"YYZ" live in RIO is EPIC...Rush had never played South America and didn't know how popular they were. After persistent begging from concert promoters.....they sold out soccer stadiums , and the crowds went OFF.... even singing to the instrumental "YYZ".....

3 of the most amazing musicians you will ever hear. We Canadians were so lucky to have them and love them.

@user-jp6in7fx9c

4 ай бұрын

And you know, none of them ever studied music except Alex, for about a year. Amazingly, completely self taught.

@paulgale2565

2 ай бұрын

Fan from the early 70s and watching their progress thru the years I think the whole world was lucky to have them and love them. RIP PROFEESOR. ✌

You know you're in for a ride when there's more guitar necks than musicians. 😊

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@highendservicesbarrieont8347

4 ай бұрын

Truth😂😂😂😂

🤯 Another Rush reactor blown away. They never disappoint. Working Man, Live in Cleveland will give you an even greater appreciation for Alex Lifeson's guitar chops, plus Spirit of Radio, live 2003 Toronto (Molson Rocks). His talents were very much on par with his bandmates.

Nice reaction, Mark. The song 'La Villa Strangiato' is a good showcase for Alex Lifeson's guitar playing.

@markstromberg1148

3 ай бұрын

And for Neil Peart's drumming, which matches the music to perfection!

Here's a nugget that makes me love Rush all the more. They had an earlier album, Caress Of Steel, and it was not met with huge commercial success. The label called them to their offices in the US and threatened them, saying they wanted shorter radio-ready songs. The went back to Canada and wrote the album 2112, on which the title track took up the ENTIRE first side. This is on their follow up to that album, Farewell to Kings, and this track actually has essentially two 2 1/2 minute introductions before they get into the song... they would NOT be told what to do! Rush loved to tell stories, and well, stories often took more than 3 minutes to tell. Also, the lyrics and melodies often don't fit into standard times. To make the lyrics and melodies flow, they often transition into and out of time signatures. As for Neil Peart, it's been said that drummers play to metronomes and metronomes play to Neal Peart. They're all virtuoso on their instruments, and this song really highlights it.

To think that this is just three dudes, where every sound you hear is being played live off the stage by just them. No samples. No triggers, both of which will get used, sometimes extensively, this was Rush as a true three piece, guitar bass and drum band. They were from another planet. Both the bass player and the guitarist are not only playing their main instruments, but foot pedal synthesizers through out. The guitarist, Alex Lifeson, plays the bass synth lines with his feet in this, and the bassist, keyboardist, vocalist, Geddy Lee, plays the high synth, counter melodies, with his feet. All while playing his bass, and singing, There’s so much for you to discover about this band and their body of work! It’s a really amazing ride. There was/is no one like them. You either get them or you don’t. No matter how many genres or sounds this band went through, it’s all somehow, just Rush. Ridiculous chops, amazing songs, amazing lyrics, amazing production, amazing journeys; through the entire catalog. Enjoy!!!

@fretless05

26 күн бұрын

What makes it even crazier is that Geddy Lee also plays rhythm guitar towards the end of the song...

This is one of the greatest live performances ever.🔥

@gregdasilva3548

4 ай бұрын

agreed. The best

Yes, Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist whose creativity is so often overshadowed behind Neal Peart's drums and Geddy Lee's bass and synth. He's RUSH's "Secret Weapon". What he does on guitar so perfectly meshes into what the rest of the band is doing that you don't notice it because you can't imagine it being any other way - it's perfection.

Rush could seamlessly switch between time signatures multiple times within one song, and believe me, Geddy could sing in all of them.

Geddy’s instrument is a 4-string bass on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom (Rickenbacker 4080/12). I wish they showed it better, but he switches to guitar from Alex’s solo until the end, and the bass tones are played on the Moog Taurus pedals. That’s another part the video doesn’t show well, but Geddy is often playing synth parts with the pedals while singing and playing bass. Go to 12:50 where he starts singing, and you can see him looking down and his feet moving. Not only is he badass on bass, but the multitasking is incredible.

