🤯 Another Rush reactor blown away. They never disappoint. Working Man, Live in Cleveland will give you an even greater appreciation for Alex Lifeson's guitar chops, plus Spirit of Radio, live 2003 Toronto (Molson Rocks). His talents were very much on par with his bandmates.
"YYZ" live in RIO is EPIC...Rush had never played South America and didn't know how popular they were. After persistent begging from concert promoters.....they sold out soccer stadiums , and the crowds went OFF.... even singing to the instrumental "YYZ".....
the entire Rush in Rio triple live is amazing, that effin crowd was just nutz and Rush absolutely nailed it...Markabusi, check live Bravado from Rush in Rio for something completely dif from them..
To think that this is just three dudes, where every sound you hear is being played live off the stage by just them. No samples. No triggers, both of which will get used, sometimes extensively, this was Rush as a true three piece, guitar bass and drum band. They were from another planet. Both the bass player and the guitarist are not only playing their main instruments, but foot pedal synthesizers through out. The guitarist, Alex Lifeson, plays the bass synth lines with his feet in this, and the bassist, keyboardist, vocalist, Geddy Lee, plays the high synth, counter melodies, with his feet. All while playing his bass, and singing, There’s so much for you to discover about this band and their body of work! It’s a really amazing ride. There was/is no one like them. You either get them or you don’t. No matter how many genres or sounds this band went through, it’s all somehow, just Rush. Ridiculous chops, amazing songs, amazing lyrics, amazing production, amazing journeys; through the entire catalog. Enjoy!!!
Yes, Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist whose creativity is so often overshadowed behind Neal Peart's drums and Geddy Lee's bass and synth. He's RUSH's "Secret Weapon". What he does on guitar so perfectly meshes into what the rest of the band is doing that you don't notice it because you can't imagine it being any other way - it's perfection.
Geddy’s instrument is a 4-string bass on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom (Rickenbacker 4080/12). I wish they showed it better, but he switches to guitar from Alex’s solo until the end, and the bass tones are played on the Moog Taurus pedals. That’s another part the video doesn’t show well, but Geddy is often playing synth parts with the pedals while singing and playing bass. Go to 12:50 where he starts singing, and you can see him looking down and his feet moving. Not only is he badass on bass, but the multitasking is incredible.
Here's a nugget that makes me love Rush all the more. They had an earlier album, Caress Of Steel, and it was not met with huge commercial success. The label called them to their offices in the US and threatened them, saying they wanted shorter radio-ready songs. The went back to Canada and wrote the album 2112, on which the title track took up the ENTIRE first side. This is on their follow up to that album, Farewell to Kings, and this track actually has essentially two 2 1/2 minute introductions before they get into the song... they would NOT be told what to do! Rush loved to tell stories, and well, stories often took more than 3 minutes to tell. Also, the lyrics and melodies often don't fit into standard times. To make the lyrics and melodies flow, they often transition into and out of time signatures. As for Neil Peart, it's been said that drummers play to metronomes and metronomes play to Neal Peart. They're all virtuoso on their instruments, and this song really highlights it.
By your reaction to your first encounter with Rush, almost as in awe as I was the first time I heard Xanadu, I can confidently say, welcome to the Rush rabbit hole and the band that will change your life musically forever, like you are hearing music for the first time all over again. And congratulations for discovering them at a younger age than I, because you are likely to have many more years left to enjoy these master musicians and song writers than I. I grew up in the time of Rush, unfortunately I can't say I grew up with Rush though. I always loved prog rock from a young age, due to an older brother and sister who introduced it all to me starting in the 70's through an 8-track stereo in a 68 Galaxy 500 muscle car with side pipes(I was born in 68 when Rush first formed and was 6 years old when they released their first album) with classic bands like Kansas, Styx, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Super Tramp and the list goes on, but no Rush. My educated guess now is that they didn't know about Rush because due to the length of early years Rush songs they were not radio friendly 2-4 minute songs, so few of their songs were played on rock radio, and the bands my siblings listened to were the ones they heard on the radio. Of course Rush did have a sprinkling of "radio friendly" singles that I did hear over the years on the radio, but it was only about a half-dozen songs. All great songs and I loved them all, but I fell for the commercial music industry trap of believing that if it wasn't played on the radio then it must not be any good. So I assumed those half-dozen songs I did hear were Rush's only good songs. Fast forward to 2022 and the heart of the pandemic, and I am then 53 years old and for the first time I start really getting into RUclips, previously only searching for specific videos, mostly how-to videos or regarding my hobbies. Then I discover reaction videos and intrigued I started watching a few and eventually came across reactions of Rush, songs I'd never heard before including these epic length prog-rock symphonies. I was in complete shock of how great they were in every way, and how every song I heard next from them was not only great, but seemed always better than the last. There seemed to be no such thing as a bad song from this amazing band Rush! Of course over the past few years I've heard the entire discography of about 180 songs and there are 1 or 2 songs I don't care for, I don't even dislike them I just feel nothing for them either way, but I truly love the other ~178 songs and my favorite is always the one I am currently listening too! I was mentally kicking myself for weeks afterward for never looking into Rush sooner, decades sooner when I might have had the chance to see them live. I thank God that I did dive into the Rush rabbit hole and didn't die without hearing and having the profound greatness of Rush in my life. Since then I have collected all of their vinyl album studio recordings as well as the CD versions to listen to in my old work truck that still has a player in it (6 disc too). Plus several live and anniversary box-set versions of studio albums. I've spent thousands upgrading my stereo since just to better hear Rush! Including vintage equipment like reel-to-reel tape, so I can copy my albums to a quality of media that will retain the LP quality and not wear out my albums that I otherwise would. I upgraded a vintage Pioneer turn table with a new needle and cartridge costing hundreds and much more, all just to hear all of Rush's discography in the best way I can afford my audio/video system is a mix of great vintage and modern tech. I am knowledgeable about electronics and refurbish vintage audio and video equipment. Since becoming a member of the Rush army, I find it difficult to listen to any other bands anymore, classic or newer, as none of them stack up to Rush and all I do is miss the virtuosity of Rush when I listen to everything else. To me, if I took the greatest rock bands of all time and put there music and skill on a visual basis of being among the clouds, then in that visual Rush would be on the Moon. My personal opinion is that all three of these masters are the best drummer, bassist and lead guitarist of all time bar-none. My old favorite musicians play like armatures in comparison.
@@markabusireactions Excellent as far as I'm concerned. :) You enjoyed it and had fun and got to hear something you'd not heard before and didn't wet yourself.
I concur. I often get memberberries when I see people (especially when they are younger and from different cultures),enjoy the music and friendship of the band.
