Hard to believe given my musical tastes these days that in the early Eighties one of my favourite bands was Rush. Fair play, even now it's hard to fault albums like '2112', 'Hemispheres' and, the main focus of tonight's show, 'Moving Pictures', which the band are performing in its entirety. History unfortunately shows the band ventured quite badly off the rails in the late 80s and the 90s, releasing some pretty dodgy albums, but throughout their career they seem to have maintained a huge, extremely loyal fan base, as supported by a near sell-out crowd.

As is the norm with Rush these days, there's no support band, there not being time really as they knock out a three hour set themselves. So anyway, at the unearthly (as in you really should still be in the bar) hour of 7.30 pm, the lights dim and we're treated to........ a video. Ok, it's quite funny, parodying their supposed roots as an oompah band called Rash, before they get transformed by a mad inventor into Rush, but strictly for die-hards only. Anyway after about ten minutes we finally get the set proper underway, and what a cracking start it is, with as good a version of 'The Spirit Of Radio' as you could wish for. The band seem right up for it and all seems well. Then for some apparent reason they decide to play songs from most of their dodgy albums which, unless you think Rush can do no wrong (and there are a lot of those people in the crowd), the immediate high is replaced by a shattering and tedious low. Songs like 'Stick It Out', 'Workin' Them Angels' and the title track of the very dodgy 'Presto' album really aren't songs to maintain the interest. When the faux-Alice In Chains riff of 'BU2B' kicks in a visit to the bar is in order, which leads to me missing most of a cracking version of 'Freewill'. Another two newer songs in the shape of 'Marathon' and 'Subdivisions' round off a very disappointing first half and leave me praying that things improve after the break. Believe me, at this point a game of bingo couldn't have dampened my spirits more.

Anyway, as the interval draws to a close the giant rotating calendar on the video screen finally reaches 1981 and, thank God, we're into the section of the gig most people have either come specifically to see or have been looking forward to for ages, 'Moving Pictures' in its entirety. Now trends may come and go but there's no denying this album's worthy place in any list of great albums. The influence it has had on so many of today's prominent musicians is without question. Tonight, played straight through without interruption or any break between songs, it's a stunning piece of work. Augmented by some stunning video imagery, blazing pyro and an awesome lighting rig, the whole experience of (deep breath) 'Tom Sawyer', 'Red Barchetta', 'YYZ', 'Limelight', 'The Camera Eye', 'Witch Hunt' and 'Vital Signs' is amazing. If there's a minor gripe, Geddy Lee's bass does drown out Alex Lifeson's guitar in places, but the overall impact is minimal.

After the Lord Mayor's Show then, what do they do? Oh shit, it's a new song, but fair play 'Caravan' ain't bad. Again, it's got a Jerry Cantrell kind of riff but it's a decent song. Once that's done it's that moment where you cringe, until you remind yourself who is going to be doing the.........Drum Solo. Anyone other than Neil Peart would be hard pushed to get away with a twenty minute solo spot these days, but he is a bit of a drum god (as was reinforced to me when I bumped into Napalm Death drummer Danny Herrera earlier and he said he'd flown back from Europe specifically to see Neil Peart) and the solo is very entertaining. I just hope any other drummers watching don't think this re-endorses drum solos for all. No fucking way! Anyway back to the main event and just to really treat everyone the final part of the set and encores consists of no less than 'Closer To The Heart', '2112 Overture', 'The Temples Of Syrinx', 'La Villa Strangiato' (where Lifeson really shows he's still got it) and 'Working Man'. You can't really ask for better.

And so it is that leaving the gig I thank my lucky stars that the old stuff is still as good as I remember it but wish that someone would have a word or two with them about their Nineties material. And those two words would be "Utter Shite."