Something for Nothing: A RUSH Fancast

Ep. 180: Geddy Lee’s ”My Effin’ Life”

Slow down! We didn't talk with Geddy, but we did the next best thing: we read his best-selling memoir, "My Effin' Life." This week, we take a deep dive into the book and discuss the life and times of the one and only Geddy Lee!

Ep. 179: Terry Brown

This week's guest needs no introduction: Terry Brown. Terry joined the Rush camp with the band’s debut, brought in to mix the final cut. He then co-produced with the band every release through Signals--one of the greatest album runs in rock history. What else need to be said?

Ep. 178: Leoni Jane Kennedy, ”New World Woman” Covers Album

This week we welcome back singer/songwriter Leoni Jane Kennedy. Since she last joined us back on episode 163, Leoni has been busy recording a collection of acoustic Rush covers, "New World Woman." The album is chock full of Leoni's imaginative takes on Rush classics, and we talk to her about the recording process and play a few tracks. You can find out more about Leoni's music bu heading to her website, https://www.leonijanekennedy.com/

Ep. 177: Paul Wells, Professor of Jazz Drums at The Juilliard School

Paul Wells is a Professor of Jazz Drums at The Juilliard School in New York City and possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Neil Peart's kits. He joins us this week to talk about Rush--obviously--and his efforts to restore Neil's original Rush kit, the famous Chromey! 

Paul has played with the likes of Curtis Stigers, Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Deborah Harry, Joe Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Elvis Costello, and Diana Krall, among others. Learn more about him at https://www.paulwellsdrums.com. 

Ep. 176: Danny Peart

Danny Peart is a poet and the brother of Neil Peart, and he joins us this week to give his unique perspective on his famous sibling. He talks about his life with Neil, his poetry, and what it was like performing at the long-postponed Night for Neil benefit concert that took place in 2022. 

Ep. 175: The Point of the Journey

All things must end, and this podcast is no exception. After much thought and discussion, we've decided to make this our final episode. Listen along as we go through some of our more memorable episodes, praise everyone who came on the show, and thank everyone who made the past three years and change some of the most interesting of our lives--including you, our listeners.

Ep. 174: R40 Live

This week, were tackling Rush's final concert tour, R40. One of the most ambitious tour concepts, R40 saw the band presenting a career-spanning setlist in reverse chronological order. It was a gift to every fan who saw the tour and has listened to this live collection. What a way for the band to go out!

Ep. 173: Listener Questions (And Our Answers)

This week, we're deviating from our normal format and answering questions sent in by our listeners. Some are about the podcast in general, some are about us, and some are actually related to Rush! I hope it's as interesting to listen to as it was to record.

Ep. 172: Clockwork Angels Tour

This week on the podcast we're discussing the Clockwork Angels Tour live set realized in 2013. The setlist leans heavily on songs from Clockwork Angels and the 1980s--18 of the 27 songs are from either the band's last album or from 1982 to 1987. It's an eclectic group of songs that's a real treat for two guys who became diehard fans during the Power Windows tour.

Ep. 171: The Matt O’Ree Band

Join us this week as members of The Matt O'Ree Band--singer/guitarist Matt O'Ree, vocalist Eryn, drummer John Hummel, and our resident bassist Lex Lehman--talk about their raucous cover of Rush's "Making Memories" and their new album, Hand In Glove! You can watch the video for "Making Memories" right now at https://youtu.be/uw2nfgLR770.

Ep. 170: Nancy Peart Burkholder

Nancy Peart Burkholder--Neil's younger sister--joins us this week to talk about her older brother, her first Rush concert, and the upcoming Peart Family Memorial Golf Tournament. 

Ep. 169: Bob ”Starman” King

Bob King is literally one of the most recognizable figures in the Rush world. Not only was he the model for the world-famous Starman logo from 2112, he also posed as the man in the bowler hat on Hemispheres, a role reprised on Exit...Stage Left, and one of the movers on Moving Pictures. Bob talks to us about growing up in St. Catharines, his long-time friendship with Hugh Syme, and how he feels about being the symbol of defiance for Rush fans everywhere!

Ep. 168: Music Journalist Paul Beaulieu

Music journalist Paul Beaulieu has been covering the Canadian music scene for years and is a die-hard Rush fan. This week, we talk with Paul about his favorite band, his immersion in their world, and how he always seems to end up at the right place at the right time. Visit Paul's website at www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/

Ep. 167: Top 5 Rush Album Covers With Artist Steve Otis

Steve Otis is an comic artist, illustrator, and sculptor--and a huge Rush fan. So it was a dream come true when his comment on a post by author Kevin J. Anderson turned into a job illustrating Drumbeats, Anderson's first collaboration with Neil Peart, and then Clockwork Destiny. We're glad that Steve could join us this week as we choose our favorite Rush album covers!

Ep. 166: A Night For Neil Memorial Celebration

On October 22, we attended the Night For Neil Memorial Celebration in beautiful St. Catharines, ON. We met with friends both old and new and rocked out to Rush in memory of our favorite drummer--and in this episode, we tell you all about it!

