Rush!

[bigredbass]

While RUSH is not exactly my cup of tea, I have huge respect for Geddy Lee.  It's tough enough playing bass, hearing guys like Stanley, Vic Wooten, et al, but then Geddy plays the amazingly contrapuntal lines AND kicks Moog pedals AND sings at the same time . . . geez, I should just get a Fender Mustang and stay in my room . . . .
 
J o e y

[palembic]

Brother Joey,
 
I think Brother Paul the Good one has a Fender Mustang lingering on somewhere.
Now ...who has a room???
 
Paul TBO

[David Houck]

I have a question.  When a big name band, like Rush for instance, plays at a venue and the venue supplies the sound system, does the band get to use their own soundman?

[trekster]

RogerVT -- I generally agree with your opinions, but keep in mind some of the best tone that Geddy had was during the Moving Pictures album..most people think he's playing the Ric, but in reality he's playing the Jazz (especially for Tom Sawyer and Limelight).  I'm not sure that the blame lies in the Jazz itself, but the amp chain as well -- these days Ged does the sansamp chain, and doesn't even have any speakers on stage anymore.  I personally loved the Wal sound, but I think that has to do more with my love for the orchesteral period Rush went through from about Power Windows to Roll the Bones -- I know many Rush fans got thier noses bent (oh, bad pun) during that period.
 
--T

[kmh364]

By going the DI route, Geddy has put his tone in the hands of the soundman. IMHO, the mix is horrible: too loud, too muddy. Rush is musically in fine form, but the sound production kills any semblance of tone. I guess that's what the multitude of fans out there wants: to have their ears bleed from the high SPL.

[kenbass4]

Actually, Trekster, you're half right. He played the Jazz on Limelight, but the Ric on Tom Sawyer while recording. The videos for those songs were filmed during the recording sessions. And I actually liked the Wal period sound as well...
 
All IMHO, of course...
 
Ken TEO

[jacko]

I'll be seeing them in Glasgow tonight. Can't wait. Will let you know how it sounded tomorrow.
 
graeme

[trekster]

Hey Kenbass, I know the videos you are talking about -- however, I was basing my comment on what Ged has said in previous interviews.  He's done that recorded it with one bass, video'd it with another several times -- Mystic Rhythms wasn't the Steinberger, and Show don't Tell wasn't the Jazz.  Both were the Wal in the recording studio.  I'll have to dig up the interview somewhere for quoting purposes.  
 
--T

[kenbass4]

It may have even been BOTH on some of the songs on MP (Geddy typically has 3 bass tracks/song, each with different tone settings/processing). Yeah, with most of their videos, there definately posed for imagery, but those two videos from MP were way too unflattering (:-) ) visually to be posed...although his final track on Tom Sawyer may have been re-tracked with the Jazz. I think the only album (CD) that was tracked with the Steinberger was Grace Under Pressure, since he started using the Wal at Power Windows. He used the Steinberger on stage on that tour, though. (probably due to weight and clearance issues with his keyboard rig) Too bad he can't be convinced to use an Alembic, but I think his Fender deal probably prohibits that.
 
Have a blast at the show tonight, Graeme. They're a lot of fun live.
 
Ken TEO

[jacko]

Well that's another Rush gig over with, hope I don't have to wait another 12 years to see them again. Taken as a whole, the show was absolutely fantastic but individual aspects could have been better. For starters, they were way too loud (and this isn't just an old curmudgeon talking). In the mix, only the vocals and alex' solos came through clearly, Geddy's bass sound was very muddy, probably as a result of going through the sansamp although I've never found fenders to be the clearest basses - probably why i've got ricky electrics on my precision. The hall at Glasgows SECC is pretty poor for acoustics anyway as it's just a vast empty space - the Yes sound in June wasn't much better. I was sitting right at the back centre stage so probably had the best sound in the hall and also, paradoxically the best view. The light show was superb and from my seat (standing al night though) I had a good view of the mixing desk/lighting boeard. Those guys have their work cut out for them! the lighting guys almost needed to be maestro keyboard player in their own right as very little of the show was computerised - all the spots, lasers etc being switched on and off manually. There was a good balance between close up shots of the band and animated graphics on the back screen which incidentally was very clever, having a main central screen and then several vertical panels off to the sides which seemed to be projected seperately. As a crowd, Glasgow is always brilliant, almost rivalling the Rio crowd for enthusiasm although it didn't detract from the music. The only gripes were the number of people smoking - in a non-smoking auditorium! and the number of people phoning each other! to find out the football scores - celtic were playing barcelona apparently. From my vantage point the funniest thing was instead of loads of zippos being held aloft, it was mobile phones taking pictures glowing in the dark. Geddy played 3 Jazz basses, the black one, a sunburst and a bright red one which I suspect was probably active as he got the best tone for that but only used it on one song. This post is now far too long but as I said the show was amazing.  

[jacko]

oops, forgot to say, during alex' solo during 2112, neil peart was almost seen smiling!!!!