Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.

For anybody who was concerned what five years away from the studio would do to Rush’s live experience- don’t worry, they are back bigger and better than they have ever been.

With a set carefully constructed around old favourites such as Circumstances and the mind-blowing Freewill to a huge chunk of the new album Snakes and Arrows Rush did not disappoint once.

After a short intro film the band were greeted enthusiastically to the stage by a capacity audience who cheered loudly as the threesome opened up with the thumping Limelight, Digital Man from the new album and the brilliant Entre Nous.

Neil Peart gave a stunning masterclass in drum solos, leaving the watching audience stunned by his precision and timing before ending the set with the classic 80’s anthem Spirit of Radio and the South Park Introduced Tom Sawyer.

Ian D. Hall