Alex Lifeson doesn't get the respect as a great guitarist that he deserves IMO. His ability to give the band that full sound as the only guitarist is amazing! And he switches his style, sounds and techniques on a dime as well as anyone! I'm so sad I never saw them live!

The fact that you knew the Paint it Black right away tells me how far you two have come on this channel! Does my heart proud.

This was part of a huge festival held in 2003 in Toronto that was headlined by the Rolling Stones to help revive Toronto's economy after the SARS outbreak earlier that year. Other artists who performed included AC/DC, The Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, Isley Brothers, The Flaming Lips and a bunch of other Canadian bands.

There were an estimated 450,000 to 500,000 people in attendance to hear the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and a dozen other acts. It must have been awesome!

Just before RUSH took the stage, Charlie Watts, one of Neil Peart’s drumming heroes, stopped by and met Neil for the first time. Neil said that he had a hard time focusing for the first few seconds when their set started.

SARSstock 2003. The Rolling Stones and AC/DC also appeared. Thus why they opened with a little "Paint it Black" tribute.

I have to say it again. Your original Spirit of Radio reaction is an all time KZfaq classic. It’s one of the best out there. I subbed when you first stopped the song! Ha Ha! As a lifelong RUSH fan and having seen them live in concert 18 times on 17 different tours, it really made my day to see the appropriate, instant impact it had on you! That reaction status is yours to lose. Easily top ten of all time. Cheers! 🍻

I was at that concert back in 2003 in Toronto. It was a special concert to help promote Toronto during the SARS epidemic that year. Moreover, there were so many celebrities there: Justin Terbutaline, The Guess Who, Rush, A /DC, The Rolling Stones. It was a very hot day! Funny story before Rush went on stage. On older looking gentleman came to shake Neil Peart’s hand. “Hi. I’m Charlie.” Neil having head phones on not hearing him spouted, “Who?!?” Taking off his headphones, the older gentleman repeated, Hi. I’m Charlie Watts” extending his hand out. Neil’s reply was, “Oh? Oh! “I’m going to be watching you today. When do you go on?” Charlie asked. “Any minute now.” Anyway, for your next Rush song, I’d like to request you do a review of “The Enemy Within” off their 1984 Grace Under Pressure album. Cheers from Toronto John

When a band not only replicates the album version on stage, but exceeds it. Few bands actually pull that off.

The opening of Paint It Black by the Stones before breaking into Spirit was nice.

The live crowd perfectly replicated the sound of an audience cheering when Geddy sings "Concert Hall!" on the studio version.

Another Canadian 3-piece band to hit again is Triumph “Fight the Good Fight”!

Working Man Live in Cleveland - a must for the next live RUSH performance gentlemen. If THIS blew you away , Working Man Live in Cleveland will make this performance seem like a light breeze.

PS When Geddy is clapping in the Choruses, he is playing bass pedal synth with his feet and the piano trigger you wanted to hear at the end is there, it’s in all the live performances triggered live by Ged with his feet, but the mix from the show along with the sheer size of the crowd drowned it out. If you watch him though you see him hit the synth pedal where that part is to be played.

I was at this show and it was incredible. July 30 2003 with 500,00 of my best friends at Sarsfest at Downsview military base in Toronto. At that time Ontario was hit hard by the SARS virus and a concert was set up to thanks the medical workers and help lift the spirits of the province. The Rolling Stones were the headliners (hence the Paint It Black intro), AC/DC (who were absolutely amazing), Rush, The Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, The Blues Brothers, The Flaming Lips, The Isley Brothers, The Sam Roberts Band, Sass Jordan and others. So good. The best concert of my life. Look for other clips from the show, especially AC/DC. Keep it up!

I was at this SARS concert. ❤ RUSH was excellent! For me...Rush AC/DC and The Guess Who ALL blew The Rolling Stones away.

Thousands to see 3 guys playing while doing laundry! What multitaskers ... legends!

