Rush

Rush Set to Rock the Frank Erwin Center

Come experience modern rock at its best when Rush comes to the Frank Erwin Center on April 23. This band has been entertaining fans since its self-titled debut album in 1974 and continues to produce solid rock songs that do not disappoint. Rush holds 24 gold records and 14 platinum records placing the band fifth behind only The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kiss and Aerosmith.

Currently, Rush is promoting their latest album, Snakes and Arrows. The album was recorded in the fall of 2006 with Grammy award winner Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver) with Rush co-producing. This is Rush’s first album of original material in nearly five years and it was well worth the wait. Snakes and Arrows went on to the No. 3 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and the track “Malignant Narcissism” has been nominated for a Grammy in the category for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The album received an overwhelming response from fans and the tour has been Rush’s highest grossing tour ever and the best attended in many years. The tour was originally scheduled to end in 2007, but due to the success of the tour, Rush extended the tour into 2008. The band states that the album “combines everything we know about music with everything we love about making music. Naturally, we hope listeners will feel that spirit-all those spirits—and have a rewarding musical experience, not just once, but again and again.”

Rush was formed in the summer of 1968 in Toronto, Ontario by Alex Lifeson, Jeff Jones and John Rutsey. Geddy Lee replaced Jeff Jones in September 1968 and Neil Pert replaced John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the band’s first US tour. The trio has been together since and is still putting on memorable shows as seen by the success of their recent tour. One of the reasons for the band’s success is they have evolved with the times. Beginning with hard rock and metal in their earlier days and evolving into more progressive rock, Rush has managed to produce music that fans young and old listen to and enjoy.

In the 2008 tour, Rush will visit over 40 cities. Some of these cities, including Austin, have not had a visit from Rush in over a decade. “Each of this tour’s shows has been performed at a slightly higher level than ever before, and thus they’ve all had their bit of magic,” says drummer Neil Peart. “The explanation for that may be partly due to how well prepared we were — how much rehearsing we did before the tour — and to a pleasing variety of songs in the two sets, but it does seem that we have all reached a certain plateau of consistency and competency that is really shining on this tour. As I wrote about my own playing in that context, call it maturity.”

Whether it is maturity or just the raw talent of the band, Rush is playing better than ever and is sure to provide a memorable show here in Austin. Be sure to catch Rush live at the Frank Erwin Center and experience the technical virtuosity and hard-rocking compositions you expect from one of the most popular rock bands in history!