Vote for Change

Last updated
Vote for Change Tour
Tour by MoveOn.org
VoteForChange.jpg
The tour poster, which shared characteristics with Captain America's shield.
LocationUnited States
Start dateSeptember 27, 2004
End dateOctober 13, 2004
Legs1
No. of shows40
Bruce Springsteen tour chronology
The Rising Tour
(2002–03)
Vote for Change
(2004)
Devils & Dust Tour
(2005)
Dixie Chicks tour chronology
Top of the World Tour
(2003)
Vote for Change
(2004)
Accidents & Accusations Tour
(2006)
Pearl Jam tour chronology
Riot Act Tour
(2003)
Vote for Change
(2004)
2005 North American/Latin American Tour
(2005)

The Vote for Change tour was a politically motivated American popular music concert tour that took place in October 2004. [1] The tour was presented by MoveOn.org to benefit America Coming Together. [2] The tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote. Though the tour and the organization were officially non-partisan, many of the performers urged people to vote against then President George W. Bush and for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election campaign. [1] [3] [4] [5] Bush would defeat Kerry in November 2004.

Contents

Itinerary

Every region had a specific night during which the concerts would be held in that region. [6] When concerts were held in the same city, they were at different venues.

Results

The tour was generally successful in attracting audiences,[ according to whom? ] generating media attention and raising approximately $10 million for America Coming Together. [7] [ better source needed ]

In terms of the tour's effect on the 2004 election, none of the visited states went differently from what had been predicted in pre-election polls.[ according to whom? ] Four of the eight ended up voting in favor of Kerry (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) while the other four went to Bush (Missouri, Iowa, Florida, and Ohio).[ citation needed ] The states that had the heaviest tour presence (five or six shows) also split evenly. The result in Ohio was the most critical, as it decided the election in Bush's favor[ citation needed ] (despite six shows there).

The shows

The Springsteen and E Street Band performances were compressed to two hours in length due to the multi-act nature of the concerts. [8] Especially at the beginning of his sets, Springsteen accomplished this by stripping down the songs, [8] removing elongated outros and false endings from the likes of "Born in the U.S.A." and "Badlands". In doing so, the style of the Vote for Change shows foreshadowed the next E Street outing,[ according to whom? ] the 2007 Magic Tour, when Springsteen adopted a similar approach.[ citation needed ]

Originals

Cover songs

Source: [8] [9]

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenue
North America [10]
September 27, 2004 Seattle United States McCaw Hall
September 29, 2004 Phoenix Cricket Pavilion
October 1, 2004 Reading Sovereign Center
Philadelphia Wachovia Center 19,353 / 19,353$1,552,750
University Park Bryce Jordan Center 14,596 / 14,596$716,562
Pittsburgh Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Wilkes-Barre F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
October 2, 2004 Cincinnati Taft Theatre
Toledo Toledo Sports Arena
Cleveland Gund Arena
State Theatre
Fairborn Nutter Center
Columbus Promowest Pavilion
October 3, 2004 East Lansing Wharton Center for Performing Arts
Walker DeltaPlex Arena
Detroit Cobo Arena
Fox Theatre
Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills 13,181 / 13,181$607,118
Kalamazoo Wings Stadium
October 5, 2004 Kansas City Midland Theatre
Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center
Madison Kohl Center
Iowa City Hancher Auditorium
Milwaukee Riverside Theater
St.Louis Fox Theatre
October 6, 2004
Des Moines Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
Asheville Asheville Civic Center
Ames Hilton Coliseum
October 8, 2004 Jacksonville Moran Theater
Kissimmee Silver Spurs Arena
Orlando TD Waterhouse Centre
Gainesville O'Connell Center
Clearwater Ruth Eckerd Hall
Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theater
October 11, 2004Washington, D.C. MCI Center 16,769 / 16,769$1,714,865
October 13, 2004 East Rutherford Continental Airlines Arena 19,800 / 19,800$1,687,750

