Rob's Update: My Headlong Flight

My TL:DR Rush AAR: Intense, powerful, amazing.

This past Saturday, I saw Rush in Fort Worth at Dickie’s Arena and… well… let’s start back in October.

Before we do that, we have a few items of business to take care of. It was a good week. It’s my birthday today. I go to Pennsic next week.

Here’s a cat picture with Bella and Wynnifred enjoying sun puddles.

Next week, I’ll host Michael Morton on Rob’s Ramblings, but I had an udderly delightful show with Melissa Olthoff this past week. You can watch it here:

But this particular update is about the Rush show. It’ll be longer than just about any update, plus it’ll have more pictures. Considered yourselves forewarned.

In October, on the way home from Quilt Market, I was sitting in the parking of a store in DFW that sold all sorts of Japanese items. The wife was shopping and we were going to get on the road back home after doing all things quiltish.

Then a buddy sent me a message. Rush is doing another tour!

Like most of us, it was astounding news. We thought the lads were done. That farewell image from behind Geddy, Alex, and Neil in Los Angeles was it, forever, a grand conclusion to the amazing gift of their career.

So that drive home from DFW, about 5 hours, went by quickly. Thoughts whirled. I’d go, I knew I’d go, I’ve been to every tour starting with Signals. But how would I go? And where?

I broached the topic with the family when I got home. I’ve been to now 23 Rush shows and before this I’d never done the VIP thing or had tickets close to the front. I usually went high on one side or another, but this time, this time that we never expected and we’re still not sure if there’ll ever be another chance, I asked if I could get VIP tickets.

And the wife agreed (She’s pretty wonderful, by the way). The mothers (hers and mine) chipped in money for the ticket, and there I was doing the constant refresh to claim the chance.

I’ll be honest, that amount of money bothered me, but I did it and there we go. Too late now (more on this later).

The date I chose was June 30th, which dovetailed nicely with LibertyCon. I was excited leaving LC for the first time. Sad the con ended, but what a cool thing to do right after—

Oh, crap, the show got postponed.

I found out because I couldn’t get into my parking lot, and at first, I thought it was someone trolling Rush fans in a truly cruel way. Of course, it wasn’t.

So I went home. I was bummed because I now expected I couldn’t see them at all this tour. My wife had plans this weekend and that doubt about the amount of money spent on the tickets reared its ugly head compounded by additional travel costs.

The wife and mom-in-law, together, basically insisted. The wife canceled her plans. I got new hotel reservations.

I’m sooooo glad that all happened. This close to giving up this experience. Sure, the money was enough to matter, but now, in retrospect, this was the best possible choice here. Not wisest. Not most unselfish. But in the end, the best.

When I got to the arena I discovered almost immediately the value of the VIP tickets. If you’ve been to a big arena concert you expect a few things. Long lines to get in, for one. Nope, no one in the line when I went through. Fighting through crowds to get the attention of a merch vendor is another. Nope, there were two people ahead of me, which gave me time to choose the shirt.

Side note about the shirt. I’m ecstatic in part because I’ve lost enough weight I could actually wear a 3x.

OK, back to the VIP stuff. They gave us some swag. Then there was the VIP lounge, which was pretty fun. Free food, good beer, neat memorabilia, as you can see from these pictures.

While there, I met a new friend! I randomly sat a table that had an open space and got to talking with the other guy there. Humorously, we were actually next to each other for the concert. Me in Row 6, Seat 1, him in seat 2. Had a great time chatting and it was nice to have a buddy during the show, which hasn’t always been the case. Most times I’ve seen Rush I’ve been on my own, which is fine, but more fun this way.

Anyway, here’s the whole set list.

Fifty Something Tour: Set List C (Codename: CHARLIE)

Main Performance - Set One

• Xanadu

• Dreamline

• Subdivisions

• Headlong Flight

• Bravado - with opening Neil Peart tribute video

• Red Sector A

• La Villa Strangiato

• Anthem

• New World Man

• The Spirit Of Radio

Main Performance - Set Two

• Tom Sawyer - with South Park/Lil’ Rush introduction

• Red Barchetta

• YYZ

• Limelight

• The Camera Eye - with piano intro by Loren Gold

• Witch Hunt

• Vital Signs

• Time Stand Still - with opening Neil Peart tribute video

• Closer To The Heart

• 2112 - (”Overture”, “Temples of Syrinx”, “The Grand Finale”)

Encore

• By-Tor & the Snow Dog

• Working Man

They started the show with a fun video which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEWyKQphlIQ. It’s good to see the lads haven’t lost their senses of humor.

