Tour by Dixie Chicks | |
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Associated album | Fly |
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Start date | June 1, 2000 |
End date | December 3, 2000 |
Legs | 4 |
No. of shows | 89 in North America |
Dixie Chicks concert chronology |
The Fly Tour (2000) was the debut North American concert tour by country music band The Chicks' (formerly the Dixie Chicks), performing sold-out shows in over 80 cities across Canada and the contiguous United States. The tour was primarily in-support of their sophomore album Fly (1999), as well as featuring songs from their debut album, Wide Open Spaces (1998). The Chicks would also feature several new or specially-selected songs at various stops on the tour, as well as an instrumental bluegrass “jam” piece titled “Roanoke”, alternating with another instrumental called simple “Brilliancy”.
History
[edit]Announced in mid-April 2000,[1] this was the Dixie Chicks' first headlining tour.[2][3] Moreover, the group was jumping directly to playing mostly in arenas.[1] Since the sudden jump in the group's success in 1998, they had played as a supporting act for Tim McGraw and as part of the George Strait Country Music Festival and Lilith Fair, seeking to expose themselves to diverse audiences in building a fan base.[2] The live reputation the group developed for their instrumental prowess and performance strengths[4] led to them embarking upon an ambitious, high-profile, large-venue tour of their own.[3]
Begun at the start of June 2000 with five dates in Canada, and with occasional two-week breaks in between legs, the tour was originally scheduled to end in September. However, after having grossed over $25 million for about 50 dates,[2] and averaging about 13,000 fans per show,[2] it was extended until early December,[2] when it concluded with four dates in the Chicks' native Texas.
In terms of commercial impact, LiveDaily termed the tour "a runaway success",[2] and it came at a time when the country music genre was in a box-office slump.[1][3] It represented an innovation in a business sense, as three different promoters were used, covering different geographical regions of the country, rather than the more typical use of a different local promoter at each stop.[3] Chicks management did this in order to get more consistent messaging in marketing and promotion, which itself was aided by an over $3 million national advertising campaign.[3] The comically themed commercials showed the Chicks as touring neophytes, learning how to smash banjos and tear up hotel rooms.[1] Tour sponsors were MusicCountry.com and CMT, while one dollar of each ticket sale was donated to the World Wildlife Fund.[1]
In the end, the Fly Tour grossed over $47 million,[5] with an average attendance of over 12,000.[6] It was the biggest country music tour in 2000 by any single act[4] (trailing only the joint Tim McGraw–Faith Hill Soul2Soul Tour)[7] and the sixth highest-grossing tour of any genre during the year.[5]
For 2000, the tour was nominated for Pollstar's most important award, that of Major Tour of the Year, but lost out to the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour.[8] It did however win Pollstar's Personal Manager of the Year award for the group's manager, Simon Renshaw,[8] who had negotiated the unusual promotion arrangements.[3]
The tour also had a cultural effect: the Encyclopedia of the Great Plains stated that the Fly Tour "gained a life of its own, making the Dixie Chicks a pop-cultural phenomenon, with young and enthusiastic audiences flocking" to see the group.[9]
The show
[edit]The shows themselves attracted both parents and their children.[4][10] In particular, young girls could be seen dressing as their favorite member of the trio.[4] Slogans such as "Chicks Rule!" and "Chicks Kick Ass!" were prevalent during the tour.[4][11]
