Concert Review: Air Canada Centre, Toronto - Sept 19, 2007

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Concert Review: Air Canada Centre, Toronto - Sept 19, 2007

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Air Canada Centre, Toronto - September 19, 2007
By <a href="mailto:jane.stevenson@tor.sunpub.com">Jane Stevenson</a> - Sun Media
Original Article - <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/Rus ... 6-sun.html" target="_new">Click Here</a>
Posted From - <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/" target="_new">JAM! Music<a>

TORONTO -- Fans of Canadian prog-rock legends Rush got their money's worth, and them some, as the band arrived on friendly turf last night to kick off the first of two sold-out dates at the Air Canada Centre with a marathon show.

The homecoming gigs of Toronto singer-bassist-keyboardist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart are always special events for their audiences who have, for the most part, remained fiercely loyal for the past 30-plus years.

It helps that Snakes & Arrows, the latest studio effort from Rush released earlier this year, is one of their more vibrant sounding records and was well represented last night by over a half-dozen songs, including the instrumental The Main Monkey Business (nicely complimented by some black-and-white footage of said animals doing everything from using a hula hoop to shaving a human) and The Larger Bowl with an filmed introduction provided by Canadian hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie.

The three accomplished musicians were also thoroughly warmed-up, having been on the road since mid-June when they launched their tour in Atlanta.

"So nice to see you guys in our hometown," Lee said. "We've got a lot of music."

No kidding.

The lengthy evening, which eventually clocked in at well over three hours including a 30-minute intermission, began with a new film that reflected their love for both animation and hammy acting.

And even though the opening guitar chords of the band's classic Limelight heralded a promising set list, for every major hit they played -- Free Will, Subdivisions, a cover of Summertime Blues, The Spirit of Radio and Tom Sawyer, there were patience-testing rarities such as Circumstances.

Now all in their mid-50s, the musicians of Rush don't appear to be resting on their laurels.

Lee, in particular, was an enthusiastic performer, jumping around the stage even if the audience in the stands stayed rooted to its seats until the very end of the night while those on the floor stood for the duration.

Otherwise, Rush's stripped-down stage had great sightlines with the lighting and sound rigs high above the band while a large video screen showed three-way split-screen images.

Bells and whistles included a blue-and-red-lit rig that impressively lowered space-ship-like during Between The Wheels, green laser lights that kicked Dreamline up a notch, exploding fireworks that literally commanded attention for the new song Far Cry, and fire bursts during Witch Hunt.

The group's sense of humour also was on full display.

Having toured in the past with both clothes dryers and vending machines on stage, this time out it's three glass-enclosed rotating chicken roasters with the word "henhouse," on each. (A woman dressed in a white apron, tight jeans and high heels even came out to baste the chickens during The Spirit Of Radio.)

Meanwhile, the animated boys of South Park, called Li'l Rush in a filmed segment, introduced Tom Sawyer and rows of tiny dinosaurs lined the tops of speakers to the left of Peart's enormous rotating drum kit, which was painted blood red and had the Snakes & Arrows symbol everywhere.

And yes, eventually there was a fierce, sometimes funny, drum solo performed by Peart toward the end of MalNar that simply defied description.

Lee even brought out his digital movie camera at one point and instructed the crowd to scream in unison: "Take off, eh?" while he filmed them. When they co-operated enthusiastically, he responded: "That's beauty, Way to go, eh?"

Rush plays Ottawa tomorrow night before returning for a second Toronto date at the ACC Saturday night.
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Middle Kingdom
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Post by Middle Kingdom »

I suppose saying 'Hi Canada'
wouldn't be effective in Toronto eh?
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Post by Kares4Rush »

GREAT STUFF!!! :-D :-D
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Post by Wendy »

Can't wait to see that footage of the "take off eh!"
Wonder if it may be on future S&A concert DVD.
I heard a rumor there going to film in Rotterdam.
Just a rumor, any truth to this, we'll wait and see.

Rooted fans? They are not plants, they are just mellow in TO.
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Post by Kares4Rush »

^^^ :-D
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Post by Walkinghairball »

Wendy wrote:Rooted fans? They are not plants, they are just mellow in TO.

Good thing they are not in Australia. Rooted means something COMPLETELY different there. :twisted:
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Post by awip2062 »

Wendy wrote:Can't wait to see that footage of the "take off eh!"
Wonder if it may be on future S&A concert DVD.
I heard a rumor there going to film in Rotterdam.
Just a rumor, any truth to this, we'll wait and see.
I think two of our less frequent posters are going to the show in Rotterdam. If there is a film, they should be able to tell us all about it! :D
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Post by Wendy »

Walkinghairball wrote:
Wendy wrote:Rooted fans? They are not plants, they are just mellow in TO.

Good thing they are not in Australia. Rooted means something COMPLETELY different there. :twisted:
Rooted? What does it mean down under?
Under. there's that word again. :shock:
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Post by Walkinghairball »

Wendy wrote:
Walkinghairball wrote:
Wendy wrote:Rooted fans? They are not plants, they are just mellow in TO.

Good thing they are not in Australia. Rooted means something COMPLETELY different there. :twisted:
Rooted? What does it mean down under?
Under. there's that word again. :shock:
Uh.................................... it's adult type stuff. It is the "Horizontal mambo" thing.
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Post by awip2062 »

*covers eyes and ears*

La, la, la, la, la

I'm too young to hear or read of such.



*wink*
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Post by Walkinghairball »

*Snarf*
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Post by Wendy »

That's a tad crude "rooted".
So like the guys say, yare mate, i got meself rooted last eve.
:lol: :evil: :lol:
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Post by Big Blue Owl »

Wendy wrote:Rooted? What does it mean down under?
Under. there's that word again. :shock:
Heheh...Rooted down under :-D
So like the guys say, yare mate, i got meself rooted last eve.
This is from the Australian Slang Dictionary:

Root (verb and noun) : synonym for f*ck in nearly all its senses: "I feel rooted"; "this washing machine is rooted"; "(s)he's a good root". A very useful word in fairly polite company.
Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
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Post by Kares4Rush »

Do you think the word "root" comes from the term "rut"? :shock:
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Post by awip2062 »

My understanding is that "root" comes from "rod". If it were from rut, though, the Aussie slang would be most understandable.
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