Alex has stacks of amps behind him on his side of the stage. Geddy began pluggin in directly to the board, so his side of the stage looked empty. So to balance the stage behind Geddy they just put anything up there. One tour it was stacks of washers and dryers, another tour it was rotisseries, another tour it was vending machines. That was just part of their humor. They were a fun bunch of just ordinary guys.
When it was dryers they had t-shirts in them and guys looking like them (hair, clothes similar, guitars) would come out during the concert and pull the shirts out of the dryer and throw to the crowd.
First off..love your reactions to all Rush so far, but doing the studio version of any song I think is important when starting the Rush journey...love all their live versions, but this song should be a studio reaction when hearing first time. This performance may be my least fave of all the versions out there for Spirit...keep the Rush(studio) reactions coming🤘
What some call the "Devil Horns" hand symbol has been a way for rockers to show their appreciation or enjoyment of a performance for a while now. It was popularized by the singer Ronnie James Dio when he joined Black Sabbath in the early 1980s, as he had often seen his grandmother use it. It is actually called the "maloik," and has Italian roots. It was used as a way to give someone the "evil eye," or conversely as protection from it, which is how Dio intended his use - protection from evil. Dio used this throughout his career, and it was picked up by many hard rock fans as a way to show their enthusiasm for an act. I would highly recommend anything that Dio is connected with (he sang for Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his namesake band Dio), and suggest Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell" as a great place to start. After you finish your Rush journey, that is. 🤘 FYI, the brief instrumental intro here is from the Rolling Stones "Paint it Black."
If you want to see a crowd that LOVES Rush, check out YYZ Live in Rio...be sure to look for the remastered version in 1080. And..."manipulating his instrument" sounds kinky...LOL...I am sure Alex himself would appreciate that, and agree. 😂
Church Boy. Thnx for the shout out and great reaction. If you listen to the studio version of the song, the lyrics are clear and quite profound. It's about the integrity of the music industry and the joy of music.
They were opening for The Rolling stones and AC DC in this concert. This was a benefit concert put on by the Stones to help people in Toronto after the Sars epidemic . I believe there was close to a half million people there. I've heard higher numbers but I don't know for certain. They had a wicked sense of humour. The tee-shirts will be thrown to the audience later. They put out a new video for this song in memory of Neil Peart who passed in 2020.
I was there! Amazing concert. AC-DC, Stones, Rush, Justin Timberlake, Tea Garden, Burton Cummings, and more! About 400K people at an old airport. CRAZY!
Neil is wearing a Kufi which is often worn by Muslims (Neil wasn't at all religious). He started wearing them after a month-long bicycle tour he took through Cameroon in 1988. (He wrote a book about his travels titled The Masked Rider - excellent read). While in Cameroon, he learned African beats from some of the local legends - wearing the hat may be a tribute to the friends he made (and/or to cover his thinning hair). The song: Alex beginning riff gives the feeling of tunes going into your car antenna. Reggae and other changes give the experience of changing radio stations. Metal songs are often in E because it allows the open E string to be rung out at the lowest note regularly. The low E acts as a pedal tone in many rock and metal compositions. As a trio, it allows RUSH to create a thicker sound.
Since you love Rush especially Gettys bass lines. Highly highly highly recommend Roundabout by Yes. Listen to the remastered album version for the best listen
Church Boy a suggestion of next Rush song is Malignant Narcissism live version from Snakes & Arrows tour as you will get to see Neil Peart drum solo. God Bless.
Notice many Rush fans are telling you to react to live renditions, because they sound so nice live. True, agreed, they do sound great live, but for your very first listen and introduction to a song, personally think it should be the studio version. Studio versions help you get a better understanding of how they intended for the music to sound in a controlled environment with the mixing precisely they way they wanted for the song. You can aways react to the live versions at a later date. Plus, in many of these live versions, Geddy is older and his voice is no longer in prime condition. Just my two cents. Thanks, love your reactions.
This was Sarstock Toronto and there were a number of bands playing to 500,000 people. The Rolling Stones put on the event and to honour them Rush played paint it black at the beginning before they went into Spirit of Radio. The washers,dryers ,vending machines etc were to to balance out the stage after Geddy started plugging into the house sound system and Alex still had his stack of amps. These guys have a great sense of humour. The hat Neil wears is something he adopted after his bicycle trip through west Africa. There is a story he tells about him being in an African village where a drummer was trying to teach a young missionary how to drum and the poor fellow was at a loss. Neil was watching and then asked to join in. Neil sat in and in no time was picking up the beat and the women started dancing. The missionary was amazed and all Neil said was I'm in the business. To see their comradery and their goofiness please react to Dinner with Rush. Cheers
You can also find video of Neil meeting Charlie Watts just minutes before going on stage. He says in his book he gets into his own world just before going on, and someone (Geddy, or Geddys brother) got Neil's attention that Charlie was there to say hi, (one of Neil's idols) you see them shake hands and I think Charlie said 'I'm going g to be watching you' Neil Commented in his book that he didn't even recognize him, thought he was just a random elderly guy 😂😂. Was a good story
I really suggest you react to the studio version first, so you can appreciate the live versions. I am a lifetime musician in Wisconsin. I have a home studio and play all guitars, bass, and vocals. I program my drum tracks. These Rush songs are the only songs where I can’t deviate from the studio versions when recording. This is my favorite band of all time. I’m 56, seen them live. Love every album they have released. There is no other band in the world like Rush 🙌🏻 Welcome to my lifetime of memories with Rush🤩
I always dig your insightfulness for music! Thank you ! And your newfound love for RUSH !! How can you not love RUSH ??? I agree totally with the Alex Lifeson mastery of the guitar. They are all so talented, everyone knows Geddie Lee's bass work and of course Neil Peart. But I honestly think Alex is the best, most technically skilled of the three ! I always have, his tone and ability to change tempo and sounds effortlessly, is second to none. MY three fave giutarist. David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, and Alex Lifeson. Keep digging, we dig u. Peace
500 000 people as it was a concert in Toronto for Sars with Rolling Stones a d AC DC.They used to have alot of Marshall amps but downsized and used dryers to fill in space.They filled in space with the rotisserie to also fill in space and feed the crew after each show.Luv your reaction. Enjoy the Rush ride. God Bless. It's about the spirit of the radio about how they pushed back against the record labels and radio stations to play the music that they wanted to produce and play.
