Fifty-something years in, Rush is somehow Closer to the Heart than ever.
More than a decade after wrapping what many believed would be their final tour, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returned to New York City this weekend for four sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden, on the band’s Fifty Something Tour.
Saturday night’s performance was an electric celebration of Rush’s legacy, of drummer Neil Peart’s immeasurable impact, and of the fans who have waited 11 years for this moment.
True to the era much of the set celebrated, the production was every bit as theatrical as the music. The night kicked off with a hilarious short film following a trio on a quest to find Rush inside a spooky mansion. Along the way, they crossed paths with Geddy Lee disguised as a hot dog vendor, Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis reprising their I Love You, Man bromance, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek nods to the band’s mythology.
When the trio finally stumbled upon Lee and Lifeson in a cobweb-covered room, dressed to look decades older, they asked the obvious question: “Are you Rush?” The pair deadpanned, “Yes.” After a beat, they added: “Disappointing, isn’t it?”
The show, as to be expected with an intro like that, was far from it.
Lee and Lifeson took the stage and opened on Xanadu, with Lifeson wielding his iconic double-neck guitar as the arena erupted. From there, the nearly three-hour performance became a career-spanning journey through more than five decades of progressive rock.
Saturday night’s show also carried an emotional weight: it marked the 11th anniversary of the band’s final performance with Neil Peart. “The best part to me was watching Neil grow as a lyricist,” Lee said. “To see (his) observations about the world, to songs about his own difficult moments in life. Autobiographical, at times. Also—love, and what it means to live life.”
Throughout the night, Peart’s presence was felt everywhere—from touching video montages and archival recordings to the reverence with which every song was performed.
After an electric first set, the band stepped away for a 20-minute intermission, marked by a countdown clock ticking away on the big screen. Once the timer hit zero, the audience was treated to another hilarious South Park animated intro before the second half of the evening launched headfirst into Rush’s beloved Moving Pictures album.
One thing I, as an audience member who admittedly wasn’t around 50-something years ago, quickly realized was just how deeply this music lives in Rush fans. I may not have known the exact moments to air-guitar or air-drum, but the rest of the crowd seemed to hit every beat with flawless precision.
It was evident that Lee and Lifeson shared the exact same enthusiasm as the crowd did. I pointed out to my concert buddy (my Uncle Billy, who did in fact know the exact moments to air-guitar) who reminded me that they had been friends since grammar school. They smiled through nearly every song, traded knowing glances, and looked genuinely grateful to be sharing a stage again.
After years of insisting Rush’s touring days were over, it felt more than anything like witnessing two lifelong friends rediscover why they loved doing this in the first place.
Saturday’s setlist:
- Xanadu
- Dreamline
- Subdivisions
- Headlong Flight
- Bravado
- Red Sector A
- La Villa Strangiato
- Anthem
- New World Man
- The Spirit of Radio
- Moving Pictures suite (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, Limelight, The Camera Eye, Witch Hunt, Vital Signs)
- Time Stand Still
- Closer to the Heart
- 2112 (Overture / Temples of Syrinx / Grand Finale)
- Encore: By-Tor & the Snow Dog, Working Man