Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. May 25th 2011.
Possibly Canada’s greatest export outside of tourist images of Niagara Falls, the seminal and influential progressive rock band Rush, arrived on British soil after a four year wait. Thrilling fans in Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and all points in between, Rush finally arrived at the o2 Arena, London and continued the good work that has seen them rightly praised by critics and fans alike.
Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart have been one of the most consistent members of the Rock community since they burst onto the scenes nearly 40 years ago, the strong work ethic that carried them forward through albums such as the 1980’s release Moving Pictures and onto the tour de force release of 2007’s Snakes and Arrows was still in evidence as the band opened with a short film showing an alternative version of the history of Rush as a small Oompah band from Willowdale.
The first driven note of the classic The Spirit of Radio boomed around the arena and from that point, the crowd were treated to wonderful, cleverly shot images, pyrotechnics, and a healthy dollop of music that shook the audience out of its midweek funk and leave them speechless and overjoyed at the spectacle that they were there to witness.
The first set also consisted of the superb Workin’ the Angels, a treat in the form of Brought up to Believe which is a new track from the forth coming album Clockwork Angels and the subtle Freewill.
The second half of the evening was a celebration, an atmospheric trip back to the heady days of Moving Pictures which opened with the political and inspiring Tom Sawyer and the beautifully played Red Barchetta. The instrumental classic YYZ nearly brought the house down and the inward looking and critical part of the album The Camera Eye adding a brutal edge to the evening that only enhanced the pleasure of the overall experience.
All gigs must end, however with Rush, the finale that the band aims for at every concert builds up as the physical ability of the three men on stage and the expectation of the crowd increases joins forces to become a volcanic display, an eruption of pure and unadulterated outpouring of genuine brilliance. This night was no exception as they performed tracks as musically articulate as Closer to the Heart, the instrumental La Villa Strangiato and an interesting version of Working Man.
Alongside Roger Waters visionary epic The Wall being played the week before at the venue, this will surely go down as one of the major highlights of the rock world this year. An absolute pleasure to welcome the Canadian trio back and it can only be hoped that Rush don’t leave it so long before coming back and thrilling their legion of fans once more.
4 and half stars
Ian D. Hall