RUSH ARMY HERE! For a different, poetic human experience of a Rush song may I humbly suggest that you react to THE TREES. Having the lyrics are crucial. I am loving your reactions.
Love watching a competent musician get to experience and analyze AND FEEL what they're laying down. Music helps people connect. It's so awesome to hear something vicariously thru fresh ears. Thanks man
Geddy would always tease Alex about all his Marshall stacks so he would have everything from dryers to rotisserie chicken machines on his side of the stage Their love for one another shines through in their shows Alex loves to experiment with what kinds of sounds he can pull out of his guitar an he never overreaches, he is always so freakin melodic An the grooves that Geddy an Neil pull off are insane I think it’s time for you to do 2112 a 23 min rock opera that defined exactly who Rush wanted to be, it was their big F U to the record label who wanted them to do 4 min radio friendly songs Do the studio (comic book) version, it will help you with the whole journey the song takes you on
Neil Peart’s hat is a Nigerian Kufi Cap. It’s kind of a ceremonial or traditional hat worn by people all over the world but mostly in African countries
I was at this event! Can't believe it's been 20+? Years Flaming lips, Rush, the guess who, the isley brothers, AC/DC, the stones... Amazing memory 🤘 Universal symbol for metal
No, bro! You need to do the studio version first. You miss a lot of the nuances and the production!. At least mix it up! Can't be doing all live versions! Appreciate you though!
Respectfully disagree. Yes, the album versions are more nuanced, therein being the problem. Everyone can polish the studio version, but can they pull it off live? That's where the live versions highlight their skill. It's real, not a production.
Love your Rush reactions! It looks like others have answered your questions. Watch the live version of Marathon from the Time Machine tour (fire bass line!).
That track is also worth a lyrics dive. Peart wrote all their lyrics and he was great. The devil horns are a rock thing... invented by Ronnie James Dio ...he sang lead for Black Sabbath, Rainbow and later his own band DIO... it just means 'Lets Rock'
The washing machines are a joke. Getty's amps were so big, they were compared to appliances, and being Canadian, they're always down for a good joke. It's been a staple of their shows for years. Just some good clean fun.
Well...the joke did not happen until Geddy did away with his stacks of amps, and ran his sound through the house sound system...and so there was big empty space behind him but still giant stacks behind Alex. 👍
RUSH sheet music scores are on the internet and Geddy has a book “The Big Beautiful Book of Bass”. His musical talent is undeniable and Geddy was the one involved with all the concert stage design and production for their tours too!
Just a suggestion as it's hard to know which versions to watch as per different requests. Maybe listen to studio version of song and then do the live version of same song. Rush Forever . Keep enjoying the journey.
This is one of their biggest hits. Certainly in the to 10 (and maybe top 5) for many Rush fans. I HIGHLY recommend the animated retrospective music video ruclips.net/video/g_QtO0Rhp0w/видео.html with the remastered studio audio and capped by a touching tribute to Neil at the end. The Spirit of Radio is a loving tribute to the medium of FM radio. There's a really great line from Neil in the song that kind of sums up the sentiment... "Invisible air waves crackle with life. Bright antennae bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength bearing a gift beyond price, almost free. All this machinery making modern music can still be open hearted. Not so coldly charted. It's really just a question of your honest, yeah your honesty. One likes to believe in the freedom of music. But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah..." Then later, during the reggae breakdown, borrowing from Simon and Garfunkel's masterpiece, "The Sound of Silence," Peart continues, "for the words of the profits were written on the studio wall... Concert Hall! E-echos with the sound of salesmen... of salesmen... of salesmen!" and guitar solo. Simon's original line was "For the words of the prophets were written on the subway wall." this line itself is a callback to the Book of Daniel, the prophet from Chapter 5. Neil is making a play on prophets, changing it to "profits", calling out the corrupting influence of the business side of making music/art. And he changes subway to studio wall. Nice touches. And the repetition of the words, "of salesmen" is itself representative of the echo effect and the word "E-echos" the way Geddy sings it, is an example of the literary tool, onomatopoeia. Just some really cool song writing going on here from Neil.
Listening to Rush for the amazing musicality… and then eventually understanding that the lyrics might eclipse the music. I love Yes.. but Jon Anderson doesn’t even understand his own lyrics. I love Genesis, some of the lyrics are great.. but some of them might have taken inspiration from Jon Anderson. Rush, and Neil’s lyrics, are next level.😊
definitely check out the lyrics - it's about the commercialization of the radio / music industry.... and yes, that was reggae, it's more pronounced in the studio version too... a couple easter eggs in the song...
Great reaction Church Boy! Almost a shame you started with this version...it's good, but as far as Rush live goes, it's not the best (that goes to the video called 'Best Intro Ever' - which features an overture called R30 that features a medley of their 70's output which segues into Spirit Of Radio! As a musician - you should definitely check that one out!) Personally, I'd say always check the lyrics! Besides expert level musicianship from all 3 guys, Neil always has something to say in his lyrics - that Geddy perfectly conveys! This song is about the freedom afforded by radio - and the fight for artists to create for their own sake, and not at the whim of the record company ("glittering prizes & endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity" is an excellent lyrical example!) Love hearing you play bass - especially in mimicking Geddy's bass lines!! Cheers!
