An Evening With Rebecca

Rush is my favorite band, and have been since the late 70's.  Their album "2112", inspired by the Ayn Rand book "Anthem", put them at the top for me, with intelligent lyrics and interesting music.  They were always experimenting with different styles that danced around their core sound.  This made each new album exciting to hear, as you knew something was going to be different, yet still be familiar.  A new Rush album release is a big thing in my household!

They have also proven themselves with their longevity, and the multi-generational fan base.  However, I'm not really writing to praise my favorite band.  I'm certain you don't care about that!  Here is why this background is important.  I've seen them on every tour for a long, long time.  

One year, they were here on Halloween, and we decided not to go, because it was my oldest daughter, Rebecca's first Halloween and we wanted to dedicate the night to that.  Rush rewarded us for our altruistic attitude by returning the next summer at the new Riverport Amphitheater.  The only other near miss, was this past fall, when they played at Riverport (it will  always be Riverport for me...forget this corporate naming rights stuff!) and the weather was threatening, and money was tight.  We decided not to go.

Again, we were rewarded by Rush adding a summer leg and again putting St. Louis on this trip.  Since we like to sit in the lawn, it is possible to put off ticket purchases until the last second.  We would buy them on the way there, or at the box office.  Saturday was the concert and the day was not getting off to a good start.  Dianne, my lovely wife, had not slept well the night before and was not feeling good all day Saturday.  The kids, in particular the little ball of trouble, were at each other's throats and the little ball of trouble was being extremely defiant and acting spoiled all day.  I really didn't even want to go at this point.  It just didn't seem to be the fun family outing I was hoping for.  Additionally, Rebecca, the eldest, didn't really want to go at this point.  Perhaps for the same reasons as me, perhaps because she was just craving a slow relaxing evening at home.

I also didn't really want to go alone, a good concert is something that needs to be shared.  It looked doomed.  I decided to make a nice barbeque dinner that almost certainly meant there wouldn't be time to go to the concert.

I was upset about missing the whole tour, though.

For whatever reason, I suspected at least 50% of which was to give me a chance to go, Rebecca said at 7:25 PM that she would like to go with me.  Well, I made a snap decision to take her and approximately four minutes later, Rebecca and I were dressed in our Rush concert garb and out the door and on the way to try and make an 8:00 PM start time.

I was actually happy with this last minute arrangement the more I thought about it because there aren't too many things, at least big things, that Rebecca and I get a chance to do together.  This would give us a big chunk of quality time.  Additionally, seeing Rush play is probably my favorite thing in the world, and I'd get to share this one on one with my first-born alone!

Before we were even out the driveway, I told Rebecca that I really appreciated her coming with me as I suspected she was doing this just for me.  It certainly meant a lot to me. We had a great time just driving to the concert (which is quite a ways from our house) and talked about a lot of music and band stuff, iPods, cartoons, and a lot of silly things we've done or seen.  In fact, we had so much fun just talking, that I drove right past the turnoff for the concert!   Oops.

Correcting my error, we made it to the venue, and were rushing (no pun intended) to the gate, when Rebecca realized we left our blanket for the lawn in the car!  We RAN back to get this and then back to the box office as Rush could be heard playing "Mission."  We bought our tickets and found a good spot on the lawn.  Even with the very late start and poor driving, we had only missed 3 songs! 

The concert was excellent with near sonic perfection, as Rush always is. (when you've been playing that long, you can afford the best gear, staff, and sound!)   I enjoyed telling Rebecca about the history and inspiration behind many of the songs, about how old I was when the older songs came out, and what I remembered most about them, from a musical standpoint. It was some nice one-on-one time even during the concert.  This was not a new experience for Rebecca (we attend many different musical events and she has even seen Rush two previous times), but with her being 12, now, there is so much more she "gets" and we can discuss. Just the "people watching" was fun for both of us.  There are all sorts of interesting characters at a show such as this!  If you've been to a big rock concert, you know what I'm talking about.  If not, let your imagination run wild...you're probably right!

During intermission, we also had fun texting a message to the big screens (although the concert restarted before ours was displayed) and talked some more.  I marveled at the fact that the shirt she had picked to wear was from the "Counterparts" tour, which was one year before she was born...and now she fit the shirt! They really grow up fast.

The concert ended at 11:22, so even arriving 15 minutes late, we certainly got our money's worth!  We actually got out of Riverport in record time and were on the highway and on our way home less than 20 minutes after the end of the show.  Amazing.

We had another nice talk on the way home, and had fun recreating the silly videos and things that happened at the show...including recreating a hilarious South Park intro to one of the songs, where the South Park kids were playing in a band called "Li'l Rush."  Yeah, I know, South Park is a bit...um...rude, but hilarious. 

All in all, it turned into a perfect night that I got to spend alone with Rebecca.  As they say on the tickets..."an evening with Rebecca!"

Life is good.

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Author's note: There is one thing that I need to add here that I couldn't get to fit into the narrative above without a overly long explanation that would have ruined the flow and core idea.   Due to some over the top behavior of the youngest, there was no way I felt I could take her to the show.  Believe me when I say that this is the worst possible punishment for Rachel.  She is probably our biggest music fan.  However, my wife Dianne sacrificed going to the concert since so Rebecca and I could go and we wouldn't all be punished along with Rachel.  I appreciate that so much!

Comments

[Dianne]

Yes our little ball of trouble was quite upset. In fact, she had her pajamas on then put regular clothes over them. As I was calling her to say goodbye to her father and sister, she declared "I am NOT saying goodbye, because I AM GOING!!!!!" After they had left she would come up from her room to explain to me how she got dressed and was ready to go and that she was doing this for me so I wouldn't have to miss the concert...Now wasn't that thoughtful of her...I turned her around and sent her back to bed.

[MP]

Rush was one of my first albums ever, I've never seen them live though. (Fly By Night)

Sounds like a great daddy date night!

[MP]

PS..it will ALWAYS be Riverport to me too.

[LisaS]

can't stand Riverport, whatever you want to call it. but Rush is awesome in concert. hmmm, maybe I should go put some on the stereo.

[Gregg]

I'm actually fine with Riverport. I like the lawn! It's similar to going to the Whittaker Music festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens or other "park" concerts where you spread your blanket out and just listen to the music.

I find that even doing this at Riverport is very relaxing. I don't really like "sitting" in the seats (where everyone stands the entire time).