A Few Words About RUSH

Tomorrow night, I plan to see Rush perform at Red Rocks. This event has huge significance to me. It is the light at the end of the tunnel for a crazy, stressful summer. Seeing Rush live has been the focal point in a way, the one big thing I have had to look forward to. Clearly, this is not just a concert for me. This is bigger than that. But I don't think most people would get that, unless they get Rush. A lot of people do get Rush, but a lot more people would dismiss them as a cheesy, nerdy, old band from the 70's.

And they would be wrong.

Rush, in my view, is one of the five greatest touring bands still active today. They represent the pinnacle of musicianship. Geddy Lee is renowned as one of the best bass players ever. Not to mention the fact that he often plays keyboards and bass at the same time. And he sings all the songs. Neil Peart is often called THE best drummer ever. Watch one of his solos on Youtube, and you may agree. And he writes all the lyrics. And Alex Lifeson, well, he's pretty amazing too, especially when you consider all the different styles of guitar playing he has incorporated into the music for all these years. Most guitarists are known for certain qualities they bring to their playing, but I think Lifeson is known for bringing a little bit of everything to his playing. And for the huge sound they produce, it's noteworthy that there are only three guys in the band.

Rush IS a nerdy band, and that is part of the appeal. They aspired to do something different with their lyrics and themes. Instead of writing songs about love and relationships, like everybody else (excluding a lot of metal bands), they were more ambitious. A song like "Limelight" is a good example. What other song manages to be so upbeat and catchy, a huge hit for them, while the lyrics confess the performer's discomfort with his own fame, and how strange it is to be beloved by so many people?

Another impressive aspect of Rush is the way they evolved over the years. They started off as a heavy metal band, more or less, than became known as a progressive hard rock band, with their fare share of 10-minute plus songs, then they went with more concise arrangements and incorporated elements of new wave and even reggae, then they fully embraced keyboards and electronic music in the 80's (which was not without controversy), then they blended in elements of grunge and alternative in the 90's, and now, now they just sound like...Rush. They never cared what people thought of what they were doing, and it seems that if they liked some new musical trend that came along they just found a way to work it into their own music, thus keeping them current and relevant.

The funny thing is, I used to hate Rush. I would hear their songs on the radio, and while I liked the music, once Geddy Lee started singing, I couldn't stand it. And his voice is an acquired taste...how can any man sing that high? But eventually I learned to accept and appreciate his voice...he sings with so much heart and passion that it's hard to deny him his unique vocal style. Now his voice makes total sense to me. Rush would not sound good with anybody else singing Neil Peart's lyrics.

But I suppose the main reason I like Rush is because they make me feel happy. There's a positivity to their music that I can't explain. They are just one of those bands that make me feel better when I listen to them. That's a good enough reason to like a band, I suppose. Music is not a passive thing for me. It's my fuel. It's what keeps me going. And Rush is one of my staples, one of those bands that will probably always be a favorite. So seeing one of your absolute favorite bands in person is exciting. These guys who happened to write all these songs that mean a lot to me and so many others will ACTUALLY BE THERE IN PERSON PLAYING THE SONGS LIVE. I have seen Rush once before, and it was one of those experiences where it was not just a band I saw, it was an important band, a legendary band.

So, that's pretty much why I like Rush.