A technical MASTERPIECE! Rush - Xanadu (live) | REACTION 

Nice reaction, Mark. The song 'La Villa Strangiato' is a good showcase for Alex Lifeson's guitar playing.

You know you're in for a ride when there's more guitar necks than musicians. 😊

🤯 Another Rush reactor blown away. They never disappoint. Working Man, Live in Cleveland will give you an even greater appreciation for Alex Lifeson's guitar chops, plus Spirit of Radio, live 2003 Toronto (Molson Rocks). His talents were very much on par with his bandmates.

3 of the most amazing musicians you will ever hear. We Canadians were so lucky to have them and love them.

"YYZ" live in RIO is EPIC...Rush had never played South America and didn't know how popular they were. After persistent begging from concert promoters.....they sold out soccer stadiums , and the crowds went OFF.... even singing to the instrumental "YYZ".....

This is one of the greatest live performances ever.🔥

Geddy’s instrument is a 4-string bass on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom (Rickenbacker 4080/12). I wish they showed it better, but he switches to guitar from Alex’s solo until the end, and the bass tones are played on the Moog Taurus pedals. That’s another part the video doesn’t show well, but Geddy is often playing synth parts with the pedals while singing and playing bass. Go to 12:50 where he starts singing, and you can see him looking down and his feet moving. Not only is he badass on bass, but the multitasking is incredible.

Yes, Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist whose creativity is so often overshadowed behind Neal Peart's drums and Geddy Lee's bass and synth. He's RUSH's "Secret Weapon". What he does on guitar so perfectly meshes into what the rest of the band is doing that you don't notice it because you can't imagine it being any other way - it's perfection.

Here's a nugget that makes me love Rush all the more. They had an earlier album, Caress Of Steel, and it was not met with huge commercial success. The label called them to their offices in the US and threatened them, saying they wanted shorter radio-ready songs. The went back to Canada and wrote the album 2112, on which the title track took up the ENTIRE first side. This is on their follow up to that album, Farewell to Kings, and this track actually has essentially two 2 1/2 minute introductions before they get into the song... they would NOT be told what to do! Rush loved to tell stories, and well, stories often took more than 3 minutes to tell. Also, the lyrics and melodies often don't fit into standard times. To make the lyrics and melodies flow, they often transition into and out of time signatures. As for Neil Peart, it's been said that drummers play to metronomes and metronomes play to Neal Peart. They're all virtuoso on their instruments, and this song really highlights it.

As for Alex's virtuosity, I suggest the following: Working Man (live in Cleveland) Limelight La Villa Strangiato BU2B Analog Kid Bastille Day Camera Eye Natural Science Oh, and 2112, of course. When you're ready... 2112. PS - You should probably listen to live versions of every suggestion above, save perhaps for 2112. PPS - Peart was pronounced just like it is spelled: P-ear-T, not P-ur-T.

This is a pretty high level song for your second time with Rush.

3 absolute technicians with the artistic chops to project that mastery. And oh, absolutely slay while they're doing it. 👍

You are spot on about Alex Lifeson. He is brilliant as a musician. He was doing layering of his sound long before others. Few understand how much he fills the sound space for the bad. Other bands need two to three guitarist to fill the space for what he does. All the while being a true musician and taking his ego out of the picture and playing to the song and not showing off. You see this when he has collaborated with other bands, he doesn't go in and give them an over the top solo but fills in a space in the song to elevate it. A true underrated master.

Yes, listen to La Villa Strangiato, and YYZ, and you can see Alex as the giant guitarist that he is. As a group, they are hands down the greatest band in music history. And from Canada? Imagine that! RUSH forever! 🇨🇦

Geddy Lee's double neck is a bass guitar on top and a 12-string guitar on the bottom neck.. During Alex's solo and in the outdo, Geddy is playing the bottom neck and bass pedals. It's hard to see in this video but it is definitely audible.