You are spot on about Alex Lifeson. He is brilliant as a musician. He was doing layering of his sound long before others. Few understand how much he fills the sound space for the bad. Other bands need two to three guitarist to fill the space for what he does. All the while being a true musician and taking his ego out of the picture and playing to the song and not showing off. You see this when he has collaborated with other bands, he doesn't go in and give them an over the top solo but fills in a space in the song to elevate it. A true underrated master.
Eddie Van Halen was asked,, who's the best guitarist in the world and said,,go ask Alex Lifeson,,and as for Neil,,I met him in Vancouver in 1997,,and he inspired me to play drums 🤟🏴💥
Geddy Lee's double neck is a bass guitar on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom neck.. During Alex's solo and in the outdo, Geddy is playing the bottom neck and bass pedals. It's hard to see in this video but it is definitely audible.
As for Alex's virtuosity, I suggest the following: Working Man (live in Cleveland) Limelight La Villa Strangiato BU2B Analog Kid Bastille Day Camera Eye Natural Science Oh, and 2112, of course. When you're ready... 2112. PS - You should probably listen to live versions of every suggestion above, save perhaps for 2112. PPS - Peart was pronounced just like it is spelled: P-ear-T, not P-ur-T.
Your observation of Alex Lifeson as a guitarist resonates with me. As a Rush fan, I have often felt he is underrated in the guitar community. I’ve long admired his ability to weave in and out of the forefront. One moment he provides a textured mood in the rhythm section; the next he lays down an evocative solo. I look to songs like this along with The Trees, La Villa Strangiato, and present-day Clockwork Angels. Thank you for the reaction.
Ok, so the bass synth. A large portion of the time they used Moog Taurus pedals for that, much like the bass pedals on a organ. Alex had a set, Geddy had two, one by the keyboard rig and one by his front stage mic. Here they used it down low for bass when Geddy was playing synth. On many other tracks during this period they would do an octave shift and use a string or choir patch up high, typically playing the root of the chords while Geddy played bass. Post 2000 they had a lot more cameras on stage for their videos and sometimes you actually get to see an overhead of Geddy or Alex with their foot on the pedals. They were a three man symphony orchestra.
Yes, listen to La Villa Strangiato, and YYZ, and you can see Alex as the giant guitarist that he is. As a group, they are hands down the greatest band in music history. And from Canada? Imagine that! RUSH forever! 🇨🇦
Alex is on the same level as his band mates. His guitarwork perfectly tells the story being told in the song. And don't forget Alex also plays Taurus pedal synthesizers just like Geddy while playing his guitar parts perfectly. He also played an actual keyboard in their last concert. Great reaction
I’ve seen Rush live 13 times in my 58 years and they were my favorite band of all time until I heard five young ladies from Japan play a song called “Thrill.” Rush is now a close second.
That was a fantastic reaction and one of the best I’ve seen to this performance. I’m sure someone has pointed it out but in case nobody has, both Geddy and Alex are also using foot pedals throughout the song (synth and bass respectively). Once you watch them doing that it’s an even more incredible performance. There are a couple times where Alex goes from 12-string to 6-string in milliseconds- I’m not sure how many viewers see it-most reactors don’t (or they just don’t mention it). Looking forward to more RUSH reactions from you! Cheers
If you'd like to see three more examples of how seriously underrated Alex was, I'd like to recommend Limelight and Freewill from this same show, and The Camera Eye from the Time Machine Tour. Cheers from Canada! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐
If you have any more doubts about Neil Peart, being the greatest drummer ever, check out his drum solo from Frankfurt. There is a section where he is playing in two different time signatures simultaneously.
I'm glad you can admit that these guys are some level of complexity and cohesiveness above what you can figure out as a bass player yourself. Imagine what that was like when this first came out to some kid who'd not really understood music or music theory well at all and then that I could fall hard for this band and keep following it through the years. It was something my brain loved (and still does) that no other band really got. I liked the geeky lyrics and all the stuff I couldn't dance to. :) I still don't dance. :)
I liked your reaction so much that I came back to hear it again this evening. When you addressed the complexity of the music, it reminded me of the premier episode of a podcast I watched on RUclips last year. It was called "Shred with Shifty," hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chtis Shiflett. His very first guest was Mr Alex Lifeson and the subject was his haunting guitar solo from the Rush song, "Limelight." In watching it, we learn that the two men are just acquaintances, not close friends, as well as the fact that Lifeson is very generous with his time and/or just loves to talk technically about music. The part about which your comments reminded me can be found at the 41:30 mark. That's when Shiflett notes that Alex's performance is a lot more complicated than it first appeared. Alex's response is priceless, saying with a big smile trying to hide his incredulity, "But isn't that the point? ..."
Going right for the gut punch, no hesitation, right into Xanadu. I am impressed that you jumped in like this, head first. There is alot of music to hear from this band. So many genres throughout their 40 year career.
@@markabusireactions lol, you made some comment about not having the skill to react to this music. None of us do, just talk about what comes to you as you listen. Prog is about the movement, and the flow. Another band with great flow is (Older) Genesis.
You were right about the bass synth. Geddy used a set of bass pedals which left his hands free to play his regular keyboards and/or guitar. I understand he also used the pedals to trigger programmed sequences.
Not just Geddy, Alex also had them (every time he went back to his mic position, if it wasn't a section change, he had a pedal part - he's also playing them when he's on the main opening riff). Althuogh on this one you can't see their feet, they're both dancing around on them. The sequences came much later in their career, all these were single notes. *** actually not quite right - they included some samples from the moog which did have effects added (like the bass growl in opening of Tom Sayer, but still essentially single notes (not yet full sequences) ***
Great note on their very intentional use of the harmonic spectrum, toms and otherwise. They put so much care into the blended sound and the parameters and structure of what they’re doing, that they’re then free to just riff on that almost to keep themselves interested once they’ve mastered the patterns. (Sometimes the patterns get so hard there’s no time for riffing but that’s rare lol)
Rush were a three legged stool and they all can be considered masters of their instruments. Spend more time and you get hooked deeper and deeper and see how they all performed as a band and friends. Exit, Stage Left has to be in the top 5 of live performance albums ever. Incredible stuff!
I'd definitely recommend Jacob's Ladder or Natural Science from Permanent Waves or The Camera Eye from Moving Pictures. They really marked the end of Rush's prog, longer song era.
