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Test for Echo Tour

{{Short description|1996–1997 concert tour by Rush}}

{{Infobox concert

| concert_tour_name = Test for Echo Tour

| image =

| type =

| location = North America

| album = Test for Echo

| artist = Rush

| start_date = October 19, 1996

| end_date = July 4, 1997

| number_of_legs = 2

| number_of_shows = 68

| last_tour = Counterparts Tour
(1994)

| this_tour = Test for Echo Tour
(1996–1997)

| next_tour = Vapor Trails Tour
(2002)

}}

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".{{sfn|Popoff|2021}} 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.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=181}} This was the only concert tour in which Rush played the song "2112" in its entirety.{{cite news |last1=Sabol |first1=Kathy |title=Civic Arena echoes with Rush's rock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zmleAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+concert+review&pg=PA12&article_id=3798,2017414 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Observer-Reporter |date=November 5, 1996 |page=B4 |language=en}} During the tour, the band had included live camera footage, video, lasers and strobes as part of their sets.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=183}} This marked the last tour until 2002 because of tragedies in Neil Peart's life.{{sfn|Peart|2002}} Recordings from the tour were released on the 1998 live album Different Stages.{{sfn|Bowman|2014|p=129}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Lisi |first1=Michael |title=Rush delivers splendid Knick show with old, new songs - plus visuals |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GBGAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+concert+review+peart&pg=PA11&article_id=4376,4777449 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=The Sunday Gazette |date=October 20, 1996 |page=B8 |language=en}}

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.

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.{{cite news |last1=Iwasald |first1=Scott |title=Band holds audience in its palm and gives it a Rush |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eh5OAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+concert+review&pg=PA15&article_id=6776,3537566 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |issue=341 |publisher=The Deseret News |date=May 21, 1997 |location=Salt Lake City |page=C7 |language=en}}

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.{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|p=336}}

Set 1

  1. "Dreamline"
  2. "Limelight"
  3. "Stick It Out"
  4. "The Big Money" (with "Wipeout" outro)
  5. "Driven"
  6. "Half the World"
  7. "Red Barchetta"
  8. "Animate"
  9. "Limbo"
  10. "The Trees"
  11. "Red Sector A"
  12. "Virtuality"
  13. "Nobody's Hero"
  14. "Closer to the Heart"
  15. "2112" (all chapters)

Set 2

  2. "Test for Echo"
  3. "Subdivisions"
  4. "Freewill"
  5. "Roll the Bones"
  6. "Resist"
  7. "Leave That Thing Alone"
  8. "The Rhythm Method" (drum solo)
  9. "Natural Science"
  10. "Force Ten"
  11. "Time and Motion"
  12. "The Spirit of Radio"
  13. "Tom Sawyer"
  14. ;Encore
  15. "YYZ"
  16. "Cygnus X-1" (teaser)

Tour dates

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of 1996 concerts{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|pp=336–345}}{{cite web |title=Test for Echo Tour |url=https://www.rush.com/tour/test-for-echo/ |website=Rush.com |access-date=February 20, 2023 |language=en-CA}}

!width="220"|Date

!width="220"|City

!width="220"|Country

!width="300"|Venue

October 19, 1996Albanyrowspan="34"|United StatesKnickerbocker Arena
October 20, 1996BuffaloMarine Midland Arena
October 22, 1996FairbornNutter Center
October 23, 1996Grand RapidsVan Andel Arena
October 25, 1996Auburn HillsThe Palace of Auburn Hills
October 26, 1996RockfordRockford MetroCentre
October 28, 1996ChicagoUnited Center
October 29, 1996MinneapolisTarget Center
October 31, 1996St. LouisKiel Center
November 1, 1996MilwaukeeBradley Center
November 3, 1996PittsburghCivic Arena
November 4, 1996ClevelandGund Arena
November 6, 1996PhiladelphiaCoreStates Center
November 7, 1996LandoverUSAir Arena
November 9, 1996BostonFleetCenter
November 10, 1996HartfordHartford Civic Center
November 20, 1996San JoseSan Jose Arena
November 21, 1996SacramentoARCO Arena
November 23, 1996San DiegoSan Diego Sports Arena
November 24, 1996ParadiseThomas & Mack Center
November 26, 1996rowspan="2"|Inglewoodrowspan="2"|Great Western Forum
November 27, 1996
November 29, 1996PhoenixAmerica West Arena
November 30, 1996El PasoSpecial Events Center
December 2, 1996San AntonioAlamodome
December 3, 1996DallasReunion Arena
December 5, 1996HoustonThe Summit
December 6, 1996New OrleansUNO Lakefront Arena
December 8, 1996West Palm BeachCoral Sky Amphitheater
December 9, 1996TampaIce Palace
December 11, 1996AtlantaThe Omni
December 12, 1996CharlotteCharlotte Coliseum
December 14, 1996UniondaleNassau Coliseum
December 15, 1996East RutherfordContinental Airlines Arena
December 18, 1996TorontoCanadaPhoenix Concert Theatre

