Rush returned to Chicago's United Center for the first time since 2015 for a four-show residency on 7/16, 7/18, 7/20 and 7/22, planting the flag that their Fifty Something Tour will consistently bring surprises.

Original members Geddy Lee (lead vocals, bass, keyboards, bass pedals) and Alex Lifeson (guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals) are showing off their new drummer Anika Nilles by introducing even tougher tunes to the set while the band is receiving assistance from Loren Gold (keyboards, piano, backing vocals).

The United Center is basically the House that Jordan Built; it opened in 1994 during the era of Michael Jordan’s championship Bulls squads dominated the NBA in a way few have since. Over 50,000 tickets were sold over the four nights the Canadian legends rocked the Madison Street arena.

Opening night in Chicago proved the veteran classic rockers have now worked out the bugs with their new members and are more than ready to take on the dynamics and complexity of the band's full catalogue.

The 24-song performance included “Caravan” and “Natural Science,” which did not make the setlists of the other Windy City gigs during the run.

Fans at the July 18 concert got to hear the complete seven-part 2112 suite: “Overture,” “The Temples of Syrinx,” “Discovery,” “Presentation,” “Oracle: The Dream,” “Soliloquy,” and “Grand Finale.”

The night also contained several songs heard nowhere else during the residency, including “The Analog Kid,” “Leave That Thing Alone,” “Animate” and “A Passage to Bangkok.”

And as a bonus there was no unrest in the forest because “The Trees” also appeared for the first time at the arena. It's a gem that before this tour hadn't been played since 2008's Snakes and Arrows Tour.

Rush mixed it up two nights later when they performed all seven songs from Moving Pictures in order: “Tom Sawyer,” “Red Barchetta,” “YYZ,” “Limelight,” “The Camera Eye,” “Witch Hunt” and “Vital Signs.”

It was the only one of the four Chicago concerts to present the classic 1981 album from beginning to end.

That audience also received “New World Man” and “The Camera Eye” as a little surprise.

The July 22 finale was another 2112 show in its entirety along with three deep cuts they rocked only that night: “The Pass" and “The Anarchist.”

They also played the title track of A Farewell to Kings - an incredibly complex tune they've now played just twice since 1979.

Audiences getting to hear the full 20-minute 2112 suite should count their blessings.

Before this tour, the last time Rush performed it in its entirety was the 1997 Test For Echo Tour where they only played it about once every three gigs.

Why has the band shied away from performing it from front-to-back since it's beloved and was a remarkable rebound from the previously disappointing LP, Caress of Steel?

Apparently not everyone wants to play a prog-rock suite about a young dude who discovers a guitar in a society where creativity is forbidden only to be harassed by ruling priests who reject and destroy it, and after dreaming of a freer world, he offs himself.

But once in a while it's cool.

Catch Rush live as they tour around North America. Get tix on their website.

Rush Fifty Something Tour 2026

7/28 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
7/30 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
8/1 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
8/3 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
8/7 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
8/9 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
8/11 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
8/13 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
8/21 Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
8/23 Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
8/26 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
8/28 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
9/2 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
9/4 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
9/12 TD Garden, Boston, MA
9/14 TD Garden, Boston, MA
9/17 Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
9/19 Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
9/23 Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
9/25 Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
10/5 Ball Arena, Denver, CO
10/7 Ball Arena, Denver, CO
10/10 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
10/12 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
10/15 SAP Center, San Jose, CA
10/17 SAP Center, San Jose, CA
10/25 Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
10/27 Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
10/30 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
11/1 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
11/5 Seminole Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
11/7 Seminole Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
11/9 Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
11/11 Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
11/20 Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
11/22 Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
11/25 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
11/27 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
12/1 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ
12/3 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ
12/10 Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
12/12 Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
12/15 Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
12/17 Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC