The Boston Globe printed an interesting article about the Rush show that took place at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts a few nights ago. Among the things I found most interesting were:

Rush seemed to put more emphasis on their old stuff rather then pushing the material from their new album too hard. I guess when you think about it, a lot of Rush fans are — like me — older folks who remember when Hemispheres or Permanent Waves first came out and love hearing some of the older stuff.

Among some of the older tunes the trio performed: Dreamline, Mission (now that one I find surprising), Between the Wheels and Witch Hunt, which is one I would like to see, since I have my own ideas about how that would would be presented live and in person.

In the trivia department, it appears the clothes dryers spinning on stage have been replaced by chickens roasting on rotisseries, complete with “chef” on staff that appeared on stage to baste the birds during the show. I can’t wait to hear about the symbolism regarding that one.

The Globe writer did not seemed particularly impressed with the way the band performed every song just as it can he heard on the album. I, for one, would really appreciate that.

I guess for a lot of folks attending a concert are there for the whole “showmanship” aspect of it. Flashing lights, video screens and maybe even some lasers and well-controlled pyrotechnics to boot.

Maybe I am just an old fart — and have been an old fart long before my gray hairs betrayed that truth — but if I am at a concert I am there for the music, and since I can get pretty damn good sound here at home, I rarely venture out to live shows any more. I’m just not as tolerant of the screaming, packed-in-like-sardines crowd scene as I once was.

To expand a bit more on the issue of live performances that mirror the original recording, I have yet to see a live show where a lot of improvisation has added much value to a well-worn favorite song. I’m just happier hearing it the way it is “supposed to” sound.

At the same time, I realize that everyone at a concert maybe there for slightly different reasons beyond the affinity for a particular band and as the old saying goes: “You can please some of the people all of the time, and you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”