Don't think I will catch the tour this time ..can't seem to find a date that fits my schedule ..


I have seen them live 52 times though .. so I might catch a show at some point, just because.

I have seen them live in four different decades .. I guess that makes me old.

 

For you serious Rush fans, I've got to tell you about an exclusive Canadian production called

:"The Trailer Park Boys"

It started off about 6 years ago by a few nobodys in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The show is about these 2 dimwits "Ricky & Julian" who are always getting in trouble because they try one scheme after another to try to get rich.

So they always get busted and keep going to jail for various reasons (growing pot, break and enters, stealing BBq's) you name it.

Anyway, when I first started watching it, I thought "This is fkin stupid" so then I watched a few more episodes and I was hooked.

If any of you guys subscribe to BBC on the dish, I think you can pick it up on that.

The episode that hooked me was called "Closer to the Heart"

It turns out Rush is a big fan of the TPB, and Alex Leifson agreed to play himself in one of the episodes.

Ricky & Julian's friend, "Bubbles", ask them to pick them up Rush tickets for the Metro Centre (Bubbles is a huge fan)
As is typical fashion, the boys mess it up, Bubbles is broken hearted, so Ricky decides to kidnap Alex and bring him to the trailer park to perform for Bubbles in person.

So there's Ricky, kidnapping Alex from his swanky hotel room, forces him into the trailer, and shoves a guitar in his hand and says "play that song you guys do, "I Like to Rock"

Of course that's an April Wine song, anyway, it's one of the funniest episodes of anything I've ever seen in my entire life.

TPB is such a huge series in Canada now, they even released a full feature film this summer. Alex plays a cameo in the movie as well.
I would never have noticed him because he's in a disguise, but his voice gave it away.

What makes the show such a hit is the viewpoint it is shot from.

Think of Cops, but only from the criminals point of view.

 

No. A prog rock band. They lyrics are just very deep (like prog rock of the past: Rush, Yes, etc)

 

They have their 9th studio album out June 5th.

The reason why is that they dont have radio airplay. 8 minute songs kind of keep that from happening.

You should do yourself a favor and look at the most recent albums from them:

Octavarium
Train of Thought (you already have)
6 Degrees
Scenes from a Memory


After listening to that, you will thrwo away your Rush tix and buy DT tix (they should be in Texas this Fall)

 

We're going to see them in Va Beach on June 22nd. I saw the Moving Pictures tour in '80 or '81, and that was the last time I've seen them.

We have a couple friends that have seen them in the last few years, and all said they still put on a really good live show. The last couple trips here they had no "warm up" band and played 2 1/2, 3 hours. From what I've heard they play a lot of the classics us old farts like too.

Rush put some of the new stuff out on freebie video, and they weren't bad. Not like the old ones, but much better than the period when they got a little too modern/new age for a while.

 

Rush was the first concert I ever attended without parents. I find it strange to think that I am going to see them next month in Atlanta...and now have to get a sitter for my Son!!!! I feel a bit like the parents from Still Standing.

 

I honestly, truly hate like hell to admit this.. but here goes.. sigh..

The first concert I ever went to was The Captain & Tenielle.. I was 12 years old and took my first girlfriend.. how cute.. tho I did get a nice kiss or two at her doorstep once my Mom drove us back home.. LOL...

The first one that counts was Yes in like.. 79?.. their first tour with that guy from Buggles instead of Jon Anderson.. tho I have seen Yes twice since then with the original guys (thank God!)..

And just to add this completely irrelevant thing.. when I saw the Rush In Rio DVD I was SHOCKED!! SHOCKED I tell you, to see that the guys had grown older and.. well, heavier?.. all I mean is that I always, always picture Alex, Geddy and Neil in my mind as the skinny guys from 2112.. They still sound the same, better than ever even. But come on, I expected mullets and mustaches.. LOL..
82 days and counting.. I can't wait!!!

 

Since we're going down memory lane a bit...
I saw April Wine (Nature of the Beast Tour) in 1981, I still have the ticket stub $11.50.
That was a huge amount of cash for a 15 year old.
Back then they were Gods, larger than life.

On April 1st, they played at a local pool hall called RAXX.
$35 a ticket, and they played for an hour. The show didnt have quite the 'awe inspiring affect on me like it did in 81.

My most memorable concert was seeing Ozzie doing the "Crazy Train" album with Randy Rhoads on guitar (he died not long after in a plane crash, so being able to see him live was a thrill.

I've got a feeling I won't be seeing Rush at a local pool hall 10 years from now