Presto

Rush @ The Minnesota State Fair 2010.08.27

Playing in one of the absolute worst music venues I have ever experienced, Rush returned to the Minnesota State Fair 36 years to the day they first played the fair (which also happens to be Alex's birthday).  Being more or less a greatest hits tour, the set featured heavily on the early classics with some of the very latest tracks thrown in.  In addition to performing the full Moving Pictures album (with the superior side B
finally represented), what middle-era tracks were present were highly anticipated, including the addition of the rare Presto.

Setlist:  The Spirit of Radio / Time Stand Still / Presto / Stick it Out/ Workin Them Angels / Leave That Thing Alone / Faithless / BU2B / Freewill / Marathon / Subdivisions / Tom Sawyer / Red Barchetta / Limelight  / The Camera Eye / Witch Hunt / Vital Signs / Caravan / Drum Solo / Closer to the Heart / 2112 Overture / 2112 The Temple of Syrinx / Far Cry / La Villa Strangiato / Working Man

+ Presto, Time Stand Still, Leave That Thing Alone, Marathon, Subdivisions, Moving Pictures Side B

- Working Man, Too many new songs/ old "classics"

Twenty Years Ago:  This summer marks the twentieth anniversary of Presto Tour, which played at the Met Center June 19th, 1990 (perhaps one of the last concerts at that venue).  This show marked my introduction to Rush, and seems to me to be the middle of their high period. I'm sure many long time classic fans thought this period was too modern and tracks like Superconductor were probably off to them, but Superconductor was the song that made me buy Presto after the show, and I still think that record is their best work and one of my favorite all time albums.  Perhaps they will continue the trend of playing full albums and perform the entire Presto in 2015.  For comparison, here is the setlist from that night:

Intro (A Show of Hands video) / Force Ten / Freewill / Distant Early Warning / Time Stand Still /Subdivisions / Marathon / Red Barchetta / Superconductor / Show Don't Tell / The Pass / Closer To The Heart / Manhattan Project / Xanadu / YYZ / The Rhythm Method (Drum solo) / Scars / War Paint / Mission / Tom Sawyer / The Spirit of Radio / 2112 (Overture) / La Villa Strangiato / In The Mood / Wipe Out