@gritter2112 agreed... it is literally the bomb as far as live performances go. This is one of if not the most epic live performances in the history of mankind....
They never used backing tracks at any point in their career as far as I know. They used samples later on but those were all triggered by someone on stage.
Well, not a backing track per se but they did play with a string ensemble backing them on the Clockwork Angels tour. All the same your point is generally valid.
The song changed from The Trees to Xanadu around the time you hear Neil talk about 'what if'. They have been dubbed, many times, the 'world's smallest symphony orchestra'. You have just seen why....
The performance of Xanadu is one of the most amazing performances by three guys ever. The multi-tasking they do to pull this off is incredible. One thing they don’t show well is while Geddy is playing bass (and singing) he is often playing synths with his feet. He has as set of Moog Taurus pedals which are essentially like organ pedals. He doing this at 21:25 in your vid - you can see him looking down. And Neil, well he’s a one-man orchestral percussion section. I don’t know if you caught it, but during that keyboard interlude you liked, Neil is doubling it on a glockenspiel. They are still to this day the live band Ive ever heard. Cheers!
As is Alex ... every time (unless he's changing guitar effect) he wanders back to his 'station' he's got a Taurus pedal to play (and he's playing them while doing his reverse "sweet child of mine" riff)
This sound completely live made by three guys with nothing behind them... just them. I saw them live on this tour in 7 or 8 more times throughout the 80s and 90s and then again in 2015 and they're just unbelievable
Not bad at all for a 3 man band. All so very very talented. Our Canadian icons who we are so proud of. Hit the subscribe and liked :) Loved your take on this ....
FANTASIC! The song "XANADU" was inspired by the poem "Kubla Khan", written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797, but not published until 1816. Coleridge believed that much of the poem came to him in a dream while he was under the influence of an opioid (laudanum). Truth really is stranger than fiction!😄
Hello friend! First time checking your channel out, love your reaction and vibe. This really takes me back, I saw this tour and was just blown away. I was 15 at the time and it was just stunning to see up close. Thanks for taking me back, you know like a time machine. Keep up the good work, cheers!
Thank you for including The Trees in this montage. Almost no reactors do that. There actually is a short little guitar instrumental before The Trees, called "Broon's Bane" which makes the trifecta medley. But I'll pick up what you are putting down!
You know you said...."wow" pause "wow" pause "wow" Love your show, keep in going. ----from Toronto, my first Rush Tour Signals '82 concert, and then every tour.
Hi! I subscribed to you bc of you & that you found RUSH! YOU'LL LIVE 'EM BEFORE YOU'RE OLD 😊 WOW RUSH! This might get long.... I've seen them only 5 times in my life...(I'm 57) Alex Lifeson (lead guitarist and anything strings, he changed his name bc he's from Ukraine...hard to pronounce) & Geddy Lee (folks were holocaust...) These guys were 15 or 16, class mates when they started playing at high schools and events around Toronto, age appropriate. They had a different drummer (name escapes me). Neil Peart joined few years latter. He wrote lyrics & melodies with Teddy. He was a BIG fan of Ian Ran at the early on, hence the sci fi.... As they grew, in 1973-74 started opening for bands in U.S., KISS, TED NUGENT etc. Record label told them what to write after RUSH-1st album. They gave them the finger and wrote some of the most complicated and progressive rock to date. 'A Farewell to Kings' & 'Hemispheres' paved their way! They got a Label and wrote what they created from then on. Teddy has a PHD in music & Neil has a PHD in percussion and music. They are sooo excellent the world may never have another band like them!!! As they matured Neil started DRUM LESSONS to master Jazz! Teddy plays Bass, Keyboard, Foot peddle(like a church organ) & Vocals! The Trio are magnificent and you have many years to catch up on. They created for 40+yrs and Neil died in 2015(?). They did apx 300 dates a year in the biggest settings-250,000+ stadiums. Geddy said we know you spend your hard earned $$ for a ticket and promise to give you our BEST!!!!!!!!! 40+ yrs at st least 300 shows at their level of ROCK...I LOVE 'EM!!!😊 Check out Broon's Bane prelude to Trees...YY(Zed) was a tribute to a Toronto radio station. Moving Pictures LP(my favorite, I think? Lol) is amazing. Little known fact, 'Tom Sawyer' was written in studio in 15 minutes as a filler for the LP. One of their greatest hits...I hope you enjoy your journey with Rushes much as I continue to do....much love Mark, you're so cute! ...and thank you!
Neil passed away in 2022 after three and a half years fighting brain cancer. Jan. 7th I believe. Rip sir. You will never be forgotten. 🇨🇦 P.s. His name is Geddy. ✌️
This is easily one of the best reactions to these songs I've watched so far! 😍 And I've watched oodles of them because this is one of my favourite live performance videos 😊 You get Plus Points for including 'The Trees' (which to me simply can't be omitted when watching this particular 'Xanadu' version), for the lovely shout-out to Mr StickHits, and for also having a look into the lyrics. And of course also for spreading good vibes! 😀 Thank you! 😊🙏 Have a great weekend! 😊👍☀️🎵 PS: Some constructive criticism, if you don't mind: Maybe turn the volume on your mic up a little! 😉
Oh, you definitely need to develop a playlist for RUSH!!!!! you'll absolutely love it! I've followed RUSH from when I was a pre teen, I'm 62 now and still have MAD RESPECT FOR RUSH!!!! please play more from them! You're witnessing historic musical genius at work!!!! Thanks for this wonderful piece of history! Your reaction says alot!💖
These are my dudes. I grew up with them as my idols. I saw them live when I was 16 years old, seven months after this recording was made. To this day, I feel so blessed to have seen them play live (a total of five times).
This was my second Rush tour. My first was Permanent Waves. I had never seen a band that could perform to this level ever. Neil was a show in and of himself.
I wanted to tell you that watching your reaction was a complete privelege for me. Especially during Alex Lifesons solo near the end of Xanadu. You said "wow" twice during that solo and both words, for such small words, the tone in which you spoke them and the look on your face was genuinely gigantic. I felt that you likely felt the same feelings I felt the first time I heard Rush. Standing outside a friends older brothers bedroom door. It was the song Working Man, and the year was 1975. I was thirteen years old. I was hooked in that very moment. They are just so damn good, aren't they? ✌️
The closeness you see between the bassist and guitarist (Geddy and Alex) on stage is not just for show. They have actually been best friends since the eighth grade.
