Tag Archives: rush

January 8, 2012 · 8:33 pm

Gender Wars- Music Edition

I listened to ton of Rush this weekend, actually I really went quite overboard on Rush, spent my time listening to Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows and Components. A good friend of mine, a certified Rush fanatic was insistent that I pick up some later era Rush and appreciate how hard they rocked in the 2000’s. I did and I’m sold. It’s awesome stuff. Played it all weekend long, in the car, on the stereo, in the kitchen.  Mrs. S, not really amused. “There’s a Rush album you haven’t heard before?” she said as I was cranking up the volume on Saturday. “Must we?”

Turns out there are several thank you very much. “Super”. She said. She’s not a fan. Not even a little bit.

Come to think of it, I can’t even think of a woman I know who is a Rush fan.. It’s one of those gender divide things I think.

Example; one of my newer readers, a music educator and music therapist with a very impressive resume of academic and musical achievements, recently wrote a note about a Facebook link I posted about Rush and specifically Geddy Lee and his parents, Holocaust survivors who made it through Auschwitz, Dachau and Bergen-Belson .. If you didn’t catch it, read it here, it’s amazing.

I didn’t think a ton about it at the time but the message was “Rush is my husbands favorite band, I’ll forward to him”. Hmm another message today, from the buddy who started this whole mess “Post something about Rush and why you like them would you.. I want my wife to see it”.

Now were on to something.

Rush. Pink Floyd. Led Zeppelin. Grateful Dead.. those are the four most played rock acts on my iPod. Fact is they’ve been in heavy rotation since I was in High School. If I could produce a lifetime count on the number of times I’ve listened to Living Loving Maid, Red Barchetta or the Wish You Were Here album.. it would have to be in the tens of thousands.  I’ve listened to these cuts so many times that I can say I’m almost intimate with every nuance of these tunes. I can play the air drums with John Bonham and not miss a single beat or high-hat. I’ve listened to Animals to the point that I can mouth the Gilmore solo on Pigs. Most guys my age can.

The number of times I listened to any of the artists with Mrs. Sankary next to me… in the car, on the sofa, in the house… uh.. I’m going to say 3, and that’s probably one to many. She hates those bands. Hates their music.

So, I’ve made some observations-

1)    I don’t care for most of Mrs. Sankary’s music. I’m not much in for Pop. New Country ain’t my thing and I believe that American Idol is the biggest waste of time and money on TV. Can’t stand the music, artists, and the fact that it was once the biggest show going made me believe that the country wasn’t worth saving.

2)    When a husband hates his wife’s music and makes the mistake of telling her his opinion, she says something like “shut up” or “ I don’t care” or some flippant thing and moves on. She makes no attempt to persuade her husband to start liking her music, because frankly, she doesn’t give a shit. BUT..

3)    When a wife/woman doesn’t appear appropriately enthusiastic about a fellows music, doesn’t see the brilliance in David Gilmores guitar work on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts 6-9” for example, forget even saying she doesn’t like it, just doesn’t cream herself every time she hears it… Well, and I’m guilty of this.. we men go into “music education mode” because frankly it’s impossible to believe that you could listen to David Gilmore and NOT completely blown away, you wouldn’t be human.

4)    Women are not interested in free ad hoc tutoring in music appreciation. Weird.

5)    On the other hand, I don’t get James Taylor. I wouldn’t stop on the street and put a nickel into Taylor’s guitar case if he were playing “You’ve Got A Friend” directly to me. My wife would leave me on the spot if that old bald troubadour just looked in her direction.

Who would have thought there was a link between taste and an “Y” chromosome.

That’s not to say there aren’t artists and songs where we can find common ground. David Bowie is an example, although she likes his crummy stuff from the Lets Dance album which sucks compared to the brilliance of Ziggy Stardust or Diamond Dogs or even Heathen… matter of fact she can’t even name more than 1 song from all three of those albums and only because we listened to it in the car a few times.