The instrument Geddy is playing is a bass and 12 string guitar I believe. They blend/layer their music in such away as make themselves sound like an orchestra. Alex Lifeson is indeed an under rated guitar player publicly but a lot of great players cite him as an influence (e.g. John Petruci - Dreamtheatre) but his great skill to is - as you observed was to augment and re-enforce the melodic structure of the songs. However, I would argue that he really shines in "La Villa Strangiato" a 9 min instrumental extravaganza that really show cases is chops. My two cents.
every sound is a human performance by three people. no computers. every note, every placement of percussion is a human performance and human emotion. Live.
Geddy lee is actually playing that synth bass with his feet, he got a Moog bass pedal synth and plays simultaneously the bass guitar and synth bass at the same time while singing lol, sad the camera position was good to capture it. Also Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist/composer, I've always seen all 3 members of the band to be equally as impressive and influencal
Great reaction and will considered observations. Alex and Geddy are both playing Taurus pedals, to provide background sounds. If you watch Alex, when he first goes into that repetitive sequence after the intro, you'll notice him looking down and his right leg playing the bass notes. Regarding your "jam session" comment, it couldn't be further from the truth. They've got this down, pretty much spot on. Even the studio recording was a brief play through, for a sound check, then one take. They'd been playing it live for some months, prior to going in the studio.
It was more of a joke comment than anything else, I just meant that it’s so chaotic it feels like it’s just a jam session. I’m very aware that it isn’t 😂
You are right, Alex in any other band would probably be the "star", but in Rush, there were no stars, just 3 best friends wanting to be the smallest orchestra ever.... no egos, just wanting to make the music speak for itself and just loving the sounds they made together... and if you didn't notice, all of their feet were performing as much or more than the rest of their bodies. Just 3 incredible talents who just also happened to be best friends.... and it shows!!!!
Alex is in my top 5 guitar players of all time. Being a 3 piece band, Alex is the glue that holds down the melodic end of the instrumentation. He fills in the empty musical space to make the song sound whole. His guitar solos in many Rush song are unique and creative. The more you go down the Rush rabbit hole the more you appreciate just how much of a monster guitarist he is.
The solo section in Freewill is one of the best examples of Rush as elite tier musicians forming an elite level musical experience as they play individually together to produce a band solo.
They were about as far from a jam band as you could get. Everything across all parts was written note for note, rehearsed, and then performed that way. They did it that way for the 40+ years they recorded and toured. They'd put some small changes into older songs here and there, or maybe get a little looser with a drum or bass fill in certain spots, but for the most part everything was done note for note as written and recorded.
My two (still) oldest and dearest friends and I went to two shows on this tour. We had the records and we're all musicians (or something like that). The fact that they could do that live and, as you say, manage the technical mastery of a song that complex and be laughing and playing push-back? Just a little bit of trivia, that Ricky is a 12 string and standard 4 string bass. First of it's kind ever produced, specifically commissioned by Geddy to be able to play live as authentically as possible. Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴
The stick toss by Neil at 19:33 is absolutely honey. Not sure you caught it as you looked away at that split second. I still insist this is the best live performance of any song, by any band ever. You don't even need to like the song but for 3 guys to perform this is insane.
This is one of my all time favorite pieces of music and one of the most incredible performances of all time. So great on so many levels. RIP Neil Peart !!
Progressive Rock is more of an experience, it has classical music influences. Alex Lifeson the guitarist is the rock of the band. He is a brilliant guitarist! All three of them are musical geniuses. To see Alex showcased more please check out La Villa Strangiato official music video Working man live in Cleveland. Your review had me cracking up with laughter at times. Cheers 🇨🇦
Notable things I felt you missed: 1. Geddy was using bass pedal synthesizers as a well as his double-neck bass and various synthesizers 2. You didn't seem to notice that Geddy and Alex were carrying on a conversation when they were playing the faster sections at centre stage which always blows me away This is the list of instruments from their album "A Farewell to Kings" from which this song is from: Geddy Lee - vocals, bass and twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizers. Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizers. Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, wind chimes, bell tree, vibraslap, triangle, tubular bells, temple blocks. There are probably other instruments they used in concert in addition (or instead of) the above. Glad you enjoyed the video though.
This is one of the best Rush reactions I have evet seen. Thank you, Mark. As a long time Rush fan and non-musician I learned a lot from you. I can't wait to see more.
In my earlier comment I neglected to mention what I appreciated about your reaction - it's that you were carefully listening, as a musician, to the care and caution these three people took to get the sounds of their music right not just in the studio, but in their live performances. They worked tirelessly to ensure that their fans at concerts could hear that care, and that their live performances were every bit as excellent as what they created in studio for those who only bought albums.
Meet the masters of the meter changes - RUSH! They were mathematical/compositional geniuses as well as virtuoso musicians, and managed to make music that integrated time signature changes seamlessly.
The key to Rush, especially 70s Rush, is that it’s all about storytelling. Get on your headphones, turn off the lights, and let the stories take you away.
Starting my high school years when RUSH came on the scene set my expectations of musicality a step or two higher than the E,D,A chords I started out with on guitar. Thank you, RUSH...thank you, Mark, for your solid reaction.
In addition to vocals, bass, and synths, Geddy Lee also plays Taurus pedals, so he can play bass tones with his feet while his hands play synth, and vice versa. Alex has a set of pedals as well.
The thing about Alex Lifeson is, yes, he was blessed (yes, blessed) to play beside Geddy and Neil who really are the leads in any of their material. What Alex does is colours the music and gives it texture. Not only that, his guitar parts are absolutely phenomenal! His solos may sound chaotic but that's deliberate and of a lot of them are so tasteful (Limelight for example) it's unreal! Enjoy your Rush journey. You will not be sorry...….
Alex Lifeson is one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. No, he's not flashy but it's because of the way he adapts his style to fill out the sound in a three piece band that people are stunned to find out there's only three people producing that huge, full sound. Watch more and you'll recognize it.
Great reaction video! Great commentary too…✌️🎤 for those new to Rush and want to hear something that will blow your mind from this Canadian legend of a band, listen to the song, The Camera Eye, from their Moving Pictures album… it’s widely considered a master piece of musicality and lyrical genius….😎🔥🎸🥁
Mark, welcome to Rushworld! You're going to love this journey, brother. What you should know about Xanadu is the following: 1) lyrics are based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Kahn: a Vision in a Dream" epic-poem fragment. Neil Peart, the drummer AND lyricist, got a buzz on the poem and decided to write lyrics as a interpretation of the original 18th century poem. Yes, the drummer is the lyricist. He's also the author of many books. 2) Rush test-drove the early version of this song on some of their early-1977 tour before going into the studio in late summer. Mark, the version you hear on the album (an album called "A Farewell to Kings") was TAKE # 1. The FIRST take is the one they used on the record. That's how prepared they were, by the time they went to record that freaking epic song! Amazing! and 3) Rush, you will soon find out if you haven't sussed it already, is "the Thinking Man's" Rock band. You will be uplifted and challenged by their lyrics. Really amazing work by Neil Peart (with only a handful of songs written by the other members). Anyway, this is going to be fun! You should listen to "Free Will" next!!
