Rush Rash with Chaz N Schatz

This week, the Haggis Shack smells like peach pie and nostalgia as Chaz and Schatz welcome the sister of The Professor himself, Nancy Peart Burkholder, along with the host of the Bubba Bash fellow Rush lifer Cathy Rankin.

What follows is one of the most heartfelt and hilariously insightful conversations we’ve ever had. Nancy opens up the family scrapbook and lets us peek inside the Peart household — the laughter, the mischief, and the moments that made Neil more than a legend… they made him Neil.

We hear about the big brother who drummed on his sister's playpen, the teen who read everything in sight, and the man who sent postcards home from every corner of the world — still grounded by love for his family and the rhythm that started around Betty Peart’s kitchen table.

Nancy’s stories range from the hilarious to the humbling — memories of a brother who was thoughtful, generous, and beautifully human beneath the myth. She talks about the birth of Peart Family Events, how grief became purpose, and how the upcoming Legacy in Bronze project will literally set Neil’s spirit in stone.

Meanwhile, Cathy shares her own journey — from Rush fan to recording artist — and the story behind her tribute song for Neil, a collaboration that turned loss into light. There’s laughter, love, and a few tears, but most of all there’s that unmistakable hum of the spirit of radio running through it all.

🏡 Growing up Peart — Nancy’s front-row seat to her brother’s curiosity, humor, and drive.

🌍 Postcards from the road — and the quiet way Neil stayed connected to home.

💖 The creation of Peart Family Events and how community became family.

🎶 Cathy Rankin’s tribute song — healing through melody, with help from her family and friends.

⛳ Teeing off at the Pure Golf Tournament — where charity meets air drumming.

If you love Rush, if you love stories, and if you’ve ever felt that Neil’s words reached straight into your heart — this one’s for you.

So pour a Scotch, raise a glass to her big brother, and join us as we celebrate family, music, and the rhythm that never fades.

THIS WEEK'S SONG

The wheel playfully denies Nancy the opportunity to call her shot and instead we end up listening to The Larger Bowl off 2007's Snakes & Arrows. We get a special side story about what the larger bowl was about in the Peart house growing up.

SHOW LINKS

Donate! Legacy in Bronze - Help get Neil's statue erected in Lakeside Park

97 Rock Shreed & Regan's Rush Tribute

Cathy Rankin's Video for Now You've Gone

Peart Family Memorial Events - NP, GP, DP

Peart Family Coffee - The Most Excellent Way to Start Your Day

Ramona Vogue's tribute to her Uncle Neil - Radio Silence

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

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The show stumbles open to a heated discussion on Schatz's readiness to add Anika Nilles' solo works to the 911 wheel for exploration. Putting aside that she has a back catalogue that would quickly have her dominate the wheel, we explore the vein that dislodged itself from Schatz's forehead at the thought of putting a newbie on the wheel with Lersxt and Dirk.

No Wheel Spin

Rather than spin the wheel, we listen to a couple of album opening tracks from Anika's solo catalog - Fiji, off 2025's False Truth, and Wild Boy off her 2014 Eponymous EP. There's no voting either, but we get to hear for ourselves what all the fuss is about.

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Chaz and Schatz welcome Greg Russell—drummer, designer, and longtime friend of Neil Peart—back into the Haggis Shack for a deep-dive episode that’s equal parts tribute, therapy session, and celebration of all things Rush. With the band’s reunion and the addition of a new drummer making headlines, Greg shares his unique perspective as both a torchbearer in the tribute scene as drummer in Natural Science, and someone who rode thousands of miles with Neil himself.

The conversation rockets from the emotional impact of Rush’s return (and what it means to the community) to Greg’s stories of life on the road with Neil, the art of playing Rush’s music, and the challenges and joys of keeping the spirit alive in tribute bands. Chaz and Schatz dig into the fan experience, ticket drama, and the bittersweet excitement of seeing Rush 3.0 take shape. Greg opens up about Neil’s legacy, his playful side, and the importance of honoring the music while embracing change.

