Show Notes
With Ray deep into his stint with the Fifty Something Tour, and Jeff preparing for his first date with the 2026 edition of Rush - on August 7, as the band kicks off a 4-night run in Toronto - we spend some time with Steve Himel, co-founder and General Manager of Toronto’s Henderson Brewing Company, and creator of the Rush line of brews.
Steve tells us about his plans for the 4th annual Rush Day, which welcomes an international community of Rush freaks to Henderson’s Toronto brewery on Saturday, August 8th; Jeff tells Steve that he’s his personal hero for combining the two things he loves the most - Rush and beer; and Steve tells us about the roots of the partnership with Alex and Geddy that led to the creation of Rush beer.
For the next hour, let time stand still! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Why Rush Matters
Hey there, Rush freaks! Jeff & Ray must confess that their heads are spinning, what with all this Rush-related activity happening! Ray has been out on the road acting as docent for the Rush Xanadu Lounge VIP Experience, and Jeff is still reeling from the Cleveland shows. The arrival of the highly anticipated (and simply stunning) Scot McFadyen & Sam Dunn documentary Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple demanded their attention as well, and they’ll surely be doing a deep-dive on that poignant doc soon! But in the meantime, join Jeff & Ray as they pay homage to good ol’ Lerxst, and offer up their respective lists of Top 10 Alex Lifeson guitar solos! ~~~ Follow us on Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyrushmatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whymusicmatterspodcast
If you told Jeff and Ray a year ago that the biggest tour of summer 2026 would feature a reborn Rush, they might’ve wondered what parallel reality you’d taken up residence in. Sure, wishful thinking has its place, and who are we if we live without belief in a dream? But back then, the cold reality smacked of finality. The beautiful dream was over.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - What a time to be a Rush fan!
As the 2026 edition of Rush continues to roll across the country, claiming one (not so) little victory at a time, Jeff & Ray dig through decades of intense fandom, personal experiences, and close listening, to defend their Rush top 10 lists. Interesting and sometimes intense discussion ensued! Before you listen and wonder why your own favorites ranked low or didn’t make the cut, remember that, as Neil once wrote, our differences make us interesting to each other, and “The spaces in between leave room for you and I to grow.” We look forward to you sharing your own ‘best of’ lists with us! ~~~ Follow us on Socials Instagram: / whyrushmatters Facebook: / whymusicmatterspodcast
As the Fifty Something tour rolls on, and Geddy, Alex, Anika and Loren navigate a bump in the road or two, Jeff & Ray look back on the Rush concerts from years past that formed and fostered their love for the band, reflect on”spontaneous relations and the long enduring kind,” and highlight through-lines in the trio’s illustrious tenure as a premier live band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices