This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend one of the Rush Fifty Something tour shows here in Chicago. As a fan of classic rock, I’ve been to a lot of these reunion tours. They give me the chance to relive concerts from when I was younger. In other cases, they let me see a band I love but never caught back in the day.
Too often, these tours are tough to watch. That’s not because the artists have gotten older. Instead, it’s because it’s clear they don’t really want to be there. The audience still gets to hear the songs they love. However, what little interaction there is between members feels forced. As a result, you quickly sense they are just there for the money.
A Show That Turned Back the Clock
This particular show, however, was nothing of the sort. Both Alex Lifeson and, especially, Geddy Lee looked like they were truly having fun on stage. They turned back the clock, jumping around, smiling, and reminding everyone what great performers they are. In addition, I’m happy to join the legions of fans impressed by Anika Nilles. She does a great job stepping in for the band’s legendary drummer, Neil Peart.
The Tribute That Stayed With Me
Speaking of which, the band paid tribute to Peart twice during the show. I want to talk about one of those moments. Consider this a bit of a spoiler. It isn’t a huge giveaway. Still, if you’re heading to an upcoming date, fair warning — I’m sharing a bit of the show.
With that out of the way, the band showed a video that resonated with me. It was a clip of an interview where Peart talked about his drumming. As I listened, it struck me how similar his thoughts on his art were to what great radio hosts do. In fact, the best hosts use those same ideas to make their shows successful.
Here’s what he said:
My music, my drumming, is very much a reflection of my character, the way I am. I like to be well-planned, but at the same time I like to be spontaneous. Don’t leave spontaneity to chance.
I like to be organized, but at the same time I’m restless, for change, for movement, for learning, for traveling. That’s my essential contradiction; that’s my yin and yang.
My ideal of life is not a well-ordered environment, not a quiet room with everything in its place, but rather my dream is to have a well-packed suitcase and to be on my way somewhere interesting.
In drumming, as in life, it’s the same. You want to have a well-packed suitcase or a well-stocked toolbox and then set off on a journey to somewhere strange and beautiful.
Breaking Down What Peart Said
Let’s break that down:
He likes to be well-planned but also spontaneous. This is an important lesson that the best hosts take to heart. Their shows are well-planned, which in turn creates room for spontaneity. Too many hosts think planning kills spontaneity. In reality, the opposite is true.
Despite being organized, his ideal life is not a well-ordered environment. An organized approach to your show matters. However, reading liner cards or reciting facts is boring. That’s the equivalent of a well-ordered environment, and no one wants to listen to that.
He wants a well-packed suitcase or a well-stocked toolbox. That way, he’s ready to head off on a journey someplace strange and beautiful. That’s the equivalent of a show that is well thought out. Such a show has benchmarks and other standards that help listeners engage. All of which, in turn, allows the host to take the audience on a journey to strange and beautiful places.
The Contradiction at the Heart of It
The theme throughout his commentary is that inherent contradiction. Peart is organized and prepared with the right tools. Because of that, he’s free to confidently explore unique and exotic places with his drumming. Likewise, a great radio host does the same with their show. It will have a rhythm that’s easy for the listener to follow. At the same time, it will take the audience places they never expected to go.
That’s the true spirit of radio.
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Mike Stern is a Classic Rock columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. He has been with Jacobs Media consulting stations in the Classic Rock, Rock, Alternative and AAA world for more than a decade. Prior to that he programmed stations in Chicago, Detroit, Denver Las Vegas and other markets. He also worked as News/Talk Editor for Radio and Records, wrote about Top 40 Radio for Billboard Magazine and had his own radio talent coaching business called Talent Mechanic.