I'm a retired musician with a lot of time on my hands, and I watch a lot of reaction vids. Keep doing them, because you have an honest appreciation for this classic stuff.....and that's pretty fresh.✌️
Oh the highs back in the day. Experiencing this new and live. Like shots of the unexpected pummelling your senses into submission and at once pure joy. I am oddly proud that I was able to be so affected by this in my teens. Having been able to meet Geddy and Alex in later years makes it almost dreamlike. Yet it all was very real. Still hair racing to this day. Thanks for sharing.
Their early stuff was pure magic. They were storytellers first and foremost. The music was there only to enhance the story. Their talent was incidental to the story. If you don’t have a story to tell, what do you really have? The beginning of Xanadu you can visualize a traveller making his way through a forest with the wind and animals all around. Once the traveller finds Xanadu the instruments erupt to signify the grand discovery.
This is all done live, with only a late-1970s sequencer that came as an option on the mini-moog and the Oberhiem, 8-voice synthesizer, which he had built together into one cabinet. Geddy often had foot pedal keys hooked into the keyboard setup and played them with his feet while playing bass and singing.
I've watched and listened to this video countless times, and it never ceases to amaze me. This version sounds incredible. Is it your sound system that makes it so great? By the way, your reaction was great.
"The Trees ended when you heard Neil say "The question we ask most often is "What if?" Xanadu began after Neil speaks, mostly with Alex using the volume pedal on his guitar.
Just love watching you discover this band at the absolute zenith of their progressive era. I've seen them in many of their eras and I have to say, I loved this one the most. So cool, also to see you observe in wonder of their sheer versatility, talent and power in a live setting. I personally think they are an unmatched trio. During this time, they were playing with the following or similar set-up: Geddy Lee - bass guitar, Minimoog synthesizer, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Moog Taurus bass pedals, vocals Alex Lifeson - 6- and 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, bell tree, tympani, gong, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimes, crotales. Also great hair day today Jessie! Way to kick off the weekend with this!
On this particular song, Geddy is also playing 12-string electric guitar at the very end. His double neck is a 4-string bass on top and 12-string electric on the bottom neck. I know it only looks like six tunic pegs, but that is because of Rickenbacher very weird setup for 12 -strings. Of course, Alex's double neck is 12-string on top and 6 -string on bottom, but it's a Gibson, so all 18 tuning pegs (machine heads) are visible.
I am so glad you are reading the lyrics to their songs now! Neil Peart was their primary lyricist after he joined the band (so from their second album onward) and he really shaped the future of the band. Please please please read the lyrics on any future Rush video so you can catch the deeper meaning and feeling of their songs. This concert was the first time I ever saw Rush play live. It was amazing! I had the chance to see them on their 2112 tour, but at the time I didn't know them well and I thought my friend was inviting me to a Styx concert and I passed. I still kick myself for that 45 years later. 12:45 "it sounds so orchestral!" Yep and they don't have a backing track, just the three of them. Remember, Geddy Lee switches between bass guitar and keyboards quite effortlessly.
Xanadu for me was the Apex of Rush as prog rock wizards… I was fortunate to see them live 17x and I met Neil Peart in a diner in Rochester NY in the 80’s. Being a drummer it’s a moment frozen in time for me. Great reaction and review. R.I.P. Neil Peart and long live the spirit of Rush! 👊🏻
Greetings from Canada & TY for MoreRUSH reactions to view & enjoy. I have watched quite few RUSH reacts Vids and U have some of the Gr8est reactions so far on ALL ur RUSH Vid's with smart & astute observations all around. As U dig deeper into their incredible discography U will soon discover that RUSH music is not just listened too but is an actual Auditory & Mind EXPERIENCE that positively stimulates the emotions & intellect, quite simply U feel better & smarter after the closing notes. As U noted Geddy, Alex & Neil sometimes sound "Orchestral", a wall of creative & original Sound created by only 3 guys & that's why I find it hard to peg them in a Music genre, Prog Symth anyone? The hard driven yet melodic music's complexity with its multitude of signature changes, seamless transitions, unmatched instrumentation/Vocals by 3 MASTER Musicians plus intelligent thought provoking Lyrics penned by Neil/The Professor cast a spell on you & propel you on a musical journey like no other band, past or present. When viewing RUSH's immense virtuosity some reactors have questioned if they are normal human beings or Aliens, my theory, neither, they are musical Warlocks that have you spellbound after the first few bars...I first fell under their spell & Broke my RUSH cherry in 1976 with their EPIC album 2112 (A MUST Listen & Experience) cranked up on a sweet Pioneer Stereo in my best Bud's basement. As I got older and my Music tastes evolved over the decades many other Bands have come & gone & fallen out of my musical favor but RUSH has been like my Musical North Star and has been a constant in my life for 48 years & counting...Canada has 2 favorite Bands, Rush who we gave to the world and The Tragically Hip (The Hip 4 short) who we kept for ourselves so I would suggest that maybe U should go down a Canadian music "Rabbit Hole" and of course explore MoreRUSH and also treat urself & definitely check out The Hip, I guarantee U wont be disappointed...P.S. A Good cure for Achy Smile Face, watch some Trump Vids you'll be frowning & crying in terror in no time...
Xanadu started at the mark where Neil was answering a question… (@ about the 12 minute mark) the orchestral sound was Xanadu EDIT::: When Xanadu was recorded in the studio in 1977, they did a one-time run through to make sure everything was tuned correctly - then they hit the record button…played it again in its entirety as a live performance… and the recording engineer Paul Northfield said “That’s a Take” He mentioned that he had never known anyone to do that before for a song so complicated
Part of the reason this sounds orchestral is that Neil has so many percussion instruments. Plus Alex is using a volume pedal to 'violin' his guitar playing. And Geddy is using all kinds off keyboard stuff.
