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Why Rush Matters

Jeff Miers and Ray Wawrzyniak

What is Why Rush Matters? It’s a dedicated Rush podcast from Buffalo music journalist Jeff Miers and Rush historian Ray Wawrzyniak, created for listeners who want the deep cuts, the big questions, and the stories behind the sound.

Spun out of the most-listened-to Rush conversation on Why Music Matters, the series explores the albums, lyrics, musicianship, mythology, and emotional pull of one of rock’s most enduring bands.

With Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returning to the road with drummer Anika Nilles, Jeff and Ray guide fans through this remarkable moment with insight, context, reverence, and joy.

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8 episodes
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Avg 59 min
English

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September 3 · 59 min
The Summer of Rush! | Why Rush Matters
If you told Jeff and Ray a year ago that the biggest tour of summer 2026 would feature a reborn Rush, they might’ve wondered what parallel reality you’d taken up residence in. Sure, wishful thinking has its place, and who are we if we live without belief in a dream? But back then, the cold reality smacked of finality. The beautiful dream was over. And yet, here we are, nearing the end of a summer season we never thought we’d be gifted. The band firmly exists in the here and now, the reviews from fans and critics alike have been close to unanimously glowing, and as the Fifty Something Tour rolls on, the 2026 edition of Rush grows tighter, more powerful, the performances ever more emotionally resonant and meaningful. For this new episode of Why Rush Matters, Jeff & Ray take some time to reflect on the shows they’ve seen so far, the magnificence of Anika Nilles, the difference between a transcendent show and one that is simply “great,” and their plans for the remaining dates on the US portion of the tour. Join them as they take a moment to bask in the glory of “The Summer of Rush!” ~~~ Follow us on Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyrushmatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whymusicmatterspodcast Title and Outro music by Jeff Miers Why Rush Matters is part of the Pantheon Media Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 20 · 1 hr 13 min
Emotional Feedback on a Timeless Wavelength | Why Rush Matters
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 station, which will open in Buffalo this fall. As any self-respecting Rush-head knows, the band wrote The Spirit of Radio to pay homage to CFNY and the power and impact of free-form radio. During our chat, Ivar and Scot share their Rush related memories, and Liz recounts the story of Neil Peart traveling over the Niagara escarpment and hearing her spin the Genesis epic Watcher of the Skies, an experience he cited as an inspiration for the writing of The Spirit of Radio. Sit back, relax, and remember a time when invisible airwaves crackled with life! ~~~ Follow us on Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyrushmatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whymusicmatterspodcast Title and Outro music by Jeff Miers Why Rush Matters is part of the Pantheon Media Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 6 · 48 min
To Spend an Evening with a Drink and a Friend…
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 Rush Day, which welcomes an international community of Rush freaks to Henderson’s Toronto brewery on Saturday, August 8th; Jeff tells Steve that he’s his personal hero for combining the two things he loves the most - Rush and beer; and Steve tells us about the roots of the partnership with Alex and Geddy that led to the creation of Rush beer. For the next hour, let time stand still! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 23 · 1 hr 26 min
A Garden to Nurture and Protect…
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 Neil once wrote, our differences make us interesting to each other, and “The spaces in between leave room for you and I to grow.” We look forward to you sharing your own ‘best of’ lists with us! ~~~ Follow us on Socials Instagram: / whyrushmatters Facebook: / whymusicmatterspodcast Title and Outro music by Jeff Miers Why Rush Matters is part of the Pantheon Media Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 9 · 1 hr 12 min
The Echoes of Old Applause…
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 choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 25 · 1 hr 3 min
The Road Unwinds Before Me
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 of our shared journey. The road unwinds before us… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 11 · 1 hr 6 min
The Underlying Theme
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, is my friend and collaborator Ray Wawrzyniak, educator, collector, historian, and one of the most passionate Rush scholars on the planet. Ray and I met through our shared love of this band, and the kinship was immediate. If you've ever encountered Rush liner notes, tour books, or the documentary record of the band's history, there's a real chance you've already encountered Ray's work without knowing it. So: why does Rush matter? That's the question we set out to answer in Episode 1, and it turns out, for Ray and me, the answer runs pretty deep. We talk about our origin stories with the band, the albums that hit us hardest, and what it means, decades later, to still feel the music the way we did the first time. We also dig into the recent deluxe reissue of Grace Under Pressure, and we discuss Rush's landmark performance at the Juno Awards, the first public appearance of the new lineup featuring drummer Annika Niles, which left both of us, frankly, a little undone. It's Episode 1. We're just getting started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 8 · 4 min
Welcome to Why Rush Matters
A smart, passionate Rush podcast exploring why Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, the band’s music, lyrics, legacy, and 2026 return to the stage still matter to generations of rock fans.

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