Telescope Reviews: The tribute to Rush and other fine bands

Whether you like Rush or not cannot depend on what nation you belong to. I admit that Germany's most important contributions to the world musical heritage stem from past centuries. What had music been without Bach, Beethoven and many other classical composers? Nowadays IMO there is hardly any good music coming from Germany with the exception of some great Jazz musicians like Klaus Doldinger, Wolfgang Haffner, Helmut Hattler or Eberhard Weber.

Rush has quite a lot of fans here in Germany, but I always wonder how people interested in art rock, "thinking man's metal" or other slightly progressive musical stuff manage to *not* know them. Rush influenced many bands of the prog rock / metal genre. In Dream Theater's "Score" concert DVD, John Petrucci states that he and bassist Myung came across Mike Portnoy because they heard him rehearse on a drum track by Neil Peart. And DT is not the only band influenced by Rush.

Rush's show last October in Germany was one of the most impressive concerts I ever attended. I'm looking forward for their DVD release from the Rotterdam show recorded just two days before I heard them :-)

What is most amazing with Rush: I always look for great music, exploring in classics, jazz, rock and metal. There are fantastic acts out there, even "more progressive" than Rush. For weeks, Rush CDs keep off my player. But then it happens, just as many times before: you realize that complexity is not what counts in the long run. I like Rush for their incredible drive and groove, intelligent texts, and the craftsmanship of Lerxst, Dirk and the Professor that simply is beyond what many like-to followers will never reach. And they deliver what any good music lives from: fantastic melodies! Take ten seconds from Rush and realize that some commercially successful "top acts" deliver less musical substance in a whole song or even album. But no need to argue since "music" can be anything from easy listening stuff intended as background sound for parties, shopping malls and elevators up to something purely divine like Anton Bruckner's great symphonies (composed without the help of synthesizers, sequencers or multi track audio recording software).

The most incredible in the Rush concert was the joy and power the guys were playing with - hungry and present like the ones that yet have to fight for their place in the Olymp for fine Rock. This reminded me of a Saga show some years ago. I had already thought that Saga had retired when I saw their concert announcement. They played good new stuff and much more songs from their great first four albums. The last song (after two encores before) was announced by Michael Sadler with the words: "Well, I think we may have forgotten one very important song". You guess it?

Sorry for this OT contribution, but maybe that someone reading it gives Rush a try. And if you like Rush, you might proceed with Dream Theater, Jordan Rudess, Transatlantic, Pagan's Mind (but ignore their silly texts), Spock's Beard, Symphony X or Joe Satriani. And for the absolutely brave hearted among you, there is Spiral Architect's single album entitled "A Sceptic's Universe". Think of something like a crossover between fusion jazz and progressive speed metal. It's not "free" but occasionally they play three or four concurrently running rhythm patterns before confluence is reached again. A bit hard to follow, but some bars are pure jaw droppers ;-)

Clear skies and happy listening,
Tom

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