Stickhits does good stuff. I'm more used to the DVD version of that show, and there are a lot of differences. Some different camera angles, and a very different audio mix. Either way it's a fantastic performance and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Every time I see this performance, I'm struck like you were when Geddy was performing the final bit on the keyboards, when he has to hit that one key for a very necessary note. Musically, I'm barely qualified to listen much less play or create anything, so it amazes me that with everything that was going on, he realized that one note would add so much.
@@triadmad - Ooh, but Geddy's actually playing the 12-string guitar there, starting with Alex' solo and all the way till the end, while also briefly throwing in that note on the synth! 😁
Hi Glad you liked Rush. They are true masters. Regarding electronic keyboards in the 1970's you should check out Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Keith Emerson (Keyboard) was a friend with Dr Robert Moog, the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.
Awesome to see an attractive younger gal actually GETTING IT! This came out in my high school days. NO gals got RUSH at the time. Seen many gals getting into RUSH finally, reaction videos. Welcome down the rabbit hole! (awesome smile!!)
Have seen them a few times, beautiful music, Alex Lifeson, great guitar player, your smile is infectious and the way you expressed your enjoyment was awesome. Can't wait to see you do more RUSH.
No Orchestra or Backing Tracks, just three multi-talented musicians multi-tasking with all hands and feet to get these sounds. You don't see that anymore these days.
If, heaven forbid, you took away every other piece of music from me, leaving only one thing to listen to for the rest of my sorry existence, THIS album is, easily, and undoubtedly, it(.) Lee, Lifeson, Peart ~ RUSH, the soundtrack of my life! 🤘🏼❤️🔥
Love RUSH!!!! So many fantastic songs. I was fortunate to see them at the Portland Coliseum a couple times in the 80s. Maybe 81? Definitely 84. Trying to remember. It was awhile ago. 🤔😂 Thank you. 💛
Weeell... to be precise, 'Xanadu' starts a little sooner than that and in the moment that round image appears together with that held low note on the pedal synth, and _then_ Mr Peh-art's voice can be heard! 😁 😉
Am amazed with all the Reactions on Rush. Rush changed a lot of sound in music with some future bands. I saw this live and glad that its saved. I started listening to Rush in 1976 and seen a lot of their concerts. Rush always have great concerts. Sounds from album to live with perfection. 3 guys who had no help from radio play but had a following just on their words and music. They talk to US in ways no other bands really do. I found their words useful in life. I feel sorry for those that couldn't see them live, but with all the reactions I see in your face is the way I felt the 1st time I had the album and went to concert to see it live. I say this is a great song or that a great song but when a Rush song is playing it bring back many memories. Thanks for playing a Reaction and Yes many face hurts from all the sounds and words of smiling when listening. Rush is long time band in future of music. One concert had a visual showing r..US..h as band of the people as We the People. Couple of songs "Anthem" and "Entre nous". but there are a lot when your dealing with life. Thanks and Take Care. "Flowers After Rainfall" speaks a lot about you. Ava.
They add the bird sounds, but every other sound is created live by those three dudes. On the original recording, birds can be heard chirping because they were recording outside for the beginning part of Xanadu.
Huge fan of Rush and have watched a lot of reactors reacting to rush and I really enjoy your take on things and the way you react and these redone live videos from MTV or the stickits remastering are awesome
I have heard 'Trees' and 'Xanadu' hundreds of times. It is never boring and the nuances in the tracks are astonishing. This is arguably the finest live performance of any song ever by any band. And I include Comfortably Numb. Three guys. Three.
Smart Lady!! With any RUSH song and Pink Floyd knowing the lyrics is a must. Way better than struggling to listen to the words, interpret them and the individual instruments! Most don't catch the " Noble law" as the Noble is the fancy Christmas 🎄 tree! Great Job, great sound and great production! I shall scan your channel and see what else you got!! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Excellent!! Very enjoyable watching your reaction to 3 of the most talented musicians ever! RIP Neil.. I’ve seen Rush 4 times in concert. Amazing talent! This Xanadu live version, is one of my favorites. Love the “growl” of the old “Moog” Taurus bass pedals at the end!! My home stereo system has 2 12” Subs.. Enjoy making the room rattle with this song!!
It is really pleasant to see a girl appreciate Rush that much! You have great taste lady! Xanadu is one of the most impressive pieces of art in modern music! Even Stairway to heaven doesn't compare! I would classify it in the same range as Bohemian Rhapsody! That's what we call "Chef-d'oeuvres" in french!
You will definitely have to listen to 2112 now. They borrow a number of orchestral tricks in this sci-fi rock opera as well. It’s a multi-part suite that opens with a true overture that gives you a taste of all the later movements. They even have an homage to Tchaikovsky. There’s a comic book version that was released for the 40th anniversary, which I recommend to help understand the story. Cheers!
Hemispheres also opens with a true overture. With both of them there’s so much to unpack it’s probably best to listen for the music at first, then the lyrics on a subsequent listen.
Wonderful reaction to two classic Rush songs! If you enjoyed the synths, Rush had a 'synth era' in the 1980s. Some fans didn't enjoy that, but as a child of the '80s (who only recently became a Rush fan) I love it! It's fun to watch Geddy Lee multitask on vocals, bass, keyboards, and synth pedals. For a future reaction, I suggest the live version of 'Analog Kid' from the Clockwork Angels tour.
I believe Xanadu to be the absolute best live performance by the boys of any Rush song (and really better than almost any live performance by ANY band ever... Yep, it's that great!)...thanks for the fun reaction!