I mean.....I've been a fan since 83 or so.....and obviously I know their greatness...but it's so hard to wrap your brain around how just these 3 guys could come up with all this music...and sound....and 5 different parts in their songs and mix it all in, and do this for 40 years!! People can say there are "better" bands out there, but they truly don't understand this band or really know them well enough. Or they're just being spiteful and ignorant
If you feel like checking some of their newer songs I strongly suggest these ones, Time stand still, Manhattan Project, Nobody's hero. These are just a few of so many.
I think the clothes dryers and the rotisserie chickens are just goofy fun expressions. Not statement or meaning. Ged and Alex both are whacky. Dryers on stage is whacky. It is primarily for aesthetics. Geddy does not use amps or monitors anymore. They all use in ears. He plugs his bass straight into the venue PA. Without the dryers and chickens the stage looks bare.
Every show I had the blessing to see, started with this song. "One likes to believe in the freedom of music but glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity." Is my favorite verse. 2112 was their make or break middle finger to the music industry at the time. It worked for them. After that, full steam ahead!
The chickens and laundry are because Geddy stopped using on stage amps, and uses house amps. He uses the props to fill the stage where his amps would be.
think you might be ready for the song that was there FU to the record company in 2112 said twenty-one twelve. if you want to learn about them watch the docmentary about the Beyond the Lighted Stage
Neil's hat is called a Kufi hat - wirn by Africans. When he was younger, he bicycled through parts of Africa and picked up African percussion rhythms. His kufi hats are specially built as they have removeable foam inside to absorb the sweat from his head. Between sets, the foam was removed and replaced.
So disappointed that you continue to do these live versions before you listen to the studio versions. Why do reactors just gotsta have the visual for a thing that only calls for your EARS? Do the live stuff later! You’re missing out on the the intention of the artist otherwise.. Much more of this and I’ll be moving on to others.
1/2 a million as Geddy needed less amps they used laundry or vending machines to fill the space 1 so it looked even and 2 for the guys to hide behind that were taking care of Neil❤🇨🇦
The washers/ rotisserie machines are used to balance out the stage. Alex liked using his stack of amps, whilst Geddy would have his basses and keyboards connected directly to the house amp systems. Otherwise the stage would look weird with the empty space behind him.
I think that this was my 1st RUSH exposure in my life, 1980, I was 12 and in 7th grade, from then on I've loved a certain time frame of RUSH ALBUMS, from the 1st album to Signals, in 1982. After that my interest fell off or they moved on to new songs that i didnt bother to learn or listen to. Also they weren't really played on the air locally, atbleast not down here in South Florida. Have you done the 2112 album or specifically side 2. Side 1 is a short space/roch opera about a future in which humans live under an oppressive ruling structure that encourages conformity and obedience, but has no music or musical instruments. Then one day a man finds a guiter and learns to play it and the consequences of his actions. Just a masterpiece of classic rock. 1976
Church Boy I'm so glad you did the Live version The Spirit of Radio in Toronto. So cool Rush played Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones before the song dropped. Please react to Subdivisions Live. Amazing lyrics. Geddy switches back and forth from playing a Synthesizer to a bass all while singing. If you really want to see a young Rush Anthem live 1975. A real banger for sure. Enjoying your Rush journey. 🤘🔥
I love this line in this song- "One likes to believe in the freedom of music But glittering prizes and endless compromises Shatter the illusion of integrity" Very true. The Spirit of Radio (and money in music) is inherently corruptive, unfortunately. Even the existence of professional touring creates a lot of ethical problems with no clear solutions. PS- Laundry on stage is just for fun, I think cause Geddy Lee no longer needed amps on stage
Geddy once said his bass tone is clean and dry. Since he does not use a wall of cabinets he used the dryers for a while to fill in the stage. He uses a small amp/speaker cabinet behind the dryers that go in the main console. Check out Geddy Signature Fender bass guitar.
The hand gesture is associated with metal and rock n roll. It started with the band Dio, specifically Ronnie James Dio their lead vocalist. It’s based on fantasy creatures often depicted in their early material. Their album Holy Diver is an example of that. The hand gesture caught on with fans and carried over into other rock and metal bands’ audiences.
The lyrics are definitely worth looking into- it was kind of an indictment of the state of the music industry, and an embrace of newer technologies and types of music as well
This was the song that started at all for me with my obsession with rush. It was released as a single in late 1979 when I was 12 years old and I immediately loved it. Permanent waves came out in January 1980 and I bought it the day it came out and I have been obsessed ever since.
The Concerts are great of course and they never disappoint but the studio versions are amazing too. My first album was 2112 and still love the whole album. Such an experience for a teenager, it opened rock music to an all new height. Love the excellent musicianship and the lyrics are at the same level. Love this band and also appreciate their hard work and dedication. On top of all that they are just normal great people.
I was at this concert, brings back memories. The hand gesture you are inquiring about has a huge history and reference in pretty much all cultures on the planet. From a rock n roll/metal perspective it's referred to as the devil's horns. Nothing evil about it, people usually do the gesture, when the music gets them excited/amp'd up.
