Alex Lifeson's Envy of None project with Andy Curran, guitarist Alfio Annibalini and vocalist Maiah Wynne released their self-titled, debut album last April, and it's currently available for purchase and streaming worldwide via several different online retailers and services, including Amazon and the official Envy of None merch store. A few weeks ago the band officially released their new EP That Was Then, This Is Now via Kscope Records. The EP includes one newly-recorded track titled That Was Then (official, animated music video here), remixes of Dumkoptf and Dog's Life, Lethe River, and You'll Be Sorry, which was previously released as part of the deluxe edition of their 2022 self-titled debut. Andy Curran was recently interviewed for Ever Metal and spoke at length about the EP and the Envy of None project. Ever Metal also posted this 9 out of 10 review of the EP:

... Then we arrive at the new track, 'That Was Then'. It's got a dance beat that pulses underneath, and yet there is more of a contemporary feel, with the backing vocals further forward in the mix and the guitar turned up a few notches. We also finally get an understated guitar solo, which has a Gilmour feel to it, as the song builds to a crescendo. It's a dexterous, fluid, organic and progressive song that enhances everything so very exciting about EON. ...

The EP is available digitally and on vinyl, and can be ordered via the Envy of None website and other online retailers. The vinyl edition can also be ordered via Amazon here.

The Firehouse Bar and Grill in Calgary along with the Peart Family Memorial Fund is hosting a tribute show and fundraiser this coming Sunday where teen musicians from the School of Rock Douglasdale House Band will take the stage to pay tribute to Neil Peart and the music of Rush. The show will feature a fundraising auction for the Fund's Legacy in Bronze project that is raising money to construct a statue of Peart in his family's hometown of St. Catherines. They'll also be raising dollars for cancer research as Peart's sisters explain in this Global News story:

... Neil Peart's sisters have come from Ontario to meet fans at the Firehouse on Sunday and they're also raising money for another effort that's close to their hearts. "Cancer support for patients," Nancy Peart Burkholder told Global News. "We have friends who are working three jobs, who have cancer, who can't afford medication." Peart's sisters see their fund's work as an important part of carrying on their brother's legacy. "Neil was very big in giving to charity," said Judy Peart Howe, "and we want to give now in his honour and his name." ...

Old school grunge rocker Tad Doyle (TAD) recently spoke with SPIN magazine about the 5 albums he can't live without, one of which is Rush's All the World's a Stage:

ATWAS is another vinyl record that I wore out from playing so many times. I have always been a fan of their music. What really makes it for me is the cross section of the songs that are on this live record. For me, 2112 was another instant classic. Drums were my second instrument so I was instantly a fan of Neil Peart's playing. Another highlight for me was when Alex Lifeson showed up at a gig that my band TAD was playing opening for Primus.

101.5 WPDH's Tigman posted an article this past week where he reminisces about attending Rush's June 23, 2013 show at Jones Beach 10 years ago. You can read the article online here.

Classic Rock magazine posted an article this past week highlighting 18 times a classic rock song was almost ruined by TV advertising. One of the commercials they mention is this 2012 Volkswagon commercial that featured Rush's Fly By Night:

There's a lovely moment in this advert where our hero (a besuited gentleman miming along to Neil Peart while stranded at traffic lights in an award-winning VW Passat), flips and catches an imaginary drum sticks. But then, oh no! He's spotted and ridiculed by a passer-by. Strangely, the voiceover suggests this could be have been avoided if he'd been driving a different car. It's not a terribly effective advert.

In this week's episode of Rush Roundtable (#188) on the Rushfans YouTube channel, the panel discusses their biggest regrets as Rush fans:

That's all for this week. Happy Canada Day to my Canadian readers, and Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend everyone!!