Holy cow, the size of that crowd was amazing. You could literally be driving down the highway and truthfully claim to have been part of the audience. Geddy's bass sounded so fat and strong, and they seemed to be having such a great time. The best at the top of their game.

you talked about the history teacher..... While I was somewhat familiar with RUSH in high school (early 80's) it was my history teacher that really got me into RUSH. We were studying the French Revolution in history class, and what does he do, he brings in a record player and his RUSH Caress of Steel album and cranks up the track Bastile Day.

I was in that crowd. And it was brutally hot that day. But so worth it. It was my first time seeing Rush, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, JT, and others. And all on the same lineup! Oh, and AC/DC melted my brain that day, lol

I was at this concert!! The washing machines are Geddy's way of poking fun at Alex's wall of amps. I've also seen them at Maple Leaf Gardens countless times. Watching Geddy is amazing. He'll be singing, playing his Moog foot pedals, playing open notes on the bass and playing something on the keyboard. He's practically a one man band!!

Working Man in Cleveland!!!!!!! The BEST!!! You'll be blown away...thank you

I was at this concert! LOL, it was in Toronto Canada. 250 thousand people! Man….We even saw the Stones, AC/DC and many others. That was a day I will never forget. The place went NUTS when RUSH took the stage! They are Toronto’s favorite sons. They flat out nailed it!

I was there ..they had huge speakers everywhere..20 thousand miles away..to let 500,000 fans feel up close and personal

Beyond the superlative musicianship, you come away with the overwhelming sense that they enjoy performing and pleasing their audience.

Canadians are huge rockers and Rush are our boys! You won't find a single Canadian that doesn't rock out to Rush and Tragically Hip. Rock on, Canada!

Multiple coloured clothes!!! I love it!

The first time you did this song was your best reaction ever

Well, you still have to hit "Working Man" Live in Cleveland: Completely different arrangement from the studio. And hit a very short (unusual for Rush) banger "Malignant Narcissism", live or studio are fine. They're close.

Just before Rush was going to play Charlie Watts from the Stones came up to Neil Peart and introduced himself and then said to Neil " I am going to be watching you " All those people and Charlie Watts watching you play! I would LOVE IT if you bring back Rush Wednesdays!! Suggestions Working man live in Cleveland 🤯 Caravan from the Time Machine Tour One Little Victory live in Rio Studio Cut to the Chase Driven Stick it out Crossroads ( cover ) Oh, by the way you were the only reactors that I have watched that recognized Paint it black 👍 Cheers 🇨🇦

That opening part of the concert was a tribute to The Rolling Stones, who were part of this concert as well. If you didn't recognize it, Alex (guitar) was playing the riff to the "Stones" 1964 hit song "Paint It Black." Nice touch by Rush to Mick Jagger, and the Rolling Stones.

Was there among the 400,000 people. 2003 Toronto Rocks (referred to as SarsStock) at Downsview Park located inside the city. Meant to help promote Toronto after a SARS outbreak messed up the tourist industry. Headliner was the Rolling Stones with AC/DC doing full shows with sets by Rush, Guess Who, Isley Brothers, Flaming Lips, Isley Brothers, Justin Timberlake, Sam Roberts Band, Kathleen Edwards, La Chicane, Tea Party. Tickets for the whole day were $21.50

I went to 3 shows of this tour alone, following them around!♥️ I'll tell you, no lines for the ladies room lmao they shot tees out of one of the washers too lol I'm so fortunate to have seen them 8x... I feel sick there will be no more, but I cherish every memory. RIP NEIL!😥♥️♥️

Well I must say it's about time🎸🎸🥁🎹🎤🤘🤘🤘 it's RUSH wedneSSSSSSSSSS+++!!!!!!DAY🤘🤘🤘

Entre Nous should be your next studio song. Great melodic song with great lyrics about working through the complexities of relationships. Definitely an underated gem in their catalog.

