This week, Chaz and Schatz sit down with Chris Smith — drummer, sound engineer, lighting guru, and one of the unsung heroes of the Northern Colorado music scene. Known as “The Fader Monkey” for his wizardry behind the board, Chris has worked with the area’s best tribute acts, including Rush Archives, El Loco Fandango (ZZ Top), Smokin’ (Boston), and Project Foreigner. He’s the guy who helps make everyone sound like pros and not like they're playing through a wet bag of Doritos.

Chris takes us through his Rush origin story, the evolution of his career, and what keeps the spirit of the band alive across countless stages — from Red Rocks to local clubs that refuse to die quietly.

In This Episode:

🎧 How Closer to the Heart on a job site boombox started a lifelong Rush addiction.

🥁 The moment Tom Sawyer made him pick up drumsticks and never put them down.

🎚️ What it takes to run sound and lights for six tribute bands — and still have hearing left.

🏔️ The thriving Northern Colorado tribute scene: Rush Archives, ZZ Top, Boston, Foreigner, and more.

🎤 Favorite Rush live memories from the R30 and R40 tours at Red Rocks and Pepsi Center.

⚙️ Gear talk: his PDP maple kit, lighting rigs, and how local venues leveled up their production game.

It’s a deep cut of a conversation — part love letter to the local music community, part salute to the Professor, and 100% Rush fandom turned up to eleven. Grab a drink, spin the wheel, and roll those bones with us!

The wheel gives us Face Up off 1991'2 Roll The Bones. A deep cut that makes the guys wax nostalgic for the entire album, but is it Living in the Limelight? Tune in to find out!

SCHATZ'S SCRATCH LIST - RUSH TRIBUTE BANDS

Scratch your itch to hear RUSH music played live by going to check out any of these great RUSH Tribute Bands - these bands are keeping the community and the music alive - the most current, curated, and rockin' list of RUSH Tribute Bands in the world! Yeah!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here: ⁠Schatz's Scratch List⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠(And say it 5 times fast!)

GO BONELESS

Certified boneless in the state of Ohio by the Boneless Podcasting Network. Go Boneless. Boneless Makes a Better Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.