The Kings of the time signature changes. The more you listen, youll learn...I hope learn some patients. Every Rush song has a story and purpose. Never a wasted note or beat, always on played at the precise time. 3 master musicians each holding up their part of the amazing music they create. Fan since the early 70s, certainly the most iconic 3 piece band of all time. Enjoy your Rush journey. Btw, stopping the tape during an Alex solo is criminal.✌
The violin sort of sound in the intro is Alex doing volume swells with his pedal. Also, notice when Alex switches from the 12-string to the six, he very deftly whacks the pickup switch on the front of the guitar as he transitions. The main theme is actually 4/4 with an anticipated beat One. Finally, at the end of the song (starting with the guitar solo), Geddy Lee plays only the Moog Taurus bass pedals while playing the six-string electric on his double-neck, holding down the rhythm while Alex rips his lead lines.
Geddy' doubleneck is actually a 12 string on the bottom. They are hard to see but there are 12 tuners on that small headstock, 6 pointing outward from the sides of the head and 6 pointing to the rear.
Thanks for the response! I actually only listen to one Rush song in my 20s and that was closer to the heart. I have discovered them and gone down the rabbit hole since my 60s. You too can start with the early days when they were young and we’re still creating amazing music but if you ever get to live in Cleveland or the Rio one they are in their 50sstill cranking at a high-level way beyond any other band I’ve ever known or heard, and Alex was suffering from arthritis, while he had his own issues he was managing, but boy, can they play! Enjoy
If you want to hear a song where Geddy's vocal part is completely different from his bass part, listen to "Turn The Page" from Hold Your Fire. There is a live version from the Show of Hands tour. And, once you react to "Working Man" (live in Cleveland, Time Machine Tour) and "La Villa Strangiato" (live PinkPop), you will realize Alex Lifeson is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists in the history of Rock.
Like how you try to explain what Rush is doing when they really don't fit in a standard box when there's no real comparisons - one of the things that amazes me is the soundscape and feel 3 guys can create
The boys took their music very seriously. They just didn't take themselves too seriously. The further you go, The further you'll know... Rest in Power, Professor.
The guitar sound at the start is called a "Swell" it's achieved by using a volume pedal ( with some echo in the sound as well). You basically pick the note with the volume pedal position at zero then use the pedal to "feed' the note in, then repeat. It sounds incredible doesn't it?
Ok, ALL OF YOU "REACTORS" that cover this song need to realize something..... This version of this song is actually the THIRD SONG in a stream they did in this live show!!! It was side three of "Exit, Stage Left!" Soooo.... It starts with a beautiful acoustic intro called "Broon's Bane," which beautifully blends into their masterpiece "The Trees," which then AGAIN blends into their other masterpiece "Xanadu!" You "reactors" NEVER SEEM TO REALIZE THIS. The slow opening was most likely a way for these THREE GUYS to give each other a tiny rest during their LIVE PERFORMANCE!!! RUSH is the greatest band ever. Especially for ONLY THREE DUDES LIVE!!
Explain to me how I’m supposed to have known that, when this was my first time hearing it, from a link that was put into my livestream chat? I’ll wait.
It's ironic that you bring up Tool, as tool and Danny Carey looked up to Rush. In fact, Danny Cary played with Geddy and Alex during the Taylor Hawke memorial.
Great reaction as always. Yeah, there's a ton here to deal with. I left more extensive comments in the Patreon. You may have leapt to their most impressive song here with this one, thought there's a lot left to look at. If you want a very short, catchy Rush song to take a break from the epics, try Closer to the Heart.
Alex Lifeson is the most underrated or under-appreciated guitarist in rock history. He stands on the same level as both of his bandmates, but is often unfairly overlooked. Check out Working Man Live in Cleveland 2011.
3 absolute technicians with the artistic chops to project that mastery. And oh, absolutely slay while they're doing it. 👍
You know you're in for a ride when there's more guitar necks than musicians. 😊
😂😂😂
Truth😂😂😂😂
3 of the most amazing musicians you will ever hear. We Canadians were so lucky to have them and love them.
And you know, none of them ever studied music except Alex, for about a year. Amazingly, completely self taught.
Fan from the early 70s and watching their progress thru the years I think the whole world was lucky to have them and love them. RIP PROFEESOR. ✌
Nice reaction, Mark. The song 'La Villa Strangiato' is a good showcase for Alex Lifeson's guitar playing.
And for Neil Peart's drumming, which matches the music to perfection!
🤯 Another Rush reactor blown away. They never disappoint. Working Man, Live in Cleveland will give you an even greater appreciation for Alex Lifeson's guitar chops, plus Spirit of Radio, live 2003 Toronto (Molson Rocks). His talents were very much on par with his bandmates.
"YYZ" live in RIO is EPIC...Rush had never played South America and didn't know how popular they were. After persistent begging from concert promoters.....they sold out soccer stadiums , and the crowds went OFF.... even singing to the instrumental "YYZ".....
the entire Rush in Rio triple live is amazing, that effin crowd was just nutz and Rush absolutely nailed it...Markabusi, check live Bravado from Rush in Rio for something completely dif from them..
To think that this is just three dudes, where every sound you hear is being played live off the stage by just them. No samples. No triggers, both of which will get used, sometimes extensively, this was Rush as a true three piece, guitar bass and drum band. They were from another planet.
Both the bass player and the guitarist are not only playing their main instruments, but foot pedal synthesizers through out.
The guitarist, Alex Lifeson, plays the bass synth lines with his feet in this, and the bassist, keyboardist, vocalist, Geddy Lee, plays the high synth, counter melodies, with his feet. All while playing his bass, and singing,
There’s so much for you to discover about this band and their body of work! It’s a really amazing ride. There was/is no one like them.
You either get them or you don’t. No matter how many genres or sounds this band went through, it’s all somehow, just Rush.
Ridiculous chops, amazing songs, amazing lyrics, amazing production, amazing journeys; through the entire catalog.
Enjoy!!!
What makes it even crazier is that Geddy Lee also plays rhythm guitar towards the end of the song...
Yes, Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist whose creativity is so often overshadowed behind Neal Peart's drums and Geddy Lee's bass and synth. He's RUSH's "Secret Weapon". What he does on guitar so perfectly meshes into what the rest of the band is doing that you don't notice it because you can't imagine it being any other way - it's perfection.
