ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE

Rush are not a progressive rock band. They are a phenomenon which can, in one concert, wipe out entire species, destroy ecosystems, melt the polar icecaps and change the climate - on Mars. How 3 people can make so much noise defies belief; in concert theyare like a relentless assault on the ears. I saw them in 1977 and had to undergo therapy to recover.

This, their first live album, has only tentative links with progressive rock; the main prog era came rather later. However, it's amazing stuff, full of great riffs, excellent solos and some phenomenal bass playing and drumming. It's not perfect, since Geddy's vocals still tend to be a bit screechy and some of the lyrics are a bit naff (Peart didn't really hit his creative peak for a couple of years yet) and drum solos are not exactly my scene, but that's minor criticism. The impression is of a dynamic, powerful band on top oif their game.

The material comes from their first 4 albums, including their excellent epics By Tor and the Snowdog and 2112. The shorter highlights are Bastille Day, Fly by Night and Something for Nothing. Definitely worth buying to see what Rush were like before they became a fully fledged prog band. Highly recommended.