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Why Rush Matters

Jeff Miers and Ray Wawrzyniak 6 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

Why Rush Matters is a dedicated podcast about the band Rush, hosted by Buffalo music journalist Jeff Miers and Rush historian Ray Wawrzyniak. Each episode dives into deep cuts, big questions, and the stories behind the music, exploring albums, lyrics, musicianship, and the band's enduring mythology. The show was spun out of a popular Rush conversation from the Why Music Matters podcast. With Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returning to the road with drummer Anika Nilles, Jeff and Ray provide insight, context, and a fan's passion for this remarkable moment.

Episodes

Emotional Feedback on a Timeless Wavelength | Why Rush Matters Aug 20, 2026 4339 We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - What a time to be a Rush fan! While Geddy, Alex, Anika and Loren - as well as thousands of grateful fans - recover from an epic 4-night run in Toronto, Jeff and Ray present their recent conversation with legendary CFNY DJs Ivar Hamilton, Scot Turner and Liz Janik, who were in town to promote their new documentary on the history of that fabled statio

To Spend an Evening with a Drink and a Friend… Aug 6, 2026 2860 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

A Garden to Nurture and Protect… Jul 23, 2026 5077 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

The Echoes of Old Applause… Jul 9, 2026 4327 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 cho

The Road Unwinds Before Me Jun 25, 2026 3800 With the Rush Fifty Something tour officially underway and the accolades rolling in, Jeff and Ray discuss the first run of shows, Ray’s first-person recollections of nights 1 and 2 in Los Angeles, the incredible grace under pressure exhibited by Anika Nilles, the Xanadu Lounge (honeydew and milk of paradise for all!), and the abundant surprises in the tour’s setlists so far. Welcome to Episode 2 o

The Underlying Theme Jun 11, 2026 3962 Hey there, music lovers. Welcome to Why Rush Matters, a podcast dedicated to the music, legacy, and enduring power of the Canadian trio that changed the game and changed a lot of lives in the process. I'm your host, Jeff Miers, musician, music journalist, and since a January evening in 1980 at the Palace Theater in Albany, a devoted Rush fan who has never once looked back. Joining me, as always,

Welcome to Why Rush Matters Jun 8, 2026 254 This is the dedicated Rush podcast for fans who know this music was never just about dazzling time signatures, thunderous bass pedals, or impossible drum fills. It was about curiosity, friendship, ambition, imagination, grief, humor, and the strange, lifelong bond between a band and the people who found themselves inside its songs. Hosted by Buffalo music journalist and critic Jeff Miers and Rush

Why Rush Matters

Episodes

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