JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fans of Rush will have a chance to relive the band’s iconic sound when The Rush Tribute Project takes the stage at the Florida Theatre this week.
The three-piece group, known for recreating more than four decades of Rush’s music, will perform the band’s landmark album Moving Pictures in its entirety, along with a selection of fan favorites.
Recommended Videos
The Rush Tribute Project has spent more than a decade honing its sound, combining detailed musicianship with a full-scale production that includes lighting, video and effects designed to mirror a live Rush concert.
“We put on a three-hour show every night with lasers, videos, perfect sound,” said drummer and percussionist Thomas Slawnik. “Everybody seems to really enjoy it, and it comes from our hearts because we love the music of Rush.”
Recreating the band’s signature sound and stage presence takes extensive preparation. Slawnik said the group relies on constant rehearsal and personal dedication to match the precision Rush is known for.
“We also have a very big production show,” he said. “Small group of people, we have eight people in total, and that includes the three band members, but what we can squeeze out of everybody is pretty phenomenal and it looks like a real Rush show.”
Released in 1981, Moving Pictures remains one of the band’s most celebrated albums, featuring several of its biggest hits and continuing to receive regular radio play more than four decades later. Slawnik said its lasting popularity makes it a centerpiece of their performances.
For first-time attendees, he says the experience goes beyond the music.
“I think they’re going to be very impressed by the stage,” Slawnik said. “We have lighting and I think that’s what is going to impress a lot of people that have we’re seeing a Rush tribute show.”
The upcoming Jacksonville performance also marks a milestone for the band, which is making its first appearance in the city as part of a broader tour through Florida.
“We’ve been trying to get to Florida for the longest time and was never able to pull it off” Slawnik said. “This year we made it a point to visit not only Jacksonville but several other cities in Florida. And it’s it’s going to be our first time so we don’t go to expect. But hopefully, pull in a lot of people and they enjoy the show.”
For fans looking to experience the next best thing to a live Rush concert, Slawnik says this performance is not one to miss.