Test for Echo Tour
Tour by Rush | |
Location | North America |
---|---|
Associated album | Test for Echo |
Start date | October 19, 1996 |
End date | July 4, 1997 |
Legs | 2 |
No. of shows | 68 |
Rush concert chronology | |
|
The Test for Echo Tour was a concert tour by Canadian rock band Rush in support of their sixteenth studio album Test for Echo.
Background
It was the band's first tour with no opening act, and was billed as "An Evening With Rush".[1] The tour kicked off on October 19, 1996, at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, New York and culminated on July 4, 1997, at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.[2] This was the only concert tour in which Rush played the song "2112" in its entirety.[3] During the tour, the band had included live camera footage, video, lasers and strobes as part of their sets.[4] This marked the last tour until 2002 because of tragedies in Neil Peart's life.[5] Recordings from the tour were released on the 1998 live album Different Stages.[6]
Reception
On the opening night of the tour in Albany's Knickerbocker Arena, Michael Lisi from The Sunday Gazette wrote that the band had shown that practice makes perfect, when the band performed with a visual and aural attack which kept the audience on its feet and screaming the whole show, with other fans waving their hands during the performance of "2112" in its entirety, noting on the words of a fan after the band left the stage that it was "unbelievable". Lisi continued on the mix of old and new songs which he stated was superb, noting the new songs as "right on the mark". He stated that the band were able to breathe life into "Closer to the Heart" which was noted as a "powerful read". Commenting on the band, Lisi stated that they looked like they were having a blast, were right on the money when commenting positively on Lee's vocals being in perfect form, and that they sounded better than ever.[7]
Reviewing the Civic Arena performance in Pittsburgh on November 3, 1996, Kathy Sabol from the Observer-Reporter, stated that she had enjoyed the concert, noting on the melodic songs along the video backdrop in which she appreciated drummer Neil Peart's statements on greed, ambition, death and despair. Regarding the change in the band's sound, she said that it was no accident that it came from Rush's efforts in the last five years when the band evolved to a richer, clarified sound of its own. Other than taking note on how "2112" performed in its entirety is a big deal, she stated that the sampling, and multi-layering of the guitar and drum work is a credit to the band's history with how they manage.[3]
The Deseret News's Scott Iwasald, reviewing the May 20, 1997 show at Salt Lake City's Delta Center, mentioned that the band did not need elaborate stage props, stage sets or costumes unlike modern bands those days, in which the music spoke for itself. He wrote that the band were as hot as ever, playing well, tight and looked like they were having fun on stage - working together to put on a terrific live show. He noted when the video backdrop was not working during the first half of the evening, but said the band did not need it, as he stated before that the music spoke for itself. Regarding the audience, he wrote that the instrumental "Limbo" and the power chorus of "Force Ten" brought them to their feet, later concluding that the band held them in their palm, and when the show ended, none of the audience were disappointed.[8]
Set list
This is an example set list adapted from Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History of what were performed during the tour, but may not represent the majority of the shows.[9]
Set 1
- "Dreamline"
- "Limelight"
- "Stick It Out"
- "The Big Money" (with "Wipeout" outro)
- "Driven"
- "Half the World"
- "Red Barchetta"
- "Animate"
- "Limbo"
- "The Trees"
- "Red Sector A"
- "Virtuality"
- "Nobody's Hero"
- "Closer to the Heart"
- "2112" (all chapters)
Set 2
- "Test for Echo"
- "Subdivisions"
- "Freewill"
- "Roll the Bones"
- "Resist"
- "Leave That Thing Alone"
- "The Rhythm Method" (drum solo)
- "Natural Science"
- "Force Ten"
- "Time and Motion"
- "The Spirit of Radio"
- "Tom Sawyer"
- Encore
- "YYZ"
- "Cygnus X-1" (teaser)
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
October 19, 1996 | Albany | United States | Knickerbocker Arena |
October 20, 1996 | Buffalo | Marine Midland Arena | |
October 22, 1996 | Fairborn | Nutter Center | |
October 23, 1996 | Grand Rapids | Van Andel Arena | |
