Rush -- live from Tampa

TAMPA -- It's 6:25 p.m. and Times pop music Sean Daly and I are here now in Tampa at the Ford Amphitheatre to cover tonight's Rush show.

We're sitting in the media VIP center in air-conditioned comfort while approximately 15,000 people roast outside in temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

We just got word that Rush will take the stage -- "promptly" -- at 7:30 and will have a 30-minute intermission between sets. That's a long night of prog-rock, fans.

6:40 P.M:
Sean's trying to figure out what Rush album has the tune "Digital Man." We've settled on "Signals," that little gem of an album that followed Moving Pictures and Exit Stage Left. We're working under the impression that the set list tonight will be similar to that of the Atlanta show, and that scares the crap out of me, because I only recognize about eight songs on the list.

7:05 P.M.:
Sean's itchy to get outside for some reason, so we're heading to our seats. If all goes according to plan, we'll be back at intermission to let you know how it's going. By the way, the opening song -- it's supposed to be Limelight. Good choice, I think. Catch you soon, Rush fans.

7:15 P.M.:
The crowd is thick around the t-shirt stand, because -- let's be honest -- you can't go to a Rush show without buying a shirt. (It's written in very small type on the back of your ticket). Sean and I decide that buying our Asia shirts earlier this week has busted our budget, so we pass on it tonight.

7:44 P.M.:
About 15 minutes late, but 15 minutes before many fans were seated, a video montage hits the screen. Rush hits the stage minutes later with -- yes -- "Limelight." They'll play "Digital Man" second. (The photo at the top of the blog is from Times staff photographer Daniel Wallace.)

8:05 P.M.
Geddy speaks! He thanks the audience for coming out again (Rush is a frequent visitor to Tampa Bay) and tells us it's only the third stop in the Snakes and Arrows tour.

8:20 P.M.
A few minutes after sneaking back to the press center to blog, I hear "Free Will" coming from the stage. Oh man, I missed a song I knew!

8:35 P.M.
I really don't want to listen to "Secret Touch" or "Circumstances" so I'm going to sit here a while long and upload more photos for you from Times photographer Daniel Wallace. Geddy looks like he's in great shape and having a fun time out there. Neil Peart, on the other hand, looks sorta like I will at 4:45 a.m. when my alarm goes off for work on Sunday.

8:50 P.M.
Back at my seat in time to enjoy "Dreamline" with Sean, who is suddenly becoming a big Rush fan. He's rocking in his seat.  He's getting ready to clap his hands. By god, he might actually stand up and cheer. And then ... intermission ... wait ... intermission? What rock bands beyond the point of bar bands have breaks between sets? Well, Rush does. And since they're probably going to play for 3-plus hours tonight, I guess I'd be a jerk to complain.

9:01 P.M.
Back in the media center, sweating like Meatloaf. Trying to decipher my notes, written on the back of ticket stubs. Sean's trying to get a jump on his review for the paper tomorrow. First-half highlight that I missed: Bob and Doug McKenzie doing a video intro for "The Larger Bowl."

Does anyone know why Alex Lifeson is playing in front of an audience of Barbie dolls?

9:20 P.M.
After about a half hour break, Rush hits the stage with "Far Cry" -- their first single from the new CD. Great song live. I'm sitting there, just drinking it in when suddenly some stage pyrotechnics nearly require Sean to call the doctor.

9:55 P.M.
I'm falling asleep when suddenly I hear the magical beginning notes of "Subdivision."  Hard to believe the last time I heard this song live, it hadn't even been released yet. The crowd leaps to their feet and grown men hug each other and slap high-fives. It's like being in the stands of a Buccaneers game -- only with the home team actually winning.

10:05 P.M.
Taking a break to blog, I hear "Natural Science" playing from the stage. (Good timing on my part.) But the staff here in the media center says Neil's drum solo is coming up, so I'm heading back to my seat. Stay tuned.

10:10 P.M.
Few things in life as beautiful as a Neil Peart drum solo. Kissing a supermodel. Diving the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Watching Sean Daly make a deadline.

10:29 P.M.
Let me add one thing to that previous list: Seeing "Spirit of The Radio" performed live. As soon as Lifeson struck the first keys, the audience exploded. Easily one of rock music's most signature pieces. I stand up immediately and do my funky "I'm 39 and can't dance" jig. I'm not at all embarrassed. (But I'm glad no one here knows me just the same.) But I feel better when I see "South Park" introduce "Tom Sawyer". I embrace my dorkiness.

