I won't embed the video here, much better to watch it on YouTube. Published yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7A0bnsM1tc
I think it's been enhanced from what I assume was videotape originally. Looks a lot better than my old VHS anyway! And although I have the DVD I don't think I ever watched it.
Quote from: Slim on March 14, 2026, 10:56:51 PMI won't embed the video here, much better to watch it on YouTube. Published yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7A0bnsM1tc
I think it's been enhanced from what I assume was videotape originally. Looks a lot better than my old VHS anyway! And although I have the DVD I don't think I ever watched it.
Lots of criticism on FB about edits and soundtrack sync issues
Forget the music.. Lifeson's hair.. quite awesome..
In the mood.. an embarrassing horrible little song. could never work out why you would finish a show on such a whimper..
I have to say - I've always liked In The Mood. The R&B rhythm guitar throughout is phenomenal and the bluesy half lead / half rhythm guitar solo with the double bends would have made Billy Gibbons proud.
Actually I've just conducted a fun experiment - listen to what Rutsey plays then compare it to what Peart plays on one of the live recordings - I think Rutsey's part is fine but Peart almost sounds like he's trying to compete with the guitar; overexcited almost.
Quote from: Fishy on March 15, 2026, 12:44:13 PMIn the mood.. an embarrassing horrible little song. could never work out why you would finish a show on such a whimper..
Yes, an awful tune. I could never understand why they persisted in giving it space in the setlist for so long. Absolute crap.
Quote from: David L on March 15, 2026, 01:23:19 PMQuote from: Fishy on March 15, 2026, 12:44:13 PMIn the mood.. an embarrassing horrible little song. could never work out why you would finish a show on such a whimper..
Yes, an awful tune. I could never understand why they persisted in giving it space in the setlist for so long. Absolute crap.
My theory is that it suited their uplift in mood with the realisation they were only minutes away from a few beers.
Gemini tells me, when asked why they kept it in the setlist for so long:
While many fans agree it's a lyrical outlier in their catalog, Rush kept "In the Mood" in their setlists for decades primarily because it was a high-energy crowd-pleaser that provided a rare moment of levity in an otherwise intense, complex show.
The Band's Perspective
The band was fully aware of the song's simplicity. They often viewed it with a mix of nostalgia and self-deprecation:
Geddy Lee: Has admitted the lyrics (written before Neil Peart joined) were "banal" and "very young." He noted that as they got older, it felt increasingly ridiculous to sing about "sixty-minute men," but they kept it because it was a reliable way to get the audience moving.
Alex Lifeson: Often referred to it as a "fun, silly song." For him and Geddy, it became a vehicle for on-stage antics—they would often use that part of the show to goof off, change lyrics, or interact with the front row.
Neil Peart: Although he didn't write it, he treated it as a "swing" exercise. However, the band eventually dropped it in the early 90s because they felt it no longer fit the musical standards of their evolving sound.
Why it Stayed So Long
Early "Hit" Status: Before 2112 or Moving Pictures, it was one of the few songs that got significant radio play in markets like Cleveland, helping them break into the US.
The "Bar Band" Roots: It served as a tribute to their beginnings as a hard-rocking trio playing high school gyms and bars.
The Medley Era: In later years, they stopped playing it in full and tucked it into closers or medleys (like the 2112 finale or YYZ), using it as a short, punchy callback rather than a standalone piece.
They finally gave it a "proper" send-off during the R40 tour, where they played it against a backdrop of a high school gym to symbolize their earliest days before retiring for good
It's shit
It's a fecksight better than Bravest Face or Good News First.
Quote from: captainkurtz on March 15, 2026, 03:48:44 PMIt's a fecksight better than Bravest Face or Good News First.
I would argue not😀. Just...
Yes, strong tune - surprisingly mature and accomplished in its execution, at a time when most hard / heavy rock bands depended on cranking out a riff. It moves, it breathes, it has motion, it's three-dimensional.
Two things I found a bit shocking when I discovered Rush with ATWAS having never heard them - Geddy sounded like a woman and In The Mood.
I grew to accept the first but never the second. Absolute shite.
Interesting that even a tune from the very first album can go over people's heads, in some cases.
For me it is very similar to Kiss' Let me Go, Rock 'n Roll. A tune designed to get people in motion.
Come to think of it the main riffs are kind of similar.
Quote from: Slim on March 21, 2026, 11:39:49 AMInteresting that even a tune from the very first album can go over people's heads, in some cases.
::)
Quote from: Thenop on March 21, 2026, 12:39:02 PMFor me it is very similar to Kiss' Let me Go, Rock 'n Roll. A tune designed to get people in motion.
Come to think of it the main riffs are kind of similar.
That one goes over my head too
Quote from: David L on March 21, 2026, 12:43:48 PMQuote from: Thenop on March 21, 2026, 12:39:02 PMFor me it is very similar to Kiss' Let me Go, Rock 'n Roll. A tune designed to get people in motion.
Come to think of it the main riffs are kind of similar.
That one goes over my head too
I see how the complex lyrics would elude you :)
Rush has always been good at creating a unique vibe on stage, and it's also about the lighting. I remember their concerts with light shows that went perfectly with the tracks, especially during the guitar solos. The lights changed in time with the music, adding a visual dimension to their performance. It's like every note resonated not just in the ears, but also in the eyes. I wonder if it's this vibe that made some songs, like "In The Mood," more memorable for the crowd.