Rush
Glasgow SECC
3rd October, 2007

View: centre, middle, air-drumming

Rush were back in Glasgow after a three-year gap, and you don’t want to be late for their show. Not only is the intro video funny, but they play two sets. On stage at 7.40pm, intermission, off at 10.50pm. They opened with Limelight, which doesn’t really have the power to kick-start a show, but maybe they were playing mind games. It took until Freewill before things took off, with the trio hitting full power on the new The Main Monkey Business. It was outstanding and one of nine new tracks. The first set was a little one-paced and there were sound demons, Alex Lifeson’s guitar disappearing in the mix. The second half started with five new tracks, but then they hit their peak with a 1-2-3 hit of Subdivisions, Natural Science and Witch Hunt; simply stunning. Neil Peart played a 10-minute drum solo, which was a bit naff apart from the Buddy Rich-inspired ending. But there was an array of fire, explosions, videos and sci-fi gizmos, including a space-ship-like lighting rig and a backline of glass-fronted rotisserie ovens with rotating chickens and a roadie to baste them. It was a long night, full of peaks and troughs, but the high points were high enough to ensure that this was another good evening.

Reviewed by Stuart Hamilton
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