Still Defying Time: RUSH Brings the "Fifty Something Tour" to Detroit

By: Tracy Heck
Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Last week, Rush brought their Fifty Something reunion tour to Detroit for two shows at Little
Caesars Arena on Wednesday, August 26th and Friday, August 28th.

The tour is a great celebration of Rush's legacy and music and also allows vocalist Geddy Lee
and guitarist Alex Lifeson to honor drummer Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020.

Joining Lee and Lifeson on tour is drummer Anika Nilles, who has found a way to stay true to
Peart’s style while incorporating her own nuances.

Friday’s show in Detroit concentrated on Rush’s Moving Pictures album as the band played the
album in its entirety including staple “Tom Sawyer,” with a South Park video lead in and a 11-
minute version of “The Camera Eye,” which featured a piano intro from touring keyboardist
Loren Gold and a killer Lifeson guitar solo.

The Canadian progressive rock heavyweights have been following that format throughout the
tour featuring different set lists each night that concentrate on a different album from their
catalog.

The Fifty Something tour is the bands first in 11 years and their joy at being able to perform
again came through loud and clear as they laughed and joked throughout their three hour and five
minutes show that included a 25-minute intermission. During that time, Lee kept the ball-rolling with his ageless voice as they ran through 24 classic songs.

Rush opened with “Xanadu” and closed the first set with “The Spirit of Radio.” They also
performed “Bravado” with a video tribute to Peart.

Rush returned to the stage to perform the Moving Pictures album before moving into another
tribute to Peart with “Time Stand Still”, crowd fave “Closer to the Heart” and “2112” in its
entirety.

As the sold out crowd lit up the arena, the band returned for an encore of “By-Tor & the Snow
Dog” and “Working Man.”
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The entire evening went above and beyond expectations and left the crowd of all ages in a great
mood.