To think that this is just three dudes, where every sound you hear is being played live off the stage by just them. No samples. No triggers, both of which will get used, sometimes extensively, this was Rush as a true three piece, guitar bass and drum band. They were from another planet. Both the bass player and the guitarist are not only playing their main instruments, but foot pedal synthesizers through out. The guitarist, Alex Lifeson, plays the bass synth lines with his feet in this, and the bassist, keyboardist, vocalist, Geddy Lee, plays the high synth, counter melodies, with his feet. All while playing his bass, and singing, There’s so much for you to discover about this band and their body of work! It’s a really amazing ride. There was/is no one like them. You either get them or you don’t. No matter how many genres or sounds this band went through, it’s all somehow, just Rush. Ridiculous chops, amazing songs, amazing lyrics, amazing production, amazing journeys; through the entire catalog. Enjoy!!!

Your observation of Alex Lifeson as a guitarist resonates with me. As a Rush fan, I have often felt he is underrated in the guitar community. I’ve long admired his ability to weave in and out of the forefront. One moment he provides a textured mood in the rhythm section; the next he lays down an evocative solo. I look to songs like this along with The Trees, La Villa Strangiato, and present-day Clockwork Angels. Thank you for the reaction.

By your reaction to your first encounter with Rush, almost as in awe as I was the first time I heard Xanadu, I can confidently say, welcome to the Rush rabbit hole and the band that will change your life musically forever, like you are hearing music for the first time all over again. And congratulations for discovering them at a younger age than I, because you are likely to have many more years left to enjoy these master musicians and song writers than I. I grew up in the time of Rush, unfortunately I can't say I grew up with Rush though. I always loved prog rock from a young age, due to an older brother and sister who introduced it all to me starting in the 70's through an 8-track stereo in a 68 Galaxy 500 muscle car with side pipes(I was born in 68 when Rush first formed and was 6 years old when they released their first album) with classic bands like Kansas, Styx, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Super Tramp and the list goes on, but no Rush. My educated guess now is that they didn't know about Rush because due to the length of early years Rush songs they were not radio friendly 2-4 minute songs, so few of their songs were played on rock radio, and the bands my siblings listened to were the ones they heard on the radio. Of course Rush did have a sprinkling of "radio friendly" singles that I did hear over the years on the radio, but it was only about a half-dozen songs. All great songs and I loved them all, but I fell for the commercial music industry trap of believing that if it wasn't played on the radio then it must not be any good. So I assumed those half-dozen songs I did hear were Rush's only good songs. Fast forward to 2022 and the heart of the pandemic, and I am then 53 years old and for the first time I start really getting into RU-vid, previously only searching for specific videos, mostly how-to videos or regarding my hobbies. Then I discover reaction videos and intrigued I started watching a few and eventually came across reactions of Rush, songs I'd never heard before including these epic length prog-rock symphonies. I was in complete shock of how great they were in every way, and how every song I heard next from them was not only great, but seemed always better than the last. There seemed to be no such thing as a bad song from this amazing band Rush! Of course over the past few years I've heard the entire discography of about 180 songs and there are 1 or 2 songs I don't care for, I don't even dislike them I just feel nothing for them either way, but I truly love the other ~178 songs and my favorite is always the one I am currently listening too! I was mentally kicking myself for weeks afterward for never looking into Rush sooner, decades sooner when I might have had the chance to see them live. I thank God that I did dive into the Rush rabbit hole and didn't die without hearing and having the profound greatness of Rush in my life. Since then I have collected all of their vinyl album studio recordings as well as the CD versions to listen to in my old work truck that still has a player in it (6 disc too). Plus several live and anniversary box-set versions of studio albums. I've spent thousands upgrading my stereo since just to better hear Rush! Including vintage equipment like reel-to-reel tape, so I can copy my albums to a quality of media that will retain the LP quality and not wear out my albums that I otherwise would. I upgraded a vintage Pioneer turn table with a new needle and cartridge costing hundreds and much more, all just to hear all of Rush's discography in the best way I can afford my audio/video system is a mix of great vintage and modern tech. I am knowledgeable about electronics and refurbish vintage audio and video equipment. Since becoming a member of the Rush army, I find it difficult to listen to any other bands anymore, classic or newer, as none of them stack up to Rush and all I do is miss the virtuosity of Rush when I listen to everything else. To me, if I took the greatest rock bands of all time and put there music and skill on a visual basis of being among the clouds, then in that visual Rush would be on the Moon. My personal opinion is that all three of these masters are the best drummer, bassist and lead guitarist of all time bar-none. My old favorite musicians play like armatures in comparison.

