Cygnus and the Sea Monsters - One Night In Chicago 2005 (aka: Rush covers + old 70s children show = small masterpiece and a tear to my eye)

I have professed my love for the band Rush for most my life (late teens actually).  I'm not always onboard with bands performing cover songs of bands I hold in high regard (Rush being the biggest of them all). But there are two CDs which are exceptions to my rule;  Working Man (1996) which includes George Lynch, Jake E. Lee, James Murphy, Billy Sheehan and a slew of others....AND...this live show; Cygnus and the Sea Monsters - "One Night in Chicago".  I purchased the CD/DVD off Portnoy's website eleven years ago.  Time flies - crazy.  Looks like it's still available here: http://www.mikeportnoy.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=25 and Amazon too https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Chicago-CYGNUS-MONSTERS/dp/B001156MXW

This was recorded and filmed (there is a DVD version and of course it's posted via YouTube - I posted the video below) back in 2005.  It consists of Mike Portnoy (I'm sure you know who he is) on drums, Paul Gilbert (Racer X) on guitar, Sean Malone (Cynic) on bass and Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, Watchtower, Broken Teeth, Ignition) on vocals.  This hour long set is nothing short of incredible. The band blazes through 2112, Cygnus X-1, Hemispheres, and YYZ as if they were just warming up.  Mike, Paul and Sean are consummate pros and have more talent in the dirt on their fingernails than most people have at all.  The only low-light to this is Jason.  I love the work this guy does in his other bands, but his screeching and almost screaming/screeching until he's breathless did not fit this otherwise killer set.  There's more music than vocals, so another reason why I'm okay with this one.

It's a blast to listen to (and watch) the guys play pretty much note-for-note and not cringing hoping they'll do the songs justice, because they do them all justice and then some. And also capable of throwing in improv portions as well.  In showcase settings such as this (Drum Pad's 20th Anniversary) normally one person has the spotlight.  Even though Mike gets in a drum solo, it's not just the "Mike Portnoy Show".  I've been a fan of Paul's since the first Racer X was released in '86. He can play anything and proves how well versed he is in Rush and the styles of Alex Lifeson.  Same goes for Mike and his adaptation of Neil Peart.  NOBODY can play like Peart, but Mike does a fine job replicating many aspects of the songs. And Sean, who is an accomplished bass player and does an impeccable job nailing the songs.  No keyboards and that's okay because it would've taken away the rawness.

Note: I was pretty ecstatic over the fact Mike incorporated my beloved Sid & Marty Krofft 70s children show "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters".  I've included a video clip of the show's opening song at the very bottom. Ahhh, the 70s.

Cygnus And The Sea Monsters - One Night In Chicago (2005)

Scans of my physical CD:

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters opening song (1973-1975) - posted for good measure.

Rush’s “Moving Pictures” is 36 today

Rush’s eighth studio album, “Moving Pictures” was released 36 years ago today (Feb 12, 1981). I know many fans consider “2112” to be THE ONE, but this is the album that made me an certified Rush freak. Not that “2112”, “Hemispheres” or “Permanent Waves” sucked or anything, because I love those albums quite a bit.  But every song here just flowed perfectly.

The “Moving Pictures” tour would be the first time seeing Rush perform live – Albuquerque, NM / Tingley Coliseum 04/05/81 (support band: Golden Earring - they had a popular tune called "Twilight Zone") – I was in 8th grade. I cannot describe how I felt standing there watching this band just blow my mind. I knew every song off MP since I had listened to it constantly. I couldn’t believe every note was delivered by just three guys. I didn’t know how they’d pull it off in concert and figured (in my 14 yr old mind) they would have an extra musician on tour.  Yeeeaahnnnooo. Fourth guy? What, was I high?  My 14 year old mind was on overload.

This album would go on to become a standard in my household as the years went on.  Eventually affecting my daughter enough to get used to hearing it every October.  And for whatever reason, Rush is seasonal for me.  I’m prone to listening to them more often between Oct-Feb than any other time of the year.  Don’t ask.....I have a number of bands like that. Weird, I know.  That's me.

Having seen Rush live so many times since 1981 has been nothing short of amazing. And for Rush to go one further by performing the entire Moving Pictures album in its entirety on the 2010 Time Machine Tour was a dream come true.  Best part - they kicked off the tour here in my hometown; Albuquerque, NM on 6/29/10. Even more special to me because it would be the first time my daughter would see Rush. Best part…..she WANTED to go.

I own five copies of MP:

• vinyl (original)
• cassette (original)
• CD
• Remastered CD
• CD/Blu-ray

I'll have to dig those out and post some photos.

Feeling like a geezer once again.  Happy 36th anniversary to a classic album.

“In our theaters and bookstore shelves/That those who know what’s best for us / Must rise and save us from ourselves”  Rush – “Witch Hunt”

Rush self-titled debut turns 40 today

Rush released their debut album 40 years ago today. It’s the only album to feature drummer John Rutsey (who was replaced by Neil Peart before ‘Fly by Night’ was released a year later).

While songs such as “In the Mood” and “Finding My Way” have appeared in Rush live set lists on occasion, most of the eight songs fall to the wayside (minus the die-hard fans) and with the exception of “Working Man,” THE song that served as the introduction to Rush.

Thank you Donna Halper (the WMMS Cleveland disc jockey/music director as mentioned in the Rush movie “Beyond the Lighted Stage”) who received a copy of “Working Man” and took notice of the length of the song (true story). She mentioned she was usually looking for long “bathroom songs” that her DJs could throw on when nature called. At seven minutes plus, “Working Man” was ideal and its blue collar theme fit the town like a glove. Then it all began…..

Here we are, forty years later and the Rush machine continues to move on and their legions of fans grow in numbers. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year and still remain relavent. They don’t rely on touring as a “greatest hits” band, but release albums that are extremely imaginitive and contain substance (see “Snakes & Arrows” and “Clockwork Angels”).

Late last year I had read this album would be reissued this year to celebrate the 40 year milestone and the members of Rush are “very involved” in the process of putting the package together.

**UPDATE** To mark the band’s 40-year recording career, on April 15, 2013, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will celebrate with the vinyl reissue of the original Moon Records (pre-Mercury) release of Rush, as part of Universal’s reDISCovered vinyl series.
http://www.rush.com/rush-reissue-1974-self-titled-moon-records-debut-on-vinyl-to-mark-40-year-recording-career/

“It seems to me I could live my life / A lot better than I think I am / I guess that’s why they call me / The working man”  Rush “Working Man” (self-titled debut album 1974).