“Closer to the Heart” from the 1977 album “A Farewell to Kings” has always been one of my favorite Rush songs. I haven’t seen a reaction by you to this song, I hope that you do.

The lines in the song “the words of the prophets are written” and “the sounds” come from the Simon and Garfunkel song The Sounds Of Silence… they seem to be paying homage to it

As soon as i saw Rush in the title i clicked and liked 😊

When I first heard Rush and that was in the seventies , without video or youtube film available , I thought there were two drummers and two or three guitarists. Then I purchased their album and was blown away by the fact that sound came from three great musicians .

A couple things: Saw them live in 1981. Three of the most talented on their instruments in rock and roll. Their music is complicated and they are SO tight as a group. They handle transitions better than any other rock band. Change my mind.

The absolute JOY exhibited by Rush, was one of the funnest parts for me during their last few tours. Alex going ham, Geddy laughing at him, and Neil just being the best ever. Man, fun times seeing Rush as many times as I did. RIP Neil.

Y’all gotta do “Working Man - Live in Cleveland”. Totally different from the original and jammin like you would not believe!! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!

He uses something called "Sans-Amp" which basically lets him process his sound just as if he had an amp on stage, but it goes directly to the sound board. He didn't want his side of the stage to seem empty so he decided to put dryers on stage, just as a joke. For the R30 tour he added a snack machine as well.

One of my favorite Lerxst solos❤ There is no one like Rush, and there never will be again.

To this day Rush concerts were my favorite. You always knew they would turn up and turn it out. And I have to admit, Rush fans are fn some of the best people! The first time I saw the washers on stage I laughed, because I knew it was their way of saying, "We're still just a garage band......enjoy!"

I Saw Rush on moving pictures tour They were amazing they were awesome I was honored to see all three together rest in peace Neil Peart

Jacob's Ladder from the same album really should be your next Rush reaction

The dryers contained special printed t-shirts that were thrown into the crowds when they come back onstage, just before they do their encore. They did this through this whole Vapor Trails tour. This was done while they were in the middle of that tour in 2002.

Isn't it something when you experience a song that makes you soar through the air, it's your private treasure for months or years, you don't tell anyone about it, you just say "yeah, great song!" and then suddenly you see half a million people having the exact same effing experience, feeling exactly the same way as you?

Another live version of Spirit of Radio, in my opinion is Rush the greatest intro ever. This will blow not only your socks off but your underwear also.

YES!! My favorite live version - they make it look so casual and easy. My God the talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful to have seen them twice in concert during the 70s and early 80s. One of the great bands and individual musicians of all time.

This was called Sarsstock, it was held at Downsview Park; an old armed forces base. So many amazing bands, Rush, ACDC, Stones....

Great reaction! Rush is in a league of their own. Alex's rhythm guitar sound is so full you don't really even miss the keyboard sound from the studio version.

Not only did they have washing machines on stage, they've also had other hilarious random things like refrigerators, vending machines, rotisserie chicken ovens, popcorn makers, Barbie dolls, toy Dinosaurs, ridiculously tall amp stacks, etc.

As a long time Rush fan I feels a little proud to see them playing to such large crowds. In the 80s and 90s they didn’t really play these kinds of giant crowds. They filled basketball arenas at their peak. But to see that Rush in Rio concert with all the thousands going mad, or this one with so many people - nobody deserves as much respect as these guys finally got. It’s gratifying to finally see. Also that Paint it Black intro was because they had just released an EP of covers, tributes to the bands that had influenced them from the late 60s.

Check out the "Snakes & Arrows Live" version. There are a bunch of rotisserie chickens cooking on stage, and a guy in a chicken suit comes out and starts basting during the song! Neil's face when he sees him is priceless!

