Anika Nilles has a particular Rush song she'd love to bring back to the band's set list — one that hasn't been performed live in more than 40 years.
The drummer, who joined Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson for their Fifty Something reunion tour earlier this summer, has already developed a wish list of material she'd like to tackle with the Canadian rock legends. One track in particular stands out: “Kid Gloves,” from the band's 1984 album Grace Under Pressure.
“I told Geddy, if I can ever have a wish list song, can we do that one? And he was like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting,’” she tells USA Today. “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.”
It's a deep cut with a long history in Rush's live repertoire. “Kid Gloves” featured regularly in the band's concerts during the 1984 tour supporting Grace Under Pressure, but hasn't appeared in a set since. According to Setlist.fm, its last outing came during the first of two Honolulu shows in November of that year, where it was played between “Closer to the Heart” and “YYZ.”
Nilles has had some formidable expectations to contend with since taking over the drum stool once occupied by the late Neil Peart, who died in 2020 following a private battle with cancer. But she's made a strong impression on Rush fans, earning praise for her musicianship as well as the humor she's brought to the reunion. She's also spoken warmly about the support she's received from Lee and Lifeson as she's found her footing in the band.
That relationship will enter a new phase next year when Rush brings its Elevate From the Norm residency to the Sphere in Las Vegas, beginning May 21, 2027. Nilles has been to the city only once before, so the prospect of performing at the cutting-edge venue — and getting to explore Las Vegas — is especially appealing.
“Everything is new for me there,” she says. “I saw video of No Doubt and Metallica and U2 and that was great.”
For Lee, the residency is an opportunity he once thought Rush had missed. When the band announced the shows, he reflected on how perfectly the venue's visual capabilities would complement the elaborate production Rush has built its live shows around.
“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,'" he said in a press release. "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."
The first round of presales for Rush's Las Vegas residency begins today, November 6, with additional presales scheduled for next week. Tickets go on sale to the general public November 13. More information is available at the band's official website.
