Music Reviews

Concert Review Rush Rises from the Ashes on Fifty Something Tour

by Andrew Tuttle
06/08/26
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Glorious.

Really, no other word describes Rush, alive and well on their Fifty Something Tour and no other word describes the first night of the tour on Sunday at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Many hoped for this day, few expected it.

Rush, lost without drummer Neil Peart who called it a career after the R40 Tour in 2015 and died on January 7, 2020, reunited after more than 10 years as singer and bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson found a more than capable drummer in Anika Nilles to fill some of the biggest rock music shoes in history.

This day, June 7, 2026, an answer to prayer. Truly. For 10 years, I prayed to the living God of the Bible for one more chance to see my childhood friends. Sometimes fervent, other times a bit embarrassed. Why, of all things much more worthy of prayer, would I ask God for such a thing as this?  To see a rock band consisting of two people without faith in Him, but who have been in my life longer than anyone outside my family. That’s why. You do not have because you do not ask - James 4:2-3.

Indeed, throughout the years I prayed for one more show. (Besides I was stuck on 39 Rush concerts and it really bugged me). And, funny thing, I can vividly remember in the weeks, maybe a month or so prior to that October day when Lee and Lifeson announced the Fifty Something Tour, I finally said enough. Rush is over. Move on. It ain’t happenin’.

And then an email. With sweaty eyes, I opened, already knowing exactly what was inside. An answer to prayer. And wouldn’t you know it, (I’ll save the long Ticketmaster story as many of you likely have) I eventually secured tickets on opening night in the same row on the opposite aisle as those I sat for the last show of the R40 Tour. Yep, almost as if the Lord said, “Enjoy, have fun.”

Rush Fifty Something Tour Review

Fun Fact: You can see me and my wife in the opening sequence of the R40 Tour concert film holding an R50 sign in Portland, OR. Also, my review of the R50 50^th Anniversary album, fell right in line with the band getting back together (See link below). I can pretend they read it and said, “This guy has a point, let’s do it!” but I am sure nowhere near reality.

The reaction to Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson as the two emerged on the Forum stage after 11 long years was something to behold. What is it about this band that curates such a strong visceral reaction among enduring fans?  

In many respects the Rush Fifty Something Tour doubled as a memorial service, or better, a celebration of life. And, finally, after all these years, following that unexpected drop of terrible news made public on January 10, 2020, Rush fans got to mourn with each other and with our two friends Geddy and Alex.

But I’ll say the selection of Nilles as Peart’s replacement proved a brilliant and even tactical move by the guys at work. The unknown elephant in the room?  Without Peart’s death this tour unlikely happens. It was clear he was done. Finished. Fully retired. Not coming back. And, no way Lee and Lifeson move on without him as a living and iconic member of the band. Thus, we have Nilles to thank for stepping up to the plate and performing in a such a way that brought Geddy and Alex back to the stage and back to us.  

So, what song does Rush open their first concert in nearly 11 years? Obscured behind a lengthy dropdown screen (that eventually lifted) Lee and Lifeson launched the chords with one of their longest and most technical - “Xanadu.” As if to say, check out our new drummer, we’ll show you she can play.

And she can. Masterfully. As one would only expect as a member of Rush. Lee and Lifeson certainly didn’t lose a step in the last decade both playing the double necks of their craft on that first song. Rush (along with keyboardist Loren Gold, who took some of the pressure off Lee) performed extraordinary well for about two hours, 15 minutes of total playing time.

Then “Limelight" and “Far Cry.” “Subdivisions” followed with Lee on keyboards for this one. “Freewill.” And then the first tribute to Mr. Peart. A video collage of photos with Neil discussing becoming a drummer before Lee dedicated “Bravado” to his pal.

“Caravan” helped dry some misty eyes. Lifeson introduced “La Villa Strangiato” with a dreamy albeit brief solo intro and Lee fought his emotions again introducing “Vital Sings,” a song he said they love to play. Rush concluded the first half with their classic “The Spirit of Radio.”