By your reaction to your first encounter with Rush, almost as in awe as I was the first time I heard Xanadu, I can confidently say, welcome to the Rush rabbit hole and the band that will change your life musically forever, like you are hearing music for the first time all over again. And congratulations for discovering them at a younger age than I, because you are likely to have many more years left to enjoy these master musicians and song writers than I. I grew up in the time of Rush, unfortunately I can't say I grew up with Rush though. I always loved prog rock from a young age, due to an older brother and sister who introduced it all to me starting in the 70's through an 8-track stereo in a 68 Galaxy 500 muscle car with side pipes(I was born in 68 when Rush first formed and was 6 years old when they released their first album) with classic bands like Kansas, Styx, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Super Tramp and the list goes on, but no Rush. My educated guess now is that they didn't know about Rush because due to the length of early years Rush songs they were not radio friendly 2-4 minute songs, so few of their songs were played on rock radio, and the bands my siblings listened to were the ones they heard on the radio. Of course Rush did have a sprinkling of "radio friendly" singles that I did hear over the years on the radio, but it was only about a half-dozen songs. All great songs and I loved them all, but I fell for the commercial music industry trap of believing that if it wasn't played on the radio then it must not be any good. So I assumed those half-dozen songs I did hear were Rush's only good songs. Fast forward to 2022 and the heart of the pandemic, and I am then 53 years old and for the first time I start really getting into KZread, previously only searching for specific videos, mostly how-to videos or regarding my hobbies. Then I discover reaction videos and intrigued I started watching a few and eventually came across reactions of Rush, songs I'd never heard before including these epic length prog-rock symphonies. I was in complete shock of how great they were in every way, and how every song I heard next from them was not only great, but seemed always better than the last. There seemed to be no such thing as a bad song from this amazing band Rush! Of course over the past few years I've heard the entire discography of about 180 songs and there are 1 or 2 songs I don't care for, I don't even dislike them I just feel nothing for them either way, but I truly love the other ~178 songs and my favorite is always the one I am currently listening too! I was mentally kicking myself for weeks afterward for never looking into Rush sooner, decades sooner when I might have had the chance to see them live. I thank God that I did dive into the Rush rabbit hole and didn't die without hearing and having the profound greatness of Rush in my life. Since then I have collected all of their vinyl album studio recordings as well as the CD versions to listen to in my old work truck that still has a player in it (6 disc too). Plus several live and anniversary box-set versions of studio albums. I've spent thousands upgrading my stereo since just to better hear Rush! Including vintage equipment like reel-to-reel tape, so I can copy my albums to a quality of media that will retain the LP quality and not wear out my albums that I otherwise would. I upgraded a vintage Pioneer turn table with a new needle and cartridge costing hundreds and much more, all just to hear all of Rush's discography in the best way I can afford my audio/video system is a mix of great vintage and modern tech. I am knowledgeable about electronics and refurbish vintage audio and video equipment. Since becoming a member of the Rush army, I find it difficult to listen to any other bands anymore, classic or newer, as none of them stack up to Rush and all I do is miss the virtuosity of Rush when I listen to everything else. To me, if I took the greatest rock bands of all time and put there music and skill on a visual basis of being among the clouds, then in that visual Rush would be on the Moon. My personal opinion is that all three of these masters are the best drummer, bassist and lead guitarist of all time bar-none. My old favorite musicians play like armatures in comparison.

You are spot on about Alex Lifeson. He is brilliant as a musician. He was doing layering of his sound long before others. Few understand how much he fills the sound space for the bad. Other bands need two to three guitarist to fill the space for what he does. All the while being a true musician and taking his ego out of the picture and playing to the song and not showing off. You see this when he has collaborated with other bands, he doesn't go in and give them an over the top solo but fills in a space in the song to elevate it. A true underrated master.

Your observation of Alex Lifeson as a guitarist resonates with me. As a Rush fan, I have often felt he is underrated in the guitar community. I’ve long admired his ability to weave in and out of the forefront. One moment he provides a textured mood in the rhythm section; the next he lays down an evocative solo. I look to songs like this along with The Trees, La Villa Strangiato, and present-day Clockwork Angels. Thank you for the reaction.

