griffin738 wrote:+ one billion that this is one of the best stories ever!
And I LOVE the new meet & greet photo with Alex and Geddy - - so very cool!!!!
I saw a show on this tour and completely agree that the band is in fine form. Excellent performance and I really loved the opening film segments that kicked off both sets. As a bass worshiper, I was stoked to see Geddy mostly on the four-string and not so much on the keys.
I also just saw the Beyond the Lighted Stage DVD and thought it was great - - outside of Neil's books, I'd never gotten much insight into their personal lives & history... Well worth watching, if even only to review their oh-so-fashionable hair styles. . .
Paul & Co.,
It's easy to forget just how good these guys are until you see them in action. All three of them are virtuosos, and their on-the-fly musical chemistry can be breathtaking. I found myself shaking my head in awe and disbelief many times during the show.
I met with Neil for half an hour or so on his tour bus before the show--it was a good reunion. He showed us pictures of his 1-year-old daughter, and we heard all the latest motorcycling adventures (while Michael MapSourced out their route from Nashville to Tulsa for the following 2 days).
Surprisingly, when we left the bus when it was time for Neil to get ready for the show, we found a small group of fans outside, and one of them said, "Hey, I know you--you're Rick Foster, the guy who wrote the story about motorcycling with Neil Peart!" He then wanted his picture taken with me, and then so did his brother, etc. Such fun.
I told Geddy and Alex that I wanted them to really rock out on "Red Barchetta," and they did. Alex was quite a sport and even saluted me in the audience toward the end of the song, which, naturally, made my day even further.
Every time they do a tour, I'm afraid it might be their last, given how much work it is. But they actually seem to enjoy it, and, as Neil has said, they also feel an obligation to keep playing "because they can."
Rick
PS: I thought the videos were lots of fun, too. Did you notice that the post-show video featured the two stars from "I Love You Man"?