At the Midway Point of Rush's Fifty Something Tour
When Geddy and Alex announced the Fifty Something tour kicking off at the Kia Forum back in June, everyone in the Rush community held their collective breath. How could this work without the Professor? And bringing in Loren Gold on keys to make them a touring quartet for the first time since 1971? It felt a little strange. Add in the bumpy start with the Fort Worth shows being delayed due to border issues and Geddy battling a nasty bout of laryngitis and bronchitis, and you couldn't help but worry. But as the band takes the stage tonight at Mohegan Sun for the exact midway point of the tour, all that skepticism is gone. This isn't a cash grab. Anika Nilles hasn't just filled the drum seat; she has completely silenced the doubters, breathing furious life into this catalog while fiercely honoring the man who built it.
The best part of this run is that the boys refused to play it safe. Instead of a predictable jukebox of radio hits, we're getting a wild rotation of setlists that has yours truly working overtime trying to make sense of them all. We know we're getting 2112 every single night, but chasing down the full version of the suite has become the ultimate prize. Add in the fact that they are rotating the entirety of Moving Pictures across different nights, and it gives every single show its own distinct pulse. Amazingly across 45 shows, there have been 25 unique set lists proving that you really can't tell what each night will bring. Check out all the variations and differences at the main site's Fifty Something Set List page.
But the real triumph of this tour is the vibe in the arena. It isn't a mournful procession, it's a massive, joyous celebration of a 50-plus year legacy. Between the video tributes to Neil and the sheer joy radiating from Geddy and Alex as they trade licks, the energy is unbelievable. Getting past those early tour hurdles just makes this halfway mark feel even sweeter. As we look ahead to the final 46 shows before wrapping up in Helsinki next April, we can just be thankful they decided to do this one last time. It is an unexpected victory lap, and it proves the spirit of radio is still very much alive.
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