Nov 09 – Song of the Month – Rush YYZ

If I was to pick one band that meant so much to me during my formative years – one band where I knew every song, bought every record – it would have to be Rush. And this version, filmed on their 2002 tour, simply makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end every time I play it – what a performance what an audience, they are having such a good time

Filed under Song of the Month.

10 comments

Written by Laughing Dog – 31 October, 2009

10 Responses

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Spacepig says

Good enough band, although they don’t mean as much to me as they obviously do to the Dog, I did like quite a lot of their late ’70’s and early ’80’s releases.
This video shows them going full pelt, impressive stage show and how’s that for a drum-kit? It does appear to be a strange choice as Song of the Month though. I would have thought that, even if you wanted something from this set you would have chosen one of their classics. I would have gone for Tom Sawyer, The Trees, Red Sector A or 2112 before this track.
To be honest, I bought this DVD about 3 years ago, and I still haven’t watched the whole thing yet. Not quite sure why, but it seems to me to be really hard work to watch it right the way through.

31 October, 2009, 8:08 pm
Laughing Dog says

The audience made this my Song of the Month – 40,000 Brazilians going bonkers – you can see it in Geddy and Alex’s eyes, even they appear to be stunned by them.

You’re right I could have selected a number of other songs and maybe I will in future as I’m a big fan but it felt so right to this one for now.

Its funny I haven’t mentioned Rush on my blog yet – not even a song in the mix – yet I still play their music regularly probably more than any other band.

You should try and watch the DVD it’s good very good

1 November, 2009, 1:47 pm
Spacepig says

I know what you mean when you say that the audience can make a show, I have seen it many times in the past. Probably the most startling occasion was Iron Maiden at the Reading Festival in 1980. At that time they were a relatively small band, not the monsters they are these days and as they came on they looked really nervous. By the end of their set the 60,000 crowd were going bonkers. They were called back for three encores and even as the next band, UFO took the stage, the crowd were still calling out for Maiden.
I only seen Rush once, sometime during the early ’80’s, I think it may have been in Edinburgh but I could be wrong. It was shortly after the Permanent Waves album and I remember great versions of Spirit of the Radio and 2112, but not much more than that (heavy night on the beer!).
Favourite albums would be 2112, Farewell To Kings and the live one Exit Stage Left has some really good stuff on it.
I haven’t bought any of their recent releases but your Amazon review of Snakes & Arrows has got me intrigued.
Promise I’ll have another go at the DVD when I get the chance. Has to be a time when Mrs Pig is out though as she doesn’t like them.

5 November, 2009, 3:17 pm
Laughing Dog says

I remember going to see Enya with my brother (he was a big fan) and some bright spark from near the front shouted “Play something faster”- made my night – Enya wasn’t too pleased with the audience participation that night though.

Iron Maiden Reading 1980 must have been great with a fantastic line up Rory Gallagher, Gillan, Whitesnake and Mama’s Boys one of favourite bands then – do you remember seeing them?

Think I’ll leave the Rush discussion for another post as it will take too long. On the subject of Rush you may like Alex Lifeson’s 1996 solo album ‘Victor’ – very different to Rush very dark but very good.

6 November, 2009, 6:52 pm
Sin again says

Mr LD – I like the video not like Rush very much though but you are right the crowd are great

9 November, 2009, 9:19 am
Spacepig says

I am not quite sure why Mama’s Boys are mentioned in the line up, I’m 99% certain they weren’t there. If they were I certainly didn’t see them. I dug out my old T Shirt from that one and they’re not mentioned on that either so I think there’s been a mistake somewhere.
Both Ozzy Osbourne and Gary Moore pulled out at the last minute but it was still a great weekend.
Memory is a little hazy now, it was 30 years ago after all, but I do remember Rory Gallagher winning over the heavy rock crowd within seconds and going on to play for 2 hours. Def Leppard were naff and nearly got bottled off.
Highlights for me that weekend apart from Maiden were Krokus, Rory Gallagher and Ozzy’s replacements, Slade were surprisingly good.Whitesnake gave their usual professional performance and Gillan was, well just Gillan!
Bad points about that festival? The beer was awful, the food inedible and the audience for the main part intolerable of anything that wasn’t heavy metal. Never been back to Reading since.

9 November, 2009, 1:16 pm
Laughing Dog says

Scroll down to the bottom of the link to Reading Festival there’s a picture of Mama’s Boys.

They were such a good band – I remember seeing them in a Working Mans Club in Cross Keys simply wonderful must have been early 80’s just as they released either ‘Plug it in’ or ‘Turn It Up’ but the hall was full.

Spacey no comment on the Music Mix yet???

11 November, 2009, 8:21 pm
Laughing Dog says

Thanks Sinny

11 November, 2009, 8:25 pm
Spacepig says

Oh I seen the photo alright Mr Dog, but I am quite sure that it wasn’t taken in 1980. Look at the flyer/poster on the website – see any mention of them on there? Nope neither did I. They might have played as a last minute replacement, but as I said, I didn’t see them and to tell you the truth, that’s the first time I’ve heard that they did play that year. Have to agree though, they were a good band back in the day.

No comment on Music Mix or Siena Root review yet simply because we’ve reached that time of the year when work takes over my life for a couple of months. Just now I am on 16 hour days with not much time for anything else. I can assure you that I will get it done soon as I get a spare minute to myself.

11 November, 2009, 10:22 pm
Laughing Dog says

thanks Spacey – look forward as usual to your comments

13 November, 2009, 9:08 pm