The dryers/chickens were a running joke between Geddy and Alex. As sound tech improved Geddy got rid of his on stage amp stack and ran straight through the PA system. Alex wouldn't part with his, so to "even" out the backline Geddy had an array of goodies to fill in the space. 🤣 The road crew guys would often come out in costume and baste the chickens or switch out loads of laundry. There's about 500,000 people in the crowd. It was a charity event to help with the SARS outbreak in Canada. (All 3 are very philanthropic and support multiple causes as Rush as well as individually)
@@jeffgamble8957 I didn't want to overload him on tech talk. Lol. I figured we could ease him into Geddy's line of bass goodies. I've got the YYZ Shapeshifter and I love it! 🎸🎸
@clockworkangel4026 Churchboy is a working musician. I'm sure he's up to a little gear Geekery. And if he's in need of a new d.i.box Telling him about Geddys YYZ and 2112 stomp boxes ain't a bad thing
In the early 2000s Geddy stopped using on stage amps opting for amp and cabinet simulators. Since he wasn’t standing in front of big speaker cabinets the stage visual was out of balance so as a giggle Geddy got some laundromat dryers to fill out the visual space on his side of the stage to balance the overall stage image. That evolved into a refrigerator and the dryers to the rotisserie chicken cooker then a giant steampunk sausage maker. On their final tour, the R40 tour the stage presentation was their history in reverse order starting with the sausage maker then moving through all previous stage images while they worked backwards through their catalog eventually finishing in a high school gym complete with basketball hoops and a disco ball with tiny amps being supported on chairs. Brilliant! Alex had amps below the stage for their second to last tour so he had props to start with then fake amps and speakers as stage props. Their Moving Pictures album has moving men depicted on the cover so the road crew dressed as those moving men while they changed out stage props over the course of the R40 show. All of their tours since 2000 have accompanying DVD/BluRay packages available.
Last comment....BRO!!!! Why arent you reading the lyrics!!?? You could print em before the vid, or find vids with the lyrics encoded. Rush is a band that you NEED to know the lyrics to!!! PLEASE for the love of God, have the words for the next vid ✌️❤️😉
Great reaction!! This was Sarstock in Toronto, there were many bands featured! There were over 500,000 people there I believe! The finger sign 🤘🏼is and old symbol in many cultures used to ward off evil!! In Rock and Roll speak… it means ROCK ON!! LOL! I think you should do “ Where’s my Thing, Here it Is! (Live on the Tome Machine Tour) and you get a premium drum solo for free!! Be well and God bless.. from Texas!! Link Below: ruclips.net/video/AKIc20Liw3c/видео.html 0:03
🤟 means nothing really. Its just a thing rockers do. The washing maching had tshirys in them. If you caught one it would say on it Rush washing machine #1 or #2 or whichever it was....pretty cool. Geddys book My 'Effin Life will tell you EVERYTHING you want to know about Rush
This is the Heavy Metal devil horns. 🤘I know, it’s not great, but it was a thing big time during the Heavy Metal heyday. I think Ronnie James Dio popularized it. You’ll find out about him later, another legendary Rock singer.
Album version of Witch Hunt with words! If you like bass.... The Big Money, Animate, and The Anarchist, which Geddy said was the hardest Rush song to play and sing to. Nearly impossible until he learned the bass by muscle memory
Alex has stacks of amps behind him on his side of the stage. Geddy began pluggin in directly to the board, so his side of the stage looked empty. So to balance the stage behind Geddy they just put anything up there. One tour it was stacks of washers and dryers, another tour it was rotisseries, another tour it was vending machines. That was just part of their humor. They were a fun bunch of just ordinary guys.
When it was dryers they had t-shirts in them and guys looking like them (hair, clothes similar, guitars) would come out during the concert and pull the shirts out of the dryer and throw to the crowd.
Um, actually, I think it was just laundry day. Oh Geddy. Always multi-tasking…
Or the guy in the chefs hat who would come out and baste the chickens during the show.
They were ordinary in term of how they treated others, but in terms of musical talents all these three guys were probably among the best ever.
The Dryers had a specific purpose. They were set to "cool" mode so they would help with Stage heat, especially for Neil.
First off..love your reactions to all Rush so far, but doing the studio version of any song I think is important when starting the Rush journey...love all their live versions, but this song should be a studio reaction when hearing first time. This performance may be my least fave of all the versions out there for Spirit...keep the Rush(studio) reactions coming🤘
What some call the "Devil Horns" hand symbol has been a way for rockers to show their appreciation or enjoyment of a performance for a while now. It was popularized by the singer Ronnie James Dio when he joined Black Sabbath in the early 1980s, as he had often seen his grandmother use it. It is actually called the "maloik," and has Italian roots. It was used as a way to give someone the "evil eye," or conversely as protection from it, which is how Dio intended his use - protection from evil. Dio used this throughout his career, and it was picked up by many hard rock fans as a way to show their enthusiasm for an act. I would highly recommend anything that Dio is connected with (he sang for Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his namesake band Dio), and suggest Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell" as a great place to start. After you finish your Rush journey, that is. 🤘
FYI, the brief instrumental intro here is from the Rolling Stones "Paint it Black."
If you want to see a crowd that LOVES Rush, check out YYZ Live in Rio...be sure to look for the remastered version in 1080.
And..."manipulating his instrument" sounds kinky...LOL...I am sure Alex himself would appreciate that, and agree. 😂
I’ve always said there is a sexual nature to Alex’s playing. He absolutely dominates, exploits and ravages his guitar.
@@4randosutube He even has nightmares that inspire him to write songs in which he does unspeakable things with and to his guitars. LOL
@@iKvetch558 Well whatever he does it’s working. 🤘🏽
Church Boy. Thnx for the shout out and great reaction. If you listen to the studio version of the song, the lyrics are clear and quite profound. It's about the integrity of the music industry and the joy of music.
Am I the only one who loves it when Church Boy breaks out the bass and starts playing? It's always the highlight of the videos for me!
They were opening for The Rolling stones and AC DC in this concert. This was a benefit concert put on by the Stones to help people in Toronto after the Sars epidemic . I believe there was close to a half million people there. I've heard higher numbers but I don't know for certain. They had a wicked sense of humour. The tee-shirts will be thrown to the audience later. They put out a new video for this song in memory of Neil Peart who passed in 2020.
