A week ago, I went to a Rush concert.
I’ve seen them more than a dozen times.
But this one was different. Because the band is different. Neil Peart — widely acknowledged as one of the best drummers ever — passed away nearly seven years ago. The surviving members of the trio (Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson) had been recording and touring with Neil since 1974, and he had been their primary songwriter. Playing without him just didn’t seem right.
But Geddy and Alex are no spring chickens. And over time, they warmed up to the idea of touring again. After all, they wrote the music that went with Neil’s lyrics. And touring again would be a way to pay tribute to “The Professor” (as Neil was known – they got his family’s blessing) while also once again experiencing the joy of playing together and bringing their beloved music to the masses.
They recruited Anika Nilles to play drums with them. A gargantuan task – not only was Neil one of the best, but Rush’s music is complex.
And Rush’s fan base is notoriously — almost comically — heavily male.
Would a female drummer be welcomed into the fold, especially following in the footsteps of a legend?
So it was a different band that I saw last week.
And it also was different because two of my kids joined me at the show. Gabriel plays drums and is into rock. Leah has become an avid music listener, with wide-ranging tastes.
I loved the show! Because Anika was given a hero’s welcome… and crushed it on drums.
Because Geddy and Alex were all smiles.
Because they paid tribute to Neil, and to their original drummer John Rutsey.
Because after more than 50 years, they still rock!
Because it put me back in touch with my 16-year-old self.
The first concert I ever saw was Rush, back on April 14, 1981, at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was during their Moving Pictures tour. (I spent my entire weekly Piggly Wiggly bagger salary on that t-shirt in the photo above… totally worth it!)
Last Friday, Rush played every song off that album. And tons more tunes to delight hardcore fans.
But what I loved most was the fact that my son and daughter also loved it.
WHEN WE ARE YOUNG
WANDERING THE FACE OF THE EARTH
WONDERING WHAT OUR DREAMS MIGHT BE WORTH
LEARNING THAT WE’RE ONLY IMMORTAL —
FOR A LIMITED TIME
It will come as a shock to absolutely no one who reads this blog (all three of you) that I love music. To be able to share that joy with my kids was magical.
Neil’s gone, but the music of Rush carries on.
Someday I’ll be gone, but my kids’ memories of the Rush concert will carry on.
Time stand still —
I’m not looking back —
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away
You done said…