Hemispheres Tour

1978–1979 concert tour by Rush

Hemispheres TourTour by Rush

Location|

* Europe
* North America

Associated album| Hemispheres
Start date| October 14, 1978
End date| June 4, 1979
Legs| 2
No. of shows| 137
Rush concert chronology

*   * A Farewell to Kings Tour
(1977–1978)
*   * Hemispheres Tour
(1978–1979)
*   * Permanent Waves Tour
(1979–1980)

The Hemispheres Tour (also referred to as The Tour of the Hemispheres) was a concert tour by Canadian rock band Rush in support of their sixth studio album, Hemispheres.

## Background

[edit]

The tour began on October 14, 1978 which began with arenas in Canada, extending out into the United States.[1] It was the first tour where the band was noted as a major headlining act, playing an hour and a half instead of a forty-five minute set, with hopes that the audience would appreciate the length of the set.[2] While keeping a good lighting system, the band began extending their PA system, as well as becoming more active on stage with the usage of backdrops, giving the audience something to look at - something that became a major part of their performances.[3] Rush toured Europe in April to May 1979, concluding their tour with a performance at the Pinkpop Festival in Holland, which had followed after Lifeson broke his finger, resulting in three shows being canceled, but however he had performed at the festival with no problems. The tour was accompanied by the release of the European compilation album, Rush Through Time, which was unauthorized at the time.[4]

## Reception

[edit]

Reviewing the October 25, 1978 performance in Saskatoon, Star-Phoenix's Joe Rubin noted on the band's usage of special effects which he had stated held the audience 'spellbound' with balls of light, swirling spirals and spaceships depicted on the screen suspended behind the band as they performed. Regarding the audience, Rubin stated it was understandable as they were grogged on sound, later benumbed and ecstatic at the conclusion of the performance.[5]

The Spokesman-Review's Dave Reagan, reviewing the November 8, 1978 performance in Spokane, wrote that the band had proved its reputation to be loud but talented. He observed that the music was relatively clean and low enough to not compound the echoing effects of the coliseum where the show took place. Also noting on the special effects and the lighting accompanied by the use of the synthesizer, Reagan stated that it had brought the audience to both its feet and knees, with the visuals keeping the longer songs exciting and alive, with no interest lost from the audience.[6]

## Set list

[edit]

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.[7] "Circumstances" was removed from the set during the band's shows in the United Kingdom, with "Something for Nothing" and "Cygnus X-1" being removed from the set during the rest of the shows in Europe.[8]

Main Setlist

1. "Anthem"
2. "A Passage to Bangkok"
3. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"
4. "Xanadu"
5. "Something for Nothing"
6. "The Trees"
7. "Cygnus X-1"
8. "Hemispheres"
9. "Closer to the Heart"
10. "Circumstances"
11. "A Farewell to Kings"
12. "La Villa Strangiato"
13. "2112" (Chapters I–IV, VI–VII)

Encore
14. "Working Man" / "Bastille Day" / "In the Mood" (medley, with drum solo)

## Tour dates

[edit]

List of 1978 concerts[9][10][11] Date  | City  | Country  | Venue

|
|
|

October 14, 1978  | Kingston | Canada  | Kingston Memorial Center
October 15, 1978  | Guelph | Guelph Memorial Gardens
October 17, 1978  | North Bay | North Bay Memorial Gardens
October 18, 1978  | Sudbury | Sudbury Community Arena
October 20, 1978  | Thunder Bay | Fort William Gardens
October 21, 1978  | Winnipeg | Winnipeg Arena
October 22, 1978  | Brandon | Keystone Center
October 24, 1978  | Regina | Regina Agridome
October 25, 1978  | Saskatoon | Saskatoon Arena
October 27, 1978  | Edmonton | Northlands Coliseum
October 28, 1978  | Calgary | Stampede Corral
October 29, 1978  | Lethbridge | Lethbridge Sportsplex
October 31, 1978  | Kamloops | KXA Auditorium
November 2, 1978  | Victoria | Victoria Memorial Arena
November 3, 1978  | Nanaimo | Frank Crane Arena
November 4, 1978  | Vancouver | Pacific Coliseum
November 6, 1978  | Portland | United States  | Portland Memorial Coliseum
November 7, 1978  | Seattle | Seattle Center Coliseum
November 8, 1978  | Spokane | Spokane Coliseum
November 10, 1978  | Sacramento | Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
November 11, 1978  | Reno | Centennial Coliseum
November 13, 1978  | San Diego | San Diego Sports Arena
November 14, 1978  | Long Beach | Long Beach Arena
November 15, 1978  | Fresno | Warnors Theater
November 16, 1978  | Daly City | Cow Palace
November 18, 1978  | San Bernardino | Swing Auditorium
November 19, 1978  | Phoenix | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
November 20, 1978  | Tucson | Tucson Community Center
November 21, 1978  | Albuquerque | Albuquerque Civic Auditorium
November 30, 1978  | Indianapolis | Market Square Arena
December 1, 1978  | Dayton | Hara Arena
December 2, 1978  | Detroit | Cobo Arena
December 3, 1978  | Toledo | Toledo Sports Arena
December 5, 1978  | Davenport | Palmer Auditorium
December 7, 1978  | Milwaukee | MECCA Arena
December 8, 1978  | Green Bay | Brown County Arena
December 9, 1978  | Saint Paul | St. Paul Civic Center
December 10, 1978  | Des Moines | Veterans Memorial Auditorium
December 11, 1978  | Kansas City | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium
December 13, 1978  | St. Louis | The Checkerdome
December 14, 1978  | Chicago | International Amphitheater
December 15, 1978
December 16, 1978
December 17, 1978  | Madison | Dane County Coliseum
December 19, 1978  | London | Canada  | London Gardens
December 20, 1978  | Kitchener | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
December 21, 1978  | Ottawa | Ottawa Civic Center
December 26, 1978  | Montreal | Montreal Forum
December 27, 1978
December 28, 1978  | Toronto | Maple Leaf Gardens
December 29, 1978
December 31, 1978
List of 1979 concerts[9][10][12] Date  | City  | Country  | Venue