Production values were emphasized for the show, with eight trucks required to haul it.[3] A six-man band backed the three Chicks.[11] Stage and show design involved members of the Cirque du Soleil team,[3] including lighting designer Luc Lafortune.[1] The stage was surrounded by a curtain that resembled a pair of jeans, complete with a working zipper.[12] Various interactive pre-show activities kept the audience busy,[12] as a huge remote-controlled mechanical fly circled over the audience.[13] Then the show began, by the zipper dropping and the curtain falling away.[11]
The Dixie Chicks' generally performed for about an hour and a half.[11] The themes of the show veered between love songs and declarations of female independence, with the opener "Ready to Run" and the climactic "Goodbye Earl" both exemplifying the latter.[14] Video screens would sometimes show the music videos that went with a song, and other times would show humorous interludes, such as the trio's own fashion disasters from the past.[14] Other stage effects included a night full of stars with a setting moon for "Cowboy Take Me Away", and bubbles representing snow falling from the rafters for "Cold Day in July".[12] The main set generally finished with what would become a furious concert staple of theirs, "Sin Wagon"; for the encores, "Goodbye Earl" – the song of the moment for Chicks fans[13] – was often performed with the three Chicks spread out among the audience in different corners of the venue,[11][12] while "Wide Open Spaces" was the occasion for a mass sing-along.[11]
By the later stages of the tour, lead singer Natalie Maines was visibly pregnant with her first child,[15] and was able to rest during the middle section of the show, which featured the trio performing numbers such as Sheryl Crow's "Strong Enough" while sitting on a couch.[12][13]
Critical reaction to the Fly Tour shows was generally positive. The New York Times called it "a slick, good-natured show that seesawed between clinging love songs and declarations of female independence."[14] Rolling Stone said that while the group "can pop and rock with conviction", at other times the show represented "stone-cold, hard-core honky tonk at its best", and that the youthful audience's roars of approval for the sisters' instrumental virtuosity – which it compared to those Eddie Van Halen got for guitar solos – was "damn near revolutionary".[11] Rolling Stone did criticize the "overly ambitious stage and lighting design" for detracting from the on-stage intimacy between the three group members and their backing band,[11] while The University News praised it, saying the show "appealed to the eyes with its unique stage and interesting special effects."[12] The Daily Universe's reviewer called the group "the most exciting country-and-western group I have ever seen,"[16] while KAOS2000 magazine said "this trio of hotties know how to put on a show and definitely had control of the big arena stage."[15] A Citysearch.com writer said that Maines' voice was not the strongest in performance, but benefited from the joint strength when combined with the sisters'.[13]
Broadcasts and recordings
[edit]The August shows at Washington, D.C.'s MCI Center were filmed and used as the basis for an NBC network special called, "Dixie Chicks: On the Fly". The special aired November 20, 2000.[17]
Opening acts
[edit]- Patty Griffin (select shows)[4]
- Ricky Skaggs (select shows)[4]
- Joe Ely (September, select shows)[6]
- Willie Nelson (October, select shows)[4]
- Grupo Vida (October, select shows)[6]
- The Maines Brothers Band (Lubbock)[18]
Setlist
[edit]- "Ready to Run"
- "There's Your Trouble"
- "Hello Mr. Heartache"
- "Don't Waste Your Heart"
- "Without You"
- "If I Fall You're Going Down with Me"
- "I Can Love You Better"
- "You Were Mine"
- "Give It Up or Let Me Go"
- "Video Sequence"
- "Let Him Fly"
- "Heartbreak Town"
- "Strong Enough"
- "Brilliancy" (and/or "Roanoke" with a snippet of "Dixie Chicken")
- "Let 'Er Rip"
- "Tonight the Heartache's on Me"
- "Cold Day in July"
- "Some Days You Gotta Dance"
- "Cowboy Take Me Away"
- "Sin Wagon"
- Encore
There were some minor changes to this order depending on the venue and the opening act. "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)", "Loving Arms", "Truth No.2", and "Merry Christmas From the Family" were also played during the tour.