After a 20-minute plus intermission, the clock displayed on the massive dropdown screen displaying how much time until the second half recalibrated to 21:12 when it hit 0:00 and the spacey opening to  “2112” began with the usual “Overture” and “The Temples of Syrinx” played along with “Grand Finale.”

“Distant Early Warning,” a song about a car and “Dreamline” followed as Lifeson tried something new for the repetitive chords normally played on the opening track for Roll the Bones. It took a few bars to embrace. Actually, it worked quite well. “Natural Science” then another emotional pull in a second collage of photos with a Peart voice-over. Lee then motioned to a woman to come on stage and wouldn’t you know Aimee Mann sang her vocal parts on “Time Stand Still.” She, too, at times seemed overwhelmed by the weight of it all.

Up next: “Red Sector A.” And Nilles did not wear the headphones Peart always wore on this song. “YYZ,” “The Garden” and “Tom Sawyer” closed the main set.

“By-Tor & The Snow Dog” opened the encore and closing it all out a blistering “Working Man” with a healthy affirmation to original drummer John Rutsey. Appropriately, the usual drum solo during a Rush concert now left for the annals of history.   

OK, do you really need me to say whether they played these songs well? Of course they did. This well-oiled machine called Rush played effortlessly and with precision like they always do. Otherwise, they call it a career and go back to writing books and playing with other bands.

Long before Lee said as much in his memoir, I felt Lifeson was the most underrated guitarist in rock music. Tonight he proved again for my ears, he’s the best. Lee, at 72 years old, sounded impeccable. Like he did for R40. (Whether it translates over to the eventual live album release, we shall see.) He reached high notes higher than any Seventy Something should hit but he also toned some back, you could tell. Nilles nailed every fill and was locked in all night, even peppering in a bit of her own creativity, you could tell.

Surely an emotional night for us and them but hardly overdone and nowhere near sappy. Lee choked back tears a couple of times but for the most part he and Lifeson stuck to business. Indeed, Rush has risen from the ashes a blaze of everyday glory. (Oh how I wish Rush would play that song!)

It’s been said that our uncomfortableness with time – it moves too fast, it moves too slow – proves we were made for eternity. Yet, for one more night, and one more tour, we are young wondering the face of earth, wondering what our dreams might be worth understanding that Rush and their fans are only immortal for a limited time.

And if God cares about a sunken axe head maybe he cares about my love for Rush and a desire to freeze the moment…just a little bit longer.

Rush Fifty Something Tour Setlist – Opening Night 

1. Xanadu


2. Limelight


3. Far Cry


4. Subdivisions


5. Freewill


6. Bravado


7. Caravan


8. La Villa Strangiato


9. Vital Signs


10. The Spirit of Radio


11. 2112 - Overture, The Temples of Syrinx, Grand Finale


12. Distant Early Warning


13. Red Barchetta


14. Dreamline


15. Natural Science


16. Time Stand Still


17. Red Sector A


18. YYZ


19. The Garden


20. Tom Sawyer


21. By-Tor & the Snow Dog


22. Working Man

Rush Fifty Something Tour Setlist – Night 2 

1. Xanadu


2. The Spirit of Radio


3. The Analog Kid


4. Freewill


5. Subdivisions


6. Bravado


7. Leave That Thing Alone


8. The Trees


9. Headlong Flight


10. Limelight


11. 2112 (in its entirety)


12. Animate


13. Closer to the Heart


14. A Passage to Bangkok


15. Time Stand Still


16. YYZ


17. Anthem


18. Red Barchetta


19. With Hunt


20. Tom Sawyer


21. Finding My Way


22. Working Man

Related Rush Articles:

• Album Review: Rush R50 50^th Anniversary


• Top 10 Best Rush Songs


• Concert Review: Rush at the Forum – The Final Show


• Rush Albums Ranked Worst to First


• Missing Neil Peart


• Concert Review: Joy and pain, all in a Rush


• 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony


• Thank God for Rush