10:45 P.M.
We hear the punching notes of "Passage to Bangkok" playing as an encore while Sean types away at his review for Sunday's paper.

We wrestle over the best song of the night: Sean says it's "Dreamline."... I'm leaning toward "Subdivisions." We don't debate the most sublime moment of the evening: Watching a forty-something hottie dance away to a drum solo. TO A DRUM SOLO!

Only at a Rush concert, my friends. Only at a Rush concert.

Comments

[Former Producer Dave]

Excellent work, you two. You guys rock!

[Chris C]

GREAT SHOW......! what great musicians they are.! thanks for putting up some cool pics, I couldnt see the barbies from up in the grass seats.

[Matt]

Lame review. Dumb jokes, bad observations. the new songs totally kill live.

[Issac Hayes]

Loved the South Park intro to Tom Sawyer!! I would have liked to hear more old material but the new songs were great.

[JCfromGA]

The Barbie doll "fans" are another Rush spoof on a complaint of their numerous (and committed) detractors - that chicks don't go to or otherwise "dig" Rush concerts. Well, by God, if it's good enough for Barbie, it's good enough for me.

[Todd]

My favorite of the night was Natural Science. They totally rocked out on that one. I agree with Matt the new songs were incredible live.

[chase]

Whoa, did "Matt" get a bad weiner at the hot dog stand or something? Cranky!

Great job fellahs, waiting for Ma Times to realize the blogs are the best part of the paper ...

(speaking of which, I did my own music show entry at dirty thoughts, it's like yours except it features bands whose members weren't born when Rush was last on MTV!)

[Spears]

For what it's worth, Rush does play their newer sounds with a little more gusto. But I'm sure that's a result of having played Spirit of Radio and Tom Sawyer close to 100,000 times.

[Mike]

It is strange this guy seems to not want to hear all of the songs I do.
What DOES he like from them? LOL.

[Cuda420]

I was personally impressed by their performance of The Way the Wind Blows. I usually prefer their older stuff, but that song is awesome and they did a great job of bringing it out on stage.

[Chris]

New tunes rock... old tunes rock... Rush simply rocked!

[Kevin F]

Thanx for the RUSH blog and the great review. I've seen them 6 times, but not in the last 10 years. They were very tight, playing old and new with equal energy, which hasn't always been the case. I thought Neil was going to bash the drums into the ground during "Mission". Wow!! Almost as impressive as the solo. Steve, that "death warmed over" look of Neil's is actually his intense concentration to play perfectly. I hope he's having SOME fun up there! I know we did!! And I LOVE hearing different stuff live. I tire of the "hits". I got my "mandatory" shirt and program during "Spirit of Radio" and "Tom Sawyer". Oh, and the Barbies and Mr. Potatohead...welcome to the RUSH sense of humor...and welcome, Mr. Daly, to the RUSH fan club.

[Sandy Pee]

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=151096

[newrushfan]

I went to this concert because my husband and son wanted to go...I am glad I did...they were incredible!!!! Right up there with Pink Floyd. Hope I get to see them in a couple years!

[Spears]

Thanks for the comments, gang. We've recorded a "Stuck in the 80s" podcast about the concert and your comments. It will go online in a couple weeks. So check back for that.

We're going to try to do the same thing during the Foreigner/Styx/Def Leppard show in August. Maybe we'll record the podcast live from the meet-and-greets with the bands too. Who knows.

[Isorski]

Funny play by play! It's also nice to read stuff from folks who are not die hard fans who know every song (like me). Gives it a whole new perspective. I caught the band last night in Portland and posted a review at http://isorski.blogspot.com/. Enjoy!

[josh]

i dislike this alot. probably the thing that angers me most is that you only seem to really enjoy their most synthesized music, sure its good, but saying dreamline or subdivisions was performed better than tom sawyer or most other songs? i was at this show and it disapoints me to see that you didnt want to hear natural science or secret touch- secret touch is an amazing song live. dumb.

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[Eric]

Dude, you have kinda crappy taste in RUSH songs. I mean, there ISN'T a bad RUSH song, but you're missing the BEST ones!