“You, are a music snob.” Heard that more times that I can count, and the weird thing is she says it like it’s a bad thing. If like stuff where the artists, like Rush, are fantastic at their craft, where the songs have some depth and the music means something, than call me a snob. I’ll wear it like a badge.

Stephen Hawking was asked last week, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, what he thinks about all day. Here is one the brilliant minds of our time, he’s unlocked countless mysteries about the creation of the cosmos and nature and what does he have the most trouble with. “Women. They are a complete mystery to me.”

How could I pretend more knowledge than he.

 

 

 

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August 28, 2010 · 3:16 pm

Rush- Minnesota State Fair Show

Had a chance to catch Rush last night at the Minnesota State Fair. Overall, great show. Rush is a fantastic big venue stadium act.
I’m a long time Rush fan. The first Rush album that I ever had was the two disc live album, All The Worlds A Stage, which was released in 1975. If you do the math.. I was 12. In my mind Rush has two bodies of work, the 70′s and early 80′s stuff, and everything else after. I’ve listened to a few albums after Moving Pictures.. I bought Roll the Bones and Snakes and Arrows. Based on the car play those albums have received, about three times through for either, I clearly didn’t connect the same way as I did to Signals, or even Farewell to Kings. Or for that matter, the first studio album I ever heard from the lads, Caress of Steel.
Last nights show, apropos, was like two concerts, or as I told my kid, they were their own warmup band. The show started, like 20 minute late, causing your snide writer here to suggest that perhaps at their age, “Rush” isn’t the best name for the band, maybe “Paced” or “Geriatric Time”. I would also point out the crowd.. bunch of old fat guys like me.
The show started with a 10 minute video where we got to see Geddy Lee do his best Yiddish accent and drop some good Jewish humor, Geddy being one of the superstars of HebRock. Him, Bob Dylan and Gene Simmons. I’m not actually sure which book is thicker, the book of Jewish Rock Stars or Jewish Sports Stars. Actually, we have the book, “Jews Who Rock” so we’re going with that. My kid reminded me that all three Beastie Boys, Beck, Slash and the guitarist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers who OD’d are all my tribesmen.
Moving on.
The boys opened with Spirit of Radio, which got the crowd amped up. There was a time when we’d all stand up through an entire show, but by the third song, Presto, most of us old timers sat back down, arches aching and all.
Don’t get me wrong, the lads can flat out play and did. But, like me, and to quote Geddy “we’re not getting any younger up here” and proved it by taking a break. Couple highlights for me, towards the end of the first set, Freewill. Freewill, the most complicated song they play. The bridge, with the big guitar solo is probably my favorite Alex Lifeson lick of all time, and impossible to play. The set closed out with Subdivisions, a favorite of mine that has some of my favorite Rush lyrics.

The second half, a different show altogether. The set started with Tom Saywer, arguably their most recognizable song, an FM radio staple with a great hook. Then Red Barchetta, mine, and apparently a lot of other fans favorite Rush tune. I just dig the gearshift sound that Lifeson does on the guitar neck. They played most of the rest of Moving Pictures, followed with Caravan, one of the better Late Rush numbers.
Neil Peart took the next number a 15 minute drum solo that was as captivating as was technically perfect. The band came back on for Closer to the Heart, talk about your oldies, followed by the 2112 overture and Temples of Syrinx. The encore was La Villa Strangiato and one my all time favorites from WAAAAY back, Working man.
All in all it was a great show. I spend more time tweeting about the old crowd than I should have and I was video taping a few numbers before Security came up to my section looking for people like me.
This has been a banner year for me and concerts. After a 20 year hiatus from real concerts I’ve seen, with Red mind you, AC/DC, Metallica, Dark Star Orchestra and Rush. BTW, going back to DSO in October, but they don’t really count compared to the others, for one thing they don’t play their own material and they’re not exactly arena fillers, not that they aren’t enjoyable.
Of all the shows I’ve seen, this was probably the best from musical proficiency standpoint, Rush can bring it, all three of them at the top of the game on their respective instruments. Add in the State Fair crawl and it was a great day.


