Rush was otherworldly tonight. I thought the show in Boston was excellent. Tonight blew Boston away. The downside being the audience. I’ve seen three Rush shows at Madison Square Garden, and all three included a boring crowd. The other two included a number of obnoxious people too. That didn’t happen this time. Just the usual everyone sitting down after the first song. Wussies.
Tag: R40
Four More Days
More Rush Pics
Just a few more pics from the Rush show last night. Epic, my friends. Utterly Epic.
They played four songs that I had never seen them do in person, one of which I had never heard them do on recording either. This is from that song, but no spoilers here. I had to take this because, is that a Paul Reed Smith 12-string???
I had read that during the break they took after the last tour Geddy Lee added a collecting obsession to his existing wine and baseball memorabilia collecting obsession. The new one being bass guitars. We saw a lot of new and interesting instruments last night. This of course is not one of them. I’m pretty sure the Green Fender Jazz made an appearance last tour. Oh well.
Ever since the late 80’s, Neil Peart has been playing with two drum kits. One, the great big sucker he always has in front of him, and the other a smaller mostly electric kit that would spin around to his front from time to time. Over the years the two kits sort of blended together into one 360 degree monster kit. This tour? There were two kits… just not at the same time. This is the first of the two, which he used during the first set.
This was the second kit. A replica of his old 1970’s kit, which he called “Chromey.” Note the tubular bells in the back. Ever since seeing the Exit Stage Left video from 1981 I have been wanting to see Neil stand up and play some damn tubular bells. Unfortunately, that was replaced by his MIDI marimba thingie before I managed to see my first show back in 1987. Last night though… dream fulfilled! Tubular Freakin’ Bells!
On the second song of the first set, Alex Lifeson played a Rickenbacker guitar. Later on, Geddy Lee played a Gibson Bass. It was like the 1970’s just flipped itself upside down and turned itself over backward. It was just so weird.
Is that one of those weird new Gibson ES-Les Pauls? A semi-hollow version of the ultimate solid body guitar. Not sure I get the point of that.
Geddy with a Rickenbacker. Back in the 80’s that was all I really wanted in this world. Just to have Geddy Lee stop playing those little Steinberger things, or that weird Wal thing. Just play a Rickenbacker.
Again, this is more like it. Alex with his Gibson ES-355. And all was right with the world.
Next week we see them again in New York. I can’t freakin’ wait!
Rush at the TD Garden in Boston
June 23, 2015. Rush came to Boston to play the TD Garden. I somehow managed to remain mostly spoiler free as the R40 tour has been rolling along for over a month. Suffice to say it was amazing. I won’t spoil anything for anyone else except to say that the theme of the show can be described as moving backward in time.
The other day I bought a new point and shoot camera. A Nikon Coolpix S7000. Tonight was it’s first real test. It did a pretty good job. I’m happy with the 50-60 pics I took. Here are a few examples. There will probably be more later.
Double neck:
Also double neck:
Double bass:
Double everything:
Tonight!
The day is here! Tonight I will be seeing my all time favorite band for the (I think) 24th time! Rush!
I’m actually nervous. Meaning, what if something goes wrong tonight and I can’t get to the Garden? What if my car breaks down on the way, or I get mugged and my ticket is stolen, or what if my ticket gets struck by lightning? Something like that?
Damn, that would suck!
R40 – Opening Night
Tonight is the night. Tulsa, OK is the place. The opening night of the Rush R40 40th anniversary celebration tour! Even though this year is actually their 41st year. Who cares!
What do you think the chances are that I can pick up Jen, get to the airport, fly to Tulsa, get to the arena, scalp two tickets, and get to our seats by 7:00 local time? The chances are pretty slim, but we should do it anyway! WOOHOO!!
Just kidding.
We will be at the Boston and NYC shows. The final show of the tour is in Los Angeles. I’m trying to drop subtle hints to my beloved wife Jen that a trip to L.A. is a good idea. There’s also Toronto though. I’ve always wanted to see Rush play a hometown show.
I am a little disappointed in the band, to tell you the truth. In the past there have been a strange number of tours in which they were in New England within a day or two of my birthday. In 2013 they were at Mohegan Sun on May 9th, In 1990 they hit the mother lode of birthday shows. They were in Providence on the 7th, Hartford on the 8th, and Worcester on the 10th and 11th. I went on the 10th (I think). Add to that the fact that the Clockwork Angels tour in 2012 actually opened in Manchester, NH. Why then could they not have opened this tour in Boston on my birthday? Why? Especially since this is rumored to be either the final tour or the final tour of this magnitude. That would have been a pretty sweet Rush birthday present, don’t you think?
Why I Hate Tulsa, Oklahoma
I hate Tulsa, OK. I hate it I hate it I hate it.
