Totally surprised when Rush announced Anika Niles as their drummer and that they'd be touring. Cass and I bought tickets in October last year for October this year and their tour started last night in Los Angeles. I was going to avoid spoilers, but fuck that.
I watched a lot of videos. I'm so proud of Rush for picking Anika, despite knowing nothing about her. She's done her time in jazz improv bands, she toured with Jeff Beck's band and now she's the drummer in my favorite band.
I saw her perform with the boys a few months ago at the Junos and I got all choked up. I couldn't talk to Marci without getting wobbly in the voice. It was pretty cool!
Then last night happened and I watched more and more videos. The band itself is good enough. It's the first show in forever and there were nerves, etc. Geddy sounds good enough, Alex is messing up some solos and parts here and there, but for a couple of 70+ year olds, can't complain too much.
And then there's Anika. She is powerful, solid, aggressive and god damn if she isn't an incredible drummer. She is hitting all the songs, but she's not doing everything Neil did. Biggest thing isn't doing Neil's ride cymbal part in the songs that have it. Like in Subdivisions, or Red Barchetta, it wasn't there. Some fills are different for sure, and it seems the boys have told her to make the songs her own.
Some dude at the show recorded the whole show focused on Anika and it's pretty incredible. Long blonde ponytail, just great. Her face is hidden behind cymbals, but when you can see it, she's smiling a lot and it's just a beautiful thing to see all the way around.
Looking forward to this for sure, all the musicians are coming out and praising her and October's show is gonna be off the hook.
Someone said something like, "All Hail the King, Long Live the Queen." Pretty appropriate.
