Gorillas take to the stage at Rush's Vancouver concert

At most rock shows the crowd sits down when the drum solo starts, but at a Rush gig they stand up. A few minutes ago Neil Peart delivered his patented, Buddy Rich-inspired workout on the skins, making jaws drop. And now the band is in the midst of "Temples of Syrinx", the raging metal anthem from its finest album, 2112. It doesn't get any better than this for Rush fans. Oh yeah, a guy wearing what looked like--from my vantage point halfway across the rink--a gorilla suit and a Canucks jersey came out on stage during "Temples" and thumped another guy in a chicken suit and a Bruins uniform. That's what you call icing on the cake I guess.

Georgia Straight music writer Steve Newton is posting items of interest from tonight's (June 30) Rush concert at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Check out the full review tomorrow at www.straight.com/music.