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<\/a><\/p>\nMichael Hepworth<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n RUSH \u2013 Is the \u201cLighted Stage\u201d Dimming for the last time?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By Michael Cohan<\/em><\/p>\n Irvine(Perfect Music Today)8\/3\/15\/–The legendary Canadian rock group Rush landed their epic R40 tour on the sold out Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre July 30. They ran on all cylinders blistering through three hours of entertainment and 27 songs. But this show was not for the faint of heart or the newcomers. Even for this group, it\u2019s hard not to appreciate the musicianship of this multi-talented trio. Lead guitarist Alex Lifeson\u2019s signature riffing and unorthodox chord structure couples perfectly with lead singer Geddy Lee\u2019s high register voice and spanking bass are cemented by drummer extraordinaire Neil Peart\u2019s nuanced style.<\/p>\n Their brilliance and creativity are just captivating. The live performances are exquisitely complex. Peart, the lyricist of the band, engages in science fiction based words that become poetry when melded together projecting their iron cast synthesized and progressive rock sound.<\/p>\n The R40 tour commemorates the 40th<\/sup> anniversary of Peart joining the band in 1974. Actually formed in 1968 with former drummer John Rutsey Rush began developing their unique sound. In 1974 they released their first album simply titled \u201cRush\u201d with Peart. Over the years they have acquired an extensive catalogue containing variances of music of what was going on in that particular decade.<\/p>\n Opening the action and bringing the crowd to their feet was a collection of songs from their most recent endeavor, \u201cClockwork Angels\u201d (2012) then working backwards as expected. Highlights of the first set included a rousing rendition of \u201cRoll the Bones\u201d (1991), the lyrical \u201cAnimate\u201d (1993), and the ironic \u201cSubdivisions\u201d (1982). This song worked perfectly as they reference the Irvine\u2019s beige housing tracts of non-conformity. Lee emphasizes to \u201cBe cool or be cast out\u201d.<\/p>\n The beginning, intermission, and end of the show showcased video parodies of themselves. The introduction was entitled \u201cThe world is..the world is\u201d as cartooned band members traveling around the world coming to your city to perform. The intermission featured another cartoon entitled \u201cNo country for old hens\u201d. The encore began with Eugene Levy playing a variety show host introducing the band in a customized South Park scene, \u201cMel\u2019s rock pile\u201d.<\/p>\n The short 15 to 20 minute break between sets brought us another cartoon parody of a polka version of one of their biggest hits \u201cCloser to the heart\u201d called \u201cPolka to the Heart\u201d. This was actually written for the 2007 tour.<\/p>\n Continuing with the second half of the show Rush comes out with a concert staple, \u201cTom Sawyer\u201d and \u201cYYZ\u201d from 1981. The eclectic festivities provide us with \u201cThe Spirit of Radio\u201d (1980) and their virtual singalong \u201cCloser to the Heart\u201d (1977). The set finishes with a stellar performance of the title track from \u201c2112\u201d (1976).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n