Intro : a short personal Rush history.

The first time I listened to Rush was late 1976 when a friend had bought the double live LP All The World's A Stage as import, I was impressed by the skills and dynamics, especially in the epic 2112. One year later I bought the new Rush album A Farewell To Kings, I was blown away by this inventive and innovative Heavy Progressive sound. After buying the next album Hemispheres (1978) I became a huge Rush fan but couldn't share my delight with my prog friends, they considered Rush as too loud and nailed Geddy Lee and his vocals. In 1979 I read that Rush was coming to the Netherlands for the first time, at the legendary annual Pinkpop festival. Unfortunately nobody wanted to join me to watch Rush, so I went alone and experienced an awesome Rush gig at Pinkpop 1979, attended by many Rush fans from Canada.

THE DUTCH RUSH FAN EVENT ON JUNE 30TH, 2024, IN POPPODIUM BOERDERIJ

Alex van Loon welcomes the crowd for the Dutch Rush Fan Event

But today, 45 years later, I was surrounded by hundreds of Rush fans, and could share my huge appreciation for Rush with everybody. What a thrill, this Dutch Rush Fan Event, very well organized, a big hand for Ronald van Dalfsen, Ronald ten Bos en Alex van Loon, another amazing trio, haha. After a welcome to the crowd by Alex van Loon, Ronald started the event with a series of very nice and entertaining interviews on stage, talking to Jamie Dunleavey (drummer Moving Pictures), Richard Zopfi (drummer The Rushians), Bernard Bodt (former Dutch Rush fanclub) and with delay Jean-Paul Heck (music journalist). A special feature this day was the Rush pinball machine from the Dutch Pinball Museum, and the delicious catering was Surinam bami with sate. In between you could visit the Boerderij Café (inside and outside), I preferred the La Trappe Blond on draught. And you could buy a lot of merchandise, including a translation of the book Neil Peart (R.I.P.) originally wrote. Namely his highly acclaimed book Ghost Rider translated by Ronald van Dalfsen, in Dutch Over Helende Wegen. I bought it and have started reading, a very interesting book, it turns out that Neil was a birdwatcher, like me!
 

Moving Pictures

The first performance today was by the Rush tribute band Moving Pictures from Scotland, they did a great job. And incredible how bass player John Power (also keyboards and pedals) looks like Geddy Lee! My highlight was the rendition of my favourite Rush composition, the instrumental YYZ, topped with an awesome drum solo by the super inspired Jamie Dunleavey, it really brought tears in my eyes, what a dedication, wow!

 

The Rushians

The Rushians

After a break the known and popular Dutch Rush tribute band The Rushians took the stage, fuelled by the dedicated singer and frontman Erik Masselink. The Rushians presented a more interesting setlist than Moving Pictures in my opinion, with great renditions of Rush favourites like Big Money, Subdivisions, La Villa Strangiato, Xanadu (with a double-neck guitar), Cygnus X-1 and Witchhunt. Especially guitar player Ronald ten Bos was shining, he sounded mighty close to his hero Alex Lifeson! I am sure The Rushians made a lot of fans during their concert.

At the end of the day Ronald van Dalfsen hailed the crowd and promised a stunning follow-up next year, I am looking forward to it!

P.S.: the next concert dates from The Rushians is November 30th, 2024, Theater Parkvilla, Alphen aan den Rijn, February 28th, 2025, De Cacaofabriek, Helmond, March 8th, 2025, De Groene Engel, Oss, April 19th, 2025, Metropool, Hengelo and July 5th, 2025, De Boerderij, Zoetermeer.

Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)
(Pictures by Rob Ulrich and eus@metal-experince.com and Erik Neuteboom)

Interviews by Ronald van Dalfsen