Anika Nilles discussed Rush’s upcoming residency at the Sphere venue, calling it an ideal setting for the band’s visual design approach, in an interview with USA Today.
Nilles spoke about how the Sphere venue aligns with Rush’s long-standing approach to show design and what the opportunity means to the band’s creative team.
“I told Geddy, if I can ever have a wish list song, can we do that one (‘Kid Gloves’)? And he was like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ I play it a little bit in the dressing room just for fun. I love the grooves, the buildup and everything. I love the harmonies and the vibe,” Nilles said.
“Everything is new for me there. I saw video of No Doubt and Metallica and U2 and that was great. When I first heard of Sphere, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, what a shame that Rush is no longer touring, because this venue sounds tailor made for the kind of visual attitude with which we have always designed our shows.'”
“Normally we spend months designing the visual effects for our shows and this scenario seemed like the cherry on top of the ice cream for our design team. But life is nothing if not surprising and now, here we are, living and touring in the present tense and we are able to make that particular dream come true.”
Nilles’ comments were made as Rush prepares to perform at the Sphere venue. The remarks show how significant this opportunity is for the band’s visual approach to live performance.
Nilles was brought in as Rush’s drummer for the band’s first shows in 11 years, following the death of legendary drummer Neil Peart in 2020. She joins Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson along with keyboardist Loren Gold for the Fifty Something tour. The residency will take place on May 21, 23, 26, 28, and 30 in 2027, with each night featuring fan favorites and greatest hits from Rush’s catalog in celebration of the band’s legacy and Peart’s memory.
The Sphere, which opened on September 29, 2023, has hosted several major residencies since then, including performances by U2, Kenny Chesney, the Eagles, Dead & Company, Phish, the Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, and Metallica. The venue features an immersive LED display that wraps around the audience and an advanced audio system designed to create a complete sensory experience for concertgoers.
“Kid Gloves,” the song Nilles mentioned in her interview, comes from Rush’s 1984 album Grace Under Pressure. The track was featured during the Grace Under Pressure tour but has not been heavily spotlighted in recent years. The band’s Sphere shows will include performances of complete albums alongside other songs from their extensive catalog.
