Rush @ LG Arena – 26th May 2013
A stunning trio on a Sunday evening – but a strange gig-going experience.
For the three songs I saw and the first half I heard from outside the auditorium Rush were on imaculate form, as they had been earlier in the week when I saw this set in full in Manchester.
A quick explanation is due, Tonight I’m on my own shooting three songs only so I have not seen the full show in Birmingham. Two nights ago I was in the crowd and with the same setlist so I can reflect on the quality, the showmanship, and sheer enjoyment I experienced and know that Birmingham is being treated to an equal delight. Does my envy show, whilst I’m waiting to go in?
The two halves run with older material in the first half from the familiar Subdivisions and Big Money,to the less familiar Middletown Dreams and Territories ending in Far Cry.
I’ve never been a fan of drum solos but in Neil Peart’s case I can make an exception, which is good as there are three solos in this performance. The overhead drum camera projecting to the back screen makes this part fascinating, the complexity and speed is shared in full with the crowd.
Over the past few years of seeing Rush I’ve noticed a gradual development in the audience, tonight as I travel in there are again more women and family groups present, on the car park bus smaller Rush fans were “as excited as if its a holiday” next to me. The evolution of Rush amazes me and either the music they create has become more accessible or the connections and reach with Snakes and Arrows and now Clockwork Angels is more inclusive. I used to think of them as heavy duty outsiders now I’m part of this too, lyrics that touch, a level of understanding and that immense sound.
The second half is based on Clockwork Angels, complete with appropriately named string ensemble and pyrotechnics. The band really focus through the new material each player more singular and less of the playful on stage Rush that was shown in the first half. The epic layering of the strings set behind and above them gives an intensity and passion to Rush that goes beyond the power they display. Unusually for a string section they are fully included in the performance, with Alex and Geddy moving through the kit to them and Neil elevated on the drums reacting and raising sticks with bows in unison.
The Garden is the highlight of this section as it is on the album, with beautiful graphics and thoughtful lyrics reducing me and grown men around me to tears. To end this section the big numbers that are YYZ and Spirit of Radio flow across the arena with the crowd delighted, arms raised in the waves of sound hitting them.
2112 made up the encore with more audience participation and Geddy promising to see us sometime down the road!
Rush are simply superb. Envy? Well, I’ll be over it by Tuesday — I’m off to Sheffield!
Set List
Part one
Subdivisions
The Big Money
Force Ten
Grand Designs
Middletown Dreams
Territories
The Analog Kid
The Pass
Where’s My Thing?
Far Cry
Part Two
Caravan
Clockwork Angels
The Anarchist
Carnies
The Wreckers
Headlong Flight
Halo Effect
Wish Them Well
The Garden
Dreamline
Red Sector A
YYZ
The Spirit of Radio
Encore
Tom Sawyer
2112 Part One — Overture
2112 Part Two — The Temples of Syrinx
2112 Part Seven — Grand Finale
Photos and Review by Stephanie Colledge