Fred Barchetta

Tonight, I finally got to see one of my favorite bands Points North turn into their alter RUSH ego Fred Barchetta. If you’re a RUSH fan you’ll appreciate the flawless musicianship that guitarist Eric Barnett, Bassist Uriah Duffy, drummer Kevin Aiello and Vocalist Kristina VanAmburgh bring to the stage. When watching them play you can tell they all love the music of RUSH and that makes a world of difference; after all, you get to play RUSH for a night. Most musicians would only dream of such a gig. Well, this dream came true for these talented four individuals. As the crowd roared, Fred Barchetta kicked the evening off with “Freewill” and quickly followed it up with “Subdivisions,” both songs RUSH fan favorites. Guitarist Eric Barnett then greeted the Ramona crowd and led our awaiting ears into the world known only has “Moving Pictures“. The Intro to “Tom Sawyer” started the journey, then the glistening harmonic intro to “Red Barchetta” leading us into the amazing instrumental “YYZ” and ending with one of my favorites “Limelight”. But wait; the journey isn’t over. Has we leave the “Moving Pictures” era of RUSH we enter into another brilliant album “Permanent Waves” and the mega hit “Spirit of the Radio” which is among five Rush songs inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Now that the crowd is all fired up, Eric kicks it into high gear and starts playing a Points North original titled “Ignition”. This song is amazing and fits right in with the RUSH songs so well that if Eric didn’t tell the crowd what it was they would have assumed it was a RUSH song. When the applause died down the band kicked it Old School, starting with “2112 overture / Temples of Syrinx” and leading into “Anthem” which was my favorite RUSH segment because Kristina’s Vocal ability really shined here. She hit notes that were off the charts. Closing the show was a classic RUSH tune called “Working Man”, which just left the audience wanting more.

I love these guys as “Points North” and now I have another reason to love them. Next time you see the name “Fred Barchetta” on a bill, don’t hesitate and just call your friends, purchase tickets and make a party out of it.

Fred Barchetta is:

Eric Barnett – Guitar

Uriah Duffy – Bass, and Pedals

Kevin Aiello – Drums

Kristina VanAmburgh – Vocals

Fred Barchetta set list: