When you’ve released 19 studio albums over the course of 35-plus years, putting a setlist together must be a nightmare.
There were always going to be a few classics and favourites omitted from the Canadian rockers’ Time Machine Tour, but happily they squeezed as much as possible into a stunning three-hour show, which spanned the whole back catalogue – from Working Man off their 1974 debut through to BU2B and Caravan, two new tracks off the upcoming album Clockwork Angels.
There was nothing from a few albums such as Grace Under Pressure, but there were plenty of gems like Presto, Marathon, Subdivisions and Spirit of Radio.
As usual with Rush there were great visuals, spoof films (The Real History of Rush – or Rash, as they were dubbed in the clips), stunning lights and, of course, three musicians at the very top of their game; bassist and singer Geddy Lee, gurning guitarist Alex Lifeson and the awesome Neil Peart, who obliged with his now trademark drum solo – all ten mesmerising minutes of it.
The highlight of the night, however, was a complete performance of their 1981 album Moving Pictures – from opener Tom Sawyer to final track Vital Signs. Like the band themselves, the perfect package.
Even after the band left the stage for the final time, the show wasn’t over; cue a short film with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, reprising their characters from the film I Love You, Man – which saw them trespassing in the Rush dressing room and insulting the trio.
A quirky but fitting end to a memorable night.
Rating * * * * *