|
|
|

January 11, 1979  | Boston | United States  | Boston Music Hall
January 12, 1979  | Springfield | Springfield Civic Center
January 13, 1979  | New York City | The Palladium
January 14, 1979
January 16, 1979  | Albany | Palace Theater
January 17, 1979  | Passaic | Capitol Theater
January 19, 1979  | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Civic Arena
January 20, 1979  | Baltimore | Baltimore Civic Center
January 21, 1979  | Philadelphia | The Spectrum
January 23, 1979  | Syracuse | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium
January 24, 1979  | Buffalo | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
January 26, 1979  | Cincinnati | Riverfront Coliseum
January 27, 1979  | Huntsville | Von Braun Civic Center
January 28, 1979  | Memphis | Mid-South Coliseum
January 30, 1979  | Louisville | Louisville Gardens
January 31, 1979  | Bloomington | IU Auditorium
February 1, 1979  | Columbus | St. John Arena
February 2, 1979  | Saginaw | Saginaw Civic Center
February 3, 1979  | Richfield | Richfield Coliseum
February 10, 1979  | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma State Fairgrounds
February 15, 1979  | Columbia | Township Auditorium
February 17, 1979  | Fayetteville | Cumberland County Memorial Arena
February 19, 1979  | Asheville | Asheville Civic Center
February 20, 1979  | Knoxville | Knoxville Civic Coliseum
February 22, 1979  | Little Rock | Barton Coliseum
February 23, 1979  | Shreveport | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
February 24, 1979  | Tulsa | Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion
February 25, 1979  | Austin | Austin Municipal Auditorium
February 27, 1979  | Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum
March 1, 1979  | Houston | Sam Houston Coliseum
March 2, 1979  | Dallas | Dallas Convention Center
March 3, 1979  | San Antonio | HemisFair Arena
March 4, 1979  | Beaumont | Beaumont Civic Center
March 6, 1979  | New Orleans | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium
March 8, 1979  | Mobile | Mobile Expo Hall
March 9, 1979  | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Civic Auditorium
March 10, 1979  | Hollywood | Hollywood Sportatorium
March 11, 1979  | Tampa | Curtis Hixon Convention Hall
March 13, 1979  | Birmingham | Boutwell Auditorium
March 15, 1979  | Chattanooga | Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium
March 16, 1979  | Nashville | Nashville Municipal Auditorium
March 17, 1979  | Johnson City | Freedom Hall
March 18, 1979  | Wheeling | Wheeling Civic Center
March 27, 1979  | Salt Lake City | Salt Palace
March 28, 1979  | Denver | Denver Auditorium
March 29, 1979  | Lincoln | Pershing Center
March 30, 1979  | Topeka | Topeka Municipal Auditorium
April 2, 1979  | Syracuse  | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium
April 3, 1979  | Poughkeepsie | Mid-Hudson Civic Center
April 4, 1979  | Rochester | War Memorial Auditorium
April 6, 1979  | Hempstead | Nassau Coliseum
April 7, 1979  | New Haven | New Haven Coliseum
April 10, 1979  | Salem | Roanoke Valley Civic Center
April 11, 1979  | Hampton | Hampton Coliseum
April 13, 1979  | Atlanta | Fox Theater
April 14, 1979  | Greensboro | Greensboro Coliseum
April 15, 1979  | Providence | Providence Civic Center
April 23, 1979  | Newcastle | England  | Newcastle City Hall
April 24, 1979
April 25, 1979  | Glasgow | Scotland  | Glasgow Apollo
April 26, 1979
April 27, 1979
April 28, 1979  | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Odeon
April 29, 1979  | Manchester | England  | Manchester Apollo
April 30, 1979
May 1, 1979  | Liverpool | Empire Theater
May 2, 1979
May 4, 1979  | London | Hammersmith Odeon
May 5, 1979
May 6, 1979
May 7, 1979
May 9, 1979  | Coventry | Coventry Theater
May 10, 1979  | Birmingham | Birmingham Odeon
May 11, 1979
May 13, 1979  | Southampton | Gaumont Theater
May 14, 1979  | Bristol | Colston Hall
May 15, 1979
~~May 17, 1979~~ [a] | Paris | France  | Le Stadium
May 18, 1979  | Poperinge | Belgium  | Maeke Blyde Hall
May 22, 1979  | Oslo | Norway  | Chateau Neuf
May 23, 1979  | Gothenburg | Sweden  | Gothenburg Concert House
May 25, 1979  | Stockholm | Grona Lund
May 27, 1979  | Erlangen | West Germany  | Stadthalle
May 28, 1979  | Offenbach | Stadthalle
May 29, 1979  | Hamburg | Hamburg Music Hall
~~May 31, 1979~~ [b] | Mannheim | Rose Garden
~~June 1, 1979~~ [b] | Zurich | Switzerland  | Volkshaus
~~June 2, 1979~~ [b] | Munich | West Germany  | Circus Krone
June 4, 1979  | Geleen | Netherlands  | Damen Sports Park