I was there! Amazing concert. AC-DC, Stones, Rush, Justin Timberlake, Tea Garden, Burton Cummings, and more! About 400K people at an old airport. CRAZY!
The intro song was a Rolling Stones song.
I have a Rush and an AC/DC pinball machines sitting next to each other.
What epidemic
I was there too, along with a half million other music lovers.
Neil is wearing a Kufi which is often worn by Muslims (Neil wasn't at all religious). He started wearing them after a month-long bicycle tour he took through Cameroon in 1988. (He wrote a book about his travels titled The Masked Rider - excellent read). While in Cameroon, he learned African beats from some of the local legends - wearing the hat may be a tribute to the friends he made (and/or to cover his thinning hair).
The song: Alex beginning riff gives the feeling of tunes going into your car antenna. Reggae and other changes give the experience of changing radio stations.
Metal songs are often in E because it allows the open E string to be rung out at the lowest note regularly. The low E acts as a pedal tone in many rock and metal compositions. As a trio, it allows RUSH to create a thicker sound.
Since you love Rush especially Gettys bass lines. Highly highly highly recommend Roundabout by Yes. Listen to the remastered album version for the best listen
Church Boy a suggestion of next Rush song is Malignant Narcissism live version from Snakes & Arrows tour as you will get to see Neil Peart drum solo.
God Bless.
"Limelight" and "Fly By Night" are some great tunes to check out also!
Notice many Rush fans are telling you to react to live renditions, because they sound so nice live. True, agreed, they do sound great live, but for your very first listen and introduction to a song, personally think it should be the studio version.
Studio versions help you get a better understanding of how they intended for the music to sound in a controlled environment with the mixing precisely they way they wanted for the song.
You can aways react to the live versions at a later date. Plus, in many of these live versions, Geddy is older and his voice is no longer in prime condition.
Just my two cents. Thanks, love your reactions.
I agree. Other than Xanadu, I’d always have reactors listen to the studio version of the song, especially one like this, with a lot of intricacies.
This was Sarstock Toronto and there were a number of bands playing to 500,000 people. The Rolling Stones put on the event and to honour them Rush played paint it black at the beginning before they went into Spirit of Radio.
The washers,dryers ,vending machines etc were to to balance out the stage after Geddy started plugging into the house sound system and Alex still had his stack of amps. These guys have a great sense of humour.
The hat Neil wears is something he adopted after his bicycle trip through west Africa. There is a story he tells about him being in an African village where a drummer was trying to teach a young missionary how to drum and the poor fellow was at a loss.
Neil was watching and then asked to join in. Neil sat in and in no time was picking up the beat and the women started dancing. The missionary was amazed and all Neil said was I'm in the business.
To see their comradery and their goofiness please react to Dinner with Rush.
Cheers
All facts that i have heard and some new ones. Thanks
Kufi is the type of hat I thought I should add
Yeah, reaja ao jantar !!!
You can also find video of Neil meeting Charlie Watts just minutes before going on stage. He says in his book he gets into his own world just before going on, and someone (Geddy, or Geddys brother) got Neil's attention that Charlie was there to say hi, (one of Neil's idols) you see them shake hands and I think Charlie said 'I'm going g to be watching you' Neil Commented in his book that he didn't even recognize him, thought he was just a random elderly guy 😂😂. Was a good story
I always winced at that name!
I really suggest you react to the studio version first, so you can appreciate the live versions. I am a lifetime musician in Wisconsin. I have a home studio and play all guitars, bass, and vocals. I program my drum tracks. These Rush songs are the only songs where I can’t deviate from the studio versions when recording. This is my favorite band of all time. I’m 56, seen them live. Love every album they have released. There is no other band in the world like Rush 🙌🏻 Welcome to my lifetime of memories with Rush🤩
Similar here, although probably not as aptly as you - trust me. 😅
Starting with "Paint It Black" just before the Rolling Stones come on. That's bold.
Alex liked to have stacks behind him. So the washers, vending machines blah blah blah were Geddy making fun of Alex.
Geddy plugged into the venue’s sound system and teased Alex because he wouldn’t do it. So Geddy started using props as a joke!
I always dig your insightfulness for music! Thank you ! And your newfound love for RUSH !! How can you not love RUSH ??? I agree totally with the Alex Lifeson mastery of the guitar. They are all so talented, everyone knows Geddie Lee's bass work and of course Neil Peart. But I honestly think Alex is the best, most technically skilled of the three ! I always have, his tone and ability to change tempo and sounds effortlessly, is second to none. MY three fave giutarist. David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, and Alex Lifeson. Keep digging, we dig u. Peace
Alex is having a blast in this one. The official animated video is a must see. Keep it up, bud!
500 000 people as it was a concert in Toronto for Sars with Rolling Stones a d AC DC.They used to have alot of Marshall amps but downsized and used dryers to fill in space.They filled in space with the rotisserie to also fill in space and feed the crew after each show.Luv your reaction.
Enjoy the Rush ride.
God Bless.
It's about the spirit of the radio about how they pushed back against the record labels and radio stations to play the music that they wanted to produce and play.
RUSH ARMY HERE! For a different, poetic human experience of a Rush song may I humbly suggest that you react to THE TREES. Having the lyrics are crucial. I am loving your reactions.
