# Hemispheres Tour

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

The tour began on October 14, 1978 which began with arenas in Canada, extending out into the United States. 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. 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. 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.

## Reception

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.
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.

## 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. "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.

### Main Setlist

* "Anthem"
* "A Passage to Bangkok"
* "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"
* "Xanadu"
* "Something for Nothing"
* "The Trees"
* "Cygnus X-1"
* "Hemispheres"
* "Closer to the Heart"
* "Circumstances"
* "A Farewell to Kings"
* "La Villa Strangiato"
* "2112" (Chapters I–IV, VI–VII)

### Encore

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

## Tour dates

List of 1978 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| October 14, 1978 | Kingston | Canada | Kingston Memorial Center |
| October 15, 1978 | Guelph | Canada | Guelph Memorial Gardens |
| October 17, 1978 | North Bay | Canada | North Bay Memorial Gardens |
| October 18, 1978 | Sudbury | Canada | Sudbury Community Arena |
| October 20, 1978 | Thunder Bay | Canada | Fort William Gardens |
| October 21, 1978 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena |
| October 22, 1978 | Brandon | Canada | Keystone Center |
| October 24, 1978 | Regina | Canada | Regina Agridome |
| October 25, 1978 | Saskatoon | Canada | Saskatoon Arena |
| October 27, 1978 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum |
| October 28, 1978 | Calgary | Canada | Stampede Corral |
| October 29, 1978 | Lethbridge | Canada | Lethbridge Sportsplex |
| October 31, 1978 | Kamloops | Canada | KXA Auditorium |
| November 2, 1978 | Victoria | Canada | Victoria Memorial Arena |
| November 3, 1978 | Nanaimo | Canada | Frank Crane Arena |
| November 4, 1978 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| November 6, 1978 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum |
| November 7, 1978 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum |
| November 8, 1978 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Coliseum |
| November 10, 1978 | Sacramento | United States | Sacramento Memorial Auditorium |
| November 11, 1978 | Reno | United States | Centennial Coliseum |
| November 13, 1978 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| November 14, 1978 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena |
| November 15, 1978 | Fresno | United States | Warnors Theater |
| November 16, 1978 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace |
| November 18, 1978 | San Bernardino | United States | Swing Auditorium |
| November 19, 1978 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| November 20, 1978 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Community Center |
| November 21, 1978 | Albuquerque | United States | Albuquerque Civic Auditorium |
| November 30, 1978 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena |
| December 1, 1978 | Dayton | United States | Hara Arena |
| December 2, 1978 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Arena |
| December 3, 1978 | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena |
| December 5, 1978 | Davenport | United States | Palmer Auditorium |
| December 7, 1978 | Milwaukee | United States | MECCA Arena |
| December 8, 1978 | Green Bay | United States | Brown County Arena |
| December 9, 1978 | Saint Paul | United States | St. Paul Civic Center |
| December 10, 1978 | Des Moines | United States | Veterans Memorial Auditorium |
| December 11, 1978 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium |
| December 13, 1978 | St. Louis | United States | The Checkerdome |
| December 14, 1978 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheater |
| December 15, 1978 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheater |
| December 16, 1978 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheater |
| December 17, 1978 | Madison | United States | Dane County Coliseum |
| December 19, 1978 | London | Canada | London Gardens |
| December 20, 1978 | Kitchener | Canada | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium |
| December 21, 1978 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Center |
| December 26, 1978 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| December 27, 1978 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum |
| December 28, 1978 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| December 29, 1978 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| December 31, 1978 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens |
List of 1979 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| January 11, 1979 | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall |
| January 12, 1979 | Springfield | United States | Springfield Civic Center |
| January 13, 1979 | New York City | United States | The Palladium |
| January 14, 1979 | New York City | United States | The Palladium |
| January 16, 1979 | Albany | United States | Palace Theater |
| January 17, 1979 | Passaic | United States | Capitol Theater |
| January 19, 1979 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
| January 20, 1979 | Baltimore | United States | Baltimore Civic Center |
| January 21, 1979 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| January 23, 1979 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium |
| January 24, 1979 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| January 26, 1979 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum |
| January 27, 1979 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center |
| January 28, 1979 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum |
| January 30, 1979 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Gardens |
| January 31, 1979 | Bloomington | United States | IU Auditorium |
| February 1, 1979 | Columbus | United States | St. John Arena |