That led directly into Xanadu.

This was an inspired choice. It’s not a “big hit,” but for all the people who’ve loved Rush since the way back ago times, it’s a favorite. This was not only a great song, but it was a huge thank you to all of us who’ve been along for the whole ride. Plus, seeing Geddy and Alex with the double-necks is such an iconic memory for us.

Next was Dreamline. One line here jumped out at me: “We’re only at home when we’re on the run.” This tour doesn’t happen if the boys don’t truly love getting out on the road and doing shows. We never expected this tour, but they wanted to “travel on the road to redemption, a highway out of yesterday.”

Subdivisions is one of the most powerful songs they ever did for me. I was that dreamer and misfit who was so alone and filled with “the restless dreams of youth.” I guess I still am, but thanks to this song, it is a source of strength instead of weakness.

By the way, Geddy did the signature keyboard parts on this, which leads me to Loren Gold. They added him as a keyboardist to take the load off Geddy and this was another great decision. I never noticed him intruding on the show, with the one exception where they let him strut his stuff at the beginning of Camera Eye. However, I did notice that Geddy was able to interact with Alex, Anika, and the fans much more than in previous shows.

Headlong Flight was next. I’ve made no secret that Clockwork Angels is my favorite Rush album. I know, I know, it’s supposed to be Moving Pictures, 2112, or something like that. However, Clockwork Angels has all the creative innovation they’ve ever had blended with the skills of a lifetime and the experiences, good and awful, in that lifetime. I don’t think they can make that song before Neil lost his wife and daughter. I don’t think they have the skill in 1985. It’s a masterpiece made up of stellar lives.

Side note: The one song I missed was The Garden. It’s truly my favorite Rush song ever. Last song on their last album and it’s their best.

In the rise and the set of the sun
‘Til the stars go spinning – spinning ’round the night
It is what it is – and forever
Each moment a memory in flight

— The Garden

Back to this particular memory in flight.

And this is where I wept more than at any point. I’ll never listen to Bravado the same way ever again.

This was one of two tributes to Neil. Read the lyrics and you’ll have no doubt why they picked this one.

If we burn our wings
Flying too close to the sun
If the moment of glory
Is over before it’s begun
If the dream is won —
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

When the dust has cleared
And victory denied
A summit too lofty
River a little too wide
If we keep our pride —
Though paradise is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

And if the music stops
There’s only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory
All the sacrifice in vain
If love remains
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

— Bravado

I paid the immense price for this show, but I will never count this cost. Just seeing this was worth it all. Crying just thinking about it, as I suspect I will for the rest of my life.

Then they went into Red Sector A. This has long been a personal favorite because of the lyrics and the power of the history. It talks about people in a Nazi concentration camp, and it’s all the stronger because both of Geddy’s parents survived the Holocaust.

Really powerful in this context, especially following Bravado.

Now we come to the test. Musicians who’ve tried to play Rush know this test. Many have crashed upon the reefs of La Villa Strangiato.

For those who don’t know, it’s an incredibly intricate song. The song’s subtitle is An Exercise in Self-Indulgence. Basically, they challenged themselves to see if they could even play something like this.

But Neil is no longer there to make those time changes seem effortless. Prior to the tour, many asked if Anika Nilles had the chops for this and some of the other difficult bits that Neil created.

The answer: An overwhelming yes. Technically, I thought she was excellent. I’m not a drummer, but I have air drummed to all of these songs for decades. I know these fills. I know the beats and the strikes. They’re a part of me at this point, especially the ones from Moving Pictures and before. I didn’t notice any flubs. I did notice some stylistic changes, especially the more powerful intro to Witch Hunt, but we knew she was going to add her style into the show.

OK, I’m going to suggest something blasphemous. First, Neil is the best drummer ever. No doubt in my mind.