No backing tracks, just three master musicians. They wanted to be the smallest orchestra and they succeeded! Fantastic performance of two fantastic songs. Alex Lifeson on guitar Geddy Lee Vocals, Bass and Keyboards. Geddy and Alex have been best friends since they met in junior high school when they were 13. They have been playing music together since they were 16 and they love to have fun on stage. Neil Peart joined the band in 1974 when he replaced John Rutsy their original drummer. John had health issues and there were also musical direction differences. Geddy said they had found a fellow traveller in Neil. Cheers
@@debbieplato5107 - Now now, Debbie! 😄 Geddy on bass, synths, pedal synths and 12-string guitar; Alex on 6-string and 12-string guitars and _also_ on pedal synth; Neil on drums and oodles of percussion. 😁 😉
@@debbieplato5107 - Gotcha! 😊👍 I'd read the instruments part in reference to the "no backing tracks" bit right before! 😉 Have a great weekend, Debbie! 😀👍☀️
@@debbieplato5107 - It looks like this places you in Canada? 😀 I admit I have no idea about football, and neither about rugby - despite living in a rugby-mad country, New Zealand 😅 To my defence: I'm originally German, and Germans prefer a ball to be round! 😄 May 'your' Bombers win, though! 😉👍
Your reactions are so incredible. Not just the musical insight, but the pure joy and emotional connection to the music as well. An absolute delight to listen to these songs again with you. This album came out when I was a teenager and a huge fan of Rush, and I played it nearly non-stop. Finally got to see them live during their next tour (Signals) and it was absolutely awe inspiring. Still love going to live shows, particularly the modern psych scene, often playing in small clubs. The magic of live performance is always an experience. Off to see Frankie and the Witch Fingers (big Rush fans) this week. Keep up the great work!
So the song the Trees ends after hatchet , axe and saw.... with a little added music interlude to tie the two songs together but Xanadu starts just after Neil says... "that would suffice..." That intro is so incredible You can hear the crowd cheering getting louder and louder after the intro (in my opinion telling the band....wow you nailed the studio version and elevated it..nicely done")... Same reaction in Edmonton when I saw them as in Montreal for that part of the intro of Xanadu.
Really enjoyed your reaction to this classic performance!!! Great to see your appreciation and understanding of the music!!!! Great audio of this concert performance!!!!
Great to see someone of your age enjoy this. Your smile is tearing me up. Rush means the world to me since I was a little kid. I brought my oldest son to a Rush concert at the age of 10 and he had that same smile on his face the whole concert.
My first Rush concert was in 1981. I saw them 32 times in total but that first one was incredible. They changed several times over the years but always played great live.
Wow. The heartfelt pleasure i get watching a young person, a woman at that, enjoying so much the experience of listening to music that, quite frankly, changed the way i see the world is......well.... it makes me think i made some of the right choices in life.
I saw every single Rush concert at least once per tour since 1986 and I never once saw Neil drop that stick. Even one tour when he had the flu and looked like death warmed over with a towel on his head. These guys gave it all for their fans! RIP Neil
She needs to do The Fountain of Lamneth too. I feel it goes well with The Necromancer. Obviously because they’re both from COS. My introduction to RUSH back in 1975 as a 15 year old teenage girl. They blew me away and I was immediately a lifelong fan. I am now 66 and have seen them over 30 times live. They STILL blow me away. 🤘🎶💜
And a couple more things: Rush did later use samplers and backing tracks, but at _that_ point in time, music technology hadn't advanced that far yet, so everything you hear truly is being played in realtime, with all three guys' feet involved, too! 😁 And what I also really like about StickHits' video, aside from the great restoration/remix job: Geddy playing the 12-string guitar half on his double-neck is clearly audible in the Right channel, which he's doing from the start of Alex' solo till the song's end, while also playing a pedal synth with his foot and hitting the occasional note on the synth 🤯 😁 In most other videos of this same performance, Geddy's guitar is hardly audible, and there are no good camera angles of him playing it either, so it flies below many people's radar, too. Just like Alex' swift switch from his 12-string to the 6-string at one point during this performance 😀
These are two of the greatest live Rush performances ever caught on video they could do no wrong in 1981. 😊
I think Xanadu is the greatest live performance by any band not just Rush IMHO.
Yes......81 was a very good year!
@@gritter2112 I'm 64 and have yet to find one any better.
@gritter2112 agreed... it is literally the bomb as far as live performances go. This is one of if not the most epic live performances in the history of mankind....
They had no backing track then. This is all live! The most incredible live performance ever!
They never used backing tracks at any point in their career as far as I know. They used samples later on but those were all triggered by someone on stage.
@@erikboris5029 Exactly.
Well, not a backing track per se but they did play with a string ensemble backing them on the Clockwork Angels tour.
All the same your point is generally valid.
The song changed from The Trees to Xanadu around the time you hear Neil talk about 'what if'. They have been dubbed, many times, the 'world's smallest symphony orchestra'. You have just seen why....
Love how giddy you are, it's infectious 😊, it really is remarkable, I'm 59, when this came out back in 1982 it was mind boggling 😮.
You are wrong Xanadu started 2+ minutes before you realized it😅 you are now witnessing the greatest live performance by 3 men ever❤🇨🇦
When we saw them live, we stood with our mouths open the whole show.....stunned. Great reaction by you also!
One thing I can never get enough of watching them live is they are all at once consummate professionals but also the best of friends. And it shows.
Yay I have been waiting a long time for someone to finally react to this remaster lol, thank you, your reaction was worth every second!
You're going to love Rush lyrics....looking forward to watching you discover more Rush!
Most beautiful and lovely Rush reactionist on the net!
The performance of Xanadu is one of the most amazing performances by three guys ever. The multi-tasking they do to pull this off is incredible. One thing they don’t show well is while Geddy is playing bass (and singing) he is often playing synths with his feet. He has as set of Moog Taurus pedals which are essentially like organ pedals. He doing this at 21:25 in your vid - you can see him looking down. And Neil, well he’s a one-man orchestral percussion section. I don’t know if you caught it, but during that keyboard interlude you liked, Neil is doubling it on a glockenspiel. They are still to this day the live band Ive ever heard. Cheers!
As is Alex ... every time (unless he's changing guitar effect) he wanders back to his 'station' he's got a Taurus pedal to play (and he's playing them while doing his reverse "sweet child of mine" riff)
@@chalfo - I was going to add this myself 🙂 Alex also playing the Taurus seems to be flying under most people's radar 😊
Appreciate the St. Jude link. As a fan of Rush and the work St. Jude does and now you, I happily donated.
thank you so much for your generosity ❤️
the best and most "real" Rush reaction!
it is the best matching reaction everytime i listen to or watch them, for the last 35 years.
I love to watch a new listener to rush it’s enjoyable to watch your reaction it brings me back to when I first heard them! Thank you for this!
