RUSH

ROGERS ARENA – JULY 26, 2013

Rush! With Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart rocking this country for 40 years, a packed house waited eagerly for The Clockwork Angels tour to begin in Vancouver.

At precisely 7:52 p.m. they hit with “Subdivisions.” A steampunk-equipped stage was with decked gears, pipes and Peart’s enormous and revolving drum kit positioned in the centre. Not only humorous, but a visual theme, which certainly connects with many of their ideas from past and present.

Above the stage a group of moving video screens added a brilliant effect with several spectacular animated films throughout the show. During “The Wreckers” the screens were filled with images of an animated sea and creatures bobbing up and down. A giant popcorn popper sat onstage for entertainment pleasure!

With precision time, the first set clocked in at exactly one hour with tracks featuring late-80s material and “The Analog Kid” from Signals stood out. Certainly an eye opener to experience this earlier material live! By the second set, enter the eight-piece string ensemble, which remained onstage throughout.

Boom! As the intensity built up, the thrilling pyrotechnics charged the crowd! Instrumental passages including “YYZ” brought the house down leaving smoke streaming up from the pipes. Blazing under the stage lights during “The Percussor,” Neil Peart launches into a spectacular drum solo moment, very unique!

Chime! As the show progressed the songs moved back through time from their extensive catalogue. “The Spirit of Radio” off Permanent Waves and “Tom Sawyer” from Moving Pictures were brought out in their full glory. Finishing with elements from the marathon-length “2112.”

The professionalism of these three men is astounding; they have always followed their own calling. People understand this integrity, which translates into the dedication of their huge international fan base. The Willowdale, Ontario trio were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. A venerable institution in the pantheon of Canadian rock – one of our finest exports!

By Rene Milord
Photos: tiina liimu