Love watching a competent musician get to experience and analyze AND FEEL what they're laying down. Music helps people connect. It's so awesome to hear something vicariously thru fresh ears. Thanks man
Geddy would always tease Alex about all his Marshall stacks so he would have everything from dryers to rotisserie chicken machines on his side of the stage
Their love for one another shines through in their shows
Alex loves to experiment with what kinds of sounds he can pull out of his guitar an he never overreaches, he is always so freakin melodic
An the grooves that Geddy an Neil pull off are insane
I think it’s time for you to do 2112 a 23 min rock opera that defined exactly who Rush wanted to be, it was their big F U to the record label who wanted them to do 4 min radio friendly songs
Do the studio (comic book) version, it will help you with the whole journey the song takes you on
Whole heartedly agree!!!!!!
Neil Peart’s hat is a Nigerian Kufi Cap. It’s kind of a ceremonial or traditional hat worn by people all over the world but mostly in African countries
I was at this event! Can't believe it's been 20+? Years
Flaming lips, Rush, the guess who, the isley brothers, AC/DC, the stones... Amazing memory
🤘 Universal symbol for metal
🤘"Long live rock and roll"🤘
Ronnie James Dio
Edit: I had commented that it was also a "hang ten" sign for surfers, but then edited as I realized they are similar, but different hand signs.
@@mattbaker5757 🤙🤘 Dio came up with it and has explained its origins many times
Oh man, The Flaming Lips. I saw them in NYC around 1996 and then again in CT around 1999 or 2000. What a great band! Kim's got a watermelon gun.
2hr roast chicken = 1 rush set ..... 1hr wash + 1hr dry = 1 rush set 🤘💥
No, bro! You need to do the studio version first. You miss a lot of the nuances and the production!. At least mix it up! Can't be doing all live versions! Appreciate you though!
Yeah...he should check out the animated version.
Respectfully disagree. Yes, the album versions are more nuanced, therein being the problem. Everyone can polish the studio version, but can they pull it off live? That's where the live versions highlight their skill. It's real, not a production.
@@hubtalthere is no problem. Just prefer your choice. That is all this person did along with suggesting something more for the reactor. Peace
Alex is such a beast on the guitar
I'm happy you did this song, after watching your other Rush reaction videos I was hoping you would do this. 🙂👍
Love your Rush reactions! It looks like others have answered your questions.
Watch the live version of Marathon from the Time Machine tour (fire bass line!).
That track is also worth a lyrics dive. Peart wrote all their lyrics and he was great.
The devil horns are a rock thing... invented by Ronnie James Dio ...he sang lead for Black Sabbath, Rainbow and later his own band DIO... it just means 'Lets Rock'
I also feel you have heard enough Rush that it's time for 2112!
Hold onto you hat
The washing machines are a joke. Getty's amps were so big, they were compared to appliances, and being Canadian, they're always down for a good joke. It's been a staple of their shows for years. Just some good clean fun.
Well...the joke did not happen until Geddy did away with his stacks of amps, and ran his sound through the house sound system...and so there was big empty space behind him but still giant stacks behind Alex. 👍
RUSH sheet music scores are on the internet and Geddy has a book “The Big Beautiful Book of Bass”. His musical talent is undeniable and Geddy was the one involved with all the concert stage design and production for their tours too!
React to 'Dinner with RUSH' 😮
There were over 500,000 people there, that's a very small fraction of Rush fans out there.
Don’t be misleading though. This was SARSStock. This wasn’t just a Rush gig.
Just a suggestion as it's hard to know which versions to watch as per different requests. Maybe listen to studio version of song and then do the live version of same song. Rush Forever .
Keep enjoying the journey.
Respectfully disagree that most of their music is in the key of E. Their catalog is massive. Keep listening and you will hear differently.
This is one of their biggest hits. Certainly in the to 10 (and maybe top 5) for many Rush fans. I HIGHLY recommend the animated retrospective music video ruclips.net/video/g_QtO0Rhp0w/видео.html with the remastered studio audio and capped by a touching tribute to Neil at the end. The Spirit of Radio is a loving tribute to the medium of FM radio. There's a really great line from Neil in the song that kind of sums up the sentiment... "Invisible air waves crackle with life. Bright antennae bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength bearing a gift beyond price, almost free. All this machinery making modern music can still be open hearted. Not so coldly charted. It's really just a question of your honest, yeah your honesty. One likes to believe in the freedom of music. But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah..."
Then later, during the reggae breakdown, borrowing from Simon and Garfunkel's masterpiece, "The Sound of Silence," Peart continues, "for the words of the profits were written on the studio wall... Concert Hall! E-echos with the sound of salesmen... of salesmen... of salesmen!" and guitar solo. Simon's original line was "For the words of the prophets were written on the subway wall." this line itself is a callback to the Book of Daniel, the prophet from Chapter 5. Neil is making a play on prophets, changing it to "profits", calling out the corrupting influence of the business side of making music/art. And he changes subway to studio wall. Nice touches. And the repetition of the words, "of salesmen" is itself representative of the echo effect and the word "E-echos" the way Geddy sings it, is an example of the literary tool, onomatopoeia. Just some really cool song writing going on here from Neil.
Listening to Rush for the amazing musicality… and then eventually understanding that the lyrics might eclipse the music. I love Yes.. but Jon Anderson doesn’t even understand his own lyrics. I love Genesis, some of the lyrics are great.. but some of them might have taken inspiration from Jon Anderson. Rush, and Neil’s lyrics, are next level.😊
definitely check out the lyrics - it's about the commercialization of the radio / music industry.... and yes, that was reggae, it's more pronounced in the studio version too... a couple easter eggs in the song...
Great reaction Church Boy! Almost a shame you started with this version...it's good, but as far as Rush live goes, it's not the best (that goes to the video called 'Best Intro Ever' - which features an overture called R30 that features a medley of their 70's output which segues into Spirit Of Radio! As a musician - you should definitely check that one out!)