Geddy’s instrument is a 4-string bass on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom (Rickenbacker 4080/12). I wish they showed it better, but he switches to guitar from Alex’s solo until the end, and the bass tones are played on the Moog Taurus pedals. That’s another part the video doesn’t show well, but Geddy is often playing synth parts with the pedals while singing and playing bass. Go to 12:50 where he starts singing, and you can see him looking down and his feet moving. Not only is he badass on bass, but the multitasking is incredible.
This is one of the greatest live performances ever.🔥
agreed. The best
Here's a nugget that makes me love Rush all the more. They had an earlier album, Caress Of Steel, and it was not met with huge commercial success. The label called them to their offices in the US and threatened them, saying they wanted shorter radio-ready songs. The went back to Canada and wrote the album 2112, on which the title track took up the ENTIRE first side. This is on their follow up to that album, Farewell to Kings, and this track actually has essentially two 2 1/2 minute introductions before they get into the song... they would NOT be told what to do!
Rush loved to tell stories, and well, stories often took more than 3 minutes to tell. Also, the lyrics and melodies often don't fit into standard times. To make the lyrics and melodies flow, they often transition into and out of time signatures. As for Neil Peart, it's been said that drummers play to metronomes and metronomes play to Neal Peart. They're all virtuoso on their instruments, and this song really highlights it.
Caress of Steel is my favorite album!
By your reaction to your first encounter with Rush, almost as in awe as I was the first time I heard Xanadu, I can confidently say, welcome to the Rush rabbit hole and the band that will change your life musically forever, like you are hearing music for the first time all over again. And congratulations for discovering them at a younger age than I, because you are likely to have many more years left to enjoy these master musicians and song writers than I.
I grew up in the time of Rush, unfortunately I can't say I grew up with Rush though. I always loved prog rock from a young age, due to an older brother and sister who introduced it all to me starting in the 70's through an 8-track stereo in a 68 Galaxy 500 muscle car with side pipes(I was born in 68 when Rush first formed and was 6 years old when they released their first album) with classic bands like Kansas, Styx, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Super Tramp and the list goes on, but no Rush.
My educated guess now is that they didn't know about Rush because due to the length of early years Rush songs they were not radio friendly 2-4 minute songs, so few of their songs were played on rock radio, and the bands my siblings listened to were the ones they heard on the radio. Of course Rush did have a sprinkling of "radio friendly" singles that I did hear over the years on the radio, but it was only about a half-dozen songs. All great songs and I loved them all, but I fell for the commercial music industry trap of believing that if it wasn't played on the radio then it must not be any good. So I assumed those half-dozen songs I did hear were Rush's only good songs.
Fast forward to 2022 and the heart of the pandemic, and I am then 53 years old and for the first time I start really getting into RUclips, previously only searching for specific videos, mostly how-to videos or regarding my hobbies. Then I discover reaction videos and intrigued I started watching a few and eventually came across reactions of Rush, songs I'd never heard before including these epic length prog-rock symphonies.
I was in complete shock of how great they were in every way, and how every song I heard next from them was not only great, but seemed always better than the last. There seemed to be no such thing as a bad song from this amazing band Rush! Of course over the past few years I've heard the entire discography of about 180 songs and there are 1 or 2 songs I don't care for, I don't even dislike them I just feel nothing for them either way, but I truly love the other ~178 songs and my favorite is always the one I am currently listening too! I was mentally kicking myself for weeks afterward for never looking into Rush sooner, decades sooner when I might have had the chance to see them live. I thank God that I did dive into the Rush rabbit hole and didn't die without hearing and having the profound greatness of Rush in my life.
Since then I have collected all of their vinyl album studio recordings as well as the CD versions to listen to in my old work truck that still has a player in it (6 disc too). Plus several live and anniversary box-set versions of studio albums. I've spent thousands upgrading my stereo since just to better hear Rush! Including vintage equipment like reel-to-reel tape, so I can copy my albums to a quality of media that will retain the LP quality and not wear out my albums that I otherwise would. I upgraded a vintage Pioneer turn table with a new needle and cartridge costing hundreds and much more, all just to hear all of Rush's discography in the best way I can afford my audio/video system is a mix of great vintage and modern tech. I am knowledgeable about electronics and refurbish vintage audio and video equipment.
Since becoming a member of the Rush army, I find it difficult to listen to any other bands anymore, classic or newer, as none of them stack up to Rush and all I do is miss the virtuosity of Rush when I listen to everything else. To me, if I took the greatest rock bands of all time and put there music and skill on a visual basis of being among the clouds, then in that visual Rush would be on the Moon. My personal opinion is that all three of these masters are the best drummer, bassist and lead guitarist of all time bar-none. My old favorite musicians play like armatures in comparison.
This is a pretty high level song for your second time with Rush.
How did I do? 😂
@@markabusireactions Excellent as far as I'm concerned. :) You enjoyed it and had fun and got to hear something you'd not heard before and didn't wet yourself.
I concur. I often get memberberries when I see people (especially when they are younger and from different cultures),enjoy the music and friendship of the band.
You are spot on about Alex Lifeson. He is brilliant as a musician. He was doing layering of his sound long before others. Few understand how much he fills the sound space for the bad. Other bands need two to three guitarist to fill the space for what he does. All the while being a true musician and taking his ego out of the picture and playing to the song and not showing off. You see this when he has collaborated with other bands, he doesn't go in and give them an over the top solo but fills in a space in the song to elevate it. A true underrated master.
Eddie Van Halen was asked,, who's the best guitarist in the world and said,,go ask Alex Lifeson,,and as for Neil,,I met him in Vancouver in 1997,,and he inspired me to play drums 🤟🏴💥
Geddy Lee's double neck is a bass guitar on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom neck.. During Alex's solo and in the outdo, Geddy is playing the bottom neck and bass pedals. It's hard to see in this video but it is definitely audible.
Finally someone noticed! I`ve never seen it mentioned in any reaction video (and I never took the time to point it out).
@@filipusfontanus It's noticeable in the official video from 1977. It's easier to see as Geddy only has the Mini Moog on stage.
As for Alex's virtuosity, I suggest the following:
Working Man (live in Cleveland)
Limelight
La Villa Strangiato
BU2B
Analog Kid
Bastille Day
Camera Eye
Natural Science
Oh, and 2112, of course. When you're ready... 2112.
PS - You should probably listen to live versions of every suggestion above, save perhaps for 2112.
PPS - Peart was pronounced just like it is spelled: P-ear-T, not P-ur-T.
