Something for Nothing: A RUSH Fancast

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Episodes

Two lifelong friends discuss the albums of their favorite band, RUSH.

Episodes

Jul 20, 2026

Ep. 215: David Calcano of Fantoons on his Contribution to the 50 Something Tour

Jul 20, 2026

36 min

Friend of the podcast David Calcano of Fantoons returns this week to tell us about his involvement in the 50 Something tour. I won't spoil it in the description in case you're still avoiding the setlists, but suffice to say Fantoons made a real cool video for a classic Rush tune!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jul 6, 2026

Ep. 214: Kevin Comeau of Crown Lands

Jul 6, 2026

1hr 14 sec

This week, we talk with Kevin Comeau, guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist of the Canadian progressive rock duo Crown Lands. Kevin and his bandmate, drummer and singer Cody Bowles, are unabashed Rush devotees, a fact reflected in their ambitious multipart epics. Join us as Kevin discusses the best way to learn Rush songs, working with his musical heroes on their new tour, and Crown Lands latest album, Apocalypse.

Jun 22, 2026

Ep. 213: LA Confidential

Jun 22, 2026

1hr 2 min

Rush is back! Kicking off the Fifty Something tour with 4 shows at the Los Angeles Forum, Rush ripped through a different set each night. Our LA correspondent, Mark Irwin, went to all 4 shows and delivers his report. Plus, the results of our setlist contest!

Jun 8, 2026

Ep. 212: Billy Sheehan

Jun 8, 2026

54 min

This week we're joined by one of our generations greatest bassists, the legendary Billy Sheehan! With us this week is also our resident bassist, Lex, who is such a huge fan we had to let him in on the interview action. Billy tells us about opening for Rush in the '90s, jamming with Neil and Alex during soundcheck, and his latest band, The Fell.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

May 25, 2026

Ep 211: Do You Want to Build a Rush Setlist?

May 25, 2026

35 min

This week, we're holding a contest: guessing what songs Rush will play at the first 4 shows of the Fifty Something tour in Los Angeles in June!

We've set up a form where you can choose 38 songs you think will make an appearance in any of those LA shows.

Each song you can choose from has a point value attached to it, from 1 for the songs Rush has played most often to 15 for the songs they've never played.

The form is set up to ask for a playing order, but we're not expecting anyone to pick every song in order.

The winner will receive a set of Rush bobbleheads, modeled after their 70s look. And, if you want to, we'd also love to have you on the podcast to brag about how prescient you are.

Good luck!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

May 11, 2026

Ep. 210: Sean Faust

May 11, 2026

43 min

This week we have our first guest who was recommended by two former guests of the pod, Ron Lipnicki and Brian Colburn! Sean Faust joins us to count down the top five songs we hope Rush plays on the upcoming Fifty Something Tour!

Sean is a regular on the New Jersey music scene, playing in the Bon Jovi tribute band Slippery When Wet, formerly in Money For The Toll, and doing solo acoustic shows. He's a huge Rush fan--his favorite song is Bravado--and he has opinions for days!

Learn more about about his music at seanfaustmusic.com

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Apr 27, 2026

SFN Counterparts: My Weekly Mixtape

Apr 27, 2026

1hr 8 min

Back in January of 2024, Steve appeared on an episode of My Weekly Mixtape, a great podcast from our friend Brian Colburn. The episode was alliteratively called "The Spirit of Rush: 20 Songs That Define a Band That Defied Definition." Brian and Steve build an amazing mixtape that is perfect for diehards and new fans alike. Enjoy!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Apr 13, 2026

Ep. 209: Paul Gilbert

Apr 13, 2026

43 min

For decades, Paul Gilbert has been tearing it up in bands like Racer X and Mr. Big and on his own solo material. Paul joins us this week to talk about his love of Rush, what it was like touring with them with Mr. Big, and his new album, WROC. Go to www.paulgilbert.com to learn more about the album and buy a copy.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Mar 30, 2026

Ep. 208: 40 Years of RUSH Fandom

Mar 30, 2026

53 min

40 years ago, we attended our first Rush concert. It's difficult to measure the impact of that show–and RUSH–on our lives. That's why, to celebrate this concert milestone, we asked the 2 other guys who went to the show with us to reminisce about that night: Tony Joslin and Ron Lipnicki. You might remember Ron from episode 79, where he talked about the band's influence on his career as a drummer. Tony though joins us for the first time.