Maybe I missed whether or not you guys caught that the intro was "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. Not sure if they had planned that beforehand, or if they did it just as a tribute seeing as (and as mentioned below in the comments) Neil had just met one of his drumming idols, Charlie Watts of the 'Stones, for the first time backstage earlier in the day. Either way, nice of the Holy Trinity to give props to the pioneers that preceded them. The concert was a festival "SARS-stock" if memory serves which was a benefit for victims of the LAST pandemic (just called SARS) which was sort of a COVID-Lite that only affected certain urban pockets around the world, Toronto being one concentration. Despite being their hometown, RUSH was not given top-billing. You can tell since they are playing in the daytime, with Prime Time being given to bands with wider commercial appeal. You can hear AC/DC being announced as RUSH is leaving the stage, and obviously if you deduce that since the "tongue" logo is above the stage and Charlie Watts was backstage that the Rolling Stones were one of the top slots if not THE main event. It always bugged me, but the guys obviously didn't mind as it was all for a good cause, and they are known for being very, very humble people.

It is like the entire county showed up for the show :) I saw them three times, they always cranked it out.

Another solid Rush performance; I never tire of them.

So I was 16 when this album come out. Can you even imagine? Epic ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

You need to check out their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction...the whole thing. Don't want to spoil it but Alex Liefson gives the best acceptance speech EVER.

A couple of Rush suggestions: “Losing It”, and “Time Stand Still”. Poignant perfection, both of them.

Rappers talk about 'bars!', but Peart had bars for days. What a lyricist.

no cellphones in the crowd...lovely...great music

This reaction just made me so friggin happy. I thought Andy was going to have a seizure during the solo, he was so into it. Rush has always been my favorite band. As a drummer myself, Neil is my hero. The washing machines were Geddy screwing with Alex for all his stacks of amps on stage. He later added things like a hot dog machine and a popcorn maker. I loved their music and love what great guys they are. When you can review the Working Man live version from Cleveland, it's worth it just to see the rare grin Neil gives to the guys at the end of the song. You could really see the love these guys had for each other. And to stay together playing at that level for so long is amazing. RIP professor.

The only thing that could make this better is if we could all get into a time machine and be part of that live audience.

You're gonna need a bigger 👍 icon for this performance, jaw dropping. I saw these guys in the 80s, they were tight. It made me realize that there wasn't alot of studio interference with their albums, just pure talent.

So about Rush.... They were ALWAYS smiling

Yes,all that kick-a_s sound came out of 3 amazing guys!🥁🎸🎹🎙🎶🇨🇦🤯

For the THOUSANTH TIME......Rush "Animate" is what you need to do next!!!!

The next live song HAS to be "Working Man Live in Cleveland"....absolutely mind-blowing.

Rush Wednesday!!! Getting misty-eyed watching this.

They played that piece because they never opened for the Stones before. 600,000 were at this event, It was called "Sarstock"in Downsview Ontario.

I made your original reaction to this My go-to for this song now when I want to listen to it I watch your reaction so this is going to be great... This was the very first concert I ever saw, 15 ... never knew the band before sitting down to a general admission show and it just blew me away this entire LP...

Downsville airforce base RUSH AC DC and the Stones not sure how many people love from Toronto❤❤❤

This was SARSFest in Toronto - It was put together to encourage travel and tourism in Toronto after the first outbreak of a COVID-type virus (in fact, our COVID virus was originally designated SARS CoV-2). This lineup was so huge and so diverse (Imagine a show where the Isley Brothers, the Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, and the Flaming Lips appeared on the same bill) that even though it is Rush's hometown, they had the grace to accept being 3rd headliner - they yielded the honors to AC/DC and the Rolling Stones! There were around 500,000 people there. I was one of them! This was my generation's Woodstock.

More RUSH!!!

Mr. Puggs physical science teacher. Played keyboard in a band and looked like Rick Ocasek. What a fun class😎👍🍻 Love me some live Rush and a straight up banger boys🍺

Play a kick ass concert and do your laundry at the same time…. Only a band like Rush can be so efficient!!