Personally, I'd say always check the lyrics! Besides expert level musicianship from all 3 guys, Neil always has something to say in his lyrics - that Geddy perfectly conveys!
This song is about the freedom afforded by radio - and the fight for artists to create for their own sake, and not at the whim of the record company ("glittering prizes & endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity" is an excellent lyrical example!)
Love hearing you play bass - especially in mimicking Geddy's bass lines!! Cheers!
I mean.....I've been a fan since 83 or so.....and obviously I know their greatness...but it's so hard to wrap your brain around how just these 3 guys could come up with all this music...and sound....and 5 different parts in their songs and mix it all in, and do this for 40 years!! People can say there are "better" bands out there, but they truly don't understand this band or really know them well enough. Or they're just being spiteful and ignorant
Finally back to covering the hits instead of the obscure videos. Please just focus on more of the album versions of songs.
If you feel like checking some of their newer songs I strongly suggest these ones, Time stand still, Manhattan Project, Nobody's hero. These are just a few of so many.
Good stuff, keep them coming! I am here for your Rush reactions! You are fast and insightfull.
I think the clothes dryers and the rotisserie chickens are just goofy fun expressions. Not statement or meaning. Ged and Alex both are whacky. Dryers on stage is whacky. It is primarily for aesthetics. Geddy does not use amps or monitors anymore. They all use in ears. He plugs his bass straight into the venue PA. Without the dryers and chickens the stage looks bare.
Every show I had the blessing to see, started with this song. "One likes to believe in the freedom of music but glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity." Is my favorite verse.
2112 was their make or break middle finger to the music industry at the time. It worked for them. After that, full steam ahead!
The chickens and laundry are because Geddy stopped using on stage amps, and uses house amps. He uses the props to fill the stage where his amps would be.
You're into lyrics. Please read the lyrics. You won't regret it. Love your reactions.
think you might be ready for the song that was there FU to the record company in 2112 said twenty-one twelve. if you want to learn about them watch the docmentary about the Beyond the Lighted Stage
Neil's hat is called a Kufi hat - wirn by Africans. When he was younger, he bicycled through parts of Africa and picked up African percussion rhythms.
His kufi hats are specially built as they have removeable foam inside to absorb the sweat from his head. Between sets, the foam was removed and replaced.
So disappointed that you continue to do these live versions before you listen to the studio versions. Why do reactors just gotsta have the visual for a thing that only calls for your EARS? Do the live stuff later! You’re missing out on the the intention of the artist otherwise.. Much more of this and I’ll be moving on to others.
I'd highly recommend still reacting to the original studio cut, from their 1980 album Permanent Waves ✌️
USA is the only country in the world that Rush is not one of the most famous bands of all time...
Sars concert in Toronto and Neil is playing the xylophone ,you should check out their Hall Of Fame induction
You haven't fully experienced RUSH until you have listened to 2112
1/2 a million as Geddy needed less amps they used laundry or vending machines to fill the space 1 so it looked even and 2 for the guys to hide behind that were taking care of Neil❤🇨🇦
The song is an ode to the joy of listening to music on the radio. Back in the day when that's how you listened to music & found new songs.
BRAVO ! Look for the Documentary of them going to So. America, for the fist time. Behind the scenes and a SOLD OUT tour , Live in RIO
Can’t wait to see these Rush song reactions.
Xanadu
La Villa Strangiato
2112
The washers/ rotisserie machines are used to balance out the stage. Alex liked using his stack of amps, whilst Geddy would have his basses and keyboards connected directly to the house amp systems. Otherwise the stage would look weird with the empty space behind him.
From now on look at the lyrics when watching Raj it’s important and lyrics are phenomenal
The reason for the washing machines is obvious; Their clothes were dirty and they have a tight schedule on tour.
Key of E. That is the key of GEDDY's voice
I think that this was my 1st RUSH exposure in my life, 1980, I was 12 and in 7th grade, from then on I've loved a certain time frame of RUSH ALBUMS, from the 1st album to Signals, in 1982. After that my interest fell off or they moved on to new songs that i didnt bother to learn or listen to. Also they weren't really played on the air locally, atbleast not down here in South Florida. Have you done the 2112 album or specifically side 2. Side 1 is a short space/roch opera about a future in which humans live under an oppressive ruling structure that encourages conformity and obedience, but has no music or musical instruments. Then one day a man finds a guiter and learns to play it and the consequences of his actions. Just a masterpiece of classic rock. 1976
Church Boy I'm so glad you did the Live version The Spirit of Radio in Toronto. So cool Rush played Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones before the song dropped. Please react to Subdivisions Live. Amazing lyrics. Geddy switches back and forth from playing a Synthesizer to a bass all while singing. If you really want to see a young Rush Anthem live 1975. A real banger for sure. Enjoying your Rush journey. 🤘🔥
I love this line in this song- "One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity"
Very true. The Spirit of Radio (and money in music) is inherently corruptive, unfortunately. Even the existence of professional touring creates a lot of ethical problems with no clear solutions.
PS- Laundry on stage is just for fun, I think cause Geddy Lee no longer needed amps on stage
Geddy once said his bass tone is clean and dry. Since he does not use a wall of cabinets he used the dryers for a while to fill in the stage. He uses a small amp/speaker cabinet behind the dryers that go in the main console.
Check out Geddy Signature Fender bass guitar.
The hand gesture is associated with metal and rock n roll. It started with the band Dio, specifically Ronnie James Dio their lead vocalist. It’s based on fantasy creatures often depicted in their early material. Their album Holy Diver is an example of that. The hand gesture caught on with fans and carried over into other rock and metal bands’ audiences.
That hand gesture, which you did very well, maybe less wiggling, is a devil head, horns and beard. Associated to metal music and themes.
