...Finally.

After years of uncertainty.

was back in business!

9:00 a.m. - September 17th, Las Vegas, Nevada. Judy and I were packed and ready for our road trip. With an early start we were driven to the Las Vegas airport (LAS) by a long time friend of Judy named Jane. Arriving without incident we said our good-bye's and checked our bags. Our flight to Oakland was right on schedule. Clearing the security stations we caught a shuttle train which whisked us directly to our flight terminal. Stepping off the train car we came face to face with the first of many Rush fans we would befriend along our journey. It turned out this fellow traveler was on his way to catch the Rush performance at the Chronicle Pavilion just like us. Warren, originally from Texas was in the middle of a Rush road trip of his own when he happened to spot Judy's Rush T-shirt and politely introduced himself. During our flight we enticed Warren with the possibility of hooking up with us later for the AutoWest Amphitheatre event to be held in Marysville, Sacramento the day after the Chronicle Pavilion. Not having a ticket for the show at this point we provided him with a number to our ticket agent. Nothing ventured nothing gained - or so they say right? Later, we would discover the temptation to pick up another ticket would prove too great for Warren to resist...

Judy, myself and Warren on our way to Oakland.

Upon our arrival we picked up our rental car at the airport and said our farewells to Warren (who had previous arrangements to stay with friends of his own while in the bay area). With the aid of a few helpful Enterprise rent-a-car agents we were given directions to a place we could go to grab a bite to eat. Minutes later off the 880 Highway we stopped in an area of Oakland known as Jack London Square. While there we had lunch at a little place called Everett & Jones which specialized in Cajun style barbecued entrées and side dishes. I gave the place an excellent rating. After lunch we made our way to our friend Troy's house not far from the Chronicle Pavilion.

Fortunately for us, Troy's house was halfway to the venue from the airport. This would prove to be the first of many coincidentally lucky situations Judy and I would benefit from throughout the rest of our Rush road trip. I had never been to Troy's house before. It was much nicer than I had imagined. Settling in we grabbed a quick shower then headed out to our next engagement of the day.

Seven miles down the road (that much closer to the venue) we found our way to the home of fellow Rush fans - Ken (Sir Draco) and Julie (T4E 2112) hosts of the Counterparts message board website. Ken and Julie had invited us to a pre-show BBQ party they were throwing prior to the concert that evening. During our stay we met fellow Rush fans including Eddy (Dockie), Leonard (DarthLen) and later Elise (Open Secret). We shared a few drinks and had a wonderful time. During our visit I had the truly marvelous experience of finally getting to meet and greet people I had previously only known as message board synonyms. The open camaraderie felt among fellow Rush fans allowed for quick and easy conversation without the need of having to explain ourselves. Our common bond had brought us together as fast friends.

We "clicked".

All the while we kept an eye on our watches. After five years we couldn't wait to see Rush again! Before long it was time to go... As trusted keeper of our concert tickets Judy would from time to time make a "ticket check" prior to each performance. Once in a while she would make my heart skip a beat when she'd forget where she put them last. I could never figure out if she was playing around when she did that but in those moments of sheer panic I was not amused... Of course, I can laugh about it now - she had them all along. Hah hah! Very funny - NOT!!!

We arrived at the arena with time to spare. Judy picked up a couple of new concert T-shirts while I rustled up some brew. Interestingly - I wasn't "frisked" at the main entrance. Evidently I must have looked safe enough to overlook. Heh heh. I snuck in a disposable camera and was able to snap a few pics (careful to cover the flash as I clicked away) that night.

Rush doing what they do best at the Chronicle Pavilion in Devore, California.

Fourth row shots!

Rush enjoying themselves.

Alex lights up the stage!

This was the first time (second for Judy) since the Test For Echo tour I would see Rush perform again. I was spellbound. In the five years since their hiatus - Rush was in top form. Their ability to create magic on stage was inspiring to say the least. The videos, lights and pyrotechnics were amazing.

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.!

Highlights at the Chronicle Pavilion included sitting fourth row, the Rush pic of them as three stooges, goofing with Alex, the incredible drum solo, Dragons!, T-shirts thrown into the audience by Alex and Geddy (pulled from clothes dryers kept running on stage during the show), Meat Bees! and Neil making a mad dash from the stage after the encore - oh yeah! and the beer wasn't bad either.