***Spoiler Thread*** setlist content posted.

[Thenop]

Anika is wonderfully talented. She was never going to be as good as Neil in his own band with parts he wrote. How could she? But her style seems very stiff and rigid compared to their original sound, which was very powerful yet fluid.

As much as I like and appreciate Neil and his talent, if there is one thing he was not it was fluid.
I hear an infinite amount of fluidity in Annika's approach of the drums.

Maybe you refer to the overall fluidity and interplay between the threesome, but there's a reason I usually refer to Neil as Ol'Clunky...

The only time I heard Neil sort of swing was on T4e. Upon his return he was to his usual power drumming style. Which suited the band great mind you.

[Slim]

I think it's partly that they don't have the technical skill any more, but partly that they aren't as connected to the music. They've acquainted themselves with the material by listening back to music they hadn't thought about for years. They've become a marginally talented cover band.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Anika is wonderfully talented. She was never going to be as good as Neil in his own band with parts he wrote. How could she? But her style seems very stiff and rigid compared to their original sound, which was very powerful yet fluid.

As much as I like and appreciate Neil and his talent, if there is one thing he was not it was fluid.
I hear an infinite amount of fluidity in Annika's approach of the drums.

Maybe you refer to the overall fluidity and interplay between the threesome, but there's a reason I usually refer to Neil as Ol'Clunky...

The only time I heard Neil sort of swing was on T4e. Upon his return he was to his usual power drumming style. Which suited the band great mind you.

I bow to your knowledge of the art. I think my take on it is her stance (if that's an appropriate term for the sitting down approach). Watching the fills in the famous TS section she just appears (to me) jerkier whilst slamming those things. Perhaps it's just the different appearance of the physiques. Neil was a big, long-limbed guy so would have a different delivery around the kit. Maybe when I listen to a better quality audio there will seem less harshness but I detect a definite difference which I do not prefer. 

Is it maybe that I haven't adjusted to the different kits? How do they compare in voicings, Nop? She spoke to Rick Beato about tunings. I suppose that must influence things. She is amazing though.

[Thenop]

There is always a difference between drummers, espcially with the phisycial part. I for instance cannot stand watching Mike Portnoy, he feels to me like an octopus, flapping his arms around as if he has no control over them. I prefer to watch a much more fluent player.

Neil was a power drummer. A hard hitter, just look at the sheer size and weight of his Paragon designed cymbals. They weight a ton. I am no light player either, but those things frighten me. He used 14,2 mm sticks weighing each 50 grams, Annika uses 42,5 grams sticks. That is a massive difference. Does that mean she hits softer? No, just different.

Neils main influence whene developing his style was Keith Moon, that remained evident til the very end. The long, lyrical breaks, the very typical patterns that sometimes mimicked his hero. But Moon was an instinctive player, Neil was a honing the craft type.

Annika cites as main influences Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Jojo Mayer (Swiss born NYC living legend, a technical wiz - I even have his instruction DVDs..) and Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band, jazzrock great, and fully twohanded - as in he can play left and righthanded equally). This means she focused on feel, and less on power.

Don't get me wrong, I am not defending anything, I agree even with you to some extent, it is a different outfit these days. I fully grasp you miss the grounding, almost gravity inducing playing of the Professor. Let's also not forget the visual aspect of his gigantic kit, even though I like to old school look Annika sports, Rush had a visual attraction with that round the world kit look.
But this physical style of playing also had an effect on Neil. By the end he was barely able to play such was the strain on his body. (Not mentioning the aging smoker thing here).

The sound of the kit is surely different as well, but as itis with all instruments: it is the one that wields is that gives it its tone and character

One thing is for usre: the fatc that we spent hours on end discussing this already makes it worht my while. Most people just buy a ticket, and show up for a nights worth of entertainment and will be awed. I suspect we will be as well, and by the time we do we will realise we just ook the long way and enjoyed the scenery along that way a lot more than others did.

[Fishy]

As much as they would like to call it Rush. It's not Rush..  Lee/Lifeson are nice blokes but shame on them..

[Thenop]

Fort Worth night #2 = LA night #2 setlist

I did see a post that read:
Texas loves being flashy, so we had to have the Rush jewelry here in Fort Worth! 😏
You can find these exclusive pieces at the merch booths located at the Pavilion and South Lobby
Highslide Image Viewer

[captainkurtz]

Absolute tat, wouldn't be seen dead wearing that and not sure I'd be friends with anyone who wore one either...

[The Picnic Wasp]

Absolute tat, wouldn't be seen dead wearing that and not sure I'd be friends with anyone who wore one either...

I think I saw someone offering one on FB for $1100

[Thenop]

It would fit on one finger only, and just long enough to show the boys what I think of their jewelry.

Can you guess which finger I am talking about?

[Nick]

Anika is wonderfully talented. She was never going to be as good as Neil in his own band with parts he wrote. How could she? But her style seems very stiff and rigid compared to their original sound, which was very powerful yet fluid.

As much as I like and appreciate Neil and his talent, if there is one thing he was not it was fluid.
I hear an infinite amount of fluidity in Annika's approach of the drums.

Maybe you refer to the overall fluidity and interplay between the threesome, but there's a reason I usually refer to Neil as Ol'Clunky...

The only time I heard Neil sort of swing was on T4e. Upon his return he was to his usual power drumming style. Which suited the band great mind you.

I bow to your knowledge of the art. I think my take on it is her stance (if that's an appropriate term for the sitting down approach). Watching the fills in the famous TS section she just appears (to me) jerkier whilst slamming those things. Perhaps it's just the different appearance of the physiques. Neil was a big, long-limbed guy so would have a different delivery around the kit. Maybe when I listen to a better quality audio there will seem less harshness but I detect a definite difference which I do not prefer.

Is it maybe that I haven't adjusted to the different kits? How do they compare in voicings, Nop? She spoke to Rick Beato about tunings. I suppose that must influence things. She is amazing though.

I feel she is far more technical,fluid and nuanced than Neil, but he was an excellent composer and wordsmith on top of his gifted rock drumming skills.

Be interesting to see, if they did record together, how a female influence may add to the Rush sound/psyche. It may be too much for the MKII fanboys to take.

[The Picnic Wasp]

I wonder if this is the start of wear and tear health issues going forward. So early  into a long tour is a bit soon to be playing catchup with dates. Hopefully Geddy's just picked up a bug causing the throat and chest issues and will recover quickly.

[David L]

I wonder if this is the start of wear and tear health issues going forward. So early  into a long tour is a bit soon to be playing catchup with dates. Hopefully Geddy's just picked up a bug causing the throat and chest issues and will recover quickly.

This is looking like a very long tour now from Geddy's perspective. Looks like they may come to regret the decision to go so big, so early.

[captainkurtz]

I do worry for the European tour, although I'm a pessimist by nature.  There isn't much of a gap between South America and Europe and there is quite a few SA dates as well...

[Thenop]

Oh dear, it can't be he is sick of playing the same songs over and over. They did something about that...

[David L]

Imagine the anxiety if you've booked for a show in the US, what with the flights and accommodation. This could turn out to be very disappointing for the more adventurous among us.