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of 1997 concerts{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|pp=336–345}}

!width="220"|Date

!width="220"|City

!width="220"|Country

!width="300"|Venue

May 7, 1997San Diegorowspan="5" |United StatesHospitality Point
May 8, 1997PhoenixDesert Sky Pavilion
May 10, 1997DevoreGlen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion
May 11, 1997Mountain ViewShoreline Amphitheatre
May 14, 1997PortlandRose Garden Arena
May 16, 1997VancouverCanadaGeneral Motors Place
May 17, 1997Georgerowspan="22"|United StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
May 19, 1997BoiseBSU Pavilion
May 20, 1997Salt Lake CityDelta Center
May 22, 1997Greenwood VillageFiddler's Green Amphitheater
May 24, 1997DallasStarplex Amphitheater
May 25, 1997The WoodlandsCynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
June 4, 1997CincinnatiRiverbend Music Center
June 5, 1997NashvilleStarwood Amphitheatre
June 7, 1997Bonner SpringsSandstone Amphitheater
June 8, 1997Maryland HeightsRiverport Amphitheater
June 10, 1997NoblesvilleDeer Creek Music Center
June 11, 1997BurgettstownStar Lake Amphitheater
June 13, 1997MilwaukeeMarcus Amphitheater
June 14, 1997Tinley ParkNew World Music Theater
June 16, 1997ColumbusPolaris Amphitheater
June 17, 1997ClarkstonPine Knob Music Theater
June 19, 1997HolmdelPNC Bank Arts Center
June 20, 1997BristowNissan Pavilion
June 22, 1997CamdenBlockbuster-Sony E-Centre
June 23, 1997MansfieldGreat Woods Performing Arts Center
June 25, 1997WantaghJones Beach Amphitheater
June 26, 1997CorfuDarien Lake Performing Arts Center
June 28, 1997Montrealrowspan="5"|CanadaMolson Centre
June 30, 1997rowspan="2"|Torontorowspan="2"|Molson Amphitheatre
July 2, 1997
July 3, 1997Quebec CityQuebec Coliseum
July 4, 1997OttawaCorel Centre

= Box office score data =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references

! scope="col" style="width:9em;"|Date

! scope="col" style="width:13em;"|City

! scope="col" style="width:19em;"|Venue

! scope="col" style="width:9em;"|Attendance

! scope="col" style="width:7em;"|Gross

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}

October 25, 1996

|Auburn Hills, United States

|Palace

|15,197 / 15,197

|$467,308

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=November 16, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=46 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vQkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=rush+billboard+amusement&pg=PA16 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

November 6, 1996

|Philadelphia, United States

|CoreStates Center

|14,759 / 15,147

|$444,805

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=November 23, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=47 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugkEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

November 10, 1996

|Hartford, United States

|Civic Center

|9,642 / 10,500

|$276,260

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=December 7, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=49 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAkEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

November 26–27, 1996

|Inglewood, United States

|Great Western Forum

|19,319 / 25,000

|$596,855

|rowspan="2"|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=December 14, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=50 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQkEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

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

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=24 May 1997 |volume=109 |issue=21 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fA8EAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

May 25, 1997

|The Woodlands, United States

|Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

|13,024 / 13,024

|$382,245

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=June 14, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=24 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2w8EAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

June 17, 1997

|Clarkston, United States

|Pine Knob Music Theatre

|13,409 / 14,500

|$348,743

|{{cite magazine |title=Amusement Business Boxscore |magazine=Billboard |date=July 5, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=27 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ4EAAAAMBAJ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}

Personnel

References

=Citations=

{{reflist}}

=Sources=

  • {{cite book|title=Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road|url=https://archive.org/details/ghostrider00neil|url-access=registration|last=Peart|first=Neil|year=2002|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1-55022-546-4}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away |date=2004 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-55022-678-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS3hAWaAqkkC |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Bowman |first1=Durrell |title=Experiencing Rush: A Listener's Companion |date=2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-3131-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6he7BAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Daly|first1=Skip|last2=Hansen|first2=Eric|title=Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History|year=2019|publisher=Insight Editions|isbn=978-1-68383-450-2}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=Driven: Rush in the '90s and "In the End" |date=2021 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto, Canada |isbn=978-1-77041-537-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eENEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}

{{Rush}}

Category:Rush (band) concert tours

Category:1996 concert tours

Category:1997 concert tours

Category:Concert tours of North America

Category:Concert tours of the United States

Category:Concert tours of Canada