Tour dates
[edit]Date | City | Country | Venue | Tickets Sold / Available | Revenue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America[1][2][19] | |||||
June 1, 2000 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena | ||
June 2, 2000 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan Place | |||
June 3, 2000 | Edmonton | Skyreach Centre | |||
June 4, 2000 | Calgary | Pengrowth Saddledome | |||
June 8, 2000 | Vancouver | General Motors Place | |||
June 9, 2000 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | ||
June 10, 2000 | Tacoma | Tacoma Dome | 20,018 / 20,018 | $777,632 | |
June 11, 2000 | Portland | Rose Garden Arena | 15,636 / 15,636 | $607,184 | |
June 15, 2000 | Sacramento | ARCO Arena | |||
June 16, 2000 | San Jose | San Jose Arena | |||
June 17, 2000 | Anaheim | Arrowhead Pond | |||
June 18, 2000 | Phoenix | America West Arena | |||
June 19, 2000 | Anaheim | Arrowhead Pond | |||
June 22, 2000 | San Diego | Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl | |||
June 23, 2000 | Las Vegas | Thomas & Mack Center | |||
June 24, 2000 | Salt Lake City | Delta Center | |||
June 25, 2000 | Nampa | Idaho Center Arena | |||
June 29, 2000 | North Little Rock | Alltel Arena | |||
June 30, 2000 | Lafayette | Cajundome | |||
July 1, 2000 | Biloxi | Mississippi Coast Coliseum | |||
July 13, 2000 | Chicago | United Center | |||
July 14, 2000 | Milwaukee | Bradley Center | |||
July 15, 2000 | Minneapolis | Target Center | |||
July 16, 2000 | Fargo | Fargodome | |||
July 19, 2000 | New York City | Radio City Music Hall | |||
July 20, 2000 | |||||
July 21, 2000 | Albany | Pepsi Arena | |||
July 22, 2000 | Worcester | Worcester's Centrum Centre | |||
July 23, 2000 | Buffalo | HSBC Arena | |||
August 3, 2000 | Denver | Pepsi Center | |||
August 4, 2000 | Kansas City | Kemper Arena | 14,426 / 14,426 | $557,078 | |
August 5, 2000 | Oklahoma City | Myriad Convention Center Arena | |||
August 6, 2000 | Lubbock | United Spirit Arena | |||
August 10, 2000 | Dallas | Reunion Arena | 27,456 / 27,456 | $1,063,847 | |
August 11, 2000 | |||||
August 12, 2000 | Austin | Frank Erwin Center | |||
August 13, 2000 | Houston | Compaq Center | |||
August 17, 2000 | Louisville | Freedom Hall | 15,974 / 15,974 | $629,952 | |
August 18, 2000 | Auburn Hills | The Palace of Auburn Hills | |||
August 19, 2000 | |||||
August 20, 2000 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre | ||
August 24, 2000 | Washington, D.C. | United States | MCI Center | ||
August 25, 2000 | |||||
August 26, 2000 | Winston-Salem | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum | |||
August 27, 2000 | Atlanta | Philips Arena | |||
September 7, 2000 | Hampton | Hampton Coliseum | |||
September 8, 2000 | Charlotte | Charlotte Coliseum | 15,271 / 15,271 | $656,175 | |
September 9, 2000 | Nashville | Gaylord Entertainment Center | 15,285 / 15,285 | $692,630 | |
September 10, 2000 | Birmingham | BJCC Arena | |||
September 14, 2000 | Richmond | Richmond Coliseum | |||
September 15, 2000 | Raleigh | Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena | |||
September 16, 2000 | Roanoke | Roanoke Civic Center | |||
September 17, 2000 | Nashville | Gaylord Entertainment Center | |||
September 28, 2000 | Sunrise | National Car Rental Center | |||
September 29, 2000 | Tampa | Ice Palace | 13,480 / 16,286 | $646,540 | |
September 30, 2000 | Orlando | TD Waterhouse Centre | |||
October 1, 2000 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum | |||
October 6, 2000 | Moline | MARK of the Quad Cities | |||
October 7, 2000 | Ames | Hilton Coliseum | 11,521 / 11,521 | $546,939 | |
October 8, 2000 | Lincoln | Bob Devaney Sports Center | |||
October 10, 2000 | Valley Center | Britt Brown Arena | |||
October 12, 2000 | Columbus | Value City Arena | |||
October 13, 2000 | University Park | Bryce Jordan Center | |||
October 14, 2000 | Philadelphia | First Union Spectrum | 13,645 / 13,645 | $648,826 | |
October 15, 2000 | Pittsburgh | Mellon Arena | |||
October 19, 2000 | Cincinnati | Firstar Center | |||
October 20, 2000 | Knoxville | Thompson–Boling Arena | 14,647 / 14,647 | $611,929 | |
October 21, 2000 | Charleston | Charleston Civic Center | |||
October 22, 2000 | Indianapolis | Conseco Fieldhouse | 14,698 / 14,698 | $666,817 | |
October 26, 2000 | Champaign | Assembly Hall | |||
October 27, 2000 | St. Louis | Savvis Center | |||
October 28, 2000 | Memphis | Pyramid Arena | |||
October 29, 2000 | New Orleans | New Orleans Arena | |||
