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Rush at Fifty-something

November 1, 2026

gem art, film, music, photography alex lifeson, anika nilles, Capital One Arena, closer to the heart, concert, dreamline, geddy lee, grace under pressure, la villa stragiato, limelight, live music, moving pictures, neil peart, red barcetta, red sector a, roll the bones, rush, spirit of the radio, the camera eye, tom sawyer, vital signs, washington dc, witch hunt, xanadu, yyz 1 Comment

Well hell, we’re 60! That means we were very young indeed when Rush started out in the ’70s. (I saw my first Rush show 45 years ago in 1981 at the Johnson City Civic Center at the ripe old age of 15—during the Exit Stage Left/Moving Pictures tour. I have only seen them one other time in Indianapolis in 1992—during the Roll the Bones tour.)

For my 60th birthday (which happened way back in February), Romey got us tickets to see Rush perform again. They were unbelievably good. But don’t believe me, have a listen to the videos shot using a pixel 8 posted below. And make sure you scroll down to the part where they play EVERY DAMN SONG ON MOVING PICTURES.

How good were they? I mean this face says it all.

Watching Geddy Lee bounce around on stage is an inspiration. Focused talent honed razor sharp.

The show opened with an extended Xanadu run

As you can tell, Anika Nilles fits into the sound perfectly…doing her own thing while respecting the world class drumming of Neil Peart. And the band is clearly having a great time.

Dreamline (from Roll the Bones). “like learning we are only immortal, for a limited time”

Cleanup on aisle 7. The crowd was not at all unruly (unlike, say, the Tennessee metal heads in 1981). They were as orderly as they were elderly.

Red Sector A (from Grace Under Pressure),

An extended version of La Villa Strangiato from Hemispheres

Set one (?!) ended with another song from 1980 Spirit of the Radio. I mean, this would have been a complete show all by itself. These guys are monsters!

I guess the real monsters are the old rich white guys who love Rush but still vote Republican. Idiots gonna idiot. There were many a bald head in sight. Maybe they are old rich liberals like me? Lets hope so.

After a short intermission (with a timer running on stage), the second half started with a complete run of Moving Pictures. Holy shit. Like a time machine to 15.

Tom Sawyer

Red Barchetta

YYZ

Limelight

The Camera Eye

Witch Hunt

Vital Signs “everybody got to deviate from the norm”

I mean, every frigging song on Moving Pictures as part of a set?! Bliss for the audience.

Though my phone battery was toast, I did manage to record Closer to the Heart, a song close to my heart.

It was extraordinary. The battery recharge will last me through the next Rush show, slated for 2071. Best birthday present ever.

A Visit Inspired by Bowie: Shōden-ji

October 30, 2026

gem art, garden, nature, travel japan, kyoto, peace, Shōden-ji, temple, zen 2 Comments

Up in the hills about 20 minutes north of Kyoto, you find a temple shrouded in tranquility.

David Bowie loved this place. It is a respite from Kyoto crowds for sure.

Lil harmless snake with a hilarious name. Hibakari means (only one day…to live) — a bad ass name for a completely harmless snail eater.

And then it was back down into the maelstrom.

The Temple of Issey Miyake: Kyoto

October 30, 2026

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Of course you know who Issey Myake is. We visited the original home base. Romey had fun trying on many dresses, giving up, restarting, and ultimately acquiring some gorgeous art pieces.

Now properly draped in famous pleats, Romey has decided to become a tik-tok influencer.

Did you hear how IN soy matcha late is, ladies?

Kyoto: 1000 Buddhas at Sanjūsangen-dō

October 30, 2026

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No pictures are allowed inside this very old temple, which is too bad…because the 1000 Buddhas are incredible.

We cabbed over “Lets go!” and expected rain…which never came. The cab waited for us to emerge…a good call.

Lots of India here, including vishnu of the many arm symbols. A very deep tie.

This tree lives way too close to the temple.

Well worth a visit on a steamy day threatening rain…but not delivering.