Eddie Van Halen was asked,, who's the best guitarist in the world and said,,go ask Alex Lifeson,,and as for Neil,,I met him in Vancouver in 1997,,and he inspired me to play drums 🤟🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💥

Ok, so the bass synth. A large portion of the time they used Moog Taurus pedals for that, much like the bass pedals on a organ. Alex had a set, Geddy had two, one by the keyboard rig and one by his front stage mic. Here they used it down low for bass when Geddy was playing synth. On many other tracks during this period they would do an octave shift and use a string or choir patch up high, typically playing the root of the chords while Geddy played bass. Post 2000 they had a lot more cameras on stage for their videos and sometimes you actually get to see an overhead of Geddy or Alex with their foot on the pedals. They were a three man symphony orchestra.

React to RUSH - Neil Peart drum solo Frankfurt Germany

If you'd like to see three more examples of how seriously underrated Alex was, I'd like to recommend Limelight and Freewill from this same show, and The Camera Eye from the Time Machine Tour. Cheers from Canada! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🐐 🐐 🐐

Trust me when i say, Alex takes a back seat to no guitar player. He is, was, and will always be considered one of rocks greats. He has so much range. All three i believe are equals in talent. Just sayin' peace to you bro...

10:38 Checking your own grammar & settling on "that level of complicatedly" -self response "Ah Phuk it!!! That'll do" lol😆😂🤣

🙋🏿‍♀️ May I suggest 'La Villa Strangiato' or 'Working Man Live in Cleveland' 🥰🐰

Yeah. He is a very underrated guitarist. 2112 will straighten you out.

If you have any more doubts about Neil Peart, being the greatest drummer ever, check out his drum solo from Frankfurt. There is a section where he is playing in two different time signatures simultaneously.

Progressive Rock is more of an experience, it has classical music influences. Alex Lifeson the guitarist is the rock of the band. He is a brilliant guitarist! All three of them are musical geniuses. To see Alex showcased more please check out La Villa Strangiato official music video Working man live in Cleveland. Your review had me cracking up with laughter at times. Cheers 🇨🇦

if you want to see just how good Alex is listen to La Villa Strangiato - if Xanadu impressed you then prepare to be amazed!

every sound is a human performance by three people. no computers. every note, every placement of percussion is a human performance and human emotion. Live.

If you'd mentioned Neil Peart with Akane on a B-M reaction i could've commented "Neil was a prime example of a master of his craft. Akane is a primate example of a master of her craft". But you didn't so i can't.😔

As to the Alex Lifeson, you said it perfectly. 👌🎼

Alex Lifeson is one the great rock guitarists. Check out more Rush and you’ll realize the error in your statement!

They were about as far from a jam band as you could get. Everything across all parts was written note for note, rehearsed, and then performed that way. They did it that way for the 40+ years they recorded and toured. They'd put some small changes into older songs here and there, or maybe get a little looser with a drum or bass fill in certain spots, but for the most part everything was done note for note as written and recorded.

You are right, Alex in any other band would probably be the "star", but in Rush, there were no stars, just 3 best friends wanting to be the smallest orchestra ever.... no egos, just wanting to make the music speak for itself and just loving the sounds they made together... and if you didn't notice, all of their feet were performing as much or more than the rest of their bodies. Just 3 incredible talents who just also happened to be best friends.... and it shows!!!!

I'd definitely recommend Jacob's Ladder or Natural Science from Permanent Waves or The Camera Eye from Moving Pictures. They really marked the end of Rush's prog, longer song era.

LOVE the reaction!! :) Maybe check out NEIL PEART Buddy Rich HONOR??? :) ♥ “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13

A true masterpiece!