October 25, 1996 | Auburn Hills | The Palace of Auburn Hills | |
October 26, 1996 | Rockford | Rockford MetroCentre | |
October 28, 1996 | Chicago | United Center | |
October 29, 1996 | Minneapolis | Target Center | |
October 31, 1996 | St. Louis | Kiel Center | |
November 1, 1996 | Milwaukee | Bradley Center | |
November 3, 1996 | Pittsburgh | Civic Arena | |
November 4, 1996 | Cleveland | Gund Arena | |
November 6, 1996 | Philadelphia | CoreStates Center | |
November 7, 1996 | Landover | USAir Arena | |
November 9, 1996 | Boston | FleetCenter | |
November 10, 1996 | Hartford | Hartford Civic Center | |
November 20, 1996 | San Jose | San Jose Arena | |
November 21, 1996 | Sacramento | ARCO Arena | |
November 23, 1996 | San Diego | San Diego Sports Arena | |
November 24, 1996 | Paradise | Thomas & Mack Center | |
November 26, 1996 | Inglewood | Great Western Forum | |
November 27, 1996 | |||
November 29, 1996 | Phoenix | America West Arena | |
November 30, 1996 | El Paso | Special Events Center | |
December 2, 1996 | San Antonio | Alamodome | |
December 3, 1996 | Dallas | Reunion Arena | |
December 5, 1996 | Houston | The Summit | |
December 6, 1996 | New Orleans | UNO Lakefront Arena | |
December 8, 1996 | West Palm Beach | Coral Sky Amphitheater | |
December 9, 1996 | Tampa | Ice Palace | |
December 11, 1996 | Atlanta | The Omni | |
December 12, 1996 | Charlotte | Charlotte Coliseum | |
December 14, 1996 | Uniondale | Nassau Coliseum | |
December 15, 1996 | East Rutherford | Continental Airlines Arena | |
December 18, 1996 | Toronto | Canada | Phoenix Concert Theatre |
Box office score data
Date | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 25, 1996 | Auburn Hills, United States | Palace | 15,197 / 15,197 | $467,308 | [12] |
November 6, 1996 | Philadelphia, United States | CoreStates Center | 14,759 / 15,147 | $444,805 | [13] |
November 10, 1996 | Hartford, United States | Civic Center | 9,642 / 10,500 | $276,260 | [14] |
November 26–27, 1996 | Inglewood, United States | Great Western Forum | 19,319 / 25,000 | $596,855 | [15] |
November 29, 1996 | Phoenix, United States | America West Arena | 10,858 / 12,000 | $320,540 | |
May 8, 1997 | Phoenix, United States | Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion | 9,856 / 20,144 | $267,785 | [16] |
May 25, 1997 | The Woodlands, United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | 13,024 / 13,024 | $382,245 | [17] |
June 17, 1997 | Clarkston, United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | 13,409 / 14,500 | $348,743 | [18] |
Personnel
- Geddy Lee – vocals, bass, keyboards
- Alex Lifeson – guitar, backing vocals
- Neil Peart – drums
References
Citations
- ^ Popoff 2021.
- ^ Popoff 2004, p. 181.
- ^ a b Sabol, Kathy (November 5, 1996). "Civic Arena echoes with Rush's rock". Observer-Reporter. p. B4. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ Popoff 2004, p. 183.
- ^ Peart 2002.
- ^ Bowman 2014, p. 129.
- ^ Lisi, Michael (October 20, 1996). "Rush delivers splendid Knick show with old, new songs - plus visuals". The Sunday Gazette. p. B8. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ Iwasald, Scott (May 21, 1997). "Band holds audience in its palm and gives it a Rush". No. 341. Salt Lake City: The Deseret News. p. C7. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ Daly & Hansen 2019, p. 336.
- ^ a b Daly & Hansen 2019, pp. 336–345.
- ^ a b "Test for Echo Tour". Rush.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 46. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 16, 1996. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 23, 1996. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 49. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 7, 1996. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 50. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 14, 1996. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 24 May 1997. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 14, 1997. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 27. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 5, 1997. p. 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Sources
- Peart, Neil (2002). Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-546-4.
- Popoff, Martin (2004). Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away. Oxford: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-678-2.
- Bowman, Durrell (2014). Experiencing Rush: A Listener's Companion. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-3131-3.