Why do I hate it?
Because the Rush R40 tour kicks off in Tulsa tomorrow night and I am not there. That’s why I hate Tulsa, OK. I hate it I hate it I hate it. Stupid Tulsa gets the Rush opening night show and I don’t. Bunch of stupid jerk faces.
Antici…
…pation.
Is it June 23rd and/or June 29th yet?
Tickets Acquired
In all the excitement over the announcement of Rush tour dates yesterday I totally missed the announcement of ticket pre-sales starting today! I got word in time though.
Did I get tickets to the Boston show? Yes.
Did I get tickets to the New York show? Yes.
Did I get good seats to either show? Well….
Eh, not so good. Okay. Not great. We’re in the door though, that’s all that really matters. I’ve had much worse seats, once in the back row at Mohegan Sun and once in the back row at SPAC, and still had my entire head rocked clean off.
We’re going to see Rush again! Let’s celebrate!
Rush Tour Dates!
Christmas!
New Years!
Easter!
Birthday!
All rolled into one! That’s what today feels like, for Rush has announced new tour dates for 2015! It is Celebration Day! They are touring to celebrate their 40th anniversary even though this summer marks 41 years. Well… as long as they can still count to 7 and play Cygnus X-1 I will forgive their math error.
Here are the dates:
| Date | Location | Venue | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2015 | Tulsa | BOK Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| May 10, 2015 | Lincoln | Pinnacle Bank Arena | On Sale Soon |
| May 12, 2015 | St. Paul | Xcel Energy Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| May 14, 2015 | St. Louis | Scottrade Center | On Sale Soon |
| May 16, 2015 | Austin | Austin360 Amphitheater | On Sale Soon |
| May 18, 2015 | Dallas | American Airlines Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| May 20, 2015 | Houston | The Toyota Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| May 22, 2015 | New Orleans | Smoothie King Center | On Sale Soon |
| May 24, 2015 | Tampa | Amalie Arena | On Sale Soon |
| May 26, 2015 | Atlanta | Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre | On Sale Soon |
| May 28, 2015 | Greensboro | The Greensboro Coliseum | On Sale Soon |
| May 30, 2015 | Bristow (DC Area) | Jiffy Lube Live | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 8, 2015 | Columbus | Nationwide Arena | On Sale Soon |
| June 10, 2015 | Buffalo | First Niagara Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 12, 2015 | Chicago | United Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 14, 2015 | Detroit | Palace of Auburn Hills | On Sale Soon |
| June 17, 2015 | Toronto (I) | Air Canada Centre | On sale February 6, 2015 |
| June 19, 2015 | Toronto (II) | Air Canada Centre | On sale February 6, 2015 |
| June 21, 2015 | Montreal | Bell Centre | On sale February 7, 2015 |
| June 23, 2015 | Boston | TD Garden | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 25, 2015 | Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 27, 2015 | Newark | Prudential Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| June 29, 2015 | New York | Madison Square Garden | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| July 9, 2015 | Kansas City | Sprint Center | On Sale Soon |
| July 11, 2015 | Denver | Pepsi Center | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| July 13, 2015 | Salt Lake City | Maverik Center | On Sale Soon |
| July 15, 2015 | Calgary | Scotiabank Saddledome | On sale February 6, 2015 |
| July 17, 2015 | Vancouver | Rogers Arena | On sale February 6, 2015 |
| July 19, 2015 | Seattle | Key Arena | On Sale Soon |
| July 21, 2015 | Portland | MODA Center | On Sale Soon |
| July 23, 2015 | San Jose | SAP Center at San Jose | On sale January 30, 2015 |
| July 25, 2015 | Las Vegas | MGM Grand Garden Arena | On Sale Soon |
| July 27, 2015 | Phoenix | US Airways Center | On Sale Soon |
| July 30, 2015 | Irvine Meadows | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | On Sale Soon |
| August 1, 2015 | Los Angeles | The Forum | On Sale Soon |
Opening night is my birthday. Too bad it’s in Tulsa, otherwise I’d say we should join the throngs of similarly obsessed fans and get ourselves there. But… it’s Tulsa. $5.00 says they did that on purpose. (sorry Oklahoma, said the proud Masshole)
Key dates:
June 23rd in Boston. Obviously.
June 29 in New York. We’ve seen them at Madison Square Garden twice. How about Garden Grady #3?
June 17 and 19 in Toronto. I’ve always wanted to see them do a home town show.
July 25 in Las Vegas. I’ve always wanted to go to Las Vegas. Why not go for Rush?
August 1 in Los Angeles. They aren’t playing in San Diego. L.A. is as close as they get. Is it close enough? Yes!
Inside the Red Head's Head 