Your observation of Alex Lifeson as a guitarist resonates with me. As a Rush fan, I have often felt he is underrated in the guitar community. I’ve long admired his ability to weave in and out of the forefront. One moment he provides a textured mood in the rhythm section; the next he lays down an evocative solo. I look to songs like this along with The Trees, La Villa Strangiato, and present-day Clockwork Angels. Thank you for the reaction.
Alex Lifeson is in a league of his own 🔥
Ok, so the bass synth. A large portion of the time they used Moog Taurus pedals for that, much like the bass pedals on a organ. Alex had a set, Geddy had two, one by the keyboard rig and one by his front stage mic. Here they used it down low for bass when Geddy was playing synth. On many other tracks during this period they would do an octave shift and use a string or choir patch up high, typically playing the root of the chords while Geddy played bass. Post 2000 they had a lot more cameras on stage for their videos and sometimes you actually get to see an overhead of Geddy or Alex with their foot on the pedals. They were a three man symphony orchestra.
Yes, listen to La Villa Strangiato, and YYZ, and you can see Alex as the giant guitarist that he is. As a group, they are hands down the greatest band in music history. And from Canada? Imagine that! RUSH forever! 🇨🇦
Alex is on the same level as his band mates. His guitarwork perfectly tells the story being told in the song. And don't forget Alex also plays Taurus pedal synthesizers just like Geddy while playing his guitar parts perfectly. He also played an actual keyboard in their last concert. Great reaction
I’ve seen Rush live 13 times in my 58 years and they were my favorite band of all time until I heard five young ladies from Japan play a song called “Thrill.” Rush is now a close second.
That was a fantastic reaction and one of the best I’ve seen to this performance. I’m sure someone has pointed it out but in case nobody has, both Geddy and Alex are also using foot pedals throughout the song (synth and bass respectively). Once you watch them doing that it’s an even more incredible performance. There are a couple times where Alex goes from 12-string to 6-string in milliseconds- I’m not sure how many viewers see it-most reactors don’t (or they just don’t mention it). Looking forward to more RUSH reactions from you!
Cheers
Aw thanks!!! I really appreciate that!
@@markabusireactions🤘🏼
My man! I just subbed! This is one of the best reactions I've seen!
Aw thank you!! I really appreciate that!
If you'd like to see three more examples of how seriously underrated Alex was, I'd like to recommend Limelight and Freewill from this same show, and The Camera Eye from the Time Machine Tour. Cheers from Canada!
🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐
Rush could seamlessly switch between time signatures multiple times within one song, and believe me, Geddy could sing in all of them.
If you have any more doubts about Neil Peart, being the greatest drummer ever, check out his drum solo from Frankfurt. There is a section where he is playing in two different time signatures simultaneously.
I'm glad you can admit that these guys are some level of complexity and cohesiveness above what you can figure out as a bass player yourself. Imagine what that was like when this first came out to some kid who'd not really understood music or music theory well at all and then that I could fall hard for this band and keep following it through the years. It was something my brain loved (and still does) that no other band really got. I liked the geeky lyrics and all the stuff I couldn't dance to. :) I still don't dance. :)
I liked your reaction so much that I came back to hear it again this evening.
When you addressed the complexity of the music, it reminded me of the premier episode of a podcast I watched on RUclips last year. It was called "Shred with Shifty," hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chtis Shiflett. His very first guest was Mr Alex Lifeson and the subject was his haunting guitar solo from the Rush song, "Limelight."
In watching it, we learn that the two men are just acquaintances, not close friends, as well as the fact that Lifeson is very generous with his time and/or just loves to talk technically about music. The part about which your comments reminded me can be found at the 41:30 mark. That's when Shiflett notes that Alex's performance is a lot more complicated than it first appeared. Alex's response is priceless, saying with a big smile trying to hide his incredulity, "But isn't that the point? ..."
Going right for the gut punch, no hesitation, right into Xanadu. I am impressed that you jumped in like this, head first. There is alot of music to hear from this band. So many genres throughout their 40 year career.
Everyone told me I should do it, and I figured fuck it lol. How did I do? 😂
@@markabusireactions lol, you made some comment about not having the skill to react to this music. None of us do, just talk about what comes to you as you listen. Prog is about the movement, and the flow. Another band with great flow is (Older) Genesis.
You were right about the bass synth. Geddy used a set of bass pedals which left his hands free to play his regular keyboards and/or guitar. I understand he also used the pedals to trigger programmed sequences.
Not just Geddy, Alex also had them (every time he went back to his mic position, if it wasn't a section change, he had a pedal part - he's also playing them when he's on the main opening riff). Althuogh on this one you can't see their feet, they're both dancing around on them. The sequences came much later in their career, all these were single notes. *** actually not quite right - they included some samples from the moog which did have effects added (like the bass growl in opening of Tom Sayer, but still essentially single notes (not yet full sequences) ***
Great note on their very intentional use of the harmonic spectrum, toms and otherwise. They put so much care into the blended sound and the parameters and structure of what they’re doing, that they’re then free to just riff on that almost to keep themselves interested once they’ve mastered the patterns. (Sometimes the patterns get so hard there’s no time for riffing but that’s rare lol)
Rush were a three legged stool and they all can be considered masters of their instruments. Spend more time and you get hooked deeper and deeper and see how they all performed as a band and friends. Exit, Stage Left has to be in the top 5 of live performance albums ever. Incredible stuff!
I'd definitely recommend Jacob's Ladder or Natural Science from Permanent Waves or The Camera Eye from Moving Pictures. They really marked the end of Rush's prog, longer song era.
ohhhh you have to also listen to live 'Leave that Thing Alone' from 2011 - mind-blowing - such a great song -
Welcome to the family
The instrument Geddy is playing is a bass and 12 string guitar I believe. They blend/layer their music in such away as make themselves sound like an orchestra. Alex Lifeson is indeed an under rated guitar player publicly but a lot of great players cite him as an influence (e.g. John Petruci - Dreamtheatre) but his great skill to is - as you observed was to augment and re-enforce the melodic structure of the songs. However, I would argue that he really shines in "La Villa Strangiato" a 9 min instrumental extravaganza that really show cases is chops. My two cents.
Great reaction. Loved your comments. That was fun. This is an amazing performance. Would love to see some more Rush on the Channel.
You will!
every sound is a human performance by three people. no computers. every note, every placement of percussion is a human performance and human emotion. Live.
Geddy lee is actually playing that synth bass with his feet, he got a Moog bass pedal synth and plays simultaneously the bass guitar and synth bass at the same time while singing lol, sad the camera position was good to capture it.