Great note on their very intentional use of the harmonic spectrum, toms and otherwise. They put so much care into the blended sound and the parameters and structure of what they’re doing, that they’re then free to just riff on that almost to keep themselves interested once they’ve mastered the patterns. (Sometimes the patterns get so hard there’s no time for riffing but that’s rare lol)

This is a pretty high level song for your second time with Rush.

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

How did I do? 😂

@obiwanbenobi4943

5 ай бұрын

@@markabusireactions Excellent as far as I'm concerned. :) You enjoyed it and had fun and got to hear something you'd not heard before and didn't wet yourself.

@davidmonk4814

4 ай бұрын

I concur. I often get memberberries when I see people (especially when they are younger and from different cultures),enjoy the music and friendship of the band.

Alex is in my top 5 guitar players of all time. Being a 3 piece band, Alex is the glue that holds down the melodic end of the instrumentation. He fills in the empty musical space to make the song sound whole. His guitar solos in many Rush song are unique and creative. The more you go down the Rush rabbit hole the more you appreciate just how much of a monster guitarist he is.

I’ve seen Rush live 13 times in my 58 years and they were my favorite band of all time until I heard five young ladies from Japan play a song called “Thrill.” Rush is now a close second.

Eddie Van Halen was asked,, who's the best guitarist in the world and said,,go ask Alex Lifeson,,and as for Neil,,I met him in Vancouver in 1997,,and he inspired me to play drums 🤟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💥

The Kings of the time signature changes. The more you listen, youll learn...I hope learn some patients. Every Rush song has a story and purpose. Never a wasted note or beat, always on played at the precise time. 3 master musicians each holding up their part of the amazing music they create. Fan since the early 70s, certainly the most iconic 3 piece band of all time. Enjoy your Rush journey. Btw, stopping the tape during an Alex solo is criminal.✌

3 absolute technicians with the artistic chops to project that mastery. And oh, absolutely slay while they're doing it. 👍

Geddy Lee's double neck is a bass guitar on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom neck.. During Alex's solo and in the outdo, Geddy is playing the bottom neck and bass pedals. It's hard to see in this video but it is definitely audible.

@filipusfontanus

5 ай бұрын

Finally someone noticed! I`ve never seen it mentioned in any reaction video (and I never took the time to point it out).

@bluesaloon

5 ай бұрын

@@filipusfontanus It's noticeable in the official video from 1977. It's easier to see as Geddy only has the Mini Moog on stage.

As for Alex's virtuosity, I suggest the following: Working Man (live in Cleveland) Limelight La Villa Strangiato BU2B Analog Kid Bastille Day Camera Eye Natural Science Oh, and 2112, of course. When you're ready... 2112. PS - You should probably listen to live versions of every suggestion above, save perhaps for 2112. PPS - Peart was pronounced just like it is spelled: P-ear-T, not P-ur-T.

Rush were a three legged stool and they all can be considered masters of their instruments. Spend more time and you get hooked deeper and deeper and see how they all performed as a band and friends. Exit, Stage Left has to be in the top 5 of live performance albums ever. Incredible stuff!

The thing about Alex Lifeson is, yes, he was blessed (yes, blessed) to play beside Geddy and Neil who really are the leads in any of their material. What Alex does is colours the music and gives it texture. Not only that, his guitar parts are absolutely phenomenal! His solos may sound chaotic but that's deliberate and of a lot of them are so tasteful (Limelight for example) it's unreal! Enjoy your Rush journey. You will not be sorry...….

In my earlier comment I neglected to mention what I appreciated about your reaction - it's that you were carefully listening, as a musician, to the care and caution these three people took to get the sounds of their music right not just in the studio, but in their live performances. They worked tirelessly to ensure that their fans at concerts could hear that care, and that their live performances were every bit as excellent as what they created in studio for those who only bought albums.