Appreciate another RUSH reaction. It’s crazy how quickly you become addicted to their music or you don’t. Keep this run going.
It happens to almost every reaction channel on RUclips 🤷♂️
The washers and chickens are making Geddy's side not look empty, as he doesn't run his bass through his own amps on stage.
The lyrics are definitely worth looking into- it was kind of an indictment of the state of the music industry, and an embrace of newer technologies and types of music as well
The different musical genres represented in this song the feeling of switching back and forth between radio stations
The hand gesture is an old symbol I first saw the Stones use back in the early seventies
This was the song that started at all for me with my obsession with rush. It was released as a single in late 1979 when I was 12 years old and I immediately loved it. Permanent waves came out in January 1980 and I bought it the day it came out and I have been obsessed ever since.
The Concerts are great of course and they never disappoint but the studio versions are amazing too. My first album was 2112 and still love the whole album. Such an experience for a teenager, it opened rock music to an all new height. Love the excellent musicianship and the lyrics are at the same level. Love this band and also appreciate their hard work and dedication. On top of all that they are just normal great people.
Subdivisions!!!!!! RUSH.
alex is underrated!!
I was at this concert, brings back memories. The hand gesture you are inquiring about has a huge history and reference in pretty much all cultures on the planet. From a rock n roll/metal perspective it's referred to as the devil's horns. Nothing evil about it, people usually do the gesture, when the music gets them excited/amp'd up.
YYZ live in Rio is a must.
YYZ live in Rio. Brazilians know how to rock !
Actually, Alex's guitar sound is glitching, the acoustic guitar sample is on the whole time. Technical mishap.
Great reaction!
The hand signal is the sign for “rock on”
The dryers/chickens were a running joke between Geddy and Alex. As sound tech improved Geddy got rid of his on stage amp stack and ran straight through the PA system. Alex wouldn't part with his, so to "even" out the backline Geddy had an array of goodies to fill in the space. 🤣 The road crew guys would often come out in costume and baste the chickens or switch out loads of laundry.
There's about 500,000 people in the crowd. It was a charity event to help with the SARS outbreak in Canada. (All 3 are very philanthropic and support multiple causes as Rush as well as individually)
Not quite straight to the pa . He's using a TECH 21 SANSAMP RACK UNIT at that time. Now he has a Tech 21 signature di pedal to shape his tone.
@@jeffgamble8957 I didn't want to overload him on tech talk. Lol. I figured we could ease him into Geddy's line of bass goodies. I've got the YYZ Shapeshifter and I love it! 🎸🎸
@clockworkangel4026 Churchboy is a working musician. I'm sure he's up to a little gear Geekery. And if he's in need of a new d.i.box
Telling him about Geddys YYZ and 2112 stomp boxes ain't a bad thing
Hell yeah
DEFINITELY need to react to YYZ on Rush In Rio. 60,000 fans singing to an instrumental is epic!!!
Fire🔥
This song is built as if you are changing RADIO STATIONS - this is why their are different STYLES thru the song...
In the early 2000s Geddy stopped using on stage amps opting for amp and cabinet simulators. Since he wasn’t standing in front of big speaker cabinets the stage visual was out of balance so as a giggle Geddy got some laundromat dryers to fill out the visual space on his side of the stage to balance the overall stage image. That evolved into a refrigerator and the dryers to the rotisserie chicken cooker then a giant steampunk sausage maker. On their final tour, the R40 tour the stage presentation was their history in reverse order starting with the sausage maker then moving through all previous stage images while they worked backwards through their catalog eventually finishing in a high school gym complete with basketball hoops and a disco ball with tiny amps being supported on chairs. Brilliant! Alex had amps below the stage for their second to last tour so he had props to start with then fake amps and speakers as stage props. Their Moving Pictures album has moving men depicted on the cover so the road crew dressed as those moving men while they changed out stage props over the course of the R40 show. All of their tours since 2000 have accompanying DVD/BluRay packages available.
The 1984 live version on RUclips is WAY better.
That hand motion/signal/whatever is simply Devil Horns - ROCK ON BRO!
I love this journey you’re on. It’s so fun to watch. PLEASE do the Vital Signs video from A Show Of Fans
Last comment....BRO!!!! Why arent you reading the lyrics!!?? You could print em before the vid, or find vids with the lyrics encoded. Rush is a band that you NEED to know the lyrics to!!! PLEASE for the love of God, have the words for the next vid ✌️❤️😉
GOT 2 DO "FREEWILL" best guitar solo
Great reaction!! This was Sarstock in Toronto, there were many bands featured! There were over 500,000 people there I believe! The finger sign 🤘🏼is and old symbol in many cultures used to ward off evil!! In Rock and Roll speak… it means ROCK ON!! LOL! I think you should do “ Where’s my Thing, Here it Is! (Live on the Tome Machine Tour) and you get a premium drum solo for free!! Be well and God bless.. from Texas!! Link Below:
ruclips.net/video/AKIc20Liw3c/видео.html 0:03
🤟 means nothing really. Its just a thing rockers do. The washing maching had tshirys in them. If you caught one it would say on it Rush washing machine #1 or #2 or whichever it was....pretty cool. Geddys book My 'Effin Life will tell you EVERYTHING you want to know about Rush
"Working Man Time Machine Tour live in Cleveland" and "YYZ live in Rio" are a must!
This is the Heavy Metal devil horns. 🤘I know, it’s not great, but it was a thing big time during the Heavy Metal heyday. I think Ronnie James Dio popularized it. You’ll find out about him later, another legendary Rock singer.
Album version of Witch Hunt with words! If you like bass.... The Big Money, Animate, and The Anarchist, which Geddy said was the hardest Rush song to play and sing to. Nearly impossible until he learned the bass by muscle memory