Also Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist/composer, I've always seen all 3 members of the band to be equally as impressive and influencal
Great reaction and will considered observations. Alex and Geddy are both playing Taurus pedals, to provide background sounds. If you watch Alex, when he first goes into that repetitive sequence after the intro, you'll notice him looking down and his right leg playing the bass notes.
Regarding your "jam session" comment, it couldn't be further from the truth. They've got this down, pretty much spot on. Even the studio recording was a brief play through, for a sound check, then one take. They'd been playing it live for some months, prior to going in the studio.
It was more of a joke comment than anything else, I just meant that it’s so chaotic it feels like it’s just a jam session. I’m very aware that it isn’t 😂
@@markabusireactions - Yes... I did understand that (you even said as much, in the video) 👍🏽
@@AnthonyKellett I can’t remember everything I say lol, i literally just spew out whatever pops into my head lol
You are right, Alex in any other band would probably be the "star", but in Rush, there were no stars, just 3 best friends wanting to be the smallest orchestra ever.... no egos, just wanting to make the music speak for itself and just loving the sounds they made together... and if you didn't notice, all of their feet were performing as much or more than the rest of their bodies. Just 3 incredible talents who just also happened to be best friends.... and it shows!!!!
Alex is in my top 5 guitar players of all time. Being a 3 piece band, Alex is the glue that holds down the melodic end of the instrumentation. He fills in the empty musical space to make the song sound whole. His guitar solos in many Rush song are unique and creative. The more you go down the Rush rabbit hole the more you appreciate just how much of a monster guitarist he is.
The solo section in Freewill is one of the best examples of Rush as elite tier musicians forming an elite level musical experience as they play individually together to produce a band solo.
Rush are the transition kings.
@ 13:20 Geddy is playing the synths with foot pedals, playing the bass, and singing!
They were about as far from a jam band as you could get. Everything across all parts was written note for note, rehearsed, and then performed that way. They did it that way for the 40+ years they recorded and toured. They'd put some small changes into older songs here and there, or maybe get a little looser with a drum or bass fill in certain spots, but for the most part everything was done note for note as written and recorded.
A true masterpiece!
Deeeeze here....was phukkkking bad-ass to tha freeeekin' bone.....big daaawwwgggg! THANK YOU!
I'm just going to add that the three of us had also read the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem that inspired the piece. 🤘✌️
I think Geddy’s ability to play and sing entirely different things really shines in Circumstances. It’s crazy what he’s doing in that song!
That’s a good example. Big Money always comes to mind for me. I’ve seen him do it live and still don’t know how he pulls it off!
My two (still) oldest and dearest friends and I went to two shows on this tour. We had the records and we're all musicians (or something like that). The fact that they could do that live and, as you say, manage the technical mastery of a song that complex and be laughing and playing push-back?
Just a little bit of trivia, that Ricky is a 12 string and standard 4 string bass. First of it's kind ever produced, specifically commissioned by Geddy to be able to play live as authentically as possible.
Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴
Bytor and the Snow Dog from the same Exit Stage Left recording is just too much fun to miss. Put it on your list
Ooooh, Cool. Gonna need a fresh cup of tea for this one. ;-)
Settle in lol
Our three Canadian masters! My boys 40 yrs of awesome music.... Hey La villa Stangiato!
Cheers
The stick toss by Neil at 19:33 is absolutely honey. Not sure you caught it as you looked away at that split second.
I still insist this is the best live performance of any song, by any band ever. You don't even need to like the song but for 3 guys to perform this is insane.
This is one of my all time favorite pieces of music and one of the most incredible performances of all time. So great on so many levels. RIP Neil Peart !!
Progressive Rock is more of an experience, it has classical music influences.
Alex Lifeson the guitarist is the rock of the band. He is a brilliant guitarist! All three of them are musical geniuses.
To see Alex showcased more
please check out
La Villa Strangiato official music video
Working man live in Cleveland.
Your review had me cracking up with laughter at times.
Cheers 🇨🇦
Well thank you! I do try and be entertaining as I go 😂
Notable things I felt you missed:
1. Geddy was using bass pedal synthesizers as a well as his double-neck bass and various synthesizers
2. You didn't seem to notice that Geddy and Alex were carrying on a conversation when they were playing the faster sections at centre stage which always blows me away
This is the list of instruments from their album "A Farewell to Kings" from which this song is from:
Geddy Lee - vocals, bass and twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizers.
Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizers.
Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, wind chimes, bell tree, vibraslap, triangle, tubular bells, temple blocks.
There are probably other instruments they used in concert in addition (or instead of) the above. Glad you enjoyed the video though.
This is one of the best Rush reactions I have evet seen. Thank you, Mark. As a long time Rush fan and non-musician I learned a lot from you. I can't wait to see more.
Aw thank you! You have no idea how much that means ☺️
In my earlier comment I neglected to mention what I appreciated about your reaction - it's that you were carefully listening, as a musician, to the care and caution these three people took to get the sounds of their music right not just in the studio, but in their live performances. They worked tirelessly to ensure that their fans at concerts could hear that care, and that their live performances were every bit as excellent as what they created in studio for those who only bought albums.
Geddy’s guitar is a double-neck four string bass with a 12 string guitar.
Meet the masters of the meter changes - RUSH! They were mathematical/compositional geniuses as well as virtuoso musicians, and managed to make music that integrated time signature changes seamlessly.
The entire concert video, “Exit…Stage Left”, is worthy of a reaction as the sound quality and camera footage is spot on point!✌️😎🎤🔥
10:38 Checking your own grammar & settling on "that level of complicatedly" -self response "Ah Phuk it!!! That'll do" lol😆😂🤣
Saw them live for the Permanent Waves tour when I was 16
When the double neck guitar/bass and Taurus Moog pedals received high attention from musicians and audiences.
The key to Rush, especially 70s Rush, is that it’s all about storytelling. Get on your headphones, turn off the lights, and let the stories take you away.
Starting my high school years when RUSH came on the scene set my expectations of musicality a step or two higher than the E,D,A chords I started out with on guitar. Thank you, RUSH...thank you, Mark, for your solid reaction.
In addition to vocals, bass, and synths, Geddy Lee also plays Taurus pedals, so he can play bass tones with his feet while his hands play synth, and vice versa. Alex has a set of pedals as well.
The thing about Alex Lifeson is, yes, he was blessed (yes, blessed) to play beside Geddy and Neil who really are the leads in any of their material. What Alex does is colours the music and gives it texture. Not only that, his guitar parts are absolutely phenomenal! His solos may sound chaotic but that's deliberate and of a lot of them are so tasteful (Limelight for example) it's unreal! Enjoy your Rush journey. You will not be sorry...….