Even though in relatively recent times, RUSH has got the recognition they deserve, they still IMO are extremely under-rated. The brilliant songwriting musically and lyrically, the production elements, awareness of sonic range and dynamics to ingenuously pull off a 5-person sound with 3 - but what has impressed me the most over the decades is the chemistry - it manifests in every aspect of their recording and performances and it's a magic that will likely never be emulated. If you listen carefully, they are beyond tight, for ex: listen to how they are completely dialed-in with Neil's subtle timing moves such as a slight retard before dynamic changes - it's incredible really. I was a huge fan from day-1 and with a completely open mind to embrace something more special - I'm 66 and still waiting....

What a perfect comment - history teachers you are so bonded with, who are also Rush fans. Love it!

Closer to the heart from different stages live. For studio, the Pass. It's in my top five favorite Rush songs. It's so poignant and the bass is really great.

YESSS Rush! My favorite Canadian three piece band!

Took my 11 year old son to this concert as he wanted to see Timberlake by the end of this set he begged me for a guitar and started playing rock and Rush became his favorite band of all time. He is now 32 and itis still his favorite band.

Yes! Your reaction to the studio version is one of my favorite reactions of all time! You can't go wrong doing any live performance from the Permanent Waves/ Moving Pictures period. The band introduced vending machines, chicken rotisseries and the washing machines in place of Getty's stack of amps a little later in their careers. The washing machines had souvenir T-shirts that were commemorative and thrown to the audience. Keep Rush coming....there are still some bangers you have yet to hear! Peace!

Kkkk... You're right!! They don't look like superstars!! But they shred their instruments!! Mind-blowing!!!

Y’all need to hit “Circumstances,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “The Camera Eye,” & “The Big Money.”

Spirit of Radio it’s the time signature changes that they flawlessly make and no one notices. That a trick in itself. Checkout Rush Hemispheres song La Villa Strangiato. Want to see Rush concerts where fans are manic? Look for the ones they did in Brazil.

Not washers! Driers! Lol! This is one of Rush’s greatest composed and written songs! And it is radio short in length. So many dovetailed transitions! And it is so listenable. Only Rush could do that. I’m surprised it was not a huge hit worldwide!

Watching you guys enjoy this was almost as good as seeing this tour live. Made my morning! Next live listen? YYZ from RUSH in Rio. I haven't seen many larger crowds, and none more enthusiastic. I can't imagine anything from the Boys you wouldn't love, like me.

I remember as a kid hearing this song on the radio in my Dads car he didn't like it but he let it play and turned up for me RIP DAD

Love this reaction and the message of the song. Nice to see people who appreciate the depth of Rush's music

I was at this show! We flew out from BC to show our support after the SARS outbreak and were treated to some of the best music! One of the highlights was definitely Justin Timberlake! He kind of hosted the show and did a few tunes w/ various acts! Stones, AC/DC, Rush and many others made this a show to remember!

Still waiting for Workingman live in Cleveland , though you did the studio version this takes it to a way higher level in three transitions from medium to fire fire 🔥, Alex rips his guitar, Also AC/DC were standing right by them as they played

The only thing missing from the live version was the keyboard in the closing moments. Saw them live in 1982. Simply amazing. Grateful that I was a teen during their ultimate prime.

Neil can change his timing in an insist. Over and over and flip around completely. Incredible. Yes look at that crowd, together, enjoying savants on stage. Together, not fighting. Good old days.

OMG! Man I miss Rush Wednesdays. Your initial reaction to this song is still one of my favorite reactions of all time! If I’m having a down day, I will rewatch It just to put a smile on my face. I checked out your Rush playlist and see you have not reacted to the garden yet. The song is amazing as it’s their very last song on their last album, and there’s also a great Live version available to react to as well!

I think you guys need to hit some mid 80s Rush… “Distant Early Warning” is perfect to show their use of great use of synths in the 80s and the song still rocks!

Natural Science live. Absolute epic song with so many time signature changes that's is hard to keep up. A masterclass in musicianship.