Rush @ NY State Fair, Syracuse, NY
Thursday, September 2, 2010
By: Thom Jennings
Rush's "Time Machine" tour arrived in Syracuse, NY, Thursday night for a concert at the New York State Fair's grandstand. Rush treated the packed house to a spectacle of light and sound in a way only the Canadian rockers could do, with prowess. The two-hour plus, two-set performance included the "Moving Pictures" album in its entirety, performed as if it were recorded yesterday, not thirty years ago.
The show began with what has become a tradition at Rush shows, a short movie featuring all of the members of the band. I would hate to spoil the hilarious surprises in the three short movies (there was also one played before the second set and at the end of the show), but I will say they were an added treat to a great evening of music.
The first set opened with what has always been Rush's best opening song, if not one of the best arena rock opening songs of all time, "The Spirit of Radio." It set the pace for a power-packed first set of songs from Rush's lengthy catalogue. The set featured some old classics, as well as a new song from their forthcoming album, "Clockwork Angels."
On the way home from the show I stopped at a Tim Horton's on the New York State Thruway and wound up at the end of a long line of concertgoers. I heard one guy
arguing that after seeing Rush thirty-six times, the first set was "the lamest he had ever seen." I could only think that either Rush fans were spoiled or this guy was delusional, because I thought the first set was absolutely brilliant.
The second set was the real treat. Having seen Rush on the original "Moving Pictures" tour in 1981, it was just great to be able to relive all these great songs in concert, especially "The Camera Eye." Much has been written about Geddy Lee's ability to hit the screeching high notes, and "Moving Pictures" was the album on which the band moved away from the piercing high screeches popular in the 1970s, and Lee's voice came into its own. Thus, "Moving Pictures" was a great choice for the band to perform, and Lee's vocals were just great.
The Spirit Of Radio
Time Stand Still
Presto
Stick It Out
Workin' Them Angels
Leave That Thing Alone
Faithless
BU2B
Freewill
Marathon
Subdivisions
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs
Caravan
Drum Solo/Love 4 Sale
Closer To The Heart
2112 Part I: Overture
2112 Part II: The Temples Of Syrinx
Far Cry
Encore:
La Villa Strangiato
Working Man
Photos by Gus Griesinger
We would like to thank Kelly McWilliam from Atlantic Records for allowing Backstageaxxess in covering the show.
