More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour

The More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour[1]is a concert tour by American recording artist Diana Ross. Primarily visiting the United States and Canada, the tour showcases Ross' greatest hits that span her nearly 50 years in the music industry. The tour was well received by critics and fans. The first leg of the tour earned over four million dollars, finishing at 66th place on Pollstar's "Top 100 North American Tours".[2]

More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour
Tour by Diana Ross
Promotional poster for the tour
Start dateMay 15, 2010 (2010-05-15)
End dateApril 28, 2012 (2012-04-28)
Legs5
No. of shows76 in North America
Diana Ross concert chronology

Background

The tour was announced in March 2010 as a summer tour, visiting over 17 cities in the United States.[3] Due to public demand, the tour was expanded in the fall of 2010 to include additional dates in the U.S. and Canada. Further expansion came in 2011 with an additional 17 dates planned. To introduce the tour, Ross stated, "We work our way up: The ’60s — The Supremes — the 70's and the ’80s and 'I’m Coming Out' [...] The music is timeless, I must say, especially the Motown music; it's timeless and it's really special."[4]

Set list

2010[5][6]

Leg 1

  1. "The Boss"
  2. "More Today Than Yesterday"
  3. "Reflections"
  4. "Come See About Me"1
  5. "You Can't Hurry Love"
  6. "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
  7. "Stop! In the Name of Love"
  8. "It's Hard for Me to Say"
  9. "Love Child"
  10. Medley: "I'm Coming Out" / "Upside Down"
  11. "Touch Me in the Morning"
  12. "It's My House"
  13. "What About Love"
  14. Medley: "Love Hangover" / "Take Me Higher" / "Ease on Down the Road"
  15. "The Look of Love"
  16. "Fine and Mellow"
  17. "Don't Explain"
  18. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  19. "Chain Reaction"1
  20. "Endless Love"
  21. "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
  22. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
  23. "I Will Survive"
Encore
  1. "Missing You"1 (contains excerpts from "You Are Not Alone")
  2. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
  3. "I Love You (That's All That Really Matters)"

