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 Yes check.svg
Ben Harper Yes check.svg
Bonnie Raitt Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bright Eyes Yes check.svgYes check.svg
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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Yes check.svg
Dave Matthews Band Yes check.svg
Death Cab for Cutie Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Dixie Chicks Yes check.svg
Gob Roberts Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Jack Johnson Yes check.svg
Jackson Browne Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
James Taylor Yes check.svg
John Fogerty Yes check.svgYes check.svg
John Mellencamp Yes check.svg
Jurassic 5 Yes check.svg
Keb' Mo' Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
My Morning Jacket Yes check.svg
Neil Young Yes check.svg
Pearl Jam Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Peter Frampton Yes check.svg
R.E.M. Yes check.svgYes check.svg
PerformerFairbornCleveland (Theater)ColumbusEast LansingWalkerDetroit (Cobo)Detroit (Fox)Auburn HillsKalamazooKansas City
BabyfaceYes check.svgYes check.svg
Ben HarperYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bonnie RaittYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bright EyesYes check.svg
Bruce SpringsteenYes check.svg
Dave Matthews BandYes check.svgYes check.svg
Death Cab for CutieYes check.svg
Dixie ChicksYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Gob RobertsYes check.svg
Jackson BrowneYes check.svgYes check.svg
James TaylorYes check.svgYes check.svg
John FogertyYes check.svg
John MellencampYes check.svgYes check.svg
Jurassic 5Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Keb' Mo'Yes check.svgYes check.svg
My Morning JacketYes check.svgYes check.svg
Neil YoungYes check.svg
Pearl JamYes check.svg
R.E.M.Yes check.svg
PerformerSt. Louis (October 5)St. Louis (October 6)Saint PaulMadisonIowa CityMilwaukeeDes MoinesAshevilleAmesJacksonville
BabyfaceYes check.svg
Ben HarperYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bonnie RaittYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bright EyesYes check.svg
Bruce SpringsteenYes check.svg
Dave Matthews BandYes check.svgYes check.svg
Death Cab for CutieYes check.svgYes check.svg
Dixie ChicksYes check.svgYes check.svg
Gob RobertsYes check.svgYes check.svg
James TaylorYes check.svgYes check.svg
John FogertyYes check.svg
John MellencampYes check.svg
John Prine Yes check.svg
Jurassic 5Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Keb' Mo'Yes check.svgYes check.svg
My Morning JacketYes check.svgYes check.svg
Neil YoungYes check.svgYes check.svg
Pearl JamYes check.svgYes check.svg
R.E.M.Yes check.svg
Sheryl Crow Yes check.svg
PerformerKissimmeeOrlandoGainesvilleClearwaterMiami BeachWashington, D.C.East Rutherford
BabyfaceYes check.svgYes check.svg
Ben HarperYes check.svg
Bonnie RaittYes check.svg
Bruce SpringsteenYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Dave Matthews BandYes check.svgYes check.svg
Death Cab for CutieYes check.svg
Dixie ChicksYes check.svgYes check.svg
Eddie Vedder Yes check.svg
Gob RobertsYes check.svg
Jackson BrowneYes check.svgYes check.svg
James TaylorYes check.svgYes check.svg
John FogertyYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
John MellencampYes check.svgYes check.svg
Jurassic 5Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Keb' Mo'Yes check.svg
Neil YoungYes check.svg
Patti Scialfa Yes check.svg
Pearl JamYes check.svgYes check.svg
Peter FramptonYes check.svg
R.E.M.Yes check.svgYes check.svg
Tracy Chapman Yes check.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.