This sound completely live made by three guys with nothing behind them... just them. I saw them live on this tour in 7 or 8 more times throughout the 80s and 90s and then again in 2015 and they're just unbelievable
Wow, JJ Jackson, one of the five original MTV VJs. Brings back memories.
When MTV was good. That brought back memories.
Xanadu began when the wave symbol was on the screen and the drummer was speaking. At 11:56 Xanadu began.
Not bad at all for a 3 man band. All so very very talented. Our Canadian icons who we are so proud of. Hit the subscribe and liked :) Loved your take on this ....
It's great to see someone so young appreciate this. Welcome to the RUSH family :)
I’m 18 and they’re my favourite band
FANTASIC! The song "XANADU" was inspired by the poem "Kubla Khan", written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797, but not published until 1816. Coleridge believed that much of the poem came to him in a dream while he was under the influence of an opioid (laudanum). Truth really is stranger than fiction!😄
Yep , STC was a great poet.. If one read the poem before listening it just adds an extra later of coolness to the whole Xanadu experience
Hello friend! First time checking your channel out, love your reaction and vibe. This really takes me back, I saw this tour and was just blown away. I was 15 at the time and it was just stunning to see up close. Thanks for taking me back, you know like a time machine. Keep up the good work, cheers!
Thank you for including The Trees in this montage. Almost no reactors do that. There actually is a short little guitar instrumental before The Trees, called "Broon's Bane" which makes the trifecta medley. But I'll pick up what you are putting down!
Love! your reaction! Thanks so much this. Rush is the best and I’m so glad you enjoy them too. 🤗
You know you said...."wow" pause "wow" pause "wow" Love your show, keep in going. ----from Toronto, my first Rush Tour Signals '82 concert, and then every tour.
Hi! I subscribed to you bc of you & that you found RUSH! YOU'LL LIVE 'EM BEFORE YOU'RE OLD 😊 WOW RUSH! This might get long.... I've seen them only 5 times in my life...(I'm 57) Alex Lifeson (lead guitarist and anything strings, he changed his name bc he's from Ukraine...hard to pronounce) & Geddy Lee (folks were holocaust...) These guys were 15 or 16, class mates when they started playing at high schools and events around Toronto, age appropriate. They had a different drummer (name escapes me). Neil Peart joined few years latter. He wrote lyrics & melodies with Teddy. He was a BIG fan of Ian Ran at the early on, hence the sci fi.... As they grew, in 1973-74 started opening for bands in U.S., KISS, TED NUGENT etc. Record label told them what to write after RUSH-1st album. They gave them the finger and wrote some of the most complicated and progressive rock to date. 'A Farewell to Kings' & 'Hemispheres' paved their way! They got a Label and wrote what they created from then on. Teddy has a PHD in music & Neil has a PHD in percussion and music. They are sooo excellent the world may never have another band like them!!! As they matured Neil started DRUM LESSONS to master Jazz! Teddy plays Bass, Keyboard, Foot peddle(like a church organ) & Vocals! The Trio are magnificent and you have many years to catch up on. They created for 40+yrs and Neil died in 2015(?). They did apx 300 dates a year in the biggest settings-250,000+ stadiums. Geddy said we know you spend your hard earned $$ for a ticket and promise to give you our BEST!!!!!!!!! 40+ yrs at st least 300 shows at their level of ROCK...I LOVE 'EM!!!😊
Check out Broon's Bane prelude to Trees...YY(Zed) was a tribute to a Toronto radio station. Moving Pictures LP(my favorite, I think? Lol) is amazing. Little known fact, 'Tom Sawyer' was written in studio in 15 minutes as a filler for the LP. One of their greatest hits...I hope you enjoy your journey with Rushes much as I continue to do....much love Mark, you're so cute! ...and thank you!
The original drummers name was John Rutsey. He passed away many years ago. He was fifty-two I believe.
Neil passed away in 2022 after three and a half years fighting brain cancer. Jan. 7th I believe. Rip sir. You will never be forgotten. 🇨🇦
P.s. His name is Geddy. ✌️
You are just like me 40 years ago, when I was watching this from a VHS 😊 Loved Rush ever since ❤ Greetings from 🇫🇮
This is easily one of the best reactions to these songs I've watched so far! 😍 And I've watched oodles of them because this is one of my favourite live performance videos 😊
You get Plus Points for including 'The Trees' (which to me simply can't be omitted when watching this particular 'Xanadu' version), for the lovely shout-out to Mr StickHits, and for also having a look into the lyrics. And of course also for spreading good vibes! 😀 Thank you! 😊🙏
Have a great weekend!
😊👍☀️🎵
PS: Some constructive criticism, if you don't mind: Maybe turn the volume on your mic up a little! 😉
So awesome! Glad you've found Rush!
Oh, you definitely need to develop a playlist for RUSH!!!!! you'll absolutely love it! I've followed RUSH from when I was a pre teen, I'm 62 now and still have MAD RESPECT FOR RUSH!!!! please play more from them! You're witnessing historic musical genius at work!!!! Thanks for this wonderful piece of history! Your reaction says alot!💖
These are my dudes. I grew up with them as my idols. I saw them live when I was 16 years old, seven months after this recording was made. To this day, I feel so blessed to have seen them play live (a total of five times).
Stick Hits does amazing work, all their restorations are great, and they're RUSH fans too.
😍✌🙏
This was my second Rush tour. My first was Permanent Waves. I had never seen a band that could perform to this level ever. Neil was a show in and of himself.
I wanted to tell you that watching your reaction was a complete privelege for me. Especially during Alex Lifesons solo near the end of Xanadu. You said "wow" twice during that solo and both words, for such small words, the tone in which you spoke them and the look on your face was genuinely gigantic. I felt that you likely felt the same feelings I felt the first time I heard Rush. Standing outside a friends older brothers bedroom door. It was the song Working Man, and the year was 1975. I was thirteen years old. I was hooked in that very moment. They are just so damn good, aren't they? ✌️
Always good to have lyrics up when listening to RUSH thats part of the fun of the band
The closeness you see between the bassist and guitarist (Geddy and Alex) on stage is not just for show. They have actually been best friends since the eighth grade.