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May 18, 2010 · 5:00 pm

State Fair Music and Muszak

The entertainment lineup for the State Fair is being finalized now, among the acts we’ll be enjoying this summer; KISS, really I thought last winter they did their “this time we mean it” retirement tour. I guess when you get $70.00 a ticket from thousands of old fat guys the economics of retirement look different.

Rush, I’m pretty sure the same crowd who would pay for KISS would pay $70.00 for Rush. Count me in on that group, I’m going.  Now, I’m going to rationalize that Rush is more cerebral than Kiss, because they don’t wear makeup and their lyrics are evoke the spirit of Ayn Rand instead of teen angst, then again if you were to pass me a set of KISS tickets uh.. I’d go. Like a NASCAR race I’d be interested in seeing if this  is the night that Gene Simmons bursts in flames before our eyes.

BTW, Gene.. fluent in Hebrew.. who knew?

One sign that I’m nearing the end.. Rush, one of the bands who is responsible for soundtrack to my youth, the others being the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, have now joined the “an evening with”.group of acts.

An Evening With Rush…  

How far have we come? No wonder my kids laugh at me. “an evening” sort of show would be acts like George Benson or Yoyo Ma. Just goes to show how mainstream hard rock has become. Come to think of it I have very distinct memories of having lunch in 1976 at Lincoln Sr. Elementary School in Stockton CA. I would have been in the 8h Grade I think. Gary Ulrich, Mark Fagen and John someone were harassing me (something that would they would continue to do for the next 5 years BTW, before mostly winding up in prison) about music and making fun of me because I didn’t know about this great, cool, demonic, scary band called Kiss. I, was a nerd. Went out that day and used my lawn mowing money to get a copy of Destroyer. And now.. I just saw Lamb of God a few months ago with the kid, THAT was distrubing, Ozzy? KISS”  What ever were we afraid of back then?

The other act old guy act, and this is a total “evening with” sort of deal…. Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen. Ooo man, that’s really cleaning out the aging rocker home there. How those stars of “where are they now” got together I don’t know.

Michael McDonald was responsible for destroying one of the greatest biker bands of all time, the Doobies and because that I wish him nothing but ill. Boz Scaggs who I seriously thought was dead and Donald Fagen.. Steely Dan is one of the bands that I’m supposed to like as a music snob, but somehow I just can’t get past the snoozing melodies and crappy singing.

This show, I’m sure will be heavily populated by guys my age and older with gray pony tales and loafers, washing down their Lipitor and Cialis with white wine and bottled water. The days hosting the girlfriend, now wife, on ones shoulders at a concert so she can throw her bra up on stage are probably over now. At $100.00 a ticket you don’t want throw your back out or have your vision impaired by your topless old lady who at 25 was a lovely 36C but at 55 is a 38L (long) and now covers your eyes and ears. Just say’n.

47, it’s not the new 30 in exactly every way I’m afraid.

Actually I would expect that a show of aging has beens would be more of a catch for the failed Burnsville Performing Arts Center, the mulit-million dollar concert hall in neighboring Burnsville that sits empty night after night, week after week… year .. Glad I’m not paying for that one.

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August 12, 2009 · 8:45 pm

Health Care- Can we have debate and stop the spin?

Head is swimming on the heath care issue right now. In too many ways to keep track.

I’ve had a long track record of supporting a single payer, national health insurance plan that would guarantee coverage for everyone. I feel even stronger about this now than when I was a Mother Jones reading college student at dear old Chico State. I like the Canadian example, and would like to see something like implemented here. I kind of reject the idea that Canadians are flocking across the border to be treated in the United States, that they hate their health plan, aren’t able to get the care they need or that the aged are put out to pasture.

The biggest difference that I can tell from the Canadian system and our own, and this comes from family investigation mind you, meaning that my grandparents and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins on my Mothers side of the family live in Montreal or Toronto, are two fold. Canadians do find themselves waiting for certain procedures, elective mostly.. That new knee that you wanted may be a couple months before you get it, where in the United States, its next week. There are stories about emergency rooms and hours and hours of waiting, about transfers to US hospitals, treatment of high profile Provincial Government officials being treated in the Unites States for cancer.. The other big difference? Insurance. In the Canada, doctors bill one insurance company. And, while Canadian doctors make less money on average than doctors in United States, especially in Family Practice and GP, they also enjoy lower malpractice rates and insurance adjudication fees.