🔥 In This Episode:

• Greg’s memories of designing Neil’s iconic drum risers and sharing the open road
• The emotional rollercoaster of RUSH’s return and the choice of a new drummer
• What it means for tribute bands as the real band hits the stage again
• Reflections on Neil’s character, humor, and approach to life and music
• The future of RUSH fandom, RushCon, and the evolving tribute community
• A soft launch of “Rushathon”—Greg’s vision for a festival uniting tribute bands to play the entire Rush catalog live

THIS WEEK’S SONG

We didn't spin the wheel this week, as it just seemed like the right thing to do, to pause the games (most of them) and spend an evening with a drink and a friend to talk about what it feels like to be a part of this time, in this place, with all that's our effin reality. Effin deep man...pass the bong...tune in, turn on, and enjoy this very special Hallmark, Disney, one-time, special to Blue-Ray, DVD and US Cass-ingle event: an episode recorded just a week and 2 days after the announcement of the RUSH Reunion - before the additional dates were announced! Still fresh! - Special from RushRash to you.

And please welcome our newest sponsor - Peart Family Coffee to the Rush Rash Haggis Shack of "you scratch our back, we'll scratch yours" sponsorship! Go grab yourself a big ass cup of the most excellent cup of coffee you can have today and listen to some more R U S H with us - Hot Damn, eh!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab a cup of Peart Family Coffee and curl up with your headphones and some LSD for a trip through Afghanastan with a Les Paul strapped to your back. We're listening to Kabul Blues from 2022's eponymous release by Envy of None. I'm not as toned as you stink I am...

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Chaz and Schatz welcome the one and only Mike Massé — world-class vocalist, YouTube legend, and full-tilt Rush fan who’s brought stadium-sized harmonies to everything from “TIme Stands Still” to “Africa.” In this very special episode, Mike shares his memories of seeing the Signals tour from Florida’s Space Coast, and what it meant to watch “Countdown” while the real rockets blazed over Cape Canaveral. And the conversation rockets off the pad into discussions of the upcoming tour, Neil’s legacy, poetry-as-lyrics, and whether or not Uncle Gino should run the Vegas odds on “The Weapon” making the setlist.

• Mike’s Spirit of Radio moment — how a sister’s record collection changed his orbit.
• What it felt like to be the hometown crowd for “Countdown.”
• Thoughts on Rush’s return to the stage and carrying the torch to a new generation.
• Could Neil’s poetry become new lyrics?
• The future of tribute bands, the odds of deep-cut sightings, and Uncle Gino’s sketchy sportsbook.

BE A PART OF MIKE'S MUSIC VIDEO

Want to be a film star? Find your way to the world-famous Surf Ballroom this Sunday, October 19th.

The event will feature a FREE CONCERT and the filming of Mike's new music video for an acoustic cover of Don McLean’s legendary anthem, “American

Pie.” Mike will be joined on stage by his longtime collaborators and fan favorites, Jeff Hall and Sterling Cottam, for this one-night-only performance. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with the show beginning at 7:30 PM. The Surf Ballroom, forever etched in rock history as the final stage for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper on “The Day the Music Died,” is the perfect backdrop for Mike's heartfelt tribute. The video shoot will capture both the performance and the audience, allowing fans to be a visible part of this historic project. Be there or square you be.

THIS WEEKS SONG

This week, the wheel gives us another very timely song - The Weapon - off 1982's Signals. You know the wheel always delivers, and this one gives the guys plenty to jaw on. It’s stories, laughs, and harmonies that prove the spirit of radio is still alive and crackling.

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chaz & Schatz sit down with Tom Enright, the multi-instrumentalist, retired chemical engineer, and lifelong Rush fan who filled in on bass at the RUSHFest Canada All-Star Band. From his first “what the hell is this?” moment hearing Caress of Steel in grade four to 25 Rush concerts, RushCon pilgrimages, and beers at the Henderson Brewery, Tom’s story is pure Rush fandom alchemy — part science, part spirit, and all heart. NOTE: This episode was recorded in the weeks just before Rush's 2026 Tour Announcement.

In this episode:

• Tom’s fourth-grade brush with Caress of Steel and how Grace Under Pressure Live at Maple Leaf Gardens made him a lifer
• Why he chose Rush over Van Halen (and how that changed everything)
• From basement bands to Sonic Curators — the road to playing every instrument (sometimes in one night)
• Cracking open the legendary Cygnus X-1 Xanabrew — yes, it pairs nicely with red wine tones and Rush talk
• The global Rush community — 20 years of RushCon, Rush Fest Scotland, and finding “his people” across continents

THIS WEEK’S SONG

The Wheel spins up Wish Them Well — a track about letting go, moving forward, and keeping your focus on what really matters — just like Tom’s own musical journey.