- Daly, Skip; Hansen, Eric (2019). Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History. Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1-68383-450-2.
- Popoff, Martin (2021). Driven: Rush in the '90s and "In the End". Toronto, Canada: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-77041-537-9.
- v
- t
- e
- Jeff Jones
- Alex Lifeson
- John Rutsey
- Geddy Lee
- Neil Peart
- Rush (1974)
- Fly by Night (1975)
- Caress of Steel (1975)
- 2112 (1976)
- A Farewell to Kings (1977)
- Hemispheres (1978)
- Permanent Waves (1980)
- Moving Pictures (1981)
- Signals (1982)
- Grace Under Pressure (1984)
- Power Windows (1985)
- Hold Your Fire (1987)
- Presto (1989)
- Roll the Bones (1991)
- Counterparts (1993)
- Test for Echo (1996)
- Vapor Trails (2002)
- Snakes & Arrows (2007)
- Clockwork Angels (2012)
- All the World's a Stage (1976)
- Exit... Stage Left (1981)
- A Show of Hands (1989)
- Different Stages (1998)
- Rush in Rio (2003)
- R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005)
- Snakes & Arrows Live (2008)
- Grace Under Pressure Tour (2009)
- Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011)
- Clockwork Angels Tour (2013)
- R40 Live (2015)
- Exit... Stage Left (1982)
- Grace Under Pressure Tour (1986)
- A Show of Hands (1989)
- Rush in Rio (2003)
- R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005)
- Rush Replay X 3 (2006)
- Snakes & Arrows Live (2008)
- Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011)
- Clockwork Angels Tour (2013)
- R40 Live (2015)
- Rush Through Time (1979)
- Chronicles (1990)
- Retrospective I (1997)
- Retrospective II (1997)
- The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 (2003)
- Gold (2006)
- Retrospective III: 1989–2008 (2009)
- Working Men (2009)
- Through the Camera Eye (1985)
- Chronicles (1990)
- The Studio Albums 1989–2007 (2013)
- Feedback (2004)
- Cygnus X-1 (2017)
- "In the Mood"
- "Fly by Night"
- "Lakeside Park"
- "The Twilight Zone"
- "Closer to the Heart"
- "Circumstances"
- "The Trees"
- "The Spirit of Radio"
- "Entre Nous"
- "Limelight"
- "Tom Sawyer"
- "Vital Signs"
- "New World Man"
- "Subdivisions"
- "Countdown"
- "Red Sector A"
- "Afterimage"
- "The Big Money"
- "Mystic Rhythms"
- "Time Stand Still"
- "Show Don't Tell"
- "The Pass"
- "Dreamline"
- "Roll the Bones"
- "Ghost of a Chance"
- "Stick It Out"
- "Nobody's Hero"
- "Test for Echo"
- "Half the World"
- "Driven"
- "One Little Victory"
- "Secret Touch"
- "Summertime Blues"
- "Far Cry"
- "Spindrift"
- "Caravan"
- "Headlong Flight"
- "Working Man"
- "2112"
- "A Passage to Bangkok"
- "Tears"
- "Xanadu"
- "Freewill"
- "Red Barchetta"
- "YYZ"
- "Witch Hunt"
- "The Analog Kid"
- "Between the Wheels"
- "Red Lenses"
- "Marathon"
- "Manhattan Project"
- "Force Ten"
- "Mission"
- "Lock and Key"
- "Heresy"
- "Animate"
- "Cold Fire"
- "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)"
- Hemispheres Tour (1978–1979)
- Moving Pictures Tour (1980–1981)
- Exit... Stage Left Tour (1981)
- Power Windows Tour (1985–1986)
- Presto Tour (1990)
- Roll the Bones Tour (1991–1992)
- Counterparts Tour (1994)
- Test for Echo Tour (1996–1997)
- Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007–2008)
- Time Machine Tour (2010–2011)
- Clockwork Angels Tour (2012–2013)
- R40 Live Tour (2015)
- Discography
- Songs
- Awards
- Instrumentals
- Victor
- My Favourite Headache
- A Work in Progress
- Anatomy of a Drum Solo
- Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
- Hugh Syme
- Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
- Working Man – A Tribute to Rush
- Category