Last night I went to see Femke play in a showcase for Grammy U. She was their winner late last year for an event where she got to open for Nikka Costa. Femke asked if she could borrow my guitar for her show and I was happy to loan it to her for the gig. She played beautifully. But more than that, it was interesting to listen to my own instrument being played. I can’t say I’ve actually heard it in such a fashion before.
Sure I’ve heard it based on me holding and playing it, or even as I’ve recorded it. But to hear it being played by someone else I could get a sense of what it sounded like from an alternate view. I was floored by how rich and full it sounded. Gave me a feeling of wow, it really is an amazing guitar. I already know how well it plays, and I already told the story on Single of the Day of how different it sounded as I was picking them out at the factory. However, I’ve never really experienced it from a listener’s perspective at a distance.
Listening perspective as an audience member watching a performer is way different from being the performer. Mostly because you’re getting a much larger picture of the sound than a performer is getting. Which is why when a performer really commands the stage and sounds good, they can hold an audience on the edge of their seats. An audience wants to go on the journey, so the performer had best be able to lead it.
If there is a band that has an ability to take an audience on a journey based solely on their musical ability it definitely is Rush. I’ve seen them a couple of times live. In more recent years anyway. I suppose had I been able to see concerts before being born it might have been cool to see them in their early years. Rush has an insanely large following for a progressive rock band. Watching them live is more about the music than anything else. To hear that much sound come out of three performers is amazing.
I’m picking a version of one of their more popular songs as done live. I gotta wonder how much time they had to put into rehearsals to be able to play it. I’m sure by now they know their old material so well it’s not nearly as much of a challenge as something they’ve recently done, but who knows – they do.
Hearing Rush is probably significantly different from the stage compared to being in the audience. Especially when you’re in a sea of people who all tend to know every lick and word Rush has created. A very loyal following. Which is incidentally showcased in the movie ‘I Love You Man’. Where the two main characters head to a special Rush concert and while watching the show are playing air-instruments and singing every word. I can say with certainty that it really does happen like that at a Rush concert. I’ve seen it live.
So put on your favorite air-instrument and spill your guts out as you listen to this song. If you haven’t seen Rush live, do it. In fact if you get a chance to see Femke live, do it. You won’t regret it.