Thanks to a friend with music-industry connections, I’ve got a free backstage pass to the Rush concert tonight. Apparently, we’re going to get to hang out with the band before the concert for a bit. This same friend got me backstage at the Death Cab For Cutie show a week or so ago. As a music geek, this is the kind of connection I wish I’d had 25 years ago. Anyway, thought some of the Rush fans on here might appreciate this/be jealous, and also offer me tips on what not to say.
Don’t say “Take off, hoser.”
So no “Great White North” t-shirt, then?
I’m jealous of both. How did it go with Rush?
“Stealth brag” in a thread title is kind of an oxymoron. 
Pics or it didn’t happen.
Lucky bastard.
I don’t know what not to tell them, but from everything I’ve seen and read, Neil is prett shy and doesn’t do the fan stuff very well. Not that he’s an assole, he;s just never been comfortable with it.
Geddy and Alex, on the other hand, are fine with gushing fans, so my advice (for the little that it’s worth and from what I know of people that have talked to them) are talk to Alex and Geddy rather than Neil (both of whom I’ve heard are very nice to fans). Also, don’t talk about the obvious songs like “Tom Sawyer.” Talk about stuff like “La Villa Strangiato.” Deeper cuts - real musicians’ cuts.
Whatever happens, you are luckier than shit just to be in their presence.
I’ve read that Neal Peart doesn’t associate with fans, even at meet and greets. Did you get to see/speak with Neal, or was he a “no-show” except for the performance itself?
Not much time to write; I was late getting into work this morning, so I’m behind. Quick recap: We got 2 passes, 1 for the meet-and-greet before the show and one for backstage afterwards. Neil wasn’t at either, but Geddy and Alex were super-cool and way more friendly than you’d imagine. Very down-to-earth, and the show itself was awesome. Hung out for about 45 minutes with them. I’ll post pics when I get home.
Heh heh, if only I’d seen this thread yesterday I would have advised woodstockbirdybird to be sure to give Peart a big hug.
Did they pretend you were a long awaited friend? Or have they finally caved to the hordes of people asking them that and have taken the easier path and begun lying?
I was at the show last night too. It was awesome! Those guys are still playing the hell out of those songs. The little movie vignettes at the beginning and intermission were hilarious as well.
Had I seen this thread earlier, I would have advised you to tell them, “I love you, man!”
I’m hoping to see them this Saturday (July 2). I didn’t buy a ticket because one of the management types at work said he could obtain free tickets (for good seats) from his contact at a local radio station, and we could go together. However, I still haven’t heard a definitive “Yes, I got the tickets”, so I’m going to be righteously pissed if I held off on buying my own ticket and it turns out he couldn’t get the free tickets.
Damn…lucky you! I would love to meet those guys.
I am so damned jealous. You just don’t even know.
Jealous, yes.
Confused? Yes…where’s the stealth? You just bragged (and, rightly so.)
Did they ask about me?
Best wishes,
hh
The stealth part comes in with the way I didn’t mention going backstage in the thread title.
Rushgeekgirl, somehow I could have deduced you’d feel that way.
Also: Mister Rik, you should go if at all possible. JCorre is right about the quality of the show.
Alas, I’m counting on also riding to the show with this guy if he gets tickets, as I’m not sure I trust my own car to get me there and back (it’s a not-quite 2-hour drive, in hot July weather, and my car is old and cranky), not to mention I’m going to be exhausted because this week is going to be hell at work (I work conventions, and we have two large groups this week) which makes me less inclined to want to drive myself (worried about falling asleep at the wheel); we’d have to leave directly from work to get to the show on time, followed by a 3-hour show, and then almost 2 hours back, getting home approx. 1:00AM, and then having to be back to work at 8:00AM on Sunday.
Of course, when I first mentioned the date of the concert to this guy — who happens to be one of the sales guys who is in charge of booking our events — he said, “Nah, we don’t have anything going on that weekend.” Dumbass has been making a lot of mistakes like that lately…
But yeah, I know the show’s good. I saw the boys on the R30 tour in 2004 in Auburn, WA (my first Rush concert after being a fan since about 1980), and again in 2008 on the S&A tour at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, WA. If I miss them on this tour, well, they are intending to get to work on the new album once this tour is over, so I expect there’ll be another tour after that.
I’m jealous too. RAGE