ALEX is GR8!!! Nuff said 😮😅😊

Ooooh, Cool. Gonna need a fresh cup of tea for this one. ;-)

@ 13:20 Geddy is playing the synths with foot pedals, playing the bass, and singing!

I’ve seen Rush live 13 times in my 58 years and they were my favorite band of all time until I heard five young ladies from Japan play a song called “Thrill.” Rush is now a close second.

That was a fantastic reaction and one of the best I’ve seen to this performance. I’m sure someone has pointed it out but in case nobody has, both Geddy and Alex are also using foot pedals throughout the song (synth and bass respectively). Once you watch them doing that it’s an even more incredible performance. There are a couple times where Alex goes from 12-string to 6-string in milliseconds- I’m not sure how many viewers see it-most reactors don’t (or they just don’t mention it). Looking forward to more RUSH reactions from you! Cheers

I'm glad you can admit that these guys are some level of complexity and cohesiveness above what you can figure out as a bass player yourself. Imagine what that was like when this first came out to some kid who'd not really understood music or music theory well at all and then that I could fall hard for this band and keep following it through the years. It was something my brain loved (and still does) that no other band really got. I liked the geeky lyrics and all the stuff I couldn't dance to. :) I still don't dance. :)

Rush says it’s not a great song if it doesn’t have 5 intros.

Rush are the transition kings.

you gotta do 'bet intro ever' - live - best band ever

What did he say?

Welcome to the family

Rush could seamlessly switch between time signatures multiple times within one song, and believe me, Geddy could sing in all of them.

You were right about the bass synth. Geddy used a set of bass pedals which left his hands free to play his regular keyboards and/or guitar. I understand he also used the pedals to trigger programmed sequences.

Great reaction video! Great commentary too…✌️🎤 for those new to Rush and want to hear something that will blow your mind from this Canadian legend of a band, listen to the song, The Camera Eye, from their Moving Pictures album… it’s widely considered a master piece of musicality and lyrical genius….😎🔥🎸🥁

Deeeeze here....was phukkkking bad-ass to tha freeeekin' bone.....big daaawwwgggg! THANK YOU!

Natural science

Here we go....another Rush fan in the making!!! Woo! Welcome to the Rabbit Hole, son!

Going right for the gut punch, no hesitation, right into Xanadu. I am impressed that you jumped in like this, head first. There is alot of music to hear from this band. So many genres throughout their 40 year career.

Bytor and the Snow Dog from the same Exit Stage Left recording is just too much fun to miss. Put it on your list

YYZ, Red barchetta, spirit to the radio!!!!

If you want to hear a song where Geddy's vocal part is completely different from his bass part, listen to "Turn The Page" from Hold Your Fire. There is a live version from the Show of Hands tour. And, once you react to "Working Man" (live in Cleveland, Time Machine Tour) and "La Villa Strangiato" (live PinkPop), you will realize Alex Lifeson is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists in the history of Rock.

Saw them live for the Permanent Waves tour when I was 16

Geddy’s guitar is a double-neck four string bass with a 12 string guitar.

My man! I just subbed! This is one of the best reactions I've seen!

The instrument Geddy is playing is a bass and 12 string guitar I believe. They blend/layer their music in such away as make themselves sound like an orchestra. Alex Lifeson is indeed an under rated guitar player publicly but a lot of great players cite him as an influence (e.g. John Petruci - Dreamtheatre) but his great skill to is - as you observed was to augment and re-enforce the melodic structure of the songs. However, I would argue that he really shines in "La Villa Strangiato" a 9 min instrumental extravaganza that really show cases is chops. My two cents.

Alex is in my top 5 guitar players of all time. Being a 3 piece band, Alex is the glue that holds down the melodic end of the instrumentation. He fills in the empty musical space to make the song sound whole. His guitar solos in many Rush song are unique and creative. The more you go down the Rush rabbit hole the more you appreciate just how much of a monster guitarist he is.