But…

I’m not sure Anika isn’t a better live performer, at least compared to the last few tours. The difference is joy. Anika wants to be out there with the boys. Tours took Neil away from his family and his (very) private life and he only did them out of a sense of obligation to Geddy and Alex, at least that’s the impression I’ve gotten from interviews for a long time.

This isn’t the best picture I got of her, because many are of her focused on the task, but this might be my favorite. She, Geddy, and Alex loved being out there together and it showed.

If there are new Rush albums and more Rush tours with Anika, then we’re going to be just fine.

Next was Anthem, a song from the past. Honestly, at this point, I’m catching my breath. The emotion of Bravado and Red Sector A as songs combined with the joy at seeing them nail La Villa Strangiato, well, I just grooved to Anthem. It’s a great song, and one of the highlights of All the World’s a Stage to me, but here, it was a chance to catch my breath.

Before wheeling into New World Man. Rush fans know this was a throwaway song initially. They had nigh unto four minutes on Signals of difference between the front and back sides, which would be an issue for the cassette tapes. So they wrote this song, which became Rush’s only American top 40 hit reaching 21 (Tom Sawyer got to 44).

I loved this song before I learned its history and I probably embody the line, “He’s old enough to know what’s right, but young enough not to choose it.” Ah well, I’ve always thought I was “wise enough to win the world but fool enough to lose it.”

The last song of the set is one that had to be here, The Spirit of Radio. I literally think of this song every time I go on a trip thanks to the line: “Off on your way, hit the open road.” That opening riff is still one of the most powerful ones out there, to me. It’s not metal, per se, but that’s a simple genre distinction.

And there we have it. The first set. Only half of the show!

Now, it’s not a new thing. Every tour since Test for Echo has just been them without an opening act (Trivia question: Who was the last band to open for Rush? Answer below, but here’s a hint, I love them too).

I talked on my show a week ago about how things can help us place stuff that we take for granted into context. This set is an example. We were never going to get another Rush show but we just had an hour and a half of emotion, memory, joy, and amazing skill. And we get another set!

Man, I’m so lucky I fell in love with Rush nigh unto 50 years ago.

Anyhoodle, we begin the second set with South Park. If you’ve been to a Rush show, you know the skit. If you haven’t, though, here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh_9NY56Sxw.

Tom Sawyer is, of course, the first song off Moving Pictures and this set included all of Moving Pictures in order. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen that. They did it 2010 on their Time Machine Tour, again starting the second set just like this. I saw that tour a few times, notably in this context with a friend named Ted in Chicago.

Ted’s especially notable because in 1980, he was excited about this new album coming out early in 1981. In his enthusiasm, he played me a bunch of Rush songs, and that’s when I became a fan.

Thanks, Ted!

Anyway, Tom Sawyer is what Tom Sawyer is, one of the best songs ever but just the tip of Rush’s iceberg. Every band has hit songs that shape perceptions, bringing fame but also limits. I always enjoy listening to Tom Sawyer, but I rarely start with that one anymore.

We all know what comes next, right?

Red Barchetta in all its glory! It’s strange to think that in five years the line, “My uncle preserved for me an old machine for fifty-odd years” will turn fifty itself.

By the way, check out the image. They had a neat setup here with a grill that came down during parts of the in front of the guys. You could see through the grill just fine except where they projected an image onto it like here. It was a neat addition to the show, and they used it just enough but not too much. Too much would’ve meant less interaction with fans, but special images here and there were great. Plus, they had no need of a curtain, and that made transitioning directly from the opening video to Xanadu at the start of the show seamless, as you can kinda see here.

On to YYZ. Another chance for Anika to shine, and she did. Most of you already know this, but for those who don’t, YYZ is the airport code for Pearson in Toronto and this song starts out with the Morse Code for YYZ. Neil was a creative dude, and that’s one of his more fun ones, in my mind.

I miss Toronto. I don’t have time to get up there like I once did, but I greatly enjoyed those summers. I learned Latin, drank beer, sang songs, drank beer, hit people with sticks, drank beer, and generally had a great time while drinking beer.