### Box office score data

[edit]

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references  Date  | City  | Venue  | Attendance  | Gross  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|
|

December 11, 1978  | Kansas City, United States  | Municipal Auditorium  | 9,250  | $72,029  | [13]
January 11, 1979  | Boston, United States  | Music Hall  | 3,800  | $31,750  | [14]
January 13–14, 1979  | New York City, United States  | Palladium  | 6,300 / 6,300  | $52,000
January 17, 1979  | Passaic, United States  | Capitol Theatre  | 3,456 / 3,456  | $28,172  | [15]
January 19, 1979  | Pittsburgh, United States  | Civic Arena  | 14,032 / 14,032  | $110,421
January 20, 1979  | Baltimore, United States  | Civic Center  | 8,676  | $60,578
January 21, 1979  | Philadelphia, United States  | Spectrum  | 13,064  | $94,467
January 27, 1979  | Huntsville, United States  | Civic Center  | 6,850  | $46,891  | [16]
January 28, 1979  | Memphis, United States  | Coliseum  | 7,263  | $50,833
January 30, 1979  | Louisville, United States  | Gardens  | 7,201 / 7,201  | $48,612  | [17]
January 31, 1979  | Bloomington, United States  | IU Auditorium  | 1,968  | $14,498
February 1, 1979  | Columbus, United States  | St. John's Arena  | 7,355  | $57,950
February 2, 1979  | Saginaw, United States  | Civic Center  | 7,104 / 7,104  | $60,384
February 20, 1979  | Knoxville, United States  | Coliseum  | 3,901  | $28,265  | [18]
March 9, 1979  | Jacksonville, United States  | Civic Auditorium  | 3,125  | $20,875  | [19]
March 10, 1979  | Hollywood, United States  | Sportatorium  | 9,937  | $60,757
March 11, 1979  | Tampa, United States  | Hixon Hall  | 7,600 / 7,600  | $45,077
March 15, 1979  | Chattanooga, United States  | Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium  | 3,130  | $21,868  | [20]
March 16, 1979  | Nashville, United States  | Municipal Auditorium  | 8,468  | $43,844  | [21]
March 18, 1979  | Wheeling, United States  | Civic Center  | 6,233  | $46,812
March 29, 1979  | Lincoln, United States  | Pershing Auditorium  | 4,275  | $30,800  | [22]
March 30, 1979  | Topeka, United States  | Municipal Auditorium  | 4,200 / 4,200  | $29,400
April 3, 1979  | Poughkeepsie, United States  | Civic Center  | 3,372 / 3,372  | $28,263  | [23]
April 4, 1979  | Rochester, United States  | War Memorial Auditorium  | 10,500 / 10,500  | $89,253
April 6, 1979  | Uniondale, United States  | Nassau Coliseum  | 10,400  | $85,160
April 7, 1979  | New Haven, United States  | Coliseum  | 5,800  | $47,597
April 11, 1979  | Hampton, United States  | Coliseum  | 6,165  | $45,029  | [24]
April 15, 1979  | Providence, United States  | Civic Center  | 6,684  | $48,370

## Personnel

[edit]

* Geddy Lee – vocals, bass, keyboards
* Alex Lifeson – guitar, backing vocals
* Neil Peart – drums

## References

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The performance on May 17, 1979 was canceled due to a fire burning down the venue.
2. ^ a b c The performances on May 31, June 1 and 2, 1979 were canceled due to Lifeson breaking a finger.