1Performed at select dates


Leg 2

  1. "I'm Coming Out"
  2. "More Today Than Yesterday"
  3. "My World Is Empty Without You"
  4. "Where Did Our Love Go"
  5. "Baby Love"
  6. "Stop! In the Name of Love"
  7. "You Can't Hurry Love"
  8. "Love Child"
  9. "The Boss"
  10. "Upside Down"
  11. "Touch Me in the Morning"
  12. "It's My House"
  13. "Love Hangover"
  14. "The Look of Love"
  15. "Good Morning Heartache"
  16. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  17. "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
  18. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Encore
  1. "I Will Survive"
  2. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
2011[7]
  1. "I'm Coming Out"
  2. "More Today Than Yesterday"
  3. "My World Is Empty Without You"
  4. "Where Did Our Love Go"
  5. "Baby Love"
  6. "Stop! In the Name of Love"
  7. "You Can't Hurry Love"
  8. "Love Child"
  9. "The Boss"
  10. "Upside Down"
  11. "Touch Me in the Morning"
  12. "It's My House"
  13. Medley: "Love Hangover" / "Take Me Higher" / "Ease on Down the Road"
  14. "The Look of Love"
  15. "Fine and Mellow"
  16. "Don't Explain"
  17. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  18. "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
  19. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
  20. "I Will Survive"
Encore
  1. "I Love You
  2. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
2012[8]
  1. "I'm Coming Out"
  2. "More Today Than Yesterday"
  3. "My World Is Empty Without You"
  4. "Where Did Our Love Go"
  5. "Baby Love"
  6. "Stop! In the Name of Love"
  7. "You Can't Hurry Love"
  8. "Touch Me in the Morning"
  9. "Love Child"
  10. "The Boss"
  11. "Upside Down"
  12. "It's My House"
  13. Medley: "Love Hangover" / "Take Me Higher" / "Ease on Down the Road"
  14. "Fine and Mellow"
  15. "Don't Explain"
  16. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  17. "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
  18. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
  19. "I Will Survive"
Encore
  1. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
North America—Leg 1[9][10][11][12]
May 15, 2010BostonUnited StatesWang Theatre
May 16, 2010MashantucketMGM Grand Theater
May 18, 2010Red BankCount Basie Theatre
May 19, 2010New York CityRadio City Music Hall
May 21, 2010Atlantic CityCircus Maximus Theater
May 25, 2010North BethesdaMusic Center at Strathmore
May 27, 2010ChicagoChicago Theatre
May 28, 2010ClevelandState Theatre
May 29, 2010DetroitFox Theatre
May 31, 2010TorontoCanadaRoy Thomson Hall
June 2, 2010KnoxvilleUnited StatesTennessee Theatre
June 4, 2010AtlantaChastain Park Amphitheater
June 5, 2010[A]MemphisMemphis Botanic Garden
June 6, 2010St. LouisFox Theatre
June 9, 2010Los AngelesNokia Theatre L.A. Live
June 11, 2010San DiegoHumphrey's Concerts by the Bay
June 12, 2010SaratogaMountain Winery Amphitheater
North America—Leg 2[13]
September 11, 2010CalgaryCanadaStampede Corral
September 14, 2010BrookvilleUnited StatesTilles Center for the Performing Arts
September 15, 2010AlbanyPalace Theatre
September 17, 2010OrilliaCanadaCasino Rama Entertainment Centre
September 18, 2010
September 21, 2010DaytonUnited StatesMead Theatre
November 12, 2010ParadiseThe Colosseum at Caesars Palace
November 13, 2010
November 16, 2010NaplesNaples Philharmonic Center for the Arts
November 17, 2010SarasotaVan Wezel Performing Arts Hall
November 19, 2010MelbourneKing Center for the Performing Arts
November 20, 2010ClearwaterRuth Eckerd Hall
November 21, 2010HollywoodHard Rock Live
North America—Leg 3
February 25, 2011ChoctawUnited StatesThe Arena at Golden Moon
February 26, 2011Bossier CityRiverdome
February 27, 2011AustinMoody Theater
March 1, 2011HoustonVerizon Wireless Theater
March 2, 2011DallasMajestic Theatre
March 4, 2011JacksonvilleMoran Theater
March 5, 2011GreenvillePeace Concert Hall
March 7, 2011CharlestonDock Street Theatre
March 9, 2011CharlotteMcGlohon Theatre
March 11, 2011DurhamDurham Performing Arts Center
March 12, 2011[B]Washington, D.C.Washington Convention Center
March 13, 2011PoughkeepsieBardavon 1869 Opera House
March 15, 2011EnglewoodBergen Performing Arts Center
March 16, 2011HartfordMortensen Hall
March 18, 2011StamfordPalace Theatre
March 19, 2011Atlantic CityCircus Maximus Theater
March 20, 2011Staten IslandSt. George Theatre
North America—Leg 4[14][15]
September 9, 2011IndioUnited StatesFantasy Springs Special Events Center
September 11, 2011TemeculaPechanga Showroom Theater
September 13, 2011San DiegoHumphrey's Concerts by the Bay
September 14, 2011LivermoreWente Vineyards Outdoor Theatre
September 16, 2011San FranciscoGolden Gate Theatre
September 17, 2011San RafaelMarin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium
September 19, 2011Salt Lake CityEnergySolutions Arena
September 20, 2011DenverWells Fargo Theatre
September 22, 2011ConchoLucky Star Casino Events Center
September 23, 2011ThackervilleGlobal Event Center
September 27, 2011ColumbusOhio Theatre
September 28, 2011RochesterRochester Auditorium
September 30, 2011Wilkes-BarreKirby Center for Performing Arts
October 1, 2011ReadingSovereign Performing Arts Center
October 2, 2011MorristownMayo Performing Arts Center
October 4, 2011WorcesterHanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
North America—Leg 5[8][16]
February 23, 2012HollywoodUnited StatesHard Rock Live
February 24, 2012St. PetersburgMahaffey Theater
February 25, 2012[C]OrlandoUniversal Music Plaza Stage
February 27, 2012NaplesNaples Philharmonic Center for the Arts
February 28, 2012Fort PierceSunrise Theatre
March 1, 2012AtlantaFox Theatre
March 2, 2012NashvilleRyman Auditorium
March 3, 2012CherokeeHarrah's Cherokee Event Center
March 22, 2012Los AngelesNokia Theatre L.A. Live
April 21, 2012BiloxiBeau Rivage Theatre
April 22, 2012MemphisOrpheum Theatre
April 24, 2012IndianapolisMurat Theatre
April 26, 2012LouisvilleLouisville Palace
April 27, 2012HammondThe Venue at Horseshoe Casino
April 28, 2012[D]St. LouisPeabody Opera House
Festivals and other miscellaneous appearances
A This concert was a part of the "Live at the Garden" concert series[17]
B This concert was a part of the "25th Annual Leukemia Ball"[citation needed]
C This concert was a part of "Universal Studios Mardi Gras"[18]
D This concert is a part of the "Young Variety Night of the Rising Stars"[19]
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
September 15, 2011Yountville, CaliforniaLincoln TheatreCancelled

