In 2012, post-grunge heroes Bush embarked on a national tour across the US, but not as the headlining band; instead, they played third fiddle to two other modern arena staples, Seether and Nickelback. For fans of the English rockers that took the 90s by storm, this was an utterly perplexing move; Bush’s tenure far outstripped either of the acts they were opening for, and as far as musical association, they were far more based in grunge and even experimental sound than the radio-friendly crunch-and-stomp of their tourmates. Apparently, however, this association didn’t vanish after that tour, as I found myself arguing this very same point with a friend days before this show. Despite his insistence that the pop caliber and gravel-tinged vocals put them at the same point of similarity as their Canadian cohorts from two years prior, I fiercely maintained that Bush’s dynamic songwriting, complex lyricism, and constant sway between snarlingly raw and shimmeringly electronic production have placed them in a position that few other acts manage to span in their career. Friday’s show proved that I was not the only one who was still passionate in these beliefs, as Bush kicked off their 2015 headlining tour at The Masonic in San Francisco before a massive crowd that joined in unison to sing and sway to tunes both new and old, every moment indulging in the music that poured over them.
