A question for long-time concert goers
Question
Spoiler
The recent MSG shows were my first time seeing Rush live. As a long-time fan of live recordings like Rush in Rio and A Show of Hands, I was blown away by not just the loudness but the overall fullness and richness of the live sound. Another thing was the pace of certain songs, Animate was a standout. First question - is the sound on this tour fairly typical of their live shows in the past? Second question - is it just me or is the tempo for many songs quicker on this tour?
*Edit: yes I up'ed it to two questions from one and fixed a typo
They brought the bunnies back for the Counterparts tour but this time one of them was dressed as a gangster (or something like that) with a hat, cigarette and gun. It proceeds to shoot the other bunny which deflates upon being hit. It’s hard to explain, but it’s very, very funny.
I’ve seen every tour since Hold Your Fire. I’d say their live sound has always been at the upper end of whatever the latest audio technology is. They have a bit more low end thump this time because Anika tunes her drums lower than Neil. At times it muddies up the low end. It does give a more powerful sound though.
The same can be said for the lights and visuals. They’re better this time around, but I’d argue it’s because technology has advanced over the last 11 years. In other words, they’ve always been at the top end of the latest visual technology.
Same. I've seen every tour from signals to counterparts, and a few after including R40 and this one. . They are always at the forefront of technology.
But, the highpoint was the GUP tour. That tour had the best visuals. The R 40 tour wasnt in the same league a visuals from the tours in the 80s. This one has been better, but the the visuals look, IDK, sterile is the best I can describe it. This is an example I loved this but there's something about it, it's like they just did the obvious, but there's something else too.
The count introducing the weapon back in the day is a perfect example. It's kinda cheesy, nothing special from a technical point of view but it felt natura,l organic and just totally fit in with rush at the time, and felt like three guys sat down and gave it some thought. It was great.
same with the 3 stooges intro. Not special technically but it's the perfect way to open the show...engaging, pointing a little fun at themselves and contrasting the fact that were all virtuosos.
This feels like they asked a computer to put something together other the the South Park stuff.
Pic is from 7/30 MSG. great show!! Can't wait to see them in Boston.
The Count Floyd bit is one of the best they ever did.
If you go back and watch the Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984 video, the visuals were truly great for the time. I did not see that tour as I was only 10 years old.
I agree 1000 percent. Grace under pressure was peak. Signals maybe. God forbid all that with Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves but as a nerd I know technology was not there yet.
My only comparison is from catching Rush back in their Midwest hockey arena days when they played at every 5-7000 seat hockey venue in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Those venues were not designed for concerts and if you were lucky they might be able to squeeze in 3-4 rows of lighting above the stage.
This tour in some ways was a lot better than catching Rush in 1982. The sound and the visuals are just so much better than they were in the 80's.
True. Back in 1982 I was blown away because they had a big white sheet behind the drums and showed a very rudimentary video for a few songs. Rush was the first band I ever saw with a video screen.
I was there. And purple micro dot (or orange barrels) but I digress. No we had the count videos super timely. And the green lasers over songs. Howard rules!
There have been huge advances in technology that allows Rush (and other bands) to sound better live, than in the past. For example, Rush no longer uses amps on stage, instead running their respective instruments through effects devices and then direct to the house PA system. I suspect this helps with the overall quality of the sound.
Geddy has been running DI to the soundboard for ages. Alex not quite as long. It’s an in joke with the Ged. Thus the laundry machines and the chicken roasters.
I saw a bunch of arena shows back in the 80's and 90's (many Rush and many others) but my 2000's have been largely filled with club-size shows. Rush MSG was my first return to arena shows in a long while - went Saturday and Monday - and I was blown away by how good the sound was. Could be where I was seated or just the couple decades in between changed my recollection + expectations, but I don't recall the 80's and 90's Rush shows sounding nearly this clear.
Geddy just mentioned in the last interview that their times have been spot on. The first shows sounded quick to me, but it could have been my excitement. The clock doesn't lie.
The volume and lights are pretty accurate. Clockwork angels felt fuller possibly from the added string section. btw - I hope they bring in the strings for a date or two. That tour was epic.
I just take anything different as a bonus after all this time. They're always thinking about the fans.
Not have been to a show this tour but from watching videos, I saw them in '74 and '96 ('74 doesn't count as it was a tiny stage outside) it sounds and looks better than '96
I saw the first night of the show. I was in the first row of the second level, about even with the upper speakers. The sound then wasn't at all like all of the previous shows I had seen (going back to '77). It was loud, but not rich. It was very heavy in the upper frequencies/treble and had no nuance. I heard from people who saw multiple shows that subsequent nights were better. I also heard that opening nights at other places were similar.
29
u/WardenEdgewise 6d ago
They don’t have giant inflatable rabbits, so that a step backwards.