So happy young folks are discovering RUSH
I'm a retired musician with a lot of time on my hands, and I watch a lot of reaction vids. Keep doing them, because you have an honest appreciation for this classic stuff.....and that's pretty fresh.✌️
I hadn't seen that live performance before, loved it, and your reaction.
Oh the highs back in the day. Experiencing this new and live. Like shots of the unexpected pummelling your senses into submission and at once pure joy. I am oddly proud that I was able to be so affected by this in my teens. Having been able to meet Geddy and Alex in later years makes it almost dreamlike. Yet it all was very real. Still hair racing to this day. Thanks for sharing.
Their early stuff was pure magic. They were storytellers first and foremost. The music was there only to enhance the story. Their talent was incidental to the story. If you don’t have a story to tell, what do you really have? The beginning of Xanadu you can visualize a traveller making his way through a forest with the wind and animals all around. Once the traveller finds Xanadu the instruments erupt to signify the grand discovery.
This is all done live, with only a late-1970s sequencer that came as an option on the mini-moog and the Oberhiem, 8-voice synthesizer, which he had built together into one cabinet.
Geddy often had foot pedal keys hooked into the keyboard setup and played them with his feet while playing bass and singing.
I've watched and listened to this video countless times, and it never ceases to amaze me. This version sounds incredible. Is it your sound system that makes it so great? By the way, your reaction was great.
Seamless, Flawless, Mind-blowing perfection at its best-period.
"The Trees ended when you heard Neil say "The question we ask most often is "What if?" Xanadu began after Neil speaks, mostly with Alex using the volume pedal on his guitar.
Just love watching you discover this band at the absolute zenith of their progressive era. I've seen them in many of their eras and I have to say, I loved this one the most. So cool, also to see you observe in wonder of their sheer versatility, talent and power in a live setting. I personally think they are an unmatched trio. During this time, they were playing with the following or similar set-up:
Geddy Lee - bass guitar, Minimoog synthesizer, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Moog Taurus bass pedals, vocals
Alex Lifeson - 6- and 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals
Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, bell tree, tympani, gong, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimes, crotales.
Also great hair day today Jessie! Way to kick off the weekend with this!
On this particular song, Geddy is also playing 12-string electric guitar at the very end. His double neck is a 4-string bass on top and 12-string electric on the bottom neck. I know it only looks like six tunic pegs, but that is because of Rickenbacher very weird setup for 12 -strings. Of course, Alex's double neck is 12-string on top and 6 -string on bottom, but it's a Gibson, so all 18 tuning pegs (machine heads) are visible.
I am so glad you are reading the lyrics to their songs now! Neil Peart was their primary lyricist after he joined the band (so from their second album onward) and he really shaped the future of the band. Please please please read the lyrics on any future Rush video so you can catch the deeper meaning and feeling of their songs.
This concert was the first time I ever saw Rush play live. It was amazing! I had the chance to see them on their 2112 tour, but at the time I didn't know them well and I thought my friend was inviting me to a Styx concert and I passed. I still kick myself for that 45 years later.
12:45 "it sounds so orchestral!" Yep and they don't have a backing track, just the three of them. Remember, Geddy Lee switches between bass guitar and keyboards quite effortlessly.
Xanadu for me was the Apex of Rush as prog rock wizards… I was fortunate to see them live 17x and I met Neil Peart in a diner in Rochester NY in the 80’s. Being a drummer it’s a moment frozen in time for me. Great reaction and review. R.I.P. Neil Peart and long live the spirit of Rush! 👊🏻
Greetings from Canada & TY for MoreRUSH reactions to view & enjoy. I have watched quite few RUSH reacts Vids and U have some of the Gr8est reactions so far on ALL ur RUSH Vid's with smart & astute observations all around. As U dig deeper into their incredible discography U will soon discover that RUSH music is not just listened too but is an actual Auditory & Mind EXPERIENCE that positively stimulates the emotions & intellect, quite simply U feel better & smarter after the closing notes. As U noted Geddy, Alex & Neil sometimes sound "Orchestral", a wall of creative & original Sound created by only 3 guys & that's why I find it hard to peg them in a Music genre, Prog Symth anyone? The hard driven yet melodic music's complexity with its multitude of signature changes, seamless transitions, unmatched instrumentation/Vocals by 3 MASTER Musicians plus intelligent thought provoking Lyrics penned by Neil/The Professor cast a spell on you & propel you on a musical journey like no other band, past or present. When viewing RUSH's immense virtuosity some reactors have questioned if they are normal human beings or Aliens, my theory, neither, they are musical Warlocks that have you spellbound after the first few bars...I first fell under their spell & Broke my RUSH cherry in 1976 with their EPIC album 2112 (A MUST Listen & Experience) cranked up on a sweet Pioneer Stereo in my best Bud's basement. As I got older and my Music tastes evolved over the decades many other Bands have come & gone & fallen out of my musical favor but RUSH has been like my Musical North Star and has been a constant in my life for 48 years & counting...Canada has 2 favorite Bands, Rush who we gave to the world and The Tragically Hip (The Hip 4 short) who we kept for ourselves so I would suggest that maybe U should go down a Canadian music "Rabbit Hole" and of course explore MoreRUSH and also treat urself & definitely check out The Hip, I guarantee U wont be disappointed...P.S. A Good cure for Achy Smile Face, watch some Trump Vids you'll be frowning & crying in terror in no time...
Fight Fight Fight 😂
They were and are so good just awesome music I love it ! And miss NP. RIP BEST ROCK DRUMMER
Xanadu started at the mark where Neil was answering a question… (@ about the 12 minute mark) the orchestral sound was Xanadu
EDIT::: When Xanadu was recorded in the studio in 1977, they did a one-time run through to make sure everything was tuned correctly - then they hit the record button…played it again in its entirety as a live performance… and the recording engineer Paul Northfield said “That’s a Take” He mentioned that he had never known anyone to do that before for a song so complicated
La Villa Strangiato & Working Man from Cleveland 2011 concert!
I was in Cleveland for the Great show for free. Thanks to my Brother in law 😊😊
Nah, watch LA Villa from Pink Pop.