| February 2, 1979 | Saginaw | United States | Saginaw Civic Center |
| February 3, 1979 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum |
| February 10, 1979 | Oklahoma City | United States | Oklahoma State Fairgrounds |
| February 15, 1979 | Columbia | United States | Township Auditorium |
| February 17, 1979 | Fayetteville | United States | Cumberland County Memorial Arena |
| February 19, 1979 | Asheville | United States | Asheville Civic Center |
| February 20, 1979 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum |
| February 22, 1979 | Little Rock | United States | Barton Coliseum |
| February 23, 1979 | Shreveport | United States | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum |
| February 24, 1979 | Tulsa | United States | Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion |
| February 25, 1979 | Austin | United States | Austin Municipal Auditorium |
| February 27, 1979 | Corpus Christi | United States | Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum |
| March 1, 1979 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum |
| March 2, 1979 | Dallas | United States | Dallas Convention Center |
| March 3, 1979 | San Antonio | United States | HemisFair Arena |
| March 4, 1979 | Beaumont | United States | Beaumont Civic Center |
| March 6, 1979 | New Orleans | United States | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium |
| March 8, 1979 | Mobile | United States | Mobile Expo Hall |
| March 9, 1979 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Civic Auditorium |
| March 10, 1979 | Hollywood | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| March 11, 1979 | Tampa | United States | Curtis Hixon Convention Hall |
| March 13, 1979 | Birmingham | United States | Boutwell Auditorium |
| March 15, 1979 | Chattanooga | United States | Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium |
| March 16, 1979 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium |
| March 17, 1979 | Johnson City | United States | Freedom Hall |
| March 18, 1979 | Wheeling | United States | Wheeling Civic Center |
| March 27, 1979 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace |
| March 28, 1979 | Denver | United States | Denver Auditorium |
| March 29, 1979 | Lincoln | United States | Pershing Center |
| March 30, 1979 | Topeka | United States | Topeka Municipal Auditorium |
| April 2, 1979 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium |
| April 3, 1979 | Poughkeepsie | United States | Mid-Hudson Civic Center |
| April 4, 1979 | Rochester | United States | War Memorial Auditorium |
| April 6, 1979 | Hempstead | United States | Nassau Coliseum |
| April 7, 1979 | New Haven | United States | New Haven Coliseum |
| April 10, 1979 | Salem | United States | Roanoke Valley Civic Center |
| April 11, 1979 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum |
| April 13, 1979 | Atlanta | United States | Fox Theater |
| April 14, 1979 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum |
| April 15, 1979 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center |
| April 23, 1979 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| April 24, 1979 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall |
| April 25, 1979 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Apollo |
| April 26, 1979 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Apollo |
| April 27, 1979 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Apollo |
| April 28, 1979 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Odeon |
| April 29, 1979 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo |
| April 30, 1979 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo |
| May 1, 1979 | Liverpool | England | Empire Theater |
| May 2, 1979 | Liverpool | England | Empire Theater |
| May 4, 1979 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon |
| May 5, 1979 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon |
| May 6, 1979 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon |
| May 7, 1979 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon |
| May 9, 1979 | Coventry | England | Coventry Theater |
| May 10, 1979 | Birmingham | England | Birmingham Odeon |
| May 11, 1979 | Birmingham | England | Birmingham Odeon |
| May 13, 1979 | Southampton | England | Gaumont Theater |
| May 14, 1979 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall |
| May 15, 1979 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall |
| May 17, 1979 | 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 | Sweden | Grona Lund |
| May 27, 1979 | Erlangen | West Germany | Stadthalle |
| May 28, 1979 | Offenbach | West Germany | Stadthalle |
| May 29, 1979 | Hamburg | West Germany | Hamburg Music Hall |
| May 31, 1979 | Mannheim | West Germany | Rose Garden |
| June 1, 1979 | Zurich | Switzerland | Volkshaus |
| June 2, 1979 | Munich | West Germany | Circus Krone |
| June 4, 1979 | Geleen | Netherlands | Damen Sports Park |

### Box office score data

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references :
| Date | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross |
| December 11, 1978 | Kansas City, United States | Municipal Auditorium | 9,250 | $72,029 |
| January 11, 1979 | Boston, United States | Music Hall | 3,800 | $31,750 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| January 28, 1979 | Memphis, United States | Coliseum | 7,263 | $50,833 |
| January 30, 1979 | Louisville, United States | Gardens | 7,201 / 7,201 | $48,612 |
| 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 |
| March 9, 1979 | Jacksonville, United States | Civic Auditorium | 3,125 | $20,875 |
| 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 |
| March 16, 1979 | Nashville, United States | Municipal Auditorium | 8,468 | $43,844 |
| March 18, 1979 | Wheeling, United States | Civic Center | 6,233 | $46,812 |
| March 29, 1979 | Lincoln, United States | Pershing Auditorium | 4,275 | $30,800 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| April 15, 1979 | Providence, United States | Civic Center | 6,684 | $48,370 |

## Personnel

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