If you'd like to see three more examples of how seriously underrated Alex was, I'd like to recommend Limelight and Freewill from this same show, and The Camera Eye from the Time Machine Tour. Cheers from Canada! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐

Ok, so the bass synth. A large portion of the time they used Moog Taurus pedals for that, much like the bass pedals on a organ. Alex had a set, Geddy had two, one by the keyboard rig and one by his front stage mic. Here they used it down low for bass when Geddy was playing synth. On many other tracks during this period they would do an octave shift and use a string or choir patch up high, typically playing the root of the chords while Geddy played bass. Post 2000 they had a lot more cameras on stage for their videos and sometimes you actually get to see an overhead of Geddy or Alex with their foot on the pedals. They were a three man symphony orchestra.

This is one of my all time favorite pieces of music and one of the most incredible performances of all time. So great on so many levels. RIP Neil Peart !!

Meet the masters of the meter changes - RUSH! They were mathematical/compositional geniuses as well as virtuoso musicians, and managed to make music that integrated time signature changes seamlessly.

Notable things I felt you missed: 1. Geddy was using bass pedal synthesizers as a well as his double-neck bass and various synthesizers 2. You didn't seem to notice that Geddy and Alex were carrying on a conversation when they were playing the faster sections at centre stage which always blows me away This is the list of instruments from their album "A Farewell to Kings" from which this song is from: Geddy Lee - vocals, bass and twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizers. Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizers. Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, wind chimes, bell tree, vibraslap, triangle, tubular bells, temple blocks. There are probably other instruments they used in concert in addition (or instead of) the above. Glad you enjoyed the video though.

That was a fantastic reaction and one of the best I’ve seen to this performance. I’m sure someone has pointed it out but in case nobody has, both Geddy and Alex are also using foot pedals throughout the song (synth and bass respectively). Once you watch them doing that it’s an even more incredible performance. There are a couple times where Alex goes from 12-string to 6-string in milliseconds- I’m not sure how many viewers see it-most reactors don’t (or they just don’t mention it). Looking forward to more RUSH reactions from you! Cheers

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Aw thanks!!! I really appreciate that!

@dignan4

5 ай бұрын

@@markabusireactions🤘🏼

Going right for the gut punch, no hesitation, right into Xanadu. I am impressed that you jumped in like this, head first. There is alot of music to hear from this band. So many genres throughout their 40 year career.

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Everyone told me I should do it, and I figured fuck it lol. How did I do? 😂

@michaelmccombs2959

5 ай бұрын

@@markabusireactions lol, you made some comment about not having the skill to react to this music. None of us do, just talk about what comes to you as you listen. Prog is about the movement, and the flow. Another band with great flow is (Older) Genesis.

Our three Canadian masters! My boys 40 yrs of awesome music.... Hey La villa Stangiato! Cheers

Welcome to the family

One of the best live performances ever! The guitar solo was the climax. Incredibly constructed song…if you can call it that.

You are right, Alex in any other band would probably be the "star", but in Rush, there were no stars, just 3 best friends wanting to be the smallest orchestra ever.... no egos, just wanting to make the music speak for itself and just loving the sounds they made together... and if you didn't notice, all of their feet were performing as much or more than the rest of their bodies. Just 3 incredible talents who just also happened to be best friends.... and it shows!!!!

I liked your reaction so much that I came back to hear it again this evening. When you addressed the complexity of the music, it reminded me of the premier episode of a podcast I watched on KZread last year. It was called "Shred with Shifty," hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chtis Shiflett. His very first guest was Mr Alex Lifeson and the subject was his haunting guitar solo from the Rush song, "Limelight." In watching it, we learn that the two men are just acquaintances, not close friends, as well as the fact that Lifeson is very generous with his time and/or just loves to talk technically about music. The part about which your comments reminded me can be found at the 41:30 mark. That's when Shiflett notes that Alex's performance is a lot more complicated than it first appeared. Alex's response is priceless, saying with a big smile trying to hide his incredulity, "But isn't that the point? ..."

Thank god for this band that went places other bands didn't.

In addition to vocals, bass, and synths, Geddy Lee also plays Taurus pedals, so he can play bass tones with his feet while his hands play synth, and vice versa. Alex has a set of pedals as well.

