TobiasFunke82's Blog

Fact: Geddy Lee is the best bass player of all time.

 

 

 

Fact: Neil Peart is the best drummer of all time.

 

 

 

Fact: Alex Lifeson is without a doubt one of the most underrated guitarist of all time.

 

 

 

Fact: Rush is the best trio of all time and the best Progressive Rock band of all time, and their performance on August 24, 2007 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis is all the evidence one would need to support such bold claims.

 

 

 

My 127th concert was quite a lengthy one due to Rush playing a 28 song set list that clocked in at over 3 hours. I can’t think of a band that plays for over 3 hours except the last two times I have seen Rush when they did the same exact feat. I can barely play guitar for 30 minutes at a time without my fingers hurting, and neck requiring an aspirin because of the weight of the guitar. Therefore, any band willing to perform for 3 hours obviously loves their job and their fans.

 

 

 

The near sell out crowd erupted in pandemonium when Rush opened with Limelight. This would be one of the few radio popular Rush songs that the band played. The set list was definitely meant to appease the diehard Rush fans since it was full of obscure album rock, instead of the signature Red Barchetta and Working Man. Entre Nous, Digital Man, A Passage To Bangkok, Circumstances, Mission, Between The Wheels, Natural Science and Witch Hunt had me continuously repeating “I can’t believe they just played that.”

The great thing about Rush is they can literally play any song from their extensive career and still hold an audience in the palm of their hand. I found myself rediscovering certain Rush songs because I had never heard them live. Mission for example, came across as beautiful, symphonic, raucous and enlightening, and has become a new Rush favorite for me. The new album Snakes and Arrows also sounded brilliant in concert. It is so refreshing to actually want to hear a classic rock band’s new material and songs like Far Cry, Armor and Sword, Spindrift, The Way The Wind Blows and Workin’ Them Angels were just as memorable as the legendary Rush favorites. And only Rush can get away with incorporating three instrumentals in a set list. YYZ, The Main Monkey Business and Malignant Narcissism are so extraordinary musically, words were not necessary to keep a huge crowd entertained.

 

 

 

The highlights of the show were Dreamline and the visually stunning green laser show that accompanied the song, Mission, Entre Nous, A Passage To Bangkok, The Spirit of Radio, Freewill and Tom Sawyer.

 

 

 

Geddy, Alex and Neil are such a musical phenomenon that even though I know it is only three musicians onstage, the signature complex songs sound like they are being delivered by an entire orchestra, not just a trio. This is a band that plays so well together it’s almost scary. To put it simply; they are too good to be true. Rush’s music possesses an intellect that places them ahead of the pack, and is one of the reasons they are so underappreciated. St. Louis is a haven for Rush fans and it felt awesome to be around so much adoration. The crowd praised their beloved band and exhibited why St. Louis is one of Rush’s favorite cities to play. I look forward to future jaw dropping Rush shows since they are on my list of bands to always see when they tour.