We're also joined by past guest Derrick Bacharach, who details the crazy struggles surrounding his attendance at that same show.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Mar 16, 2026

Ep. 207: Dan Barracuda

Mar 16, 2026

55 min

Dan Barracuda has a knack for dissecting songs that makes difficult music theory seem easy. Across his social media presence, you can find Dan breaking down what makes songs by your favorite artists tick--including Rush! So we asked him to join us this week to unravel the mysteries of what makes Alex Lifeson such a distinctive guitarist and why Rush sounds like Rush!

Places to find Dan:

www.danbarracuda.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbarracuda

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@danbarracuda

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KVKCkGuwR

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2BsBe2MTlEaoozx0nnhDaR?si=5kIhA72_Q_KJXtBPSFoGZw

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Mar 2, 2026

Ep. 206: Cory Marks

Mar 2, 2026

47 min

Cory Marks is a North Bay, Ontario, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and drummer who cites two seemingly disparate seminal influences on his music: Merle Haggard and Rush. To him, they're both outlaws who bucked conventions and stayed true to their spirit, something Cory does with his unique blend of country and rock. Cory is a second-generation Rush fan--the band played at his dad's highschool!--and he joins us this week to talk about the indelible influence Rush has had on his life, the transcendent power of live music, and his latest album, "Sorry For Nothing, Vol. 2."

Go to www.corymarks.com for tour updates and links to all of his music.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Feb 16, 2026

SFN Counterparts: The Carr Stereo Podcast

Feb 16, 2026

50 min

Back in December, Steve and I appeared on The Carr Stereo Podcast to talk--as unbelievable as this might sound--about Rush! Terrie Carr is not only a New Jersey rock radio legend, having worked at the iconic WDHA as program director and midday host for decades, she's also a huge Rush fan. She jumped into her new podcast venture in 2025, and when she wanted to talk Rush, she knew we would answer the call.

Follow The Carr Stereo Podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/carr-stereo-podcast/id1841510749

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24wSY55Bzh1BJE1SpEKdYT?si=cAfjHEbfQMSlmrvgW4l5Ow

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@terriecarr-f4d?si=2Fkbh0zyD8OGlCBk

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Feb 2, 2026

Ep. 205: Sebastian Bach

Feb 2, 2026

51 min

Sebastian Bach, formerly of Skid Row, is a huge Rush fan--so huge that he was member number 2 of the Rush Backstage Club. Sebastian joins us this week to tell us the amazing story of how he secured that place in the Backstage Club, the demo he recorded for Alex Lifeson's 1996 solo album, and the Rush album with a strange title he bought at a used record store. His most recent album is Child Within The Man, which you can buy from his website (www.sebastianbach.com) and is available to stream anywhere.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jan 19, 2026

Ep. 204: Backtracking Rush

Jan 19, 2026

59 min

Raf Bagdasarian and Dan Fiden are lifelong friends who share a deep love of Rush. On the first season of their podcast Backtracking, they poured over the Rush discography. This week, Raf and Dan join us to geek out on all things Rush. Check out Backtracking--now finished with its second season, covering American Music Club--wherever you get your podcasts.

