40 years, and still holding strong, I like to think that Rush has another 40 still in them after all this time. What I like to call the Canadian musketeers, this trio hailing from Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada conducted their 40th anniversary tour showcasing their legacy as Rock N Roll hall of famer’s.
While attending Rush’s New York showing at Madison Square Garden, I must admit that Rush was one of the few bands where I felt you simply liked or dislike their work. Probably one of the few bands on my list that does not have a shade of gray, but instead compares to type of substance that becomes an acquired taste over the years. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but instead Rush is a band that merely grows on you over the years based on their current sound. Staring in1968, lead singer Geddy Lee known for his high pitched vocals, and having a multitude skill set of playing bass, key board, and singing simultaneously during the classic 1981 song “Tom Sawyer”, showed us an innovation like no other. Collaborating with co-founder, guitarist, and officer if the order of Canada , Alex Lifeson played like no other. Of course, the trio cannot come full circle, without drummer Beal Peart who is known for reversing stick orientation for greater impact and increased rimshot capacity. Taking nothing away from original members John Rutsey, and Jeff Jones, there is this nostalgia from Rush that produces an amalgamation of old school progressive rock, with reggae and pop rock that gives us a sound of evolutionary wonder. Sure, Rush does not have the theatrical element of Alice Cooper, or the “American bad-ass” image of Motley crew, but they immerse themselves with a sound that touches the soul. And after 40 years of harmonizing the pop-rock movement, they are the one band that differentiates themselves by not spreading rumors of “final tours” or reunions. Instead, Rush utilized anniversaries as a conduit to further strengthen their hold on the rock N roll world. And after being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 1994, and being part of the Rock N Roll Hall of fame in 2013, what keeps Rush so motivated? To me, music is like a martial art. Constant repetition of traditional steps, can paradoxically evolve the method into something larger than life. And that is the adrenaline “Rush” that keeps these members rocking…..
By:Adam Vega