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wow, what was in that cola?!?! Time we get Enemy from 2022's eponymous release by Envy of None. The boys don't waste too much time...okay they do, we run a little over, but it was fun doing it!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chaz and Schatz go live to tape and gather the first gathering of The Contagion Collective to process the biggest moment in Rush fandom since R40 — Geddy and Alex’s surprise announcement that Rush is returning to the stage.

Yep. You read that right. Rush. Is. Back.

With special guests Tim Starace (YYNOT), Eric Wirsing (Solar Federation), Mary Jo Plews (RushCon), Andy Faulkner (Author, Finding My Way), Martin “Tigre” Urionaguena (Dorothy from Argentina), Steve "Knee" Brown (Moving Pictures UK), and Paul Beaulieu (RushFest Canada), this impromptu global episode captures the shock, joy, disbelief, and tears that rippled through the fanbase the moment the news dropped.

The gang breaks down the official statement, the new lineup (yes — a female powerhouse drummer, Anika Nilles!), and what it means for the community, the legacy, and the spirit of Neil Peart.

In This Episode:

🚨 The moment Geddy and Alex say it out loud: “We’re going back on tour.”

🥁 Meet Anika Nilles — the “irreplaceable replacement” whose playing reignited their spark.

🎹 Talk of adding a keyboard player to free up Geddy for more bass — and maybe even some dance routines?!

💔 Reflection on Neil’s memory and how every show will include a tribute segment to the Professor.

🌎 First reactions from across the Rush universe — North America, the UK, South America, and beyond.

🎟️ Breakdown of announced tour stops — LA, Toronto, Cleveland, New York — and will there be more?

💬 Emotional insights from Donna Halper’s backstage story: Geddy hadn’t even told all his family yet.

🎸 Tim and Eric share why this feels more like a celebration than a comeback.

❤️ The Rush community unites: tribute musicians, podcasters, superfans — all celebrating the music’s return.

🎉 And yes… consensus achieved: Rush officially joins Schatz’s Scratch List as the ultimate tribute band to themselves.

It’s joy. It’s disbelief. It’s community.

After 11 years since the final curtain call, the band that taught us to “roll the bones” and “face up” has decided to do it again.

The Macallan 40 is in order...Raise your glasses, fellow travelers — the spirit of Rush lives on, the invisible airwaves crackle with life tonight!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Chaz and Schatz sit down with Chris Smith — drummer, sound engineer, lighting guru, and one of the unsung heroes of the Northern Colorado music scene. Known as “The Fader Monkey” for his wizardry behind the board, Chris has worked with the area’s best tribute acts, including Rush Archives, El Loco Fandango (ZZ Top), Smokin’ (Boston), and Project Foreigner. He’s the guy who helps make everyone sound like pros and not like they're playing through a wet bag of Doritos.

Chris takes us through his Rush origin story, the evolution of his career, and what keeps the spirit of the band alive across countless stages — from Red Rocks to local clubs that refuse to die quietly.

In This Episode:

🎧 How Closer to the Heart on a job site boombox started a lifelong Rush addiction.

🥁 The moment Tom Sawyer made him pick up drumsticks and never put them down.

🎚️ What it takes to run sound and lights for six tribute bands — and still have hearing left.

🏔️ The thriving Northern Colorado tribute scene: Rush Archives, ZZ Top, Boston, Foreigner, and more.

🎤 Favorite Rush live memories from the R30 and R40 tours at Red Rocks and Pepsi Center.

⚙️ Gear talk: his PDP maple kit, lighting rigs, and how local venues leveled up their production game.

It’s a deep cut of a conversation — part love letter to the local music community, part salute to the Professor, and 100% Rush fandom turned up to eleven. Grab a drink, spin the wheel, and roll those bones with us!

The wheel gives us Face Up off 1991'2 Roll The Bones. A deep cut that makes the guys wax nostalgic for the entire album, but is it Living in the Limelight? Tune in to find out!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We thought the last track was trippy, this time we get A Louder Sience from 2024's eponymous release by Today Was Yesterday. This track features some "inspired" work by our favorite bag wearing, mustard and beer peddling guitar minstrel.

If you haven't heard Al play lead in a while, check this one out - and this week, bring something infused!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.