If you’ve had a chance to look at our blog roll, you’ll see a couple of Rush sites.  In particular, I’d like to point out RUSHISABAND and POWERWINDOWS.  Let me just be blunt–I think the world of these sites.  I love the spirit they bring to the internet, and I deeply admire the men (Ed Stenger and Eric Hansen, respectively) who run each.

When we–Carl, Chris, and Kevin–founded progarchy back in 2012, I (Brad) really had three sites in mind to emulate: the Dutch Progressive Rock Page, Rush is a Band, and Power Windows.

Frankly, I wanted to do for Big Big Train what the latter two have done for Rush.

I also have to note that when I wrote my biographical essay on Neil Peart for Kevin J. Anderson’s majestic WordFire Press, I relied significantly on the work of Stenger and Hansen.

Even if you’re not a fan of Rush, how can you not admire what these guys do?  They keep things alive and fresh, now six years after Rush released its last studio album.

Anyway, before I get too sappy and un-Peart-like, let me just say a huge thank you to Ed and Eric for being inspirations.

***

If you’d like a more in-depth progarchy look at Rush, here’s a handy guide:

Rush – ABC 1974 – Live – 1974 (released 2015) – Review by Craig Breaden

Rush – A Farewell to Kings – 1977 – Review by Kevin McCormick

Rush – Clockwork Angels Tour (Live) – 2013 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – Grace Under Pressure – 1984 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – Power Windows – 1985 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – R40 “Completist” live concerts box set – 2014 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – R40 Live – 2015 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – Rush – 1974 – Reviewed by Craig Breaden

Rush – Test For Echo – 1996 – Review by Brad Birzer

Rush – Vapor Trails Remixed – 2013 – Review by Brad Birzer

Clockwork Angels – Concert review by Brad Birzer (2012)

Kevin J. Anderson – Clockwork Angels – The Comic Scripts – 2014 – Review by Brad Birzer

The Art of Rush – Hugh Syme, written by Stephen Humphries – 2015 – Book Review by Brad Birzer

Neil Peart: The Most Endangered Species – Essay by Brad Birzer (discussion of “Natural Science”)

The Saving Grace of Neil Peart – Essay by Brad Birzer

Brad Birzer’s Top 10 Rush Albums

Signals: A Prog New Wave Song Cycle