I'm glad you can admit that these guys are some level of complexity and cohesiveness above what you can figure out as a bass player yourself. Imagine what that was like when this first came out to some kid who'd not really understood music or music theory well at all and then that I could fall hard for this band and keep following it through the years. It was something my brain loved (and still does) that no other band really got. I liked the geeky lyrics and all the stuff I couldn't dance to. :) I still don't dance. :)

If you have any more doubts about Neil Peart, being the greatest drummer ever, check out his drum solo from Frankfurt. There is a section where he is playing in two different time signatures simultaneously.

The stick toss by Neil at 19:33 is absolutely honey. Not sure you caught it as you looked away at that split second. I still insist this is the best live performance of any song, by any band ever. You don't even need to like the song but for 3 guys to perform this is insane.

You were right about the bass synth. Geddy used a set of bass pedals which left his hands free to play his regular keyboards and/or guitar. I understand he also used the pedals to trigger programmed sequences.

@chalfo

5 ай бұрын

Not just Geddy, Alex also had them (every time he went back to his mic position, if it wasn't a section change, he had a pedal part - he's also playing them when he's on the main opening riff). Althuogh on this one you can't see their feet, they're both dancing around on them. The sequences came much later in their career, all these were single notes. *** actually not quite right - they included some samples from the moog which did have effects added (like the bass growl in opening of Tom Sayer, but still essentially single notes (not yet full sequences) ***

I'm just going to add that the three of us had also read the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem that inspired the piece. 🤘✌️

I believe Neil was asked what a Rush performance was like and he said “ it’s like running a marathon while doing advanced calculus in your head.”

A true masterpiece!

Simply, thet are the most talented 3 piece band ever, no ifs, no buts, utter genius.

This is one of the best Rush reactions I have evet seen. Thank you, Mark. As a long time Rush fan and non-musician I learned a lot from you. I can't wait to see more.

@markabusireactions

4 ай бұрын

Aw thank you! You have no idea how much that means ☺️

Alex Lifeson is the most underrated or under-appreciated guitarist in rock history. He stands on the same level as both of his bandmates, but is often unfairly overlooked. Check out Working Man Live in Cleveland 2011.

My two (still) oldest and dearest friends and I went to two shows on this tour. We had the records and we're all musicians (or something like that). The fact that they could do that live and, as you say, manage the technical mastery of a song that complex and be laughing and playing push-back? Just a little bit of trivia, that Ricky is a 12 string and standard 4 string bass. First of it's kind ever produced, specifically commissioned by Geddy to be able to play live as authentically as possible. Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Great reaction. Loved your comments. That was fun. This is an amazing performance. Would love to see some more Rush on the Channel.

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

You will!

I think Geddy’s ability to play and sing entirely different things really shines in Circumstances. It’s crazy what he’s doing in that song!

@matthewhoag2609

5 ай бұрын

That’s a good example. Big Money always comes to mind for me. I’ve seen him do it live and still don’t know how he pulls it off!

As to the Alex Lifeson, you said it perfectly. 👌🎼

Progressive Rock is more of an experience, it has classical music influences. Alex Lifeson the guitarist is the rock of the band. He is a brilliant guitarist! All three of them are musical geniuses. To see Alex showcased more please check out La Villa Strangiato official music video Working man live in Cleveland. Your review had me cracking up with laughter at times. Cheers 🇨🇦

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Well thank you! I do try and be entertaining as I go 😂

I'd definitely recommend Jacob's Ladder or Natural Science from Permanent Waves or The Camera Eye from Moving Pictures. They really marked the end of Rush's prog, longer song era.

Geddy lee is actually playing that synth bass with his feet, he got a Moog bass pedal synth and plays simultaneously the bass guitar and synth bass at the same time while singing lol, sad the camera position was good to capture it. Also Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist/composer, I've always seen all 3 members of the band to be equally as impressive and influencal

every sound is a human performance by three people. no computers. every note, every placement of percussion is a human performance and human emotion. Live.

Somebody’s got to be the third best god in a band with three gods. I’d take it.

Deeeeze here....was phukkkking bad-ass to tha freeeekin' bone.....big daaawwwgggg! THANK YOU!

The instrument Geddy is playing is a bass and 12 string guitar I believe. They blend/layer their music in such away as make themselves sound like an orchestra. Alex Lifeson is indeed an under rated guitar player publicly but a lot of great players cite him as an influence (e.g. John Petruci - Dreamtheatre) but his great skill to is - as you observed was to augment and re-enforce the melodic structure of the songs. However, I would argue that he really shines in "La Villa Strangiato" a 9 min instrumental extravaganza that really show cases is chops. My two cents.

Alex Lifeson (the guitarist) has mostly been in the background for 2 reason. Neil Peart and Geddy lee wrote most of the songs, so its a good guess that more time was spent on their parts than Alex's parts. But id bet by bottom dollar that Alex is in the top 10 Guitarists to ever play. the last reason is mostly due to it being able to stand out when your sharing the stage with the greatest rock drummer and one of the greatest bass players to pick up the instrument. Put Alex in a regular band and he easily stands out.

@calvinhobbes2680

5 ай бұрын

Not entirely accurate. Neil was the lyricist while Geddy and Alex wrote the majority of the music.

@satan4057

5 ай бұрын

@@calvinhobbes2680 i knew Neil wrote the lyrics to most of their songs, i was under the assumption that him and Geddy were responsible for most of the song building. e.g. the tempo, structure, theme ect.

@justimprovising

5 ай бұрын

@@satan4057 No, Alex and Geddy cowrote almost all the music, sometimes from jamming together but also from creative ideas of Alex's, which Geddy would then piece together. Alex brings more of the spontaneous creativity, Geddy more of the editing and arranging.

@satan4057

5 ай бұрын

@@justimprovising thanks for the info, i must have been mistaken all these years lol. makes me appreciate Alex a whole lot more. cheers!

Alex Lifeson is one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. No, he's not flashy but it's because of the way he adapts his style to fill out the sound in a three piece band that people are stunned to find out there's only three people producing that huge, full sound. Watch more and you'll recognize it.

No Rush fan would ever downplay the role of Alex...he was and is a phenomenal guitar player !!

Eddy Van Halen was asked in an interview, if he was the best guitar player ever. He said, (something to this), you'd have to Alex Lifeson LUL

When the double neck guitar/bass and Taurus Moog pedals received high attention from musicians and audiences.

Geddy’s guitar is a double-neck four string bass with a 12 string guitar.

Great reaction video! Great commentary too…✌️🎤 for those new to Rush and want to hear something that will blow your mind from this Canadian legend of a band, listen to the song, The Camera Eye, from their Moving Pictures album… it’s widely considered a master piece of musicality and lyrical genius….😎🔥🎸🥁

My man! I just subbed! This is one of the best reactions I've seen!

@markabusireactions

4 ай бұрын

Aw thank you!! I really appreciate that!

The violin sort of sound in the intro is Alex doing volume swells with his pedal. Also, notice when Alex switches from the 12-string to the six, he very deftly whacks the pickup switch on the front of the guitar as he transitions. The main theme is actually 4/4 with an anticipated beat One. Finally, at the end of the song (starting with the guitar solo), Geddy Lee plays only the Moog Taurus bass pedals while playing the six-string electric on his double-neck, holding down the rhythm while Alex rips his lead lines.

@rattan3793

4 ай бұрын

Geddy' doubleneck is actually a 12 string on the bottom. They are hard to see but there are 12 tuners on that small headstock, 6 pointing outward from the sides of the head and 6 pointing to the rear.

React to RUSH - Neil Peart drum solo Frankfurt Germany

The solo section in Freewill is one of the best examples of Rush as elite tier musicians forming an elite level musical experience as they play individually together to produce a band solo.

Saw them live for the Permanent Waves tour when I was 16

If you want to hear a song where Geddy's vocal part is completely different from his bass part, listen to "Turn The Page" from Hold Your Fire. There is a live version from the Show of Hands tour. And, once you react to "Working Man" (live in Cleveland, Time Machine Tour) and "La Villa Strangiato" (live PinkPop), you will realize Alex Lifeson is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists in the history of Rock.