Part of the reason this sounds orchestral is that Neil has so many percussion instruments. Plus Alex is using a volume pedal to 'violin' his guitar playing. And Geddy is using all kinds off keyboard stuff.
@@kentgreer1079 - And both Alex and Geddy also play pedal synths with their feet! 😀
Stickhits does good stuff. I'm more used to the DVD version of that show, and there are a lot of differences. Some different camera angles, and a very different audio mix. Either way it's a fantastic performance and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Great Reaction, so happy you truly Appreciated it.
Awesome reaction and keep smiling! Keep doing Rush reactions and I'm sure you will!!
🤗 Great reaction to a great band playing a great song! Saw them earlier open for Kiss in NJ when I was in JHS! 🥰🐰
Every time I see this performance, I'm struck like you were when Geddy was performing the final bit on the keyboards, when he has to hit that one key for a very necessary note. Musically, I'm barely qualified to listen much less play or create anything, so it amazes me that with everything that was going on, he realized that one note would add so much.
@@triadmad - Ooh, but Geddy's actually playing the 12-string guitar there, starting with Alex' solo and all the way till the end, while also briefly throwing in that note on the synth!
😁
Hi Glad you liked Rush. They are true masters. Regarding electronic keyboards in the 1970's you should check out Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Keith Emerson (Keyboard) was a friend with Dr Robert Moog, the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.
So true! Pictures at an Exhibition was done in 1970!
Awesome to see an attractive younger gal actually GETTING IT! This came out in my high school days. NO gals got RUSH at the time. Seen many gals getting into RUSH finally, reaction videos. Welcome down the rabbit hole! (awesome smile!!)
No kidding a hard sell in 1978
Yeah, this music is amazing and beautiful, it is emotional and I get chocked up again!
Have seen them a few times, beautiful music, Alex Lifeson, great guitar player, your smile is infectious and the way you expressed your enjoyment was awesome. Can't wait to see you do more RUSH.
Love your honesty! Great reaction.
No Orchestra or Backing Tracks, just three multi-talented musicians multi-tasking with all hands and feet to get these sounds. You don't see that anymore these days.
If, heaven forbid, you took away every other piece of music from me, leaving only one thing to listen to for the rest of my sorry existence, THIS album is, easily, and undoubtedly, it(.) Lee, Lifeson, Peart ~ RUSH, the soundtrack of my life! 🤘🏼❤️🔥
Love RUSH!!!! So many fantastic songs.
I was fortunate to see them at the Portland Coliseum a couple times in the 80s. Maybe 81? Definitely 84. Trying to remember. It was awhile ago. 🤔😂
Thank you. 💛
Xanadu started at the beginning of the Orchestra part you were speaking of. Right after the spoke words "What If".
thank you :)
@@flowersafterrainfall6 minute instrumental intro, like the album.
Weeell... to be precise, 'Xanadu' starts a little sooner than that and in the moment that round image appears together with that held low note on the pedal synth, and _then_ Mr Peh-art's voice can be heard!
😁 😉
@@mightyV444Mr. Peh-art: is that my sandwich?
Lol
@@Indo1030 - You got it!
😄👍
Am amazed with all the Reactions on Rush. Rush changed a lot of sound in music with some future bands. I saw this live and glad that its saved. I started listening to Rush in 1976 and seen a lot of their concerts. Rush always have great concerts. Sounds from album to live with perfection. 3 guys who had no help from radio play but had a following just on their words and music. They talk to US in ways no other bands really do. I found their words useful in life. I feel sorry for those that couldn't see them live, but with all the reactions I see in your face is the way I felt the 1st time I had the album and went to concert to see it live. I say this is a great song or that a great song but when a Rush song is playing it bring back many memories. Thanks for playing a Reaction and Yes many face hurts from all the sounds and words of smiling when listening. Rush is long time band in future of music. One concert had a visual showing r..US..h as band of the people as We the People. Couple of songs "Anthem" and "Entre nous". but there are a lot when your dealing with life. Thanks and Take Care. "Flowers After Rainfall" speaks a lot about you. Ava.
They add the bird sounds, but every other sound is created live by those three dudes. On the original recording, birds can be heard chirping because they were recording outside for the beginning part of Xanadu.
that's really cool, wow!
Huge fan of Rush and have watched a lot of reactors reacting to rush and I really enjoy your take on things and the way you react and these redone live videos from MTV or the stickits remastering are awesome
The wood blocks, bell pipes and the symbols are insane. Neil Peart is the best in the business hands down.
I have heard 'Trees' and 'Xanadu' hundreds of times. It is never boring and the nuances in the tracks are astonishing. This is arguably the finest live performance of any song ever by any band. And I include Comfortably Numb. Three guys. Three.
Appreciate ya. Thanks for sharing. (Was a youngster back when these songs - and plenty more - were released. Lifelong fan...)
Smart Lady!! With any RUSH song and Pink Floyd knowing the lyrics is a must. Way better than struggling to listen to the words, interpret them and the individual instruments! Most don't catch the " Noble law" as the Noble is the fancy Christmas 🎄 tree! Great Job, great sound and great production! I shall scan your channel and see what else you got!! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Excellent!! Very enjoyable watching your reaction to 3 of the most talented musicians ever! RIP Neil.. I’ve seen Rush 4 times in concert. Amazing talent! This Xanadu live version, is one of my favorites. Love the “growl” of the old “Moog” Taurus bass pedals at the end!!
My home stereo system has 2 12” Subs.. Enjoy making the room rattle with this song!!
It is really pleasant to see a girl appreciate Rush that much! You have great taste lady! Xanadu is one of the most impressive pieces of art in modern music! Even Stairway to heaven doesn't compare! I would classify it in the same range as Bohemian Rhapsody! That's what we call "Chef-d'oeuvres" in french!
You will definitely have to listen to 2112 now. They borrow a number of orchestral tricks in this sci-fi rock opera as well. It’s a multi-part suite that opens with a true overture that gives you a taste of all the later movements. They even have an homage to Tchaikovsky. There’s a comic book version that was released for the 40th anniversary, which I recommend to help understand the story. Cheers!
