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Rating: What I am about to describe is not the concert of a band that has reformed after years of silence, perhaps with new members or with additional guitars and keyboards to fill the gaps of a group now old. It is not the concert of a group that hasn't released albums for decades and lives thanks to the glory of the past years or recent scoops involving its members.
No.
These, ladies and gentlemen, are the Rush. These are three great musicians and above all three great people: Alex Lifeson (Guitar), Neil Peart (Drums), Geddy Lee (Bass, Keyboards, Vocals). This historic Canadian group owes nothing to anyone. They achieved success solely thanks to their music. No rockstar excesses, no commercial operations: just pure enjoyment for our ears.
Since 1974, the year their first album "Rush" was released, and the year Neil Peart joined on drums (author of almost all the lyrics of their songs), these 3 Canadians have accustomed us to excellent albums. They have never changed their lineup, yet their music has evolved over the years, from the pure Hard Rock of the early albums to the progressive of "2112," blending with electronics in the late '70s/early '80s, to the pop rock of the '90s, and now a partial return to their roots with this fantastic "Snakes & Arrows" released just this year.
This concert was highly anticipated, there are people, like myself, who traveled many kilometers to see them, and indeed the Datch Forum in Assago (MI) was quite full. Even before the concert starts, you notice the stage is scattered with toy dinosaurs, Barbies, and even a Homer Simpson doll.
The introductory film of the concert once again emphasizes the humorous side of Rush, who have always dealt with complex and fascinating themes but without that know-it-all attitude belonging to many groups. When Rush plays, they laugh, joke, enjoy themselves and entertain!
The explosion of power in "Limelight" is phenomenal... from my position, just a few meters from Lifeson (so to the left of the stage), I can feast my eyes on the range of guitars he plays, especially Gibson Les Paul. The volume is right, even if where I am, just a few meters from the amplifiers, it seems a bit high (my ears are still ringing).
The entire first part of the concert is dedicated to old hits. The band is phenomenal: Geddy Lee's voice is still the same, and it's impressive to hear the high notes coming from his throat; Peart does an excellent job, as always, and confirms himself as "the rock drummer" par excellence (a term coined by a person I met in the audience). Naming the setlist of the first part would be a pointless waste of time, all wonderful pieces performed to perfection, with Lifeson coming just a few centimeters from the edge of the stage to look us in the face and Lee constantly jumping right and left. The moments when Lifeson and Lee go in front of the drums to greet Peart are stunning... you can understand how strong the bond is between the members of this group.
Geddy Lee makes us laugh with a funny: "Grazi Mille Mileno" and after saying they will take a short break because "they are elderly people," the band retires for half an hour backstage.
The second part of the concert is dominated by tracks from their new album. This lets us know how much Rush relies on this latest work. The perfect and passionate execution is emphasized by the beautiful videos and the fantastic effects of lights and smoke present on stage. At a certain point, the big screen displays Rush's red dragon, which after observing us up close with its giant eye, shoots a flame that magically becomes real on stage, letting us feel immense heat (I think those three poor guys must have been dying from the heat at that moment...).
At a certain point, more precisely after "Witch Hunt" and "MalNar", a light illuminates only Neil Peart, and immediately the audience explodes in cheers because everyone understands that the sacred monster of the skins is about to engage in one of his glorious 20-plus-minute solos.
And so it was... trying to describe the emotions felt being 15 meters from a drum god is very difficult. Seeing the octopus-like arms twisting right and left while his legs make us jump with great bass drum hits is something phenomenal. When then the platform on which the drums rest rotates 180°, your heart is in your throat. Peart starts playing his electronic drum kit and thrills us by tuning melodies with a sort of electronic xylophone (I hope drummers won't be offended by the non-technical language I'm using). After this apotheosis of emotions, you don't even have time to gather yourself, as Lifeson returns to the stage with a 12-string acoustic guitar and shows us that he is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history. Truly exceptional!
Lee arrives shortly after, and the group resumes with great classics, including the fantastic "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Tom Sawyer". Once again, one can't fathom how a 50-year-old can play bass and keyboard simultaneously while singing such high notes. As soon as this masterpiece is over, the band leaves us for the usual fake farewell, but no one falls for it because within minutes the Canadians are already back to thrill us once more with "One Little Victory", "A Passage to Bangkok" but especially with "YYZ".
I'll try to explain it to you, but I warn you it's not a simple task. Geddy Lee gives me the greatest gift of my life and switches with Lifeson to let me see the solos of this spectacular instrumental from a meter away. It's tear-jerking to see this man, who almost seems to look you in the eyes (despite wearing classic Lennon-style glasses), displaying such technique and passion a few meters from your frail and defenseless body. When it’s Lifeson's turn to solo and he too comes forward to show it to you, you're honestly left stunned. Especially because while doing such stunts, they're there chuckling and talking among themselves. Peart, who has no one to talk to, at times seems almost to sleep, but in the meantime, through some kind of strange sleepwalking, gifts us with spectacular images, like the stick flying through the air spinning around and returning, like a loyal Fido, to its beloved owner.
These are things you should see in life, I assure you; I've never spent money so well, never. Three hours of pure enjoyment. If in a few years (not too many, though :P) the Rush happen to be 500km from where you are, muster good will and go see them, because it is rare to have the chance to see such a great band in an even more than excellent state, in this sad millennium.
To conclude, 5 stars would not suffice... Rush is like fine wine, the more time passes, the better they become (and if they ever become vinegar, it will surely be Balsamic of Modena :D).
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