Performers

PerformerSeattlePhoenixReadingPhiladelphiaUniversity ParkPittsburghWilkes-BarreCincinnatiToledoCleveland
Babyface Check-green.svg
Ben Harper Check-green.svg
Bonnie Raitt Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bright Eyes Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bruce Springsteen Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Check-green.svg
Dave Matthews Band Check-green.svg
Death Cab for Cutie Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Dixie Chicks Check-green.svg
Gob Roberts Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Jack Johnson Check-green.svg
Jackson Browne Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
James Taylor Check-green.svg
John Fogerty Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
John Mellencamp Check-green.svg
Jurassic 5 Check-green.svg
Keb' Mo' Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
My Morning Jacket Check-green.svg
Neil Young Check-green.svg
Pearl Jam Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Peter Frampton Check-green.svg
R.E.M. Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
PerformerFairbornCleveland (Theater)ColumbusEast LansingWalkerDetroit (Cobo)Detroit (Fox)Auburn HillsKalamazooKansas City
BabyfaceCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Ben HarperCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bonnie RaittCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bright EyesCheck-green.svg
Bruce SpringsteenCheck-green.svg
Dave Matthews BandCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Death Cab for CutieCheck-green.svg
Dixie ChicksCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Gob RobertsCheck-green.svg
Jackson BrowneCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
James TaylorCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
John FogertyCheck-green.svg
John MellencampCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Jurassic 5Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Keb' Mo'Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
My Morning JacketCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Neil YoungCheck-green.svg
Pearl JamCheck-green.svg
R.E.M.Check-green.svg
PerformerSt. Louis (October 5)St. Louis (October 6)Saint PaulMadisonIowa CityMilwaukeeDes MoinesAshevilleAmesJacksonville
BabyfaceCheck-green.svg
Ben HarperCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bonnie RaittCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Bright EyesCheck-green.svg
Bruce SpringsteenCheck-green.svg
Dave Matthews BandCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Death Cab for CutieCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Dixie ChicksCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Gob RobertsCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
James TaylorCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
John FogertyCheck-green.svg
John MellencampCheck-green.svg
John Prine Check-green.svg
Jurassic 5Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Keb' Mo'Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
My Morning JacketCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Neil YoungCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Pearl JamCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
R.E.M.Check-green.svg
Sheryl Crow Check-green.svg
PerformerKissimmeeOrlandoGainesvilleClearwaterMiami BeachWashington, D.C.East Rutherford
BabyfaceCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Ben HarperCheck-green.svg
Bonnie RaittCheck-green.svg
Bruce SpringsteenCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Dave Matthews BandCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Death Cab for CutieCheck-green.svg
Dixie ChicksCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Eddie Vedder Check-green.svg
Gob RobertsCheck-green.svg
Jackson BrowneCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
James TaylorCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
John FogertyCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
John MellencampCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Jurassic 5Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Keb' Mo'Check-green.svg
Neil YoungCheck-green.svg
Patti Scialfa Check-green.svg
Pearl JamCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Peter FramptonCheck-green.svg
R.E.M.Check-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Tracy Chapman Check-green.svg

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References

  1. 1 2 "Voices for Change". Rolling Stone . 2004-10-14. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  2. Tyrangiel, Josh (2004-10-11). "Born to Stump". Time . Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  3. Gardner, Elysa. "Springsteen, R.E.M., Other Big Acts Embark on Tour". USA Today . August 4, 2004.
  4. Springsteen, Bruce. "Chords for Change". The New York Times . August 5, 2004.
  5. Kay, Jennifer. "Springsteen, R.E.M. Kick off "Vote for Change" Concerts Across Swing States" Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine . Common Dreams NewsCenter. October 2, 2004.
  6. Evans, Rob. "Bruce Springsteen takes Vote for Change Tour home" Archived 2004-10-10 at the Wayback Machine . LiveDaily. October 4, 2004.
  7. Fricke, David. "Taking It to the Streets" [ dead link ]. Rolling Stone . August 11, 2004.
  8. 1 2 3 "2004 Setlists". Backstreets.com. October 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  9. "Bruce Springsteen Setlists | Greasy Lake". Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  10. Evans, Rob (October 4, 2004). "Bruce Springsteen takes Vote for Change Tour home". LiveDaily . Archived from the original on October 10, 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2013.