Check out Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down - The Source (2017) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oFuMKdrzPqU.html

Geddy lee is actually playing that synth bass with his feet, he got a Moog bass pedal synth and plays simultaneously the bass guitar and synth bass at the same time while singing lol, sad the camera position was good to capture it. Also Alex Lifeson is an incredible guitarist/composer, I've always seen all 3 members of the band to be equally as impressive and influencal

I like your take on trying to analyze at first glance, it's not easy to do this on Rush, kudos! Alex Lifeson is the most underrated guitarist exactly because of what you said...All three are virtuosos. However, in order to keep an ensemble with melodic rationale albeit the complexity, you don't hear him as often, as Eddie Van Halen going wild into solos in every song for instance : they're not the kind of band where each musician is doing its own stuff on a simple and basic 4/4 melody. Alex is a masterful guitarist: flawless in complexity and timing with his riffs, you need to hear many songs in order to acquiesce to his tremendous talent.

Great reaction and will considered observations. Alex and Geddy are both playing Taurus pedals, to provide background sounds. If you watch Alex, when he first goes into that repetitive sequence after the intro, you'll notice him looking down and his right leg playing the bass notes. Regarding your "jam session" comment, it couldn't be further from the truth. They've got this down, pretty much spot on. Even the studio recording was a brief play through, for a sound check, then one take. They'd been playing it live for some months, prior to going in the studio.

You were doing so well until the Alex comments. This reaction is a bit older so I’m assuming you’re ready to correct your statement about one of rock’s great guitarists!

Our three Canadian masters! My boys 40 yrs of awesome music.... Hey La villa Stangiato! Cheers

I liked your reaction so much that I came back to hear it again this evening. When you addressed the complexity of the music, it reminded me of the premier episode of a podcast I watched on RU-vid last year. It was called "Shred with Shifty," hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chtis Shiflett. His very first guest was Mr Alex Lifeson and the subject was his haunting guitar solo from the Rush song, "Limelight." In watching it, we learn that the two men are just acquaintances, not close friends, as well as the fact that Lifeson is very generous with his time and/or just loves to talk technically about music. The part about which your comments reminded me can be found at the 41:30 mark. That's when Shiflett notes that Alex's performance is a lot more complicated than it first appeared. Alex's response is priceless, saying with a big smile trying to hide his incredulity, "But isn't that the point? ..."

Any classic rock guitarist knows Alex Lifeson from Rush is among the best with Randy Roades! Simple!😉👍

Yeah, 12 minutes… Rush, didn’t exactly expect radio play. 😂

Another Masterpiece when they were in my opinion at their peak performance is The Weapon Live in 1984.

Listen and react to 2112 if you really want your mind blown... Epic!

A wall of sound slamming your body (the low tones vibrate through your body at frequencies you can't hear) and hope you didn't get ahold of some bad stuff because you are going on a trip...

Dude! You Turned Away from the screen during BOTH of Neil's "Stick-Flips"!!!! He Tossed one of his sticks, IN TIME, for about 2 seconds in the air, then caught it, to Complete the Rhythms!!!! Go BACK and Watch!!!

Taurus Bass & Synth Pedals for Geddy on the floor. Even Alex has Synth pedals with his rig.

I’m such a caveman I almost had a stroke. Now I remember why I didn’t listen to Rush.

Eddie Van Halen, when asked what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world, said, "I don't know. Ask Alex Lifeson".

As a long time Rush fan I agree that Alex is often underrated by some. But once you know, you know.

When the double neck guitar/bass and Taurus Moog pedals received high attention from musicians and audiences.

Listen to Headlong Flight. It's the opposite, meaning the bassline does NOT follow the voice. It sounds impossible to do both at once, but...Geddy Lee!

You should check out Ayreon The Day That The World Breaks Down or Everybody Dies! Both are incredible.🤘🎸

☺️ Back for a re-watch. 😁 Dude, you need to start a Rush Playlist so fans can recommend the good stuff! Like Cygnus X-1 Books, Necromancer, etc. Worth the time to check out more Rush!

I've always said Alex Lifeson would be the best musician in almost any other band, but he's the worst musician in Rush.

