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Rush is the Greatest Live Band Ever

Simply put, when it comes to live bands, Rush is one of the greatest. A group of phenomenal musicians who are as popular today as they were in the 1970s were put on another plane. They can't be mistaken for any genre other than "rock." The band's music has been described as heavy metal, hard rock, progressive rock--and in fact it fits both all and none of those categories.

Despite no major "hits", and their albums always sounding totally different, they also have the most loyal and loving fans.

And I guess right there you've got some of the elements that make their concerts the best concerts I've ever seen. At a Rush concert you can sense an additional attentiveness given to the music usually absent at other similar concert events, specifically those show given by other hard core rock and roll bands. Many live shows are about the "flash" - not the music; and usually, that's due to the mediocrity of the music. The music at a Rush show is complex, and that is what makes it so awesome. Complicated, tight music that thousands of fans know word for word; the fans cheer, applaud, and go wild for the greatest complex lyrics in the rock music world!

It's incredibly amazing that three guys are able to put out so much music. Rush doesn't use session musicians at all, not in the studio and not at a concert; there are no temporary musicians, only the permanent members of the band. This further connects the fans with the band and creates a unique, exciting experience for the audience in a way that can't be compared with any other show. The same exact guys together for over 30 years--no split ups, no different members, no back-up singers or keyboardists forced to play behind a curtain live. Just Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart--all three virtuosos and master songwriters, and Neil Peart also one of the world's great writers.

Even before the first note sounds or the first laser cuts through the dark night, the atmosphere at a Rush concert has a special charge in the air. Although the music is of utmost importance, Rush concerts are also visually stimulating. The special effects crew went crazy with lasers, big screens, high tech cameras, real time performances, pyrotechnics insync with the music during "Far Cry" or head bagging, bunnies with watches coming out of hat during "Tom Sawyer".

And the musicians are hardly just standing or sitting there--especially Neil Peart, who may be the only front man drummer there ever was in rock music and whose massive, full-circle drum kit always takes center stage. Lifeson, the guitar player and Lee the singer/bass/keyboard player Lee, who are in their mid-50s, are more energized and kinetic than ever.

The audiences at a Rush concert are filled with musicians and non-musicians alike. The non-musicians love to play air-anything - even the drums! Speaking of the drums (There's no way that you can mention Rush without mentioning the drums.), while many people at other rock concerts decide to take off during the drum solo to get a drink or snack or even go to the bathroom, a Rush concert is a notable exception.
The drum solo is the most anticipated highlight of a Rush concert, and well worth the price of admission. The audience is transfixed for those last six to nine minutes and they go wild with applause and cheering at the end.

For all their musical and lyrical seriousness, Rush has a certain irony and humor that add another fun and dynamic dimension to their shows. Two tours ago Lee decided to change the lyrics to an old classic "The Temples of Syrinx" to say "We are the pirates of the Temples...Lee joined the audience of jubilant fans waving pirate ship flags, while the oppressed "actor" in him playfully displayed a stuffed parrot perched atop his shoulder. I went to the tour and I was able to see them a total of four times.. And as for zany man Lifeson...this tour, he's got a set of buxom blonde Barbie dolls on stage in front of his foot switches bearing signs about how gifted or hot he is! Lifeson has a huge wall of Marshall stacks on his side of the stage, so Lee decided he would match that by adding three rotisserie chicken cookers- that actually cooked real chicken!

For those who aren't fans, Rush is considered a cult. When attending a Rush concert, you will see the reason for this, and discover that they are at least half right about it.

So, to sum up, a Rush concert is an opportunity to participate in a moment of living history while attending a religious festival at the same time. and everybody will be singing, for up to three hours!

Article Source: http://www.articleadventure.com

M. Anderson writes for Oak Web Works Tickets, where you can buy cheap Rush tickets and all kinds of other sports and concert tickets online. See tickets.oakwebworks.com/

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