Since there's no show today and tomorrow is a holiday here in the US of A, I thought I'd bring you the weekly updates and random Rush stuff a day early. Rush is down to their last dozen shows of the Snakes & Arrows tour, beginning with tomorrow's 4th of July show at the Marc Etess Arena in Atlantic City. They'll then play a series of dates in the Northeast, a couple of dates down south and then close out the tour with the rescheduled Indianapolis show on July 24th. On one tour-related note, if you haven't read Dave's (Neil Peart's bus driver) tale of Neil and the Nantucket cookies yet, be sure to check it out.

Tuesday through Thursday of next week Rushcon 8 will be held in Toronto at the Days Inn Downtown. In addition to the Rush show at the Molson Amphitheatre Wednesday night, the RushCon crew has a slew of festivities planned. For all the details and to register visit the website at RushCon.org.

Earlier this week reader RedSectoA provided us with scans of the recent Rolling Stone feature article on Rush. John over at Cygnus-X1.net has also transcribed the article which you can check out at this link. The article is surprisingly good (especially considering the source) and has garnered mostly positive feedback from fans. It was written by former Spin staff writer Chris Norris and was his first piece for Rolling Stone. In their Rock-critically Correct section yesterday the Idolator.com heaps praise on the article and the author, and gives their take on it:

... he's [Chris Norris] on pretty firm footing when he suggests that Rolling Stone's past and present staffers regard the band the same way as every American woman and non-nerd male: as an abomination. Writer Chris Norris enumerates the qualities that damned Rush in RS' purview, although he describes them as commonplace complaints: ... His conceit is that the band has created a world with as much immersive detail as the Grand Theft Auto diaspora, the Marvel Comics universe, or J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. Which is to say that a certain kind of nerd digs the fuck out of the band. So, between the MSM's recent interest in geek culture and Rolling Stone's agenda to laud any band that has stood the test of time, Rush can now receive the mag's imprimatur. ... Norris particularly excels at describing common knowledge in engaging language and thus avoiding cliche. ... Norris has done a superb job ... his take on what makes the band unique seems genuine and admiring. Let's have some more like this, RS! And to you what don't like Rush: reading Norris' article will begin the process by which you will acknowledge how very very wrong you are.

The entire review of the article is very good; a good review of a good article. Read the whole thing if you get a chance. So, what's your opinion of the article? Take the poll and let us know if you haven't already.

Earlier this week I let you know that Neil Peart has won Drummer of the Year in DRUM! Magazine's 2008 Reader's Poll for the second year in a row. He also won the Best Live Drummer award, the Best Mainstream Pop Drummer award, and was runner-up to Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) for Best Progressive Rock Drummer. The complete results are published in the August 2008 issue of the magazine.

Time Life Music is releasing a new 9-CD hard rock and heavy metal compilation titled Hard & Heavy next week. The compilation comes in a metal box and will contain 2 Rush songs; New World Man and Fly By Night. For details check out this link. Thanks to Blabbermouth.net for the heads up.

Reader and professional photographer sdfotodude shared with me a great story regarding the rescheduled Red Rocks gig. The short of it is that he was able to get Live Nation to grant him photo credentials at the Red Rocks show because of the rescheduling (he had traveled into town just for the show). Lucky Guy. Here are the photos. Very nice.

Rush is in the running once again at the Greatest of All Time blog. This time the tournament is focusing on best live acts. Rush is currently up against Pink Floyd. So go vote for Rush if you get the chance. Also - go vote for Rush's Limelight in this poll at K-Rock for the greatest guitar songs (thanks jprager87).

The Counterparts messageboard's Name that Rush Tune charity contest is over and the winner was RIAB reader OntariOFace. Congratulations! $1000 will be donated to The Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation on his behalf.

Tuesday was Canada Day and Rush got a mention in this Wired article discussing the holiday (thanks Hans). And there's a Neil Peart sighting in this online comic strip (thanks Gangster_of_Boats).

That's it for this week. Have a great holiday weekend everybody!

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