I recently went to see Rush (yes, they're still alive) on their R40 tour in Chicago. I went with one of my sons and a friend of his. The three of us had a great time, saw a fantastic show, and basked in the warm glow of three old timers who played hard late into the night. Whether or not you like them, (some say Geddy's voice has been known to peel eyelids at 1,000 feet), I think you have to respect any band who plays together for 40 years and can still crank out a 3+ hour show on the road. 
 
Neil played two drum solos (a mini-solo in the first half and a killer long solo in the 2nd half). I know his carcass has taken a beating over the years, but he played with precision and just blew us away. Alex looked at times like he was looking for a recliner on stage, but his guitars sounded amazing. Geddy seems the same, of course, since he's not human. His voice actually sounded better than I've heard him in the last decade. I know, that may not be setting the bar very high.
 
They've said that this might be their last major tour, so I wanted to make sure I caught them one more time. My son and his friend said it was the best gig they'd ever seen and might just be the best one ever. It was great watching their jaws drop throughout the show. There's nothing like sharing a rock legacy with your kids. 

My wife, daughter and I saw them in Tulsa on May 8th. They were fantastic as always. I hope this isn't the end for a band that is still getting better IMHO.

I saw then on their R30 tour... Wow! How time flies 
 
I also saw them a couple of years ago... Must have been  their Clockwork Angels tour.
 
The first time I saw them was on their Moving Pictures tour, by which time I was well into them.
 
They always put on a great show 
 
Has anyone read Neil's book? Sad that...

synkrotron
I saw then on their R30 tour... Wow! How time flies 
I also saw them a couple of years ago... Must have been  their Clockwork Angels tour.
The first time I saw them was on their Moving Pictures tour, by which time I was well into them.

Sounds like you were at every gig I was at...
 
 
 
Are you stalking me?

I got a Rush just seeing Bubba post.

The only time I've seen Rush was in 1978.... The "A Farewell to Kings" tour.
I love what they do, and I admire them greatly for doing it their way for their entire career.

Rush is a rush alright.
 
Good to hear they are still giving it a go.
 
 

codamedia
The only time I've seen Rush was in 1978.... The "A Farewell to Kings" tour.
I love what they do, and I admire them greatly for doing it their way for their entire career.

Ah, the wayback machine is in full gear. I've been a Rush fanatic since Working Man. Never got to see John Rutsey drum for them, but did see Fly By Night in a suburban club (B'ginnings in Schaumburg, IL). Drove down from Madison, WI for that show.
 
I envy those whose partners/wives/kids enjoy Rush. I had to go alone...but go, I did!
 
Was anyone else here a member of the National Midnight Star list-srv from 15 years ago (rush [at] syrinx [dot] umd [dot] edu)? I still have a t-shirt the group put together.
 
"One likes to believe in the freedom of Email!"
 
The only sadness with Rush was Neil losing his wife to cancer and his only child (daughter) in a car accident in the same year. A lot of us thought that was the end for them. Am I glad we were wrong!
 
One other thing.
 
Vapor Trails Remixed
 
If you don't own this CD, you should. It's a revelation! They flat out admitted that the original release sucked (mental state of the boys at the time), and totally remixed it.
 
If I ever need a lesson in mixing humility, listen to the original and then listen to the remix. Hard to believe it's the same source material.
 
Keep on rocking in the free world!
 
P.S. @codamedia
 
You made into the playoffs and we didn't, so props on that. I'm happy to let you guys have the True North White Out. The White Out just isn't right for the desert.
 
Go Jets the 1st! I mean Go Yotes!

Karyn
Are you stalking me?

I will deny that, of course 
 

TheMaartian
The only sadness with Rush was Neil losing his wife to cancer and his only child (daughter) in a car accident in the same year. A lot of us thought that was the end for them. Am I glad we were wrong!

 
Yeah, that's what Neil's book is about... His daughter, Selena, died in a car crash and his wife, Jacqueline, passed within a year of that. I got the impression that Neil thought that his wife's condition was in part due to losing her daughter.
 
Ghost Rider is an interesting read, at least for me, not just because it follows Neil's recovery to the point of getting back with the band, but also because he is a motorcyclist, and it charts his travels across Canada and the USA.
 
Vapour Trails remixed? I must check that out...
 

To me, one of the fun elements of a Rush show is seeing the band make fun of themselves. So many other rock bands take themselves so seriously, posing, strutting, and preening like feral dachshunds with a severe Napoleon complex. In the behind the scenes footage on Rush in Rio, Geddy remarked, “Look, we’re just musicians. It’s not exactly a noble endeavor.” Throughout the show, they poke fun at themselves, their personas, and past hair, clothing, and mustache styles. Rather than play in front of a fake wall of amps, they'll play in front of a chicken rotisserie, vending machines, or washers/dryers. This is not like watching three self-obsessed prima donnas fight over the spotlight. It's just three guys who get out there and do what they were born to do. We are included. We get the "in" jokes. We are honored and privileged, amazed and entertained, desperately trying to memorize the entire night. A Rush show is a unique event and is more than just a concert. Trying to explain it to someone afterwards feels incredibly inadequate.
 
Many years ago, someone I knew gave me an excellent description of a Rush show. "You walk into this stadium and three guys come out. They just stand there. They don't dance around or jump all over the stage. They just stand there and make more music than you've ever heard in your life." I've never heard a better summary.