Rush At Redrocks Pt II

Last night was incredible. I haven't been to a concert in ages. About the only place I'll go anymore is Red Rocks. It's the only place that seems to be worth the hassle. Last night was the first time I've been to Red Rocks when it hasn't rained.

I got excited right off the bat. Where I parked required me to pass the parking area for the tour buses. There were four big identical RVs, one with a motorcycle trailer, ramp down and Neil Peart's brand of choice, a BMW sitting next to it. I took a picture with my cell phone.

The show opened with an amusing little film but all I really cared about was the music. I kind of make a big deal out of waiting 30 years to see Rush. It's partially a joke, obviously I could have seen them sometime in between the age of 15 and now. But even though it's a joke it felt like a huge deal to me. Here is a band that I've known and loved for the better part of 40 years and I'm finally going to get to see them playing all the songs I love live.

The set list (courtesy of Westword - also a review with good photos)

RUSH - SETLIST
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - 08.16.10

1. The Spirit Of Radio
2. Time Stand Still
3. Presto
4. Stick It Out
5. Workin' Them Angels
6. Leave That Thing Alone
7. Faithless
8. I Was Brought Up to Believe
9. Freewill
10. Marathon
11. Subdivisions

SET TWO

12. Tom Sawyer
13. Red Barchetta
14. YYZ
15. Limelight
16. The Camera Eye
17. Witch Hunt
18. Vital Signs
19. Caravan
20. Drum Solo
21. Closer To The Heart
22. 2112 Part I: Overture
23. 2112 Part II: The Temples Of Syrinx
24. Far Cry

ENCORE

25. LaVilla Strangiato
26. Working Man

For reasons that are hard to explain, it was as close to a spiritual moment as I've ever had at a concert. I looked out at the crowd and saw people singing along with the newer songs from more recent albums. I was amongst my people.

Am I Wishy Washy?

I think the Republicans are starting to make a come back into the halls of power. It's a little hard to say. Maybe I'm just paying more attention recently. The reason I say this is because they are starting to get on my nerves a lot more lately. We really do have a short attention span don't? Last month it was immigration, this month it's that Goddamn mosque. Don't get me wrong, the Democrats are still my number one enemy as far as political parties go but as conservative as I am, I find that whoever is the loudest complainer at the moment is the one that bugs me the most. It's kind of like Atheists vs Christians to me. The loud ones are the most annoying. The same with gay marriage. I was thinking about this the other day and unless I'm missing something I'm now for polygamy too. I have to be consistent, and if I believe that interracial marriage and same sex marriage aren't harmful to society (which I really don't) then marriage between three or more consenting adults is okay to right? Maybe my logic is flawed.

I think my take on the "GZ Mosque" (again for the short attention spanned among us) is best summed up in this article in the National Review Online - A Very Long Post On Cordoba House and an op ed by Cato Institute's Gene Healy in the Washington Examiner - 'Mosque' debate is a red herring. That last one really speaks to me. There for awhile I was really excited when people started talking about the deficit and things that mattered. The common folk were (and still are) riled up but that got turned into and argument about Tea Parties being racist, what the...how did that happen? Is it a grand conspiracy to minimize important issues or is it news channels just trying to grab more ratings be sensationalizing everything.

Oh my beautiful country, our beautiful country. Can't we just stay focused.