Blimp Time-Hop: The Last Time Rush Played The Civic Center

35 years ago today, Rush kicked off the Power Windows Tour at the Civic Center. That's right. The first official night of their trek across North America in 1985 happened right here in Portland, Maine.

Power Windows was an album that found them sounding more like the Police or Genesis records of the era. only heavier (not a bad thing, really). Ahhh, the wicked synthy 80s.

It features a Blimp favorite, The Big Money. There's some pretty sweet mullets on Geddy and Alex in this music video. We think that's a rat-tail back there on Neil too.

This was the 3rd and final appearance of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart in Portland, Maine. If we were to be able to sit in an empty quiet Civic Center today, their extraordinary musicianship would still echo within those historic walls.

Here's what they played at what also happens to be my first Rush show.

This was a concert to get there early for, with no friggin' around in the parking garage beforehand. Opening the show was the phenomenal yet underrated guitarist, Steve Morse of Dixie Dregs fame. Steve also enjoyed a stint in Kansas and these days he plays lead guitar in Deep Purple.

For the beautifully atmospheric Mystic Rhythms from Power Windows, this video features some creepy-cool wooden puppet animation.