Rush Stuns Kia Forum Crowd with First Full Performance of “2112”
Rush delivered another unforgettable night at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on June 9 as the band continued their highly anticipated Fifty Something Tour with a setlist packed with surprises. Just two days after opening the tour to overwhelming acclaim, the legendary group returned to the stage determined to make the second show a completely different experience for longtime fans.
Led by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson alongside touring drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, the performance showcased the band’s commitment to celebrating every corner of their catalog rather than relying on a fixed routine. The sold-out crowd quickly realized they were witnessing something unique.
Before the tour began, Lee had made it clear that variety would be a major part of the experience. Speaking about the band’s plans, he explained: “We plan on changing the set every night. There will be a large percentage of songs that we will switch between nights.
“So if you come to say four shows in Toronto, you’re going to hear four different sets. That’s going to include a lot of songs, obviously. They are obviously the big favourites that you sort of have to have in the set list every night. But we really want to keep the set fresh.”
Tuesday’s concert proved that those comments were far more than a promise. While the evening began with familiar opening selections, Rush soon started unveiling songs that had not appeared during the opening night performance.
The show once again launched with the atmospheric grandeur of “Xanadu,” followed by the fan-favorite energy of “The Spirit of Radio.” The opening combination immediately brought the arena to life and established the adventurous tone that would define the rest of the evening.
One of the first major surprises arrived when Rush introduced “The Analog Kid” into the tour for the first time. The beloved track from 1982’s Signals album received a warm reception from fans who had hoped the band would dig deeper into its extensive catalog.
Additional changes continued throughout the night. Instrumental favorite “Leave That Thing Alone” made its first appearance of the tour, while “Headlong Flight” brought a modern burst of energy to the set and reminded listeners of the strength of the band’s later-era material.
Veteran Rush followers were especially thrilled when “The Trees” returned to the stage. The classic song from Hemispheres had not been performed live since 2008, making its reappearance one of the evening’s most celebrated moments.
As the performance progressed, anticipation continued to build throughout the venue. Fans sensed that more surprises were still waiting, and the second half of the concert ultimately delivered one of the most remarkable moments of the entire tour.
During the second set, Rush stunned the audience by performing their legendary 1976 composition “2112” in its entirety. The ambitious work, divided into seven interconnected sections, remains one of the most important pieces in progressive rock history.
The complete performance marked the first time in nearly three decades that Rush had presented all seven parts of “2112” together in concert. For many fans inside the Kia Forum, it was the kind of moment they never expected to witness again.
Each section flowed seamlessly into the next as Lee, Lifeson, Nilles, and Gold recreated the epic journey that helped establish Rush as one of progressive rock’s defining forces. The audience responded with thunderous applause throughout the performance.
Anika Nilles continued to impress in her role behind the drum kit, confidently navigating the demanding arrangements while adding her own energy to the material. Her performance throughout the evening drew repeated cheers from the crowd.
By the end of the night, Rush had successfully demonstrated exactly what they promised before the tour began. Rather than presenting the same show repeatedly, they transformed the second Kia Forum performance into a distinct event filled with deep cuts, long-awaited returns, and a historic full rendition of “2112” that instantly became one of the Fifty Something Tour’s defining highlights.
Rush’s setlist at Los Angeles Kia Forum on Tuesday 9th June 2026:
Set 1:
Xanadu
The Spirit Of Radio
The Analog Kid
Freewill
Subdivisions
Bravado
Leave That Thing Alone
The Trees
Headlong Flight
Limelight
Set 2:
2112 Part I: Overture
2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx
2112 Part III: Discovery
2112 Part IV: Presentation
2112 Part V: Oracle: The Dream
2112 Part VI: Soliloquy
2112 Part VII: Grand Finale
Animate
Closer To The Heart
A Passage To Bangkok
Time Stand Still
YYZ
Anthem
Red Barchetta
Witch Hunt
Tom Sawyer
Encore:
Finding My Way
Working Man