Now we get to Limelight. As I mentioned above, this is why Anika might be better on tour than Neil. He didn’t like fame, famously so. Had I ever met him in person, I wouldn’t have mentioned Rush at all. I’d have geeked out about Old English poetry, which I think he would’ve enjoyed.

I don’t know that he ever read Deor, though I wouldn’t be surprised, but “þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg” would’ve resonated with him, I think. It’s a man decrying all the bad things that have happened in his life and in the life of others, saying, “That was overcome, so may this.” Might be the first country song in English.

Anyway, every tour Neil gave us was a gift beyond price. Greatest drummer ever. Amazing lyricist and writer. And incredibly generous with something that cost him dearly. “We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost” was something he lived, I think.

It’s hard to not think side one of Moving Pictures isn’t one of the best album sides of all time. Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, and Limelight are all incredible songs in their own right, but put them together? Amazing.

But honestly, I like side two more. It’s stranger, deeper, darker. More insightful.

It starts with Camera Eye, which is this weird song that kinda goes all over the place both musically and lyrically. That’s how it was performed in this show, too, since they gave Loren Gold a chance to show his mettle in the introduction here.

Of note, Loren was the only one to have a proper solo, but that made sense to me. Heck, in YYZ, just one song, all three of the others have moments to shine. Those moments were there throughout the show since the Holy Triumvirate were always that, a Triumvirate.

But Loren was in a difficult spot. He was like an umpire in baseball, best if he does his job and doesn’t get noticed. I love that Geddy, Neil, and Alex for decades did everything. They put the “power” and “the trio” into power trio. The truth is, they have nothing to prove at this point and the addition of backing musicians like Loren and the amazing string ensemble in the Clockwork Angels tour kicked their shows up a notch.

And the song itself was delightful, as it was the first time I remember seeing it live back in Chicago with Ted. I especially like this song because I am a “Wide-angle watcher on life’s ancient tales, steeped in the history of London.”

They started Witch Hunt, as I mentioned before, with a different drum intro than I remember from any show. It was heavier on the bass and was one of the stylistic differences I noted. This song resonated with me when I was young, and still does.

But here we get to a huge highlight of the show. I may be weird (okay, I’m definitely weird), but my favorite song on Moving Pictures is Vital Signs. Like Subdivisions, it’s a song that gets me.

But this song is just so cool. It’s got this reggae touch combined with industrial and a hint of metal in sort of the perfect progressive rock song. Plus, this is one of Neil’s best set of lyrics. They twist and turn on each other in brilliant fashion as you can see here.

The impulse is pure –
Sometimes our circuits get shorted,
By external interference

Signals get crossed –
And the balance distorted
By internal incoherence

— Vital Signs

I often have crossed signals, in part because I’m often not sure in my brain. Balance is something I strive for and often fail to achieve.

But whatever else, this song gave me a solid part of who I am, simply by telling me that “everybody got to elevate from the norm…” I have tried to do that, too.

Whew. Moving Pictures is still one of the best albums ever. It and Led Zeppelin IV were the first two CDs I ever bought. Pretty good taste if I do say so myself.

But the emotion of that, combined with the emotions of Vital Signs made the next song tough. It was Time Stand Still, which was a great choice for the second act’s tribute to Neil.

Oddly, though, I didn’t cry this time and I think it’s because of this:

Time stand still —
I’m not looking back —
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now

— Time Stand Still

Bravado got me, got me good. I was looking back, seeing the paradise lost, the river that was too wide, the summit that was too lofty. The memories of what Neil was and how important he’d been to me, even if he had no idea I existed nor would he appreciate my appreciation of him.

But with Time Stand Still I was taking a look around me. Not looking back, but looking at what I have. I’m really lucky. I have an amazing life with a great wife, a delightful granddaughter, and a career I can be proud of. Neil helped me get to this point. I will cry about Neil again, and in fact am crying about him as I type this, but he gave me also the chance to appreciate the good things too. Experience slips away, but I see more of the people and the places that surround me now.

All the treasures
The gold and glory
It didn’t always feel that way
I don’t regret it
I never forget it
I wouldn’t trade tomorrow for today

— Headlong Flight

I have no need to trade tomorrow for today since today is pretty damn good.