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Popoff 2020, p. 333.
2. ^ Popoff 2020, p. 334.
3. ^ Popoff 2020, pp. 334–335.
4. ^ Popoff 2020, p. 336.
5. ^ Rubin, Joe (October 26, 1978). "Entertainment: Rush". Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: The Phoenix. p. 20. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
6. ^ Reagan, Dave (November 9, 1978). "Rush's reputation remains first-rate". Spokane, Washington: The Spokesman-Review. p. 14. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
7. ^ Daly & Hansen 2019, p. 160.
8. ^ Daly & Hansen 2019, p. 157.
9. ^ a b Daly & Hansen 2019, pp. 160–175.
10. ^ a b "Hemispheres Tour". Rush.com. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
11. ^ Newspaper concert listings:
* Palmer, Vaughn (October 2, 1978). "Bands battle again at the Commodore". Vancouver, British Columbia: The Vancouver Sun. p. C3. Retrieved January 16, 2023. "Rush, Nov. 4, Coliseum Concert Bowl"
* "Sights and Sounds of the Month: Performances". Spokane, Washington: Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 27, 1978. Retrieved January 16, 2023. "Rush, a rock concert, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Coliseum."
* East, Jon (March 1, 1979). "This Week - Southern Rock, Smooth Jazz". No. 33\. Ocala, Florida: Ocala Star-Banner. p. 11A. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
12. ^ East, Jon (March 1, 1979). "This Week - Southern Rock, Smooth Jazz". No. 33\. Ocala, Florida: Ocala Star-Banner. p. 11A. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
13. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 1\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 6, 1979. p. 57\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
14. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 27, 1979. p. 54\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
15. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 5\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 3, 1979. p. 64\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
16. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 6\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 10, 1979. p. 42\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
17. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 7\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 17, 1979. p. 54\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
18. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 10\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 10, 1979. p. 46\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
19. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 12\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 24, 1979. p. 84\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
20. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 14\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 7, 1979. p. 44\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
21. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 13\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 31, 1979. p. 72\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
22. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 15\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 14, 1979. p. 43\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
23. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 16\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 21, 1979. p. 36\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
24. ^ "Top Box Office". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 17\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 28, 1979. p. 46\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2023.

### Sources

[edit]

* 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 (2020). Anthem: Rush in the '70s. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-77041-520-1.

* v
* t
* e

Rush

* Alex Lifeson
* Geddy Lee
* Neil Peart

* Jeff Jones
* John Rutsey

Studio albums|

* 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)

Live albums|

* All the World's a Stage (1976)
* Exit... Stage Left (1981)
* A Show of Hands (1989)
* Different Stages (1998)
* Rush in Rio (2003)
* Snakes & Arrows Live (2008)
* Grace Under Pressure Tour (2009)
* Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011)
* Clockwork Angels Tour (2013)
* R40 Live (2015)

Live videos|

* 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)

Compilations|

* 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)

Video compilations|

* Through the Camera Eye (1985)
* Chronicles (1990)

Box sets|

* The Studio Albums 1989–2007 (2013)

Extended plays|

* Feedback (2004)
* Cygnus X-1 (2017)

Singles|

* "In the Mood"
* "Fly by Night"
* "Lakeside Park"
* "The Twilight Zone"
* "Making Memories"
* "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"

Other songs|

* "Working Man"
* "Before" and "After"
* "Into the Darkness"
* "Didacts and Narpets"
* "2112"
* "A Passage to Bangkok"
* "Tears"
* "Xanadu"
* "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" (II. Apollo Bringer of Wisdom / III. "Dionysus Bringer of Love"
* IV. "Armageddon The Battle of Heart and Mind"
* VI. "The Sphere A Kind of Dream")
* "Freewill"
* "Red Barchetta"
* "YYZ"
* "Witch Hunt"
* "The Analog Kid"
* "Between the Wheels"
* "Red Lenses"
* "Marathon"
* "Manhattan Project"
* "Force Ten"
* "Mission"
* "Lock and Key"
* "Second Nature"
* "Heresy"
* "Animate"
* "Cold Fire"
* "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)"

Tours|

* Hemispheres Tour (1978–1979)
* Moving Pictures Tour (1980–1981)
* Exit... Stage Left Tour (1981)
* Power Windows Tour (1985–1986)
* Hold Your Fire Tour (1987–1988)
* 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)

Related articles|

* 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

*[No.]: Number
*[Ref(s)]: References
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*[e]: Edit this template