Rush Newcastle City Hall 11 June 1977
I hadn’t heard of Rush at all when I first went to see them. I remember being surprised that this “new” Canadian rock band was headlining the City Hall. Of course, Rush weren’t new at all, and had already released several albums. Anyway, I went along to see them out of curiosity as much as anything, to find out what they were like. There was actually another reason that I went along to this concert, and that was to see support band Stray. I was a big Stray fan from the early 70s onwards and went to see them every chance I had. By 1977 Stray were coming to the end of the first part of the career, but nonetheless Del and the band played a storming set. 
Rush were touring to support 2112, and it came as a big surprise to me just how good they were. I was also surprised that a three piece band could be play such intricate musical, and that they could also rock and play so loud. The members were, as they remain today: Alex Lifeson (guitar), Geddy Lee (bass) and Neil Peart (drums). The other surprise was Geddy Lee’s high pitched vocals which took some getting used to. Rush opened with Bastille Day and the set included the epic 2112 suite, the wonderful Xanadu (which became a great favourite of all of us rockers in the late 70s) and the excellent Working Man and Finding My Way. I left the City Hall converted to Rush, and went to see them quite a few times over the next few years.
Setlist: Bastille Day; Anthem; Lakeside Park; 2112 Part I-VII: Overture; The Temples of Syrinx; Discovery; Presentation; Soliloquy; Grand Finale. Xanadu; Something for Nothing; By-Tor & The Snow Dog; The Necromancer; Working Man; Finding My Way; Fly by Night; In the Mood; What You’re Doing.
22 Mar
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by James on July 11, 2016 at 9:30 pm
I was at that one myself, a very memorable night.
Posted by James on August 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm
By the way you missed one tune from the setlist – after what seemed like 15 minutes of stamping and shouting, they came back for one more encore – Best I Can.
Posted by mediapenguin on May 21, 2020 at 8:45 pm
Yeah I was there and recorded some of it on a cassette which has been lost in the mists of time. I went with someone called James…..it’s not, is it?
Posted by vintagerock on May 22, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Afraid I am not James I am Peter! Cheers Peter
Posted by mediapenguin on May 22, 2020 at 6:36 pm
i meant the other guy in the thread. wish i could find all my ticket stbs but seem to have disappeared. Did a lot at Newcy Town hall.
Posted by vintagerock on May 22, 2020 at 9:51 pm
Sorry mate. Hope you find the guy that you are looking for! Cheers Peter
Posted by James on December 22, 2020 at 10:41 pm
James here, the previous poster 🙂
Well – I went with people called Barry and Arthur, but not someone called mediapenguin.
Posted by vintagerock on December 23, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Thanks James happy days have a great Christmas and all the best for 2021
Best wishes Peter