Box office score data

VenueCityTickets sold / availableGross revenue
Radio City Music HallNew York City5,974 / 5,974 (100%)$519,335[20]
Circus Maximus TheaterAtlantic City3,155 / 3,169 (99%)$253,323[21][22]
Chicago TheatreChicago3,517 / 3,517 (100%)$277,071[23]
Fox TheatreDetroit3,232 / 4,493 (72%)$209,501[24]
Nokia Theatre L.A. LiveLos Angeles5,397 / 5,728 (94%)$351,196[25]
The Colosseum at Caesars PalaceParadise6,439 / 8,069 (80%)$480,680[26]
Ruth Eckerd HallClearwater1,965 / 1,965 (100%)$167,106[27]
RiverdomeBossier City1,338 / 1,338 (100%)$143,462[28]
Durham Performing Arts CenterDurham2,642 / 2,642 (100%)$192,347[29]
Sovereign Performing Arts CenterReading1,328 / 1,774 (75%)$130,850[30]
Fox TheatreAtlanta3,793 / 4,412 (86%)$260,975[31]
Ryman AuditoriumNashville2,263 / 2,263 (100%)$233,311[31]
Harrah's Cherokee Event CenterCherokee2,671 / 3,000 (89%)$256,045[32]
The Venue at Horseshoe CasinoHammond2,350 / 2,516 (93%)$187,640[33]
TOTAL46,064 / 50,860 (90%)$3,662,842

Critical reception

The first leg of the tour received positive feedback from music critics. Jim Farber (New York Daily News) praised the performance at the Radio City Music Hall noting, "In fact, the show found her quite engaged, banishing the cynicism so many well-seasoned stars betray on their nine millionth run through the hits. (If you want to see that sort of cynicism, buy a ticket to the next Aretha Franklin concert). By contrast, Ross seemed entirely present, delivering full versions of the hits instead of the usual bum's rush of medleys. Then again, most of these songs last no more than 3 minutes, so that wasn't exactly a Herculean feat."[34] Emily Stokes (Financial Times) gave the same concert four out of five stars. She wrote, "A final rendition of "You Are Not Alone" secured her place as the fairy godmother of Motown. "If you need me, call me", she advised the audience, before leaving the stage to change out of her final, silver dress."[35]

Jane Stevenson (Toronto Sun) gave the performance at the Roy Thomson Hall four out of five stars writing, "Even her eyes were big as she stared out into the audience and took them through her impressive 50-year career of Motown soul, blues, gospel, disco, and pop starting with the ho-hum late ‘70s hit The Boss and before quickly moving into Supremes era-gold like "More Today Than Yesterday", Reflections, You Can’t Hurry Love, Stop In The Name of Love, You Keep Me Hanging On, and the granddaddy of them all – Love Child."[6] Mark Jordan (Go Memphis) described Ross' performance at the Memphis Botanic Garden "regal". He further commented, "And at the center of it all was Ross — commanding the stage, pulling off quick costume changes, and keeping the show's breakneck pace on time — setting a pace that would have left even her younger, modern-day successors like Beyoncé winded."[36]

Greg Haymes (Times Union) stated Ross throw out her "diva" attitude for the concert at the Palace Theatre. He wrote, "Ross was in fine voice throughout the evening, and she got sensuous and sultry with Bert Bacharach's classic 'The Look of Love' and a pair of Billie Holiday gems -- the bluesy 'Fine and Mellow' and 'Don't Explain'—but she didn't really make them her own the way she did with 'Touch Me in the Morning.'[37] Those who attended the show at Hard Rock Live agreed with Veda Jo Jenkins (The Palm Beach Post). She stated, "From the club classic to the love ballads like "Touch Me in the Morning", Ross’ performance was old school. No fanfare, no big video screens with hi-def graphics, just her solo with an outrageous horn section that truly accentuated her voice and the mood."[38]

References

External links