Rush
Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland

THE REVIEW

Warning: The text below is a raunchy piece of writing, therefore I advise against reading it for users with a certain cultural depth.

Welcome, welcome back my dear Veirliani friends, welcome back to me, welcome, welcome back to him/it because I know you have been, are enjoying viewing my writings as if faced with a gargantuan feast savoring its content. I bless you, Debaserian bulletin board, for allowing me and others but, especially me, to render tangible and publish in written form on the web my nons... ehm I meant to say my deepest philological thoughts.

Now that I've finished licking boots, I can perhaps proceed to review the live performance that "fantasmagorized" me the most out of my little collection of DVDs and other such items that are precious to yours truly. Time Machine live in Cleveland by Rush, for Vituperio, represents the quintessence or almost of a live performance by a band that is, yes, glorified and praised by aficionados of the genre, of certain commercial success especially in the American states. But which could objectively also be classified or labeled as a niche band.

As the wise man said, genius lies in moderation, neither too high nor too low.

The much-awarded Canadian band Rush consists of Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards), Alex Lifeson (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandola, etc. and vocals), Neil Peart (drums, percussion), also the author of almost all the lyrics. In this concert, the Toronto trio "knocks", "hits hard", without straying too far from their usual typical sound shaped by a mix of pure Hard Rock and Progressive virtuosity. So dear sirs, do not categorize them as the usual Progressive Metal troublemakers because the award-winning duo boasts quite a history, being if not exactly the pioneers of the genre, nearly there... and instantly recognizable by a peculiar taste for a certain "hilariously absurd scenography" present in every live show, the trademark lifestyle of these amiable elders.

So how could one not surrender to the beautiful symphony of "The Camera Eye"? Turn off the lights and lie on the bed, close your eyes, so you can embark on a dreamlike journey to the most beautiful squares of London and the whole world. Don't draw too much attention near the statues and monuments in the cities, though, their stone eyes see perfectly well... ready for very harsh judgments... so try to masturbate as little as possible. In the splendid "Limelight", Neil Peart philosophizes on the basic concept that, in the end, life is much like the stage of a theater. Animated by amusing inhabitants eager to show off, each in their own way.

"Today's Tom Sawyer is crazy about you, and invades the space, surpasses you." These are the verses of a classic track by the group. Fasten your seatbelts for an imaginative imaginary joyride in a car, in this case, a vintage Ferrari, the "Red Barchetta". How wonderful to speed through winding country roads with the wind tossing your hair, but this antique stolen from Uncle Tom is no longer homologated to travel in the roads of this forthcoming parallel future, because here vehicles are powered by steam-propelled engines like the locomotives of a long-gone era. - A police patrol is chasing us to confiscate the vehicle! Let's get out of here quickly! Come on, courage, give gas, gas for god's sake! -

Perhaps it was only a dream, the kid was daydreaming in front of the fireplace, hypnotized by Uncle Tom's old tale. Wake up as well, dear friends, open your eyes, because this is a DVD so don't miss the beautiful images where our favorites are seriously rocking on their respective instruments.

What more can be said. The technical expertise is there, as per tradition for more than thirty years, sure the voice of good Geddy is no longer what it used to be, many detractors might turn their noses up, snorting in protest against the singer's shrill high notes, to the stake with the detractors...(just kidding). Neil remains the king of percussion, precise, academic, virtuous. The unusual riffs and solos by Alex shine brightly on their own, and not to forget the usual ridiculous skits at the start, intermission, and end of the show, soap bubbles, a giant sausage-making machine, and of course plenty of sausages.

Nothing to complain about, lots of lovely stuff. Rating: 4.5/5.