Rush Fifty Something Tour Rocks Montreal’s Bell Centre
Friday night, September 4th, was the second of two sold-out Rush Fifty Something shows at Montreal’s Bell Centre. With a 7:45 p.m. start and no opening act, the fans were more than ready to go. The building was buzzing long before the lights went down. Everywhere you looked, there were Rush shirts, tour merch, and fans reminiscing about the last time they had seen this legendary Canadian band play live.
But there was one big question hanging over the night: What would Rush sound like with a new drummer?
German drummer Anika Nilles had stepped into one of the most impossible jobs in rock — taking the seat behind the kit after the passing of Neil Peart. Could Rush still be Rush?
Spoiler alert: They were fan-fucking-tastic.
As the lights went down, I honestly couldn’t believe what was about to happen. I was about to witness Rush from the pit. I’m incredibly grateful that the band’s management allowed us to cover this second show, because standing there with a few fellow photographer colleagues, we were all in complete awe that this moment was actually happening.
After Neil Peart’s death in 2020, following what had essentially become a permanent hiatus for the band after their 2015 tour, very few people believed Rush would ever tour again. Yet here we were, five years later, standing in the Bell Centre, ready to slap da bass with Geddy Lee, rock out with Alex Lifeson, and see Anika Nilles and Loren on stage with two Canadian legends.
Before the band even appeared, we were treated to a hilarious video featuring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. It was classic Rush — funny, self-aware and completely unexpected. Then the screen went dark, smoke filled the stage, and suddenly, appearing behind the screen, were Alex and Geddy.
Rush was back.
And they were ready to give Montreal a masterclass in rock and roll.
Opening the night with “Xanadu” and “Dreamline” was one hell of a way to get things started. Then came “Subdivisions,” and holy moly — what a performance. It was immediately obvious that we were in for something very special.
The band played a staggering 24 songs over nearly three hours, including a 25-minute intermission. Musically, the night was extraordinary. But it wasn’t just the playing that made this show so special. The production was phenomenal, the visuals were spectacular, and the atmosphere inside the Bell Centre was absolutely electric.
And then came “La Villa Strangiato.”
This may have been one of the best performances of a single song I have ever witnessed from any band. Absolutely epic. I was completely blown away by what was happening on that stage. The musicianship was ridiculous, the energy was off the charts, and watching Geddy and Alex play together again was something I honestly never thought I would experience.
And let me tell you something:
These guys do not age.
They sounded incredible, they looked incredible, and perhaps most importantly, Geddy and Alex looked like they were having the absolute time of their lives. There were smiles, looks between them, moments where you could see just how much they were enjoying being up there together again. It wasn’t simply two legendary musicians going through the motions. They genuinely looked like they were having fun.
Ending the first set with “The Spirit of Radio” was the perfect way to bring the first half to a close.
After the intermission, Rush came back and launched straight into Moving Pictures in its entirety, which made the teenager in me extremely happy. This was the album that made me fall in love with Rush, so hearing it performed from beginning to end was an incredibly emotional and nostalgic experience.
The opening notes of “Tom Sawyer” caused an eruption throughout the Bell Centre. “YYZ” was outstanding. Every song was played with incredible precision, power and energy. Hearing this album live in its entirety was everything I could have hoped for and more.
They then finished the main set with several songs from 2112, which had been performed in its entirety at the previous night’s show. Rather than repeating the whole suite, they gave us I, II and VII, and I was absolutely thrilled they did.
Then came the encore.
“By-Tor & the Snow Dog” followed by “Working Man.”
What a way to end the night.
But as incredible as the music was, one of the things that made this concert truly special was how beautifully it honoured Neil Peart.
There were two incredibly moving tributes, including the moments before “Bravado” and “Time Stand Still,” along with images of Neil projected throughout the show. Even the hilarious Paul Rudd and Jason Segel video managed to work in a funny moment about the pronunciation of his name.
It was funny, heartfelt and, most importantly, respectful.
Neil was everywhere without ever feeling like the show was trying to recreate him.
And that brings me to Anika Nilles.
She was absolutely the perfect person for this job.
Taking over the drum stool from one of the greatest drummers who ever lived is an almost impossible task. But Anika never tried to replace Neil. She never tried to imitate him. Instead, she brought her own personality, feel and musical voice to the songs — and it worked brilliantly.
She was phenomenal.
I heard so many people around me talking about how blown away they were by her playing. She wasn’t simply filling a position. She was contributing to the music while respecting the incredible legacy that came before her.
And that, to me, is exactly what Rush needed.
The entire show felt like a celebration — of Rush, of the music, of the fans, of Neil, and of the fact that two guys who had every reason to walk away from it all decided to get back on stage and give us one more ride.
And what a ride it was.
I’ve seen a lot of concerts over the years, but this was without question one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. In fact, judging by the reaction around me, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. One fan told me they had seen Rush 147 times, and even they were calling this the show.
I completely understand why.
The musicianship was exceptional. The production was spectacular. The sound was huge. The crowd was absolutely rabid. The emotional moments hit hard. The humour was perfectly Rush. And watching Geddy and Alex together again — smiling, laughing, feeding off each other and clearly loving every second of it — made the whole experience feel almost surreal.
It’s still hard to believe I got to witness this.
Rush was a band I never thought I would see again.
And somehow, there they were.
In Montreal.
In the Bell Centre.
Playing their asses off.
Thank you, Rush.
And if they pop up anywhere near you, GO SEE THEM.
You won’t regret it.
The entire show felt like a celebration — of Rush, of the music, of the fans, of Neil, and of the fact that two guys who had every reason to walk away from it all decided to get back on stage and give us one more ride.
And what a ride it was.
I’ve seen a lot of concerts over the years, but this was without question one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. In fact, judging by the reaction around me, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. One fan told me they had seen Rush 147 times, and even they were calling this the show.
I completely understand why.
The musicianship was exceptional. The production was spectacular. The sound was huge. The crowd was absolutely rabid. The emotional moments hit hard. The humour was perfectly Rush. And watching Geddy and Alex together again — smiling, laughing, feeding off each other and clearly loving every second of it — made the whole experience feel almost surreal.
It’s still hard to believe I got to witness this.
Rush was a band I never thought I would see again.
And somehow, there they were.
In Montreal.
In the Bell Centre.
Playing their asses off.
Thank you, Rush.
And if they pop up anywhere near you, GO SEE THEM.
You won’t regret it.
For more photos from the show, head to our Facebook page!