Bytor and the Snow Dog from the same Exit Stage Left recording is just too much fun to miss. Put it on your list

The entire concert video, “Exit…Stage Left”, is worthy of a reaction as the sound quality and camera footage is spot on point!✌️😎🎤🔥

Ooooh, Cool. Gonna need a fresh cup of tea for this one. ;-)

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Settle in lol

Hello, sir. I just stumbled upon your channel bc of the song, obviously, and I must say - you're a unique reactor. I have to admit some of your words fly right past me - I'm American so that shouldn't surprise anyone. 😁 But the stuff I catch is interesting, funny and straight to the point, (as much as poss with Rush). I know you felt confused at points about the time signatures and sounds you were hearing, and the visuals of these guys doing their thing. Don't worry, friend - you're not alone. I've been a fan since starting my musical journey around 11-12 years old. In fact, I believe they were my first love. I listened to the album, 2112, (pronounced 21-12), and it changed my life. (Highly recommend listening to the song 2112 which is the entire side A of the vinyl.) They were my first concert when I was 13. It was this tour in 1981!!! Point is, I still don't know what the fuck is going on on that stage or in the studio. These 3 are more like scientists than musicians to me. Wizards. And yes, this song didn't give a lot of love toward Alex until the end - UNLESS, you were paying attention to the intro of the intro when Mr Alex got the ball rolling with sounds that I didn't know a guitar can make. AND, he continued to carry the song throughout, when others were more prominent. For me, that's why their songs never get old. I can choose an instrument to focus on for each time I listen to a song again. I still pick up new notes and stuff, (I'm not a musician), that keep me wanting more. I'm going to watch your Tom Sawyer vid next so I don't know if you noticed yet - when Alex has a solo, the other two don't just hold the rhythm while Alex shreds. No sir! They go crazy a lot of the times with their own solos. It's insane. Geddy and Neil are both going mental while Alex has the "solo". Tom Sawyer has some great examples. Very curious if you picked up on it. See you there!

@markabusireactions

4 ай бұрын

Welcome to the channel!! ☺️☺️

YYZ, Red barchetta, spirit to the radio!!!!

Man, I could listen to you talk for a while and not get bored. You're funny. It's a good reaction. Based on your takeaways from Xanadu, I think you're ready...Natural Science - Live 1997/06/30 - Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Ontario CAN. Make sure you do this one. You'll even see Geddy communicate to the soundboard (is that what it's call?) at the beginning, which lines up with your main takeaway - Rush is a professional band. Hilarious. I think you'll be blown away again.

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Aw thank you! I appreciate that so much! ☺️☺️

They were about as far from a jam band as you could get. Everything across all parts was written note for note, rehearsed, and then performed that way. They did it that way for the 40+ years they recorded and toured. They'd put some small changes into older songs here and there, or maybe get a little looser with a drum or bass fill in certain spots, but for the most part everything was done note for note as written and recorded.

Right on. Thanks for sharing.

Starting my high school years when RUSH came on the scene set my expectations of musicality a step or two higher than the E,D,A chords I started out with on guitar. Thank you, RUSH...thank you, Mark, for your solid reaction.

Yeah. He is a very underrated guitarist. 2112 will straighten you out.

As many things as you noticed are as many things as you missed as well. On a first-time watch/listen, i don't blame you, though. There are so many finite details in this song. There were two times you missed some cool stick tosses by Neil Peart because you either paused or looked away at the wrong second. Enjoyed your reaction, though! Keep checking out, Rush!! I've been listening to them for over 40 years! And yes, Alex Lifeson is a criminally underrated guitarist.

🙋🏿‍♀️ May I suggest 'La Villa Strangiato' or 'Working Man Live in Cleveland' 🥰🐰

People often say Rush played in time signatures that don’t exist.

Boy are you in for a treat with these guys....

I think you did a gr8 job breaking down the song and seeing the genious behind it!

