UPDATE - 12/15@10:08AM: It looks like the new, revamped Anthem website is safe to visit now. It's nice and flashy but not much in the way of new content.

UPDATE - 12/14@3:51PM: Hey - that Guitar World Magazine poll that I alluded to below is online at this link (thanks Peart#1). Let's vote for Rush!

Up until yesterday I'd thought this was going to be a relatively quiet week for Rush news. Boy was I wrong! The official announcement of the 2008 extension of the Snakes & Arrows tour was released via Rush.com yesterday. This was no surprise to anybody who follows this site; we've known for quite some time now that the band would be touring in 2008. The surprises came in the form of juicy new details. The tour will kick off in Puerto Rico, head down to South America for a couple weeks and then head back north. My favorite part of the press release was the mention that the band would be revamping the set list!! After the initial post with the press release I gathered some more information (a few more cities) from my source and updated the post with it. So if you haven't seen the update yet be sure to check out the post for all the details.

Now that we know that Rush will be revamping the setlist I thought I'd ask a setlist-related question for the next poll. On the first leg of the tour Rush played 9 of the 13 songs off of Snakes & Arrows. Of the 4 that were not played, which one would you like to see played on the 2008 leg? Take the poll and let us know.

In last week's poll I asked you which of the 5 nominees for the Best Rock Instrumental Performance Grammy you thought would win. The overwhelming majority of you (nearly 60%) went with the home team and voted for Rush while another 32% thought Bruce Springsteen would win. I'm not holding out too much hope, but I'd love to see them finally win.

The Rush Backstage Club has extended their free USB Flash Drive promotion due to customer demand. With a purchase over $200, you will receive a Free Snakes & Arrows 2 GB USB flash drive. Take note that they are completely sold out of these and even if you do take advantage of the promo, the earliest they'll have more in stock is late January.

Rush's management arm, Anthem, has revamped and relaunched their new website at www.anthementertainmentgroup.com. HOWEVER.. don't go there! The new site was announced in a Rush newsletter sent out yesterday and several fans - myself included - discovered that after visiting the site their computers locked up and spam/virus warnings started popping up. Check out this Counterparts thread for more info. Apparently they are aware of the problem and are working on fixing it. But until it's fixed I highly suggest that you avoid the site.

It's that time of year when everyone and their mother decides to come up with their end-of-year Best Of 2007 lists. Radio stations, websites, magazines, etc. - they all do it. Some decide on their own, others have their readers/listeners decide via polls/surveys. I've compiled a bunch of online polls and lists that readers have sent me and thought I'd cover them here. If you know of any others, please let us know.

First off... let's VOTE FOR RUSH! :)

Reader SumThing let me know that Rockline is running a poll asking listeners Which Classic Rock shows should we air over the Christmas break?. One of the 8 options is Rush and they're currently waay out in front. Rush.com even mentions this poll on their News page. What's confusing is that they say voting ends December 16th, and Rush is still listed as one of the poll options... But on the site's homepage they have already declared Rush the winner and will be re-broadcasting their Rockline appearance on December 19th. Whatever ... fine by me. :)

Eddie Trunk has a reader poll on his home page (scroll down on the right) where he asks What was your favorite hard rock/metal CD of 2007? Rush's Snakes & Arrows is one of the options. Thanks to Robert M for the heads up.

Rock Hits Y102 out of Berks County, PA will be counting down the Top Classic Rock Artists of All Time at the end of the year. To vote for Rush go to this link and write them in.

102.9 The Hog is running a poll asking listeners which artist they should feature on the upcoming A-Z weekend. Rush is in the running. To vote go here and scroll down. Thanks to Keith C for the heads up.

NPR.org is running a survey to determine the best albums of 2007. Rush's Snakes & Arrows is not on the list, but you can write them in. Go to this link and write in Snakes & Arrows. Thanks to Zutroy for the heads up.

Reader Peart#1 alerted me to the fact that Guitar World Magazine is running their annual reader's poll in the print edition (not online as far as I could tell it's online at this location). Alex Lifeson is up for their Hall of Fame as well as some other categories and Snakes and Arrows is up for an award as well. So if you're a subscriber be sure to vote for Rush!

Now for some end-of-year lists that include Rush.

Roadrunner records has released Top 10 album lists as compiled by several of their artists. Rush's Snakes & Arrows appears on a few of these including Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy and Glen Drover of Megadeth. I'm also happy to see Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet (which Alex Lifeson plays on) show up on several of these lists.

Snakes & Arrows is the top real album on Classic Rock Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2007 list. I say that because they gave the top spot to the fictional Guns and Roses album, Chinese Democracy. All I can say is ... WTF?

The DC area's NBC4 has a list of the top 20 albums of 2007 as compiled by DC Scene contributor Chris Gerard. Rush's Snakes & Arrows comes in at #17. Here's what he says about it:

Yes, Rush is still making records, and “Snakes & Arrows” represented a comeback of sorts. Their prior studio effort, 2002’s “Vapor Trails,” was a murky mess. “Snakes & Arrows” is much crisper, reminiscent of the band's stellar 90s albums “Test for Echo” and “Counterparts,” and the material is on par with some of their best. Key tracks: “Far Cry,” “Spindrift,” “Armor & Sword”

Thanks to apoorvag for the heads up.

Now for some regular old Rush randomness.

As I'd mentioned a couple of days ago, the holidays are upon us! So if you're searching for gift ideas for that special Rush-fan lady (they actually don't even need to be a Rush fan really) in your life, Katy at Between Sun & Moon makes cool handmade jewelry inspired by and named with Rush lyrics. She can even create a custom piece that you can name yourself to make a one-of-a-kind holiday gift. All orders come gift wrapped for free with your own personal gift card message and Katy has graciously offered Free Priority Mail Shipping to rushisaband readers if you use the discount code rushisaband.

Libertarian-minded Reason magazine's Hit and Run blog featured a Rush video - Freewill from Exit...Stage Left - in last week's Friday Political Thread and introduced the video by saying If Geddy Lee's tight pants don't rattle your faith in the Creator, nothing will. :)

Reader Hans let me know that Neil Peart and his motorcycle will be featured in an upcoming exhibit at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. The exhibit is called MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles. Speaking of Neil Peart, I wonder if it was he who purchased this 81-year-old bottle of The Macallan for 54 Grand?

A couple weeks back I introduced you to airdrummer extraordinaire - Lance "The Shred" - who amazed us with his YYZ airdrumming skills. He just recently put up an airdrumming vid of Natural Science specifically dedicated to rushisaband.com and its readers. Check it out here.

Rush has been elfed!! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

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