What an adventure! We just returned from St. Petersburg, FL, where we rocked a mini-RushFest at Cage Brewing with Ultimate Rush Experience. The whole trip was a blast.
On Black Friday, we piled into a rented SUV and departed for the Sunshine State. Reese went down separately for practice, so we were eager to be reunited with him.
The road trip was delightful. Ed drove while we talked, listened to music, and stopped for road food at Buc-ee’s. That place is a madhouse! We bought a bunch of souvenirs and munched on chips and candied pecans.
When we reached the Florida state line, we jumped out to celebrate. We took pictures and reveled in the fact that we’d made it, after all the effort it takes to do shows out of town.
As we cruised into Orlando, we blasted Rush’s “Caravan” because it had the perfect message: “I can’t stop thinking big!” We arrived tired but exhilarated. After a joyful reunion with Reese, we all went out for dinner, where what looked like malt vinegar for our fries turned out to be maple syrup. Doh! Strangely enough, syrup fries tasted pretty good.
Finally, we headed to bed, but not for long. Around 3:30 a.m., the fire alarm went off. We stumbled out of bed and evacuated the hotel. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. Bleary-eyed, we drifted back to our rooms and fell asleep.
The next day was our official 12th anniversary as a band! I was so excited to be in Florida, despite the rude awakening the night before. We checked out at noon and hit the road for St. Pete, about a two-hour drive away. When we arrived at Cage Brewing, I loved the vibe right away. Great stage, big lawn, good energy.
As the evening progressed, we noticed “Reserved” signs popping up on every table. Then fans started rolling in, Rush shirts everywhere. Soundcheck went great, and we were ready.
The crowd kept growing. I changed, did my makeup, warmed up my voice. By 8:05, the lawn was full from front to back. It was time.
We took the stage and looked at each other. Let’s go! Reese launched the intro to A Passage to Bangkok, and we were off. I sang my heart out. The crowd roared at the end. They liked us! So we rolled on with Natural Science, 2112, Closer to the Heart, Animate, Freewill, and more. We even played Anthem, the very first song we ever performed together. What a way to celebrate!
Our final song was Working Man, and when the last notes rang out, the crowd was on their feet. The energy was electric.
After the show, I wandered through the crowd talking to folks. Everyone was so kind, and it was a thrill to see our most ardent fan, Dave Jordan, who drove down from Atlanta just to see us. We were honored. So many people came up and said, “Look at this smile. You made me happy.” Who could ask for more?
After the break, Greg from Ultimate Bands joined Reese and Casey onstage for the second set. I had a blast being in the audience. Then Greg called Ed and me back up for Tom Sawyer. It was so much fun to play all together! Fans shouted, “We love you!” and “You’re killing it!” We closed with Limelight, and the place went wild. What a night. I could hardly process my feelings, but I declare the whole thing a huge success.
The next day we enjoyed a little beach time, then hit the road for Atlanta. When I got home, everything felt surreal. I was grateful to be in my own bed, but my mind kept replaying the weekend. I can’t wait to do it again.
Thank you, St. Pete!!! See you down the road.