First of all... the weather sucked at first.  I got there at about 6:30 and on the way I saw dirt whipped up by the wind and I knew something was a brewin'... and it was.  RAIN.  Not light rain, but heavy rain.  I only had time to grab a quick bite to eat and drink (and get my Rush merchandise) before the heavy rains fell...

<img src="http://mmolenda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rush_001.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="432" />
A view from the Verizon Wireless center just inside the entrance...

<img src="http://mmolenda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rush_002.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="432" />
The rain got heavier...

But fortunately, around 7:35, the rain lightened up enough to take my seat in the lawn on my rented lawn chair... pretty nice to be able to rent one for 5 bucks...

<img src="http://mmolenda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rush_003.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="432" />

The show was to start at 8, but they delayed it until 8:30 and now that it started...

<img src="http://mmolenda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rush_004.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="432" />

AMAZING...

<a href="http://rushtour2008.blogspot.com/2008/07/rush-tour-2008-setlist-and-reviews_22.html" target="_new">Here is the setlist:</a>

Video Intro (features all 3 band members)
Limelight
Digital Man
Ghost of a Chance
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl (with McKenzie Brothers intro)
Red Barchetta
The Trees
Between The Wheels
Dreamline

Intermission

<img src="http://mmolenda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rush_005.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="432" />

Video Intro (What's That Smell? features all 3 members, Jerry Stiller)
Far Cry
Workin' Them Angels
Armor And Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Drum Solo
Hope
The Spirit of Radio
2112: Overture / The Temples of Syrinx
Tom Sawyer (with South Park intro)

Encore:

One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ
Video Outro (Alex, Neil, Jerry Stiller)

The band sounded great and were very energetic and all of the songs were tight and made me forget that the band has been around for 34 years... and that makes their performance that much more amazing.

The drum solo was nothing short of amazing... Neil played on 3 separate drum kits... I was in awe.  As much as I am a fan of Mike Portnoy (of Dream Theater), Neil reminds me of why he is the best drummer I have heard or seen.  He did some of the standard tom-fill and snare solo stuff, but the middle part of it with the electronic drums and the sounds... then the final part with the big band/jazz feel to it...

The show was a full 3 hours long.  In the top 5 concerts I have been to... maybe even the top 3... I can't wait to see them again.  I am sure they will tour again, I don't see anything slowing Rush down!

<strong>NOTE</strong>: All of the pics I took of the band on-stage were so horrid, I won't even post them... so, I only posted ones from other parts of my night...