As to the Alex Lifeson, you said it perfectly. 👌🎼
Alex Lifeson is one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. No, he's not flashy but it's because of the way he adapts his style to fill out the sound in a three piece band that people are stunned to find out there's only three people producing that huge, full sound. Watch more and you'll recognize it.
Great reaction video! Great commentary too…✌️🎤 for those new to Rush and want to hear something that will blow your mind from this Canadian legend of a band, listen to the song, The Camera Eye, from their Moving Pictures album… it’s widely considered a master piece of musicality and lyrical genius….😎🔥🎸🥁
Simply, thet are the most talented 3 piece band ever, no ifs, no buts, utter genius.
Mark, welcome to Rushworld! You're going to love this journey, brother. What you should know about Xanadu is the following: 1) lyrics are based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Kahn: a Vision in a Dream" epic-poem fragment. Neil Peart, the drummer AND lyricist, got a buzz on the poem and decided to write lyrics as a interpretation of the original 18th century poem. Yes, the drummer is the lyricist. He's also the author of many books. 2) Rush test-drove the early version of this song on some of their early-1977 tour before going into the studio in late summer. Mark, the version you hear on the album (an album called "A Farewell to Kings") was TAKE # 1. The FIRST take is the one they used on the record. That's how prepared they were, by the time they went to record that freaking epic song! Amazing! and 3) Rush, you will soon find out if you haven't sussed it already, is "the Thinking Man's" Rock band. You will be uplifted and challenged by their lyrics. Really amazing work by Neil Peart (with only a handful of songs written by the other members). Anyway, this is going to be fun! You should listen to "Free Will" next!!
The Kings of the time signature changes. The more you listen, youll learn...I hope learn some patients. Every Rush song has a story and purpose. Never a wasted note or beat, always on played at the precise time. 3 master musicians each holding up their part of the amazing music they create. Fan since the early 70s, certainly the most iconic 3 piece band of all time. Enjoy your Rush journey. Btw, stopping the tape during an Alex solo is criminal.✌
The violin sort of sound in the intro is Alex doing volume swells with his pedal. Also, notice when Alex switches from the 12-string to the six, he very deftly whacks the pickup switch on the front of the guitar as he transitions. The main theme is actually 4/4 with an anticipated beat One. Finally, at the end of the song (starting with the guitar solo), Geddy Lee plays only the Moog Taurus bass pedals while playing the six-string electric on his double-neck, holding down the rhythm while Alex rips his lead lines.
Geddy' doubleneck is actually a 12 string on the bottom. They are hard to see but there are 12 tuners on that small headstock, 6 pointing outward from the sides of the head and 6 pointing to the rear.
Thanks for the response! I actually only listen to one Rush song in my 20s and that was closer to the heart. I have discovered them and gone down the rabbit hole since my 60s. You too can start with the early days when they were young and we’re still creating amazing music but if you ever get to live in Cleveland or the Rio one they are in their 50sstill cranking at a high-level way beyond any other band I’ve ever known or heard, and Alex was suffering from arthritis, while he had his own issues he was managing, but boy, can they play! Enjoy
If you want to hear a song where Geddy's vocal part is completely different from his bass part, listen to "Turn The Page" from Hold Your Fire. There is a live version from the Show of Hands tour. And, once you react to "Working Man" (live in Cleveland, Time Machine Tour) and "La Villa Strangiato" (live PinkPop), you will realize Alex Lifeson is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists in the history of Rock.
Eddie Van Halen, when asked what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world, said, "I don't know. Ask Alex Lifeson".
One of the best live performances ever! The guitar solo was the climax. Incredibly constructed song…if you can call it that.
The three of them just fit well. Musicians and composers of very high caliber. Good reaction. Have seen them live on many occasions.👍👍
Eddy Van Halen was asked in an interview, if he was the best guitar player ever. He said, (something to this), you'd have to Alex Lifeson LUL
you gotta do 'bet intro ever' - live - best band ever
Like how you try to explain what Rush is doing when they really don't fit in a standard box when there's no real comparisons - one of the things that amazes me is the soundscape and feel 3 guys can create
The boys took their music very seriously. They just didn't take themselves too seriously. The further you go, The further you'll know... Rest in Power, Professor.
YYZ, Red barchetta, spirit to the radio!!!!
I believe Neil was asked what a Rush performance was like and he said “ it’s like running a marathon while doing advanced calculus in your head.”
First time watching you. I'm loving this.
Aw thanks! It’s all downhill from here lol
The guitar sound at the start is called a "Swell" it's achieved by using a volume pedal ( with some echo in the sound as well). You basically pick the note with the volume pedal position at zero then use the pedal to "feed' the note in, then repeat. It sounds incredible doesn't it?
Damn right it does hahaha
Another Masterpiece when they were in my opinion at their peak performance is The Weapon Live in 1984.
React to RUSH - Neil Peart drum solo Frankfurt Germany
Ok, ALL OF YOU "REACTORS" that cover this song need to realize something..... This version of this song is actually the THIRD SONG in a stream they did in this live show!!! It was side three of "Exit, Stage Left!" Soooo.... It starts with a beautiful acoustic intro called "Broon's Bane," which beautifully blends into their masterpiece "The Trees," which then AGAIN blends into their other masterpiece "Xanadu!"
You "reactors" NEVER SEEM TO REALIZE THIS. The slow opening was most likely a way for these THREE GUYS to give each other a tiny rest during their LIVE PERFORMANCE!!!
RUSH is the greatest band ever. Especially for ONLY THREE DUDES LIVE!!
Explain to me how I’m supposed to have known that, when this was my first time hearing it, from a link that was put into my livestream chat? I’ll wait.
Dude, WTF are you saying? It’s practically the same as the studio version. The whole song is only 10% longer in this performance (12m17s vs 11m10s).
I think you did a gr8 job breaking down the song and seeing the genious behind it!
Thank you!
It's ironic that you bring up Tool, as tool and Danny Carey looked up to Rush. In fact, Danny Cary played with Geddy and Alex during the Taylor Hawke memorial.
Tbf, I think most modern drummers would say they looked up to Peart!
Thank god for this band that went places other bands didn't.
🙋🏿♀️ May I suggest 'La Villa Strangiato' or 'Working Man Live in Cleveland' 🥰🐰
Great reaction as always. Yeah, there's a ton here to deal with. I left more extensive comments in the Patreon. You may have leapt to their most impressive song here with this one, thought there's a lot left to look at.
If you want a very short, catchy Rush song to take a break from the epics, try Closer to the Heart.
Alex Lifeson is the most underrated or under-appreciated guitarist in rock history. He stands on the same level as both of his bandmates, but is often unfairly overlooked. Check out Working Man Live in Cleveland 2011.