Rush Delivers A Poignant Look Back As Terrific Reunion Run Continues

Alex Lifeson (left) and Geddy Lee (right) execute connected shape pinch Rush during the 'Fifty Something' reunion circuit astatine United Center. Thursday, July 16, 2026 successful Chicago, Illinois

Photo by Ethan Chivari

“All this machinery making modern music…” mused singer/bassist Geddy Lee connected shape arsenic Rush offered up “Spirit of Radio” midway done the group’s first of 4 sold retired performances successful Chicago, arsenic their “Fifty Something” circuit continues.

The irony of that lyric is that successful an property erstwhile songs are often constructed by teams of songwriters and producers, and progressively via non-human elements for illustration AI, Rush needed conscionable 4 connected shape participants to present a raucously magical evening of unrecorded euphony connected shape astatine United Center.

Written by drummer Neil Peart astir 50 years ago, “The Spirit of Radio” remains resonant, 1 of galore examples of the measurement Peart’s relatable lyrics continually speak to unusual times decades aft the fact.

Upon joining up successful 1974, Peart penned the overwhelming mostly of the group’s lyrics moving forward, cementing 1 of the much unsocial fan/band bonds successful stone history anterior to his untimely passing successful 2020. On their first circuit since, Lee and co-founding guitarist Alex Lifeson are joined by powerhouse drummer Anika Nilles and keyboard subordinate Loren Gold.

Gold joins pursuing outings alongside acts for illustration Chicago and The Who while Nilles, who emerged via viral YouTube performances successful 2013, astir stole the show from down the kit during a 2022 tally pinch legendary guitarist Jeff Beck and character Johnny Depp.

The Rush catalog touts 24 golden records and 14 platinum, placing the group down only the Beatles and Rolling Stones successful position of stone acts tallying consecutive gold/platinum albums (with medium income of astir 30 cardinal successful the United States alone). Despite the crazy numbers and heady company, the set infamously cracked the apical 40 of Billboard’s basking 100 singles floor plan successful America conscionable 1 clip pinch 1982’s “New World Man,” a benignant of fitting stat.

“Thank you and hello!” said Lee connected shape early during the Chicago opener, manus complete his eyes arsenic he peered retired complete the sold retired crowd while mounting up “Limelight” and introducing the band. “We’re conscionable truthful happy. Thank you each for still being here,” he continued. “We’ve sewage rather an schedule tonight. There’s a batch we want to do. Celebrating 50 years of music. We’re present to salary tribute to Neil. A assemblage of activity that is unparalleled amongst drummers and lyricists.”

That a reunion will activity pursuing tragic nonaccomplishment is ne'er a guarantee. But, from go, this Rush show conscionable felt different, pinch the set delivering 1 of the much seemingly genuine displays of emotion and catharsis arsenic they made their measurement done adjacent to a 3 hr set, delivering the type of stone and rotation show that’s go progressively uncommon successful the arena expanse while drastically shaking up the setlist astir nights.

“Living successful a fisheye lens / Caught successful the camera eye,” sang Lee during different Peart-written classical successful “Limelight.” “All the world's so a shape / And we are simply players.”

Those prescient lyrics were written successful 1981 and followed 1 of Lifeson’s grittiest, astir recognizable intros, pinch Lee, 73, hopping successful spot arsenic Nilles drummed the standout way to conclusion while sparks flew.

Lee’s pummeling bassline kicked disconnected “Far Cry” pinch Lifeson offering a backing vocal arsenic pyro soared.

“Subdivisions / In the precocious schoolhouse halls / In the shopping malls / Conform aliases beryllium formed out!” sang Lee during “Subdivisions,” breathing caller life into Peart’s rumination connected suburban adolescence during today’s tumultuous times. Lee skipped, past stomped on successful a circle arsenic Lifeson shredded, pinch Gold sparkling connected synths precocious arsenic Lee smiled, nodding successful approval.

“One of the blessings I’ve had complete the past 50 years was watching Neil turn arsenic a lyricist,” Lee began arsenic the respectful Chicago assemblage grew incredibly quiet, a shockingly attentive infinitesimal successful a concertgoing era often defined by downright abysmal instrumentality behavior. “Later on, baring his psyche a spot more. Talking astir his ain life, astatine times autobiographical. So, we salary tribute to that development. This is ‘Freewill.’”

While the thought of “Freewill” seems astatine times these days for illustration the relic of a bygone era, Nilles nevertheless made the Permanent Waves standout her own, driving the trim alongside Lee arsenic Lifeson trim through, pinch the crowd exploding during a precocious instrumental segment, a cleanable illustration of Rush’s functioning arsenic 1 of the all-time awesome powerfulness trios.

“I see my full profession to beryllium a reflection of maine astatine 16 and what my values are,” began Peart connected surface during 1 of respective tasteful, respectful tributes. “I do move to that kid often. And I do for illustration to deliberation that 16 twelvemonth aged would still beryllium cool pinch me.”

The set continued pinch “Bravado” arsenic images of Peart appeared connected screen, pinch pyro and fireworks soon soaring passim “Caravan” and Lee taking connected keys during “La Villa Strangiato.”

“We’d for illustration to do this adjacent opus from the Moving Pictures album,” said Lee. On immoderate nights of this tour, the set has been playing that medium successful full. On nighttime 1 successful Chicago, an medium trim brought the group conscionable astir to intermission. “It’s absorbing to maine really this opus has grown successful stature complete the years. This is ‘Vital Signs.’”

Nilles destroyed the intro to “Spirit of Radio” arsenic the crowd roared successful approval. On immoderate night, that peculiar trim could adjacent the show. But connected this evening, it signaled the extremity of simply the first half.

Chanting on pinch fists successful the aerial early, Rush returned pinch overmuch of “2112.” Nilles smiled wide arsenic Lifeson soloed during the opening overture, pinch Lee and Lifeson some moving to the drumkit to look their unthinkable caller drummer arsenic the opus concluded.

In its reside of everything from the situation to mid-80s politics, from 1984’s Grace Under Pressure, “Distant Early Warning” recovered Rush successful good shape during the 2nd half.

“Time Stand Still” followed, pinch the group appearing arsenic South Park characters connected surface anterior to “Tom Sawyer.”

A little cardinal lent an almost sinister Black Sabbath for illustration vibe to “Working Man,” pursuing “By-Tor & The Snow Dog” arsenic Rush wrapped up its reunion residency successful Chicago (a tally which continues this week successful Toronto, moving across North America into June).

“My music, my drumming is very overmuch a reflection of my character,” said Peart connected surface during a precocious Rush tribute. “Chicago!” marveled Lee later. “You haven’t changed!” shouted the Rush frontman excitedly. “Thank you truthful much.”