Ep. 165: The Time Machine Tour Live

In 2010, between the Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork Angels tours, Rush hit the road to play Moving Pictures in its entirety. The Time Machine tour hit 11 countries over the course of a year and was the resulting live album was the only one to be recorded in the city that broke the band outside of Canada, Cleveland, OH. This week, we talk about about this great tour and the two songs the band debuted from the then-unreleased Clockwork Angels, Caravan and BU2B.

Ep. 164: Rush Origin Stories, Pt. 3

We're back with another episode that wants to know how you got into Rush, and how did you become a fan? It's more stories from three fans just like you whose musical lives were completely changed when they first heard Rush!

Ep. 163: Leoni Jane Kennedy

Leoni Jane Kennedy's acoustic version of Kid Gloves--included on Songs for Neil,  Vol.3--is an ambitious take on the fan-favorite song, and she nails every second of it. We talk to Leoni about her love of Rush, being awarded the Freddie Mercury Scholarship, and seeing Geddy and Alex playing at the recent Taylor Hawkins memorial concert in London. 

Ep. 162: Liza McLellan of the Devah Quartet

Liza McLellan is the founder and cellist is the string ensemble the Devah Quartet. She's also the quartet's writer and arranger, who, among many musical achievements, arranged the group's cover of 2112. This week, she joins us to talk about the beginnings of the Devah Quartet, the challenges of arranging rock songs for strings, and the quartet's upcoming performance at A Night For Neil.

Ep. 161: Lance Kasten of Overtime Angels Talks About the A Night For Neil Concert

As vice president of the Overtime Angels, Lance Kasten is no stranger to organizing charity events, but the upcoming A Night For Neil concert is something else entirely. This week, Lance joins us to talk about his charity work with Overtime Angels, organizing A Night for Neil with the Peart family, and who will be appearing at the show.

Ep. 160: Bradley J. Birzer, Author of Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions

This week we welcome Bradley J. Birzer, Professor of History at Hillsdale College, Michigan, and author of Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions. In the recently revised edition of Cultural Repercussions, Brad examines the life and career of Neil through the lens of indivuality and philosophy and paints a portrait of an exceptional writer, a dedicated artist, and inspiration to many. 

Ep. 159: Steve Brown, Songs for Neil, Vol. 3

One of our favorite guests, Steve Brown of RushFest Scotland, returns to talk about his latest for-charity tribute album, Songs for Neil, Vol. 3. It's another crop of excellent covers by some of the best artists around. You can order Songs for Neil from the RushFest Scotland website, http://www.rushfestscotland.co.uk. 

Ep. 158: Filmmaker Ari Gold

In 2008, filmmaker Ari Gold released Adventures of Power, an inspirational story about a young man who finds his calling as an air drummer. The dramatic comedy has since become a cult classic and features the music of Rush and a cameo by Neil Peart. Ari joins us to talk about the movie and his friendship with Neil.

Ep. 157: Rush Pilgrimage With Vicki Flier Hudson

Rush superfan and lead singer of the tribute band The Spirit of Rush, Vicki Flier Hudson, recently went to Toronto and Willowdale to visit every band-related sight she could see. Call it a Rush Pilgrimage! Join us this week to hear all about it!

Ep. 156: Rush Covers, Pt. 4

It's been awhile since we've showcased  covers of Rush songs, so we decided it's about time we shared some of our recent favorites. And if you have a favorite Rush cover that we haven't featured yet--which means you'll have to listen to Rush Covers parts 1 through 3--that you'd like to send us, please do! We're all ears!

Ep. 155: R30

This week, we tackle the R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour live set. Also serving as the tour in support of the covers EP Feedback, R30 finds the band in fine form as they take the stage with the the R30 Overture, a blistering sample of six early songs. Join us as we celebrate Rush's 30th anniversary 18 years too late!

Ep. 154: Top 5 Rush Lyrics

This week, philosopher Liz Swan returns to discuss our favorite Rush lyrics. You might remember Liz from episode 33, when we talked to her about a piece she wrote for Psychology Today about Neil Peart and how his words shaped her life. She was the first person we thought of to talk lyrics with, and we're thrilled to have her back on the podcast!

Ep. 153: My Favorite Rush Song With Composer Iain Carnegie

This week, composer and educator Iain Carnegie joins us to talk about his favorite Rush song, Chain Lightning. Iain dissects Chain Lightning in a manner befitting his teaching position at the Royal College of Music in London--which is to say you'll learn how the song is arranged, why chord voicings are central to the song's tone, and about something called "the devil's interval." 

 

Iain also hosts a great podcast called Politics of Sound, where he interviews Members of Parliament and other well-known political figures about their favorite albums.

Ep. 152: Bill Wallace of the Sunlight On Chrome Initiative

This week we speak with Bill Wallace, who founded the Sunlight On Chrome Initiative to raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association. Bill talks about how Neil Peart inspired his love of motorcycling, the beginnings of his fundraising efforts, and how Rush fans everywhere can take part in the Sunlight On Chrome Initiative by doing the most excellent thing you can do on Friday, July 29.

Ep. 151: Randy Jackson of Zebra

Randy Jackson is the vocalist, guitarist, and main songwriter for the band Zebra. He joins us this week to talk about the beginnings of Zebra, Alex Lifeson's guitar playing, and what it takes to be in a band for decades.