Back to the show and at this point, I know we’re getting close to the end. I’d like it to go on forever, but my feet and knees were about done. I sat down for the first time during Vital Signs, though in fairness, some of that was because I decided to record that song on my phone and needed the extra stability. Sure it was because I needed the extra stability. Sure it was.

On that topic though, the recent weight loss made this show that much more fun. I can’t remember the last time I could buy a concert t-shirt at a show and fit into it, but I did this time. And, of course, I had that much more stamina to stand. Vital Signs was my only break.

Anyway, they followed Time Stand Still with Closer to the Heart. I’m gonna blaspheme again. Closer to the Heart is a great song and I love it, but honestly, it’s my least-favorite song from A Farewell to Kings. Yes, I like Madrigal more. No accounting for taste, I guess.

Some of the other set lists have the title track from that album, and I hope they’ll have it on the DVD because I love it. On the topic of the DVD, I hope they give us every song they play on all of the set lists. The show I saw was 3.5 hours long but they’re playing, at quick count, 16 other songs! They did a ridiculously long show and have another 2.5 hours worth of music they couldn’t fit in.

Is there any doubt I’d watch a single Rush concert that was 6 hours long? Shut up, knees, you can take it! But if I can’t do that at the arena, I’ll take it on a DVD.

Ooops, I got off track again. Shocking…

They didn’t play all of 2112 to close the set, but they did play the Overture, Temples of Syrinx, and The Grand Finale. That’s a pretty significant chunk in it’s own right and it’s just fun. We got to do the ancient and venerable 2112 traditions, which is a blast with thousands of people all yelling “Hey” at once.

Plus, “Attention all planets of the solar system. We have assumed control,” is one hell of a way to conclude a set, by the way.

Now we come to the encore. I guessed Working Man would be part of the encore. It’s been an encore staple for years and, honestly, it’s a great way to say goodbye. If anyone deserves to take out a nice, cold beer, it’s musicians who’ve been playing for 3.5 hours with only a hint of a break.

But I got a special treat on this show because we got By-Tor & the Snow Dog. Okay, fine, it’s a truncated version, but I love this song. Oh, sure, the backstory is whimsical (here’s a link for the full story if you don’t already know it: https://rushvault.com/2011/01/11/by-tor-and-the-snow-dog-background/), but if you think I’m going to not like a song about epic battles between mighty foes, then you’ve got another think coming!

I mean, seriously, check out this line:

The Snow Dog – ermine glowing in the dampnight
Coal black eyes, shimmering with hate

— By-Tor & the Snow Dog

How cool is that! And the Snow Dog is the good guy!

So, yeah, that was the encore song I wanted and I got it. Finding My Way seems to be the other option. It’s a great song, no doubt, but I want heroes and monsters.

And that’s the show.

I stayed until they shepherded us out, in part because I needed to sit, in part because I needed to wallow in the memories. I also took a bunch of pictures of the set in the light.

But I have one more thing to touch on. Here they are taking a bow together.

Neil never came down off his riser to take a bow. Never. Well, he did once, and Rush fans all know the day: August 1st, 2015. That was the final show of the R40 Tour. That was when we knew, absolutely knew, that the R40 tour was the final Rush tour we would ever get.

Little did we know that the boys would need to ride that “road to redemption,” in part because we never needed it from them. Neil, Geddy, and Alex gave us 40 years and we can only thank them for that.

But now there’s Anika. She will forever be a symbol of joy for me. She’s joyful in getting to do this gig, but see the joy in Ged and Alex here.

And of course, my own joy in getting to experience Rush another time, and maybe more. Who can know?

What I do know is this was one of the top three Rush shows I’ve ever seen. Somewhere, there’s a smiling man sitting here:

Oh, yeah, I promised an answer to the trivia question. I Mother Earth opened for them once on the Counterparts tour on May 7th, 1994 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Toronto band for a Toronto show, and if you haven’t listened to I Mother Earth yet, I suggest you do so. Not Quite Sonic is a hell of a song.

Whew. I’m drained. Thanks for following along as I lived it all again.

* * * * *

Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rob Howell

Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe

My Weight Today: 310.4lbs

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