This is a long video but it is a medley of older rush song leading into a more popular radio song. Opening Medley / Spirit Of Radio - Frankfurt 2004 - AKA "Best Intro Ever" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nlrjt1tmKoU.htmlsi=sWAO9ZGUPtGylYUj

If you want to hear one of the greatest intros and one of the greatest prog pieces of all time, listen to Arriving Somewhere but Not Here by Porcupine Tree (Steven Wilson). Here you will also hear the greatest living rock/prog drummer (Gavin Harrison). Yeah, he is better than Carey (IMO). ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W3lsqUqGTzM.html

Early in this reaction you mention "Weird timings....7/8....You need to take in mind that as a drummer, Nile was unique in the sense that he seemed to think in 256th notes....Most drummers can't seem to think beyond 16ths....

People often say Rush played in time signatures that don’t exist.

If you want to see the guitarist with all the limitations removed, check out Working Man”, live in Cleveland.

Eddy Van Halen was asked in an interview, if he was the best guitar player ever. He said, (something to this), you'd have to Alex Lifeson LUL

Alex Lifeson is the most underrated or under-appreciated guitarist in rock history. He stands on the same level as both of his bandmates, but is often unfairly overlooked. Check out Working Man Live in Cleveland 2011.

No Rush fan would ever downplay the role of Alex...he was and is a phenomenal guitar player !!

Alex IS the best guitarist ever-solely on the merit of him being ‘THE ONLY ONE’ to be able to hang with the best bassist and drummer ever. He writes, records, produces, performs the music, in collaboration with the other two, and his parts ‘serve’ the song vs the song showcasing his guitar. He’s created his own style and can play any style more fluently than most players of that particular genre. Not to mention his body of work, longevity, and amount of time spent touring period, would and should put him in the top three guitarist of all time-my 🥇but then again I’m biased sooo…🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎹🎤🥇🇨🇦🎼

Notable things I felt you missed: 1. Geddy was using bass pedal synthesizers as a well as his double-neck bass and various synthesizers 2. You didn't seem to notice that Geddy and Alex were carrying on a conversation when they were playing the faster sections at centre stage which always blows me away This is the list of instruments from their album "A Farewell to Kings" from which this song is from: Geddy Lee - vocals, bass and twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizers. Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizers. Neil Peart - drums, orchestra bells, wind chimes, bell tree, vibraslap, triangle, tubular bells, temple blocks. There are probably other instruments they used in concert in addition (or instead of) the above. Glad you enjoyed the video though.

Simply, thet are the most talented 3 piece band ever, no ifs, no buts, utter genius.

I saw Rush 38 times since 1979 hemispheres tour. Alex is honestly an immensely talented guitarist, that is less technical, emotive and brilliant songwriter. His technicality and speed can be heard in his solos on Natural Science, essentially a blues guitarist in a prog rock band. His chords are unique like in Hemispheres, his phrasing and composition unique, like in La Villa. But, his combined skill of compositional playing, expressive solos, and unique sound, makes him one of the best guitarists in rock history. He’s 33.1/3% strong in each category. Well rounded and everything a guitarist should be. Whereas other great guitarists, like Van Halen were fast and technical, but songwriting not as strong. Jimmy Page amazing songwriting, but sloppy soloist. Alex has it all. The only guutarists I’d say are right there with Alex are Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, and Jeff Beck.

As many things as you noticed are as many things as you missed as well. On a first-time watch/listen, i don't blame you, though. There are so many finite details in this song. There were two times you missed some cool stick tosses by Neil Peart because you either paused or looked away at the wrong second. Enjoyed your reaction, though! Keep checking out, Rush!! I've been listening to them for over 40 years! And yes, Alex Lifeson is a criminally underrated guitarist.

My two (still) oldest and dearest friends and I went to two shows on this tour. We had the records and we're all musicians (or something like that). The fact that they could do that live and, as you say, manage the technical mastery of a song that complex and be laughing and playing push-back? Just a little bit of trivia, that Ricky is a 12 string and standard 4 string bass. First of it's kind ever produced, specifically commissioned by Geddy to be able to play live as authentically as possible. Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