Having A Rush With The School Of Rock

On Friday night, we made our way to a funky little place called the Sante Fe Cafe in College Park, Maryland. The D.C. branch of the School Of Rock was there to perform a Rush Tribute show. It was a most joyous occasion, and I almost went back to see them again on Saturday night for their second show.

School Of Rock? Isn't that a Jack Black movie? Yes, but the movie is based on an actual school founded in 1998 by a guy named Paul Green who is a most awesome guy. We should all elect him President because he would teach American children how to 'stick it to the man' rather than sit on their asses on the couch playing Xbox or Wii.



We had already experienced the School Of Rock last year in Baltimore when they performed a King Crimson tribute show with Adrian Belew as their guest. We knew what to expect. These kids can really play and, if you are a musician, and you have tried to play songs by Rush, you know that it is not easy due, in part, to some of the odd time signatures that shift many times throughout a 5 minute song. These kids really held it together though, for the most part, tackling some very difficult songs. The band lineup would change from song to song, so each student could come on and play their instrument to the Rush song that they had learned the parts or words to. There were about 15 students in all. A lot of the vocal work was handled by the young ladies who, not surprisingly, did a great job because Geddy's vocals are in that higher range,. However, some of the guys who sang did a great job as well. I guess their voices haven't changed yet.

One young man who is known as Big Dan is obviously a rock and roll child prodigy. I would guess that he is about 12 or 13 years old. We saw him play last year at the King Crimson tribute show where he sang and played alto sax and keyboards. This time, he was playing a flying V guitar, a bass guitar and he also sang a bit. This kid looks like a little Kurt Cobain and has so much stage presence and charisma. He is just amazing to watch. And, he handled playing Alex Lifeson's riffs like he had been playing them for years.







There was a little merchandise booth selling School of Rock T-shirts and hats, some of them boasting the slogan 'Rocker Mom' with much coolness. The performers all seemed to be having a great time, and the kids in the audience watching them and their brothers and sisters and friends were really getting into it as well.

We have seen a lot of children at the Rush shows along our travels. Some of them were not even born by the time I had seen Rush 10 times. Still, a lot of them know all of the lyrics and sing right along with Geddy. After seeing this show Friday night, there is no doubt in my mind that Rush's music will be carried on for quite some time.

Note to Geddy, Alex, and Neil... The torch has been passed.


Set List:

Finding My Way
Fly By Night
Red Barchetta
Distant Early Warning
Tom Sawyer
Anthem
Spirit Of Radio
Big Money
The Trees
(Intermission)
Tears
In The End
A Passage To Bangkok
Analog Kid
What You're Doing
Limelight
Subdivisions
Working Man
YYZ
Closer To The Heart