November 9, 2000 | Lexington | Rupp Arena | |||
November 10, 2000 | Cleveland | Gund Arena | 16,639 / 16,639 | $794,331 | |
November 12, 2000 | Chicago | United Center | |||
November 13, 2000 | Saint Paul | Xcel Energy Center | |||
November 16, 2000 | Manhattan | Bramlage Coliseum | |||
November 17, 2000 | Denver | Pepsi Center | |||
November 19, 2000 | Phoenix | America West Arena | |||
November 20, 2000 | San Diego | Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl | |||
November 21, 2000 | Los Angeles | Staples Center | |||
November 26, 2000 | Oakland | The Arena in Oakland | |||
November 27, 2000 | Bakersfield | Bakersfield Centennial Garden | |||
November 30, 2000 | San Antonio | Alamodome | 15,152 / 15,152 | $673,706 | |
December 1, 2000 | Houston | Compaq Center | |||
December 2, 2000 | College Station | Reed Arena | 9,872 / 9,872 | $365,264 | |
December 3, 2000 | Fort Worth | Tarrant County Convention Center Arena | 12,268 / 12,268 | $587,489 |
- Cancellations and rescheduled shows
June 12, 2000 | Nashville, Tennessee | Tennessee State Fairgrounds | Cancelled. Concert was originally a part of the Fan Fair |
August 19, 2000 | Toronto | Air Canada Centre | Rescheduled to August 20, 2000 |
August 20, 2000 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Van Andel Arena | Cancelled |
August 24, 2000 | Philadelphia | First Union Center | Cancelled |
September 9, 2000 | Greenville, South Carolina | BI-LO Center | Cancelled |
October 23, 2000 | Evansville, Indiana | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Cancelled |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Evans, Rob (April 13, 2000). "Dixie Chicks Step Up To Headliner Status". LiveDaily. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Evans, Rob (September 26, 2000). "Dixie Chicks to keep Fly tour alive into December". LiveDaily. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gray, Michael (April 14, 2000). "Dates Confirmed for "The Dixie Chicks Fly Tour"". CMT News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Dixie Chicks on Saturday Night Country". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2000-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ a b Hiatt, Brian (December 28, 2000). "Tina Turner, 'NSYNC Had Year's Top-Grossing Tours". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Historical Dixie Chicks". Dixie Chicks Official Website. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ Dickerson, James L. (2001). Faith Hill: Piece of My Heart. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0-312-28195-1. pp. 139–140.
- ^ a b "Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Winners Archives – 2000". Pollstar. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ David J. Wishart, ed. (2004). "Dixie Chicks". Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-4787-7. p. 537.
- ^ Kaufman, Leslie (2000-08-06). "Take Me Out To the Rock Fest". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Skanse, Richard (July 21, 2000). "Live Review: The Dixie Chicks Take Manhattan". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Dohrman, Rebecca (2000-11-02). "Dixie Chicks Let It Snow At Savvis". The University News. Retrieved 2008-10-23.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d Glasen, Holly (June 18, 2000). "Review: Dixie Chicks At ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California". LiveDaily. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c Pareles, Jon (2000-07-24). "If Your Man Treats You Bad, It's Great to Break Loose but Even Better to Get Even". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ a b Anderson, Philip (2000). "Concert Review: Dixie Chicks 11/26/00". KAOS2000. Retrieved 2006-03-25.
- ^ Merrill, Clay (2000-06-27). "The Dixie Chicks in Salt Lake City" (fee required). The Daily Universe.[dead link]
- ^ Mason, Dave (November 20, 2000). "Dixie Chicks do the tube". The Daily News. Vol. 146, no. 323. Bowling Green, Kentucky: News Publishing, LLC. p. 3B. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ Davis, John (August 7, 2000). "Chicks fly high for home crowd". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Morris Communications. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ Flippo, Chet (April 14, 2000). "Dixie Chicks Gear Up For Massive Road Trip". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on November 20, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
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