Recommendations of the Editorial team
Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are not taking their new opportunity as Rush lightly. They had promised to vary the set lists of their Fifty Something Tour – But no one saw what they pulled out of the hat on the second night of the tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
On the first evening, Rush opened the second set with an excerpt from the 1976 mini-rock opera “2112” – on the second they played the thing in its entirety: all seven parts, 20 minutes in a row, including “Pyro”. It was the first time since 1997 that Rush performed “2112” in its entirety – the piece fills an entire side of the album of the same name.
It was also the first time that touring drummer Anika Nilles played the work in its entirety – which once again underlined the extraordinary task she has taken on. Not only did she have to master the endlessly complex, ever-changing drum parts of one of rock’s greatest drummers, but she also had to memorize hours of material. “2112” is full of stop-and-go passages and rhythmic interweavings with Lifeson’s riffs – but Nilles mastered everything flawlessly. The conclusion of the song suite was, as could not be otherwise, the studio recording of the late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart with the words: “Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control.”
Six tour premieres
The rest of the evening fulfilled Rush’s promise to keep the set lists varied in every respect: In addition to the new parts of “2112”, six other songs celebrated their tour premiere.
The band pulled out “The Analog Kid,” the instrumental “Leave That Thing Alone,” “The Trees,” “Headlong Flight,” “Animate,” “Closer to the Heart” — and went back to the “2112” album for “A Passage to Bangkok.” (A detailed review in ROLLING STONE will follow shortly.)