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Thursday, August 08, 2002

By Ed Masley, Post-Gazette Pop Music Critic

Coming off a five-year break that found the band recovering from the tragic deaths of Neil Peart's wife and daughter before returning to the studio to work on "Vapor Trails," the members of Rush were reunited with the local chapter of their nearly all-male fan club Tuesday at the Post-Gazette Pavilion.

And the band and fans alike had clearly come prepared to celebrate.

"Three Stooges" music filled the air as the trio strolled on stage past three coin-operated dryers -- easily the most endearing stage prop of the year -- and quickly broke the ice with a thundering shot of "Tom Sawyer," which, while not as big a hit as "New World Man," is probably the song most people think of when they think of Rush. And by the time "Tom Sawyer" hit those classic drum fills, it was clear that even after all these years, Rush is still the band most likely to inspire air drums.

Peart routinely drew applause mid-song for parts most drummers couldn't even think of playing. And his lengthy solo midway through the second set (an impressive display of his musical prowess that actually swung when he closed with a nod to his hero, Buddy Rich) drew an even more intense reaction from the crowd of 10,413 than such first-set highlights as "The Pass" (a melancholy "Presto" power-ballad with a soulful lead from Alex Lifeson on guitar) and "YYZ" (a complex, playful instrumental with Peart and bassist Geddy Lee taking turns on the breaks with some truly inspired, entertaining yet impressive licks).

The set list featured many of their biggest songs (from those already mentioned to "Overture/The Temple of Syrinx" from "2112," "Limelight," "The Spirit of Radio" and, last but not least, "Working Man"), at least one track they swore they'd never played on any other tour ("Between Sun & Moon"), some almost funky bass on "Roll the Bones," an unplugged Lee and Lifeson on "Resist," an encore that started unexpectedly with "Bytor and the Snow Dog" and "Cygnus X-1" and a few of the better songs on "Vapor Trails" ("Ghost Rider," "Earthshine" and "One Little Victory," a Zeppelinesque rocker with an almost Keith Moon-worthy spirit of abandon to the drumming and a riff I'd place alongside "The Spirit of Radio" on any list of Rush's greatest riffs).

After five years off the road, they still put on a show that's best enjoyed by people who subscribe to Modern Drummer and at least two other magazines they sell at music stores. But few bands give those people more of what they're after.

Ed Masley can be reached at emasley@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1865.