I bought the Rush Replay X3 DVD set yesterday, and can NOT believe what I am seeing when I watch the DVD of the Grace Under Pressure tour.
These guys are on fire. Some tempos are blazing- they are playing older stuff at a breakneck speed, but it's ok- they pull it off with aplomb. I've seen many Rush DVDs, but this one is the best I've seen yet. They are enthusiastic and happy. Neil (and his rattail) pounds his minimalized kit with abandon, Alex's sweat glistens in the lights (coke?) and his playing is spot-on and over the top, in his Miami Vice outfit (really? Those grimaces???), and Geddy's Steinberger bass is glorious. Frigging GLORIOUS! Loud and cutting through, every note resounds. His hair looks great, too The stage is small enough so the guys aren't separated by a huge chasm. Maybe this is why I don't enjoy the later vids as much, too.
It's a bit primitive compared to the later vids, but it's well done for the time, and sounds good. Geddy plays with the lyrics at points, stretching out syllables, toying with the rhythm, something I haven't really seen him do before. The later live vids are all so rote and rehearsed. They actually look like they're having fun here and not going through the motions, like so many of their concert vids I've seen. I guess they're right at the point in their career that coincides with the height of my fan-boy appreciation for them.
Oh, yeah, Peart used to throw his sticks in the air and catch them, just in time. Remember that?
This is how I want to remember Rush on my deathbed.
Bookmarks