@markabusireactions

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Mark, welcome to Rushworld! You're going to love this journey, brother. What you should know about Xanadu is the following: 1) lyrics are based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Kahn: a Vision in a Dream" epic-poem fragment. Neil Peart, the drummer AND lyricist, got a buzz on the poem and decided to write lyrics as a interpretation of the original 18th century poem. Yes, the drummer is the lyricist. He's also the author of many books. 2) Rush test-drove the early version of this song on some of their early-1977 tour before going into the studio in late summer. Mark, the version you hear on the album (an album called "A Farewell to Kings") was TAKE # 1. The FIRST take is the one they used on the record. That's how prepared they were, by the time they went to record that freaking epic song! Amazing! and 3) Rush, you will soon find out if you haven't sussed it already, is "the Thinking Man's" Rock band. You will be uplifted and challenged by their lyrics. Really amazing work by Neil Peart (with only a handful of songs written by the other members). Anyway, this is going to be fun! You should listen to "Free Will" next!!

The guitar sound at the start is called a "Swell" it's achieved by using a volume pedal ( with some echo in the sound as well). You basically pick the note with the volume pedal position at zero then use the pedal to "feed' the note in, then repeat. It sounds incredible doesn't it?

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

Damn right it does hahaha

I saw Rush 38 times since 1979 hemispheres tour. Alex is honestly an immensely talented guitarist, that is less technical, emotive and brilliant songwriter. His technicality and speed can be heard in his solos on Natural Science, essentially a blues guitarist in a prog rock band. His chords are unique like in Hemispheres, his phrasing and composition unique, like in La Villa. But, his combined skill of compositional playing, expressive solos, and unique sound, makes him one of the best guitarists in rock history. He’s 33.1/3% strong in each category. Well rounded and everything a guitarist should be. Whereas other great guitarists, like Van Halen were fast and technical, but songwriting not as strong. Jimmy Page amazing songwriting, but sloppy soloist. Alex has it all. The only guutarists I’d say are right there with Alex are Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, and Jeff Beck.

Trust me when i say, Alex takes a back seat to no guitar player. He is, was, and will always be considered one of rocks greats. He has so much range. All three i believe are equals in talent. Just sayin' peace to you bro...

La villa strangiato is another rush classic

Alex IS the best guitarist ever-solely on the merit of him being ‘THE ONLY ONE’ to be able to hang with the best bassist and drummer ever. He writes, records, produces, performs the music, in collaboration with the other two, and his parts ‘serve’ the song vs the song showcasing his guitar. He’s created his own style and can play any style more fluently than most players of that particular genre. Not to mention his body of work, longevity, and amount of time spent touring period, would and should put him in the top three guitarist of all time-my 🥇but then again I’m biased sooo…🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎹🎤🥇🇨🇦🎼

FYI it was Neil speaking at the start. They could seamlessly switch time signatures iin a song.

See Working Man in Live in Cleveland and freak out while all 3 boys play solos at the same time!

Great reaction and will considered observations. Alex and Geddy are both playing Taurus pedals, to provide background sounds. If you watch Alex, when he first goes into that repetitive sequence after the intro, you'll notice him looking down and his right leg playing the bass notes. Regarding your "jam session" comment, it couldn't be further from the truth. They've got this down, pretty much spot on. Even the studio recording was a brief play through, for a sound check, then one take. They'd been playing it live for some months, prior to going in the studio.

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

It was more of a joke comment than anything else, I just meant that it’s so chaotic it feels like it’s just a jam session. I’m very aware that it isn’t 😂

@AnthonyKellett

5 ай бұрын

@@markabusireactions - Yes... I did understand that (you even said as much, in the video) 👍🏽

@markabusireactions

5 ай бұрын

@@AnthonyKellett I can’t remember everything I say lol, i literally just spew out whatever pops into my head lol

Great reaction as always. Yeah, there's a ton here to deal with. I left more extensive comments in the Patreon. You may have leapt to their most impressive song here with this one, thought there's a lot left to look at. If you want a very short, catchy Rush song to take a break from the epics, try Closer to the Heart.

The boys took their music very seriously. They just didn't take themselves too seriously. The further you go, The further you'll know... Rest in Power, Professor.