The stats however show that the number of Canadians crossing border for health issues is miniscule, and is countered by the number of American crossing the border for drugs and clinical visits. In addition, mortality rates for diseases is about the same in Canada slightly higher in heart disease and certain cancers, slightly lower is some, bottom line? Life expectancy in Canada is 81 years, the United States its about 79 years.

In addition, Consumer Reports has found that 40% of Americans do not have adequate coverage for catastrophic illness, 16% do not have coverage at all. American spends 16% of our GDP on heathcare, Canada 10%. That’s a big spread with very small differences. What gives? I believe that the big difference is the role the insurance companies play in our equation. Private insurance in not an efficient vehicle for managing health care across our society simply put. It puts us in a position where your ability to pay determines your access and your outcome. Free Market folks would tell you that this how it’s supposed to be, it’s unfortunate but it creates motivation for the resource sucking poor folks to improve their situation. Ironically these are the same people who attend Churches and Synagogues, call themselves religious.. (sic) Talk about ignoring the tenants of their faith.. or maybe they just like to pick the tenants they like, ignore the poor on healthcare because that’s going cost me but emphasize the sins of being homosexual and deny people their due process when they want to marry.. (sorry I digress)

My own belief is that in a country as wealthy as ours no one should not have access to health care. Matter of fact, I would go so far as to say it’s a human right, maybe not called out in the constitution, but morally it something we’re should be doing. We love the disparage the French in this country, fact is they one of the finest healthcare systems in the world. Life expectancies higher than ours, infant mortality higher than ours, access to healthcare, universal.

I get the joke that we’re no where near close to that in America. I get that our system is bought and paid for by forces bigger than government, because frankly, they pay for government. (sic) But what I don’t get, and what isn’t  to much to ask for, is open debate about the issue, lets discuss options, what works what doesn’t work.. Where we’re going it down right ugly, and I’ll be honest, in my opinion as un-American as fascism. Oh wait, that’s what were dealing with here..

Reading the news about how Obama wants to euthanize old folks with death committees that will dole out care on a quality of life basis. We certainly don’t want the government doing that. Honestly, this is such a red herring is disgusting. I would even put forward that we already have this. In this country. Case in point, me.

A few years ago I was interested in starting a small business. I looked into the options, had a plan, and looked into how much private heath insurance was going to cost my family. What I learned at that time.. I can’t get private health insurance. I’m uninsurable because I had a melanoma cut off my back about six years go. As a result, no agency I talked with would insure me. One concession I got; we can right a policy but it will dictate that no cancer related treatments in your future will be covered. But I don’t have cancer. But you might and as a result should you get diagnosed with cancer, we will not cover any surgeries, drug therapy or oncology visits.

In other words if, down the road I get a non-related cancer, my only option is to die? Apparently their perspective is no, and this killed me (so tp speak), “you can be treated, we just aren’t going to cover it because of a pre-existing condition.” . The choice would be; put the family in financial ruin so I can get treated or just slip away. I was accused of being dramatic, but that about what it comes to… and then you have to ask what a life might be worth financially. My point being, the end of life committee is already in place and functioning. Now, realistically as long as I stay employed for a company with a group insurance plan I should be Ok. That’s great news, unless you lose your job or want to strike it out on your own.

What I’d like to get out this whole exercise is a open dialogue about this countries healthcare system. I’d like for Rush and Ann and all the folks on Talk Radio to either engage in the discussion or shut the hell help. Communicating a string of lies about a proposal that has not yet passed, telling grandma that she’s going to be sent out to pasture or that everyone all their doctors will be replaced by government employees is ridiculous. Comparing the president to Hitler and Nazism is downright disgusting and shouldn’t tolerated at all.

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