Alex Lifeson's Envy of None project with Andy Curran, guitarist Alfio Annibalini and vocalist Maiah Wynne released their self-titled, debut album last April, and it's currently available for purchase and streaming worldwide via several different online retailers and services, including Amazon and the official Envy of None merch store. Last month the band officially released their new EP That Was Then, This Is Now via Kscope Records. The EP includes one newly-recorded track titled That Was Then (official, animated music video here), remixes of Dumkoptf and Dog's Life, Lethe River, and You'll Be Sorry, which was previously released as part of the deluxe edition of their 2022 self-titled debut. Alex Lifeson and Andy Curran were recent guests on Minnesota radio station Rockin' 101, where they spoke a bit about their Envy of None project, the new EP and future plans. Here's what Alex had to say about what's next for the project:

... We have about 6 songs that are in different stages of development right now. And our intention is to do more of these EPs rather than a full album. I think it's more fun for us, to keep us going instead of working for a year and then releasing. At least we do things monthly or every 6 weeks or so. We develop a song, release it then move onto the next one. It's really a lot of fun for all of us. ...

You can listen to the full interview below or on YouTube. The EP is available digitally and on vinyl, and can be ordered via the Envy of None website and other online retailers. The vinyl edition can also be ordered via Amazon here.

The 3rd annual Prog For Peart charity concert kicked off earlier today at The Northcourt in Oxfordshire, England and will run through tomorrow evening. Sixteen prog rock bands will take the stage to celebrate the life of Neil Peart and raise money for brain cancer research. From the event website:

Eight bands will perform each day between 12midday and midnight, and we are delighted to name Cosmograf as Friday's headliners with Tim Bowness headlining on Saturday. In addition to Tim Bowness & Cosmograf, the 2023 event will also feature Abel Ganz, Doris Brendel Band, Long Earth, Lee Abraham Band, Grace & Fire, Band Of Rain, Viriditas, Zio with Hayley Griffiths, Trilogy, Ebb, Yuval Ron Trio, Ruby Dawn, Vine Messiah & Forgotten Gods. ... There will be food on site, CD and vinyl stalls as well as rock and prog art on sale. There is limited camping on site with room for several motorhomes as well a pitches for several dozen tents. Camping is only 100m from the venue entrance. A choice of cooked breakfasts as well as cereals & fruit will be available for campers. There are also 24hr "real" WCs. Showers will be available from 7-30am until 10-30am. Bars in the main venue room and a lounge bar additionally there is a large outdoor beer garden. Bars open until late. Tickets are available for Weekend, Friday, Saturday & Weekend Camping. There are also streaming tickets so if you simply cannot be there, you can watch from afar. ...

They are also once again selling Prog for Peart t-shirts, and - just like the event itself - all profits from the t-shirt sales will go to the Headcase Cancer Trust. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website at northcourtmusic.com/progforpeart.html. There's also a Facebook group for the event set up, where you can interact with other concertgoers and get the latest updates.

Rolling Stone magazine celebrated Canada Day this past week by posting their list of the 50 Greatest Canadian Artists of All Time (thanks RushFanForever), and Rush came in at #3, behind Neil Young and list-topper Joni Mitchell:

No band from the U.S. or U.K. was bold enough to meld metal and prog in the Seventies - to achieve that glorious fusion, we needed a trio from the great land of Canada. If there was something intrinsically Canadian about the work of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and the late Neil Peart, it was the way they let their extraordinary music overshadow their personalities, playing some of rock's most showoff-y parts without ever evincing any ego. When Lifeson soloed - think "Limelight" - Peart and Lee would often manage to slip in their own solos underneath him. Rush's proggiest days were in the Seventies, but they never stopped innovating - their synth-y Eighties work holds up as a world of its own - never lost their senses of humor, and never performed at anything less than the peak of their abilities. -B.H.

Alli Patton posted an article for American Songwriter this past week where she examines the storybook meaning behind Rush's Tom Sawyer:

The meaning behind Rush's 1981 progressive rock classic "Tom Sawyer" doesn't stray far from its storybook origins. Inspired by Mark Twain's 1876 novel The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, the song paints a modern-day, more mature portrait of the same rebellious free spirit that defines the song and the story's titular character. ...

Insauga.com posted an article earlier this week where they look back on St. Catharines native Neil Peart's appearance on David Letterman for Drum Solo Week back in 2011.

Far Out magazine posted their list of 10 authors who inspired rock musicians this past week, and Ayn Rand's influence on Neil Peart's lyrics is mentioned:

... [Peart] faced criticism for what appeared to be his fandom of controversial Objectivist Ayn Rand following the release of the 1976 song '2112', as it follows an individual's struggle against a totalitarian state. Adding fuel to the fire, he credited Rand for inspiring him in the liner notes of the 2112 album. "There was a remarkable backlash, especially from the English press, this being the late seventies, when collectivism was still in style, especially among journalists," Peart said later. "They were calling us 'Junior fascists' and 'Hitler lovers'. It was a total shock to me". Reacting to the claims of his ideological devotion to Rand's Objectivism, Peart maintained: "For a start, the extent of my influence by the writings of Ayn Rand should not be overstated. I am no one's disciple."

ScreenRant.com posted their list of 10 Real-Life Rock Bands Who Have Their Own Graphic Novels this past week, and Rush's The Making of A Farewell to Kings graphic novel was included at #7:

The pride of Canadian rockers, Rush are renowned for their complex compositions that are mixed with science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy. The band got their start in 1968, but their most famous hits, "Tom Sawyer" and "Closer to the Heart," were respectively released in 1981 and 1977. Rush: The Making of Farewell to Kings by David Calcano, Lindsay Lee, Ittai Manero, and Juan Riera offers a unique perspective on the rock band-graphic novel marriage. Rather than delving into the backstory of the band as a whole, this graphic novel focuses on the making of Rush's successful 1977 album Farewell to Kings. The graphic novel also receives some awesome contributions from Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.

Guitar Player magazine posted an article on the classic YES album Close to the Edge earlier this week, and Rush's Geddy Lee is mentioned:

"Yes may be the single most important of all the progressive rock bands," claimed Geddy Lee while referencing the band's fifth studio effort, Close to the Edge, as among his "favorite rock albums of all time." ...

I had the honor of joining the panel on this week's episode of Rush Roundtable (#189) on the Rushfans YouTube channel for the latest in their Great Take, or Let's Debate series. Host Omar from the All About Rush YouTube channel provides the panel with his hot takes about Rush, and the panel then decides if his takes are a great take or if they would like to debate it:

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!!