rush concerts would be- too few women attend....

 

[hrodbert696]

Alex Lifeson says Rush is slowing down, not going away | Globalnews.ca

The gist, as far as this thread is concerned: no more big tours after R40. They may still record and do occasional one-off concerts, but no more big tours.

 

[Omega Monkey]

Nothin' personal, I'll put my money on them over you. You've sold out HOW many stadiums over the last 40 years?

Irrelevant. A better question would be how many of those 40 years have people been bitching about their rigid setlists?

Do you truly not understand the phenomenon of popular artists (or really anyone rich and/or famous) losing touch with the public?

Rush is certainly not the worst offender, but it happens again and again with bands like that. Genesis is another. Yes to a lesser extent. In their later touring years they keep to a fairly small range of their "popular" material. But when you play music like that, THAT's what your actual fans want to hear. The people in 07 showing up to Genesis to hear Invisible Touch, in a week they'll forget they were even there. And maybe they owned that album on tape in 1987 and then it got lost under the seat of their car. But the people showing up to hear Cinema Show or Watcher of the Skies are the ones who have been listening constantly for years, probably own all the albums (even the ones they don't particularly like), and for them the concert will be a memorable experience (whether that's good or bad is up to the band). Genesis never could have gotten to IT if they hadn't made Nursery Cryme, The Lamb, Trick, etc... And they forget what got them where they are.

And Rush is not really that different in that respect. Do you really think fans would rather hear Time Stand Still (AGAIN, have they ever NOT played it in the last 28 years?) over something like Necromancer? They brought back Natural Science a few years ago and people went crazy. And that's not even one of their better "obscure" songs. Which let's be clear, Rush does not in fact HAVE any "obscure" songs, because every album except maybe the last 2 has gone AT LEAST gold. Which means at least half a million people know each Rush song (individually).