Backtracking: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/backtracking/id1723399651

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jan 5, 2026

SFN Counterparts: Primus Tracks

Jan 5, 2026

1hr 10 min

And now for something completely different: an episode of the podcast Primus Tracks in the feed! Primus Tracks hosts Josh and Frankie invited Gerry to discuss Rush's influence on Primus, the general excellence of both bands, and how easy it is to kill a good party vibe by throwing on a Rush or Primus song.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Dec 22, 2025

Ep. 203: Andris Pone on Rush's Tour Branding

Dec 22, 2025

41 min

Branding expert Andris Pone joins us this week to examine the branding of Rush's Fifty Something Tour. Andris first joined us way back in episode 123 to talk about his article "He Lived The Lives of 10 Men: Lessons I've Learned From Neil Peart." Now he joins us to give his unique perspective on how Geddy and Alex are navigating their return to the stage.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Dec 8, 2025

Ep. 202: Rush Covers, Pt. 5 (Tom Sawyer Edition)

Dec 8, 2025

50 min

This week, we're doing something we haven't done in 3 years: a Rush covers episode! But we're doing something different this time. We decided to focus our attention on one song, perhaps the most famous of all Rush songs, Tom Sawyer! We serve up 10 different versions of this classic tune, in styles ranging from bluegrass-flavored jazz to 8-bit arcade antics. So catch the mystery, catch the drift, and listen today!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Nov 24, 2025

Ep. 201: Dean Budnick, Co-Author of "Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How The Public Got Scalped"

Nov 24, 2025

53 min

We've been talking a lot about our frustration with Ticketmaster, so we thought it would be interesting to talk to someone who could answer our questions about the ticket-selling world. Dean Budnick, co-author of "Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How The Public Got Scalped," is that person. Dean tells us about the beginnings of Ticketmaster, how they became the juggernaut they are, and what the future holds for concert goers.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Nov 10, 2025

Ep. 200: Trivia With Ray Wawrzyniak

Nov 10, 2025

55 min

It's our 200th episode, and what better way to celebrate than by having one of our favorite guests back for some Jedi-grade trivia! Ray Wawrzyniak, the preeminent collector of all things Rush, joins us to answer some of the toughest Rush trivia our listeners could muster. And Lex is here too, so you know it's a party! How did Ray do? You'll have to listen to find out!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Oct 20, 2025

Ep. 199: Rush Ticket Frenzy

Oct 20, 2025

37 min

The moment we were all waiting for happened this week: Tickets for Rush's Fifty Something Tour went on sale! OK, there were 3 different sales in the span of 7 days: the Citi Bank credit card presale, the artist presale, and the general sale. This week Steve and Gerry talk about the frustrating ticket-buying process, why Ticketmaster has been ruining the fan experience for decades, and how we fared in our quest to see our favorite band.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Oct 6, 2025

Ep. 198: The Fifty Something Tour Announcement

Oct 6, 2025

21 min

It's an emergency episode of the podcast! The unthinkable has been thought: Rush is going on tour! Today, Geddy and Alex announced a 7-city, 12-show tour, scheduled for summer 2026. Our excitement is unbridled! Let the fray begin!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Sep 29, 2025

Ep. 197: Live From Henderson Brewing's Rush Day 2025, Pt. 2

Sep 29, 2025

1hr 6 min

This week in our second of two parts live from Henderson Brewing's Rush Day 2025, we speak with Ivar Hamilton. Ivar has had a long and celebrated career in the music business and is well-known as the man who Neil Peart delivered an advance copy of Permanent Waves to at CFNY--the station whose tagline inspired the song The Spirit of Radio. Rush superfan Ray Wawrzyniak also joins us for another round of Rush Trivia.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Sep 22, 2025

Ep. 196: Live From Henderson Brewing's Rush Day 2025, Pt. 1

Sep 22, 2025

1hr 4 min

We were invited back to Henderson Brewing in Toronto for Rush Day 2025 to record live from our perch in the Crow's Nest, and this year we wanted to know your favorite Rush song! We met a lot of great people and had a lot of wonderful conversations with Rush fans from all around the world. Follow us on our socials below to see pictures from the day!

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jul 14, 2025

Ep. 195: Maiah Wynne on Stygian Waves, Pt. 2

Jul 14, 2025

55 min

We're back with the second of two episodes with multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Maiah Wynne breaking down the new Envy of None album, Stygian Wavz. This time we talk to Maiah about her solo album, Out of the Dark, and side B of Stygian Wavz: the songs That Was Then, Raindrops, New Trip, Clouds, The End, and Stygian Waves.

