Rush Return Rewired and Rockin’!

For a lot of us, Rush isn’t just a band; it’s part of our DNA. So when Rush walked out on stage at the Juno Awards in 2026, it felt like seeing an old friend you haven’t shared a beer with in years. No hype needed, no overproduction. Just plug in, turn it up, and let it rip.

They opened with “Finding My Way,” the very first track from their 1974 debut album. No chasing trends, no trying to be something they’re not. Just going back to where it all started. Geddy Lee admitted afterward that picking one song from their catalog is nearly impossible. Then Alex Lifeson tossed out the perfect line: “It’s the only song we know how to play.” That’s the kind of dry, earned humor that only comes after decades in the trenches.

Of course, it wasn’t the same band without Neil Peart, who passed in 2020, but nobody’s pretending to replace him. Anika Nilles stepped in and did what pros do, honor the legacy and bring her own fire. Add in keyboardist Loren Gold, a veteran of The Who and Chicago, and suddenly this isn’t a nostalgia act, it’s a machine getting rewired.

First time back as Rush since 2015, and it sounded like they never left. Now with the “Fifty Something” tour lined up for 2027, it’s a reminder that real rock doesn’t retire. It just waits in the garage… ready to fire up again.

Doug O’Brien