Hemispheres also opens with a true overture. With both of them there’s so much to unpack it’s probably best to listen for the music at first, then the lyrics on a subsequent listen.
Even after seeing them 49 times it's not enough. I miss them dearly. RUSH FOREVER
Wonderful reaction to two classic Rush songs! If you enjoyed the synths, Rush had a 'synth era' in the 1980s. Some fans didn't enjoy that, but as a child of the '80s (who only recently became a Rush fan) I love it! It's fun to watch Geddy Lee multitask on vocals, bass, keyboards, and synth pedals. For a future reaction, I suggest the live version of 'Analog Kid' from the Clockwork Angels tour.
I believe Xanadu to be the absolute best live performance by the boys of any Rush song (and really better than almost any live performance by ANY band ever... Yep, it's that great!)...thanks for the fun reaction!
Pink Floyd playing Comfortably Numb live on the Pulse DVD is right up there, PF Echoes Live at Pompeii blows me away as well.
Supper’s Ready on Seconds Out. Genesis at their finest. Maybe equivalent to Xanadu…
No backing tracks, just three master musicians. They wanted to be the smallest orchestra and they succeeded!
Fantastic performance of two fantastic songs.
Alex Lifeson on guitar
Geddy Lee Vocals, Bass and Keyboards.
Geddy and Alex have been best friends since they met in junior high school when they were 13. They have been playing music together since they were 16 and they love to have fun on stage.
Neil Peart joined the band in 1974 when he replaced John Rutsy their original drummer.
John had health issues and there were also musical direction differences.
Geddy said they had found a fellow traveller in Neil.
Cheers
@@debbieplato5107 - Now now, Debbie! 😄 Geddy on bass, synths, pedal synths and 12-string guitar; Alex on 6-string and 12-string guitars and _also_ on pedal synth; Neil on drums and oodles of percussion.
😁 😉
@@mightyV444 I gave the abridged version as she didn't know Neil or Geddy's names 😀
@@debbieplato5107 - Gotcha! 😊👍 I'd read the instruments part in reference to the "no backing tracks" bit right before! 😉
Have a great weekend, Debbie!
😀👍☀️
@@mightyV444 Thanks, I am just going to watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Elks game. Go Bombers! 💙💛💙💛
@@debbieplato5107 - It looks like this places you in Canada? 😀 I admit I have no idea about football, and neither about rugby - despite living in a rugby-mad country, New Zealand 😅
To my defence: I'm originally German, and Germans prefer a ball to be round! 😄
May 'your' Bombers win, though!
😉👍
Your reactions are so incredible. Not just the musical insight, but the pure joy and emotional connection to the music as well. An absolute delight to listen to these songs again with you. This album came out when I was a teenager and a huge fan of Rush, and I played it nearly non-stop. Finally got to see them live during their next tour (Signals) and it was absolutely awe inspiring.
Still love going to live shows, particularly the modern psych scene, often playing in small clubs. The magic of live performance is always an experience. Off to see Frankie and the Witch Fingers (big Rush fans) this week.
Keep up the great work!
Xanadu was inspired by the poem 'Kubla Khan' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Great reaction x
So the song the Trees ends after hatchet , axe and saw.... with a little added music interlude to tie the two songs together but Xanadu starts just after Neil says... "that would suffice..."
That intro is so incredible You can hear the crowd cheering getting louder and louder after the intro (in my opinion telling the band....wow you nailed the studio version and elevated it..nicely done")... Same reaction in Edmonton when I saw them as in Montreal for that part of the intro of Xanadu.
Your reaction was great thanks.
Really enjoyed your reaction to this classic performance!!! Great to see your appreciation and understanding of the music!!!! Great audio of this concert performance!!!!
Great to see someone of your age enjoy this. Your smile is tearing me up. Rush means the world to me since I was a little kid. I brought my oldest son to a Rush concert at the age of 10 and he had that same smile on his face the whole concert.
My first Rush concert was in 1981. I saw them 32 times in total but that first one was incredible. They changed several times over the years but always played great live.
I saw this tour also,'81-'82 ish
Ooo! Look at doing "Territories". The Clockwork Angels live version is amazing! Thanks for the Rush!
Wow. The heartfelt pleasure i get watching a young person, a woman at that, enjoying so much the experience of listening to music that, quite frankly, changed the way i see the world is......well.... it makes me think i made some of the right choices in life.
I saw every single Rush concert at least once per tour since 1986 and I never once saw Neil drop that stick. Even one tour when he had the flu and looked like death warmed over with a towel on his head. These guys gave it all for their fans! RIP Neil
Your smile make me smile. So glad you liked it.
Best band ever. Never be another.
Yep RUSH makes you think. Cant wait for The Necromancer.
She needs to do The Fountain of Lamneth too. I feel it goes well with The Necromancer. Obviously because they’re both from COS.
My introduction to RUSH back in 1975 as a 15 year old teenage girl.
They blew me away and I was immediately a lifelong fan.
I am now 66 and have seen them over 30 times live. They STILL blow me away. 🤘🎶💜
And a couple more things:
Rush did later use samplers and backing tracks, but at _that_ point in time, music technology hadn't advanced that far yet, so everything you hear truly is being played in realtime, with all three guys' feet involved, too! 😁
And what I also really like about StickHits' video, aside from the great restoration/remix job: Geddy playing the 12-string guitar half on his double-neck is clearly audible in the Right channel, which he's doing from the start of Alex' solo till the song's end, while also playing a pedal synth with his foot and hitting the occasional note on the synth
🤯 😁
In most other videos of this same performance, Geddy's guitar is hardly audible, and there are no good camera angles of him playing it either, so it flies below many people's radar, too. Just like Alex' swift switch from his 12-string to the 6-string at one point during this performance 😀
Great reaction, Flowers, subbed! Rock on with your musically knowledgeable self!
In my view, one of the best performances, by any band, of all time! .. Absolutely amazing individuals. So talented, so creative. Just amazing.
This may have been the best reaction i've ever seen. 💙
you're too kind 😊 thank you!
I feel so lucky I got to see them live a few times as a younger Rush fan
Remember, all this sound made by 3 guys. Super talented.
Your big smile says it all. You are now a RUSH GIRL. 😄