Purchase Maiah's album Out of the Dark: ⁠Maiah Wynne Archives - VISION MERCH⁠

Purchase Envy of None's Stygian Wavz: ⁠⁠HOME - Envy of None⁠⁠

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jul 7, 2025

Ep. 194: Maiah Wynne on Stygian Waves, Pt. 1

Jul 7, 2025

47 min

Maiah Wynne, singer/songwriter and the voice behind Envy of None, joins us for an in-depth examination of the band's sophomore album, Stygian Wavz. In this episode, we discuss the album's first 5 songs: Not Dead Yet, The Story, Under the Stars, Thrill of the Chase, and Handle With Care.

Purchase Envy of None's Stygian Wavz: HOME - Envy of None

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jun 30, 2025

Ep. 193: The Real Rush Song Rankings With John Take of Rush Graphs

Jun 30, 2025

58 min

In episode 182, we detailed our failed attempt to rank all 165 Rush album tracks, and we put out the call for listeners to submit their own lists. This week, John Take of Rush Graphs (who first joined us way back in episode 32) analyzes the data--including the lists Steve and Gerry finally got around to completing--and finds some interesting trends, all of which are presented in amazing graphs. You can listen along with the graphs, which we'll be posting on X (formerly Twitter; @RushFanCast) and Instagram (@therushcast). Oh, and which is the top Rush song as voted by our listeners? Listen to find out!

And after that, we talk with author and entrepreneur Ben Wiener, whose new novel, Fever Pitch, is both a guide for creating great business pitches and is simply packed with Rush references! You can buy Fever Pitch on Amazon or at https://feverpitchbook.com and listen to a curated Rush playlist that accompanies the book at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rVJZL9JchyI9WsmITNpjz?si=I gfcFBPjTWaYebARTQjHIA.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Jun 23, 2025

Ep. 192: Andy Faulkner, Author of ”Finding My Way: Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Rush”

Jun 23, 2025

53 min

This week we're talking to author Andy Faulkner, who has recently published a travelogue called "Finding My Way: Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Rush." Andy tells us about his early obsession with Rush, the impetus for traveling the globe to see the band, and what it has all meant to him. You can order "Finding My Way: Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Rush" here: Finding My Way by Andy Faulkner

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Dec 16, 2024

Ep 191: Nick Raskulinecz

Dec 16, 2024

1hr 7 min

Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning producer who has worked with the Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Evanescence, and, of course, Rush. Nick produced Rush's 2007 album Snakes & Arrows and their final masterpiece, Clockwork Angels, in 2012. He joins us this week to talk about his first meeting with Geddy and Alex, share stories from the recording sessions of Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork Angels, and what it was like to perform at Rush's 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Nov 25, 2024

Ep. 190: David DeRocco With an Update on the Neil Peart Memorial at Lakeside Park

Nov 25, 2024

35 min

Back in episode 110, we spoke with David DeRocco, chair of the Neil Peart Memorial Task Force, about getting the project off of the ground. Now, 3 years later, sculptor Morgan MacDonald has been chosen to create the statues and fundraising for the project has kicked into high gear. We talk to David about choosing Morgan, the progress of the fundraising effort, and the lasting legacy of Neil Peart and Rush.

Donate to the Neil Peart Memorial: www.stcatharines.ca/neilpeart

Listen to our interview with Morgan MacDonald: https://tinyurl.com/psvssxn9

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com

Nov 18, 2024

Ep. 189: Greg Russell

Nov 18, 2024

43 min

This week we welcome Greg Russell. Greg was a close friend of Neil Peart, and he's also the drummer of the Rush tribute band Natural Science. Greg tells us about the unusual circumstance that led to his friendship with Neil, designing Neil's first website, and working on Neil's later drum kits.

Email us at: therushcast@gmail.com