Naoshima: Sunset Ferry

October 29, 2026

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Naoshima goodbye.

The red pumpkin wore the first yellow light of sunset as the ferry pulled away from port. And we were off. Sunset over the inland sea was amazing.

Watch the sunset and the sunrise at the same time.

Finally the sun disappears below the horizon.

And the red turns up high over the Seto bridge.

Moonrise

And our day of art was complete.

<– PREVIOUS (red pumpkin)

Naoshima: The Red Pumpkin

October 29, 2026

gem art, travel, wedding art, ferry, honeymoon, japan, naoshima, red pumpkin, romey, yayoi, yayoi kusama 4 Comments

After the yellow pumpkin, we were slated to see Minamidera so we headed back into “town” and had some espresso and ice cream. Minamidera was cool, but not as profound as it could have been if you had not spent some time in actually pitch black caves as a boy like I did. Yeah yeah, pupils are amazing.

After Minamidera we headed back to the port to see the red pumpkin, have a cocktail, and wait for the ferry.

You can go in the red pumpkin.

Our last view of Naoshima included the red pumpkin.

<– PREVIOUS (yellow pumpkin) — NEXT (sunset ferry) –>

Naoshima: The Yellow Pumpkin

October 29, 2026

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The yellow pumpkin.

Honeymoon kiss.

We had some fun at the yellow pumpkin.

Yoshi got involved.

And yes, it was crazy.

<– PREVIOUS (chichu) — NEXT (red pumpkin) –>

Naoshima Chichu

October 29, 2026

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One of the main targets of everyone visiting Naoshima is the Chichu house, an impressive brutalist architectural monster housing a handful of art. Pictures are not allowed…which honestly is very shortsighted. But there you are. Make the trip.

Four artists, less than twenty works. But displayed with deep thought and verve.

The Monet room is particularly striking.

But my favorite is the James Turrel piece open sky. Echoes of Magritte and Escher are particularly striking, because you are inside them.

Timed entry does little to abate the crowded nature of the space. Avoid the crowds by doing things in your own order. We had some rooms almost entirely to ourselves by going around in circles. We met some fun people in the long lines.

Lunch at the cafe is a must. Go early to get a seat by the big windows.

If you look closely, you can see Romey through the window here on the left. Hi Romey!

Two hours is plenty for a detailed visit and lunch.

And then you are back on the road/garden walk to the parking lot. The gardens are hyped up as a Monet masterpiece. Mmmm hmm. Monet probably did not do roads. But there is tranquility to be found despite the very real crowds.

<– PREVIOUS (go’o shrine) — NEXT (yellow pumpkin) –>

Naoshima by Taxi

October 28, 2026

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Lets say you find out that there are only 3 or 4 taxis on Naoshima, and the bus system is helpful but too complicated for perfect timing, and you are too lazy to pedal a bike uphill. What do you do? You work with the super creative staff at Hanajukai to charter a taxi on the mainland and take it across on the ferry. A Japanese-speaking chaufer for the win.

We met our driver, Tadyoshi, at 7:20 on the dot, starting out quiet and formal on our ride to the ferry terminal. Yoshi procured the tickets while I figured out how to make a matcha machine with over 300 buttons do something delicious. (Close, but no cigar.)

We were soon on the water.

And after a brief coffee stop at Mikazukishoten—one where the taxi just parked and waited for us to fuel up—we headed to Go’o shrine just outside of town. When we finished our wanderings, there was our ride!

Next up was Chichu, where we pondered high architecture and its reflection in art. Or was it the other way around? Who knows. We had an early lunch before the line formed.

Look through the window up to the left…

And then it was back in our taxi for a skippable visit to Lee Ufon. Yeah, no.

The Yellow Yayoi pumpkin visit was particularly fun. By this time, Yoshi had become a friend.

We decided to have some coffee before our visit to Minamidera and asked Yoshi to join us.

On the way back to get the battery pack. Yoshi discovered a ringo kakigori stand setting up for the evening’s Fall festival. This was something we had to try.