The Truth Tour was the second concert tour by American recording artist Usher. Visiting Africa, North America and Europe, the tour accompanies his fourth studio album, Confessions. The tour commenced on May 21, 2004, in Johannesburg and concluded on October 15, 2004, in Hartford. It was ranked as one of the highest-grossing tours of 2004 in North America, grossing $29.1 million.
Background This was Raymond's second tour. He stated to the Daily Press: "before I get ready to put my shows together, I always go to New York. I go to Vegas. I go to Atlantic City, and I sit down at the shows, and I get some inspiration from there", Usher said. He also looks at tapes of old "Soul Train" TV shows to get ideas for choreography. Raymond enlisted stylist Tameka Foster to create his wardrobe for the tour.
Concert synopsis The tour set featured a small stage up on top of the main stage, where the band played. Usher was occupied by his eight supporting dancers. Attached to the smaller stage was a mini platform which lowered to the main stage attached by two big staircases on both sides of it. To the left, a group of circular staircases climbed to the top, and to the right, there was a fire escape replete with steps and an elevator. Usher's entrance was a short movie showing him getting dressed and walking to the concert venue, following on with him performing the opening song "Caught Up", with Usher dressed in all white while wearing an all-white glove.
The second song performed was "You Make Me Wanna...", where two dancers stayed on the top stage with Usher while two male dancers came out to the lower level with two chairs each in their hands. Each dancer threw one chair up to the top, with Usher already in hand with his own chair, following a set dance routine from the video. Following this, Usher performed "U Remind Me", where he danced by himself during a breakdown of the track doing his signature handstand that makes the initials "UR".
Next he performed "My Way" dressed in the attire from his video doing similar routines after the song begun a dance break where Usher and his dancer began breakdancing. He changed wardrobe and appears on the small stage wearing a black dress shirt, black fedora a and white studded pants singing "Follow Me". This leads "That's What It's Made For", before he goes into his next song he shows gratitude to his audience. He begins singing excerpts from "Superstar" with the help of his background singers while on top of the small stage. He walks over to the circular staircase where his mic stand is and he begins singing "Nice & Slow". The mini platform lifts him in the sky as he begins to sing "U Got it Bad". Next he introduces his eight dancers into him singing "U Don't Have to Call".
Just Blaze playing tour DJ appears on the top platform plays the next song "Throwback" that he produced. Usher walks out in Michael Vick's Atlanta Falcons jersey to sing his verse, Rico Loves joins him on stage rapping his verse. Following on with the song "Bad Girl", where Usher was dressed up in a lavender suit and came out in a chrome chair. During the song, Usher picked out a female from the crowd, transitioning to "Superstar", singing to the fan. Usher continued singing to the fan, performing "Can U Handle It?", closing the song by kissing the fan who then left the stage. A video interlude played then Usher came out sitting in a chair performing with Confessions then Kanye West joins him rap his verse from Confessions Remix. Completing another wardrobe chain he comes out in his signature outfit an Atlanta Braves fitted cap, Blazer, and Jeans singing "Burn". He finishes his performance doing the hit single "Yeah!".
Broadcasts and recordings The concert was recorded on October 2 and 3, 2004 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Showtime broadcast the show during a special titled One Night, One Star: Usher Live at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Raymond during this concert special brought out special guests Lil Jon, Ludacris, Daddy Yankee, Fat Joe, and Beyoncé to perform a dance routine to "Bad Girl" choreographed by Frank Gatson, Jr.
On September 16, 2005, the DVD of The Truth Tour: Behind The Tour was certified 7× Platinum by RIAA.
Personnel Musical director: Valdez Brantley Drums: Aaron Spears Guitars: Juan "Johnny" Najera Keyboards/MD: Arthur "Buddy" Strong Background vocalist: Sy Smith, Di Reed, BJ Sledge, Brandon Rodgers, Ryon Lovett
Opening acts JoJo Kanye West Christina Milian Cassidy
Setlist The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on August 5, 2004, at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour. "Video Sequence" "Caught Up" "You Make Me Wanna..." "U Remind Me" "My Way" "Follow Me" "That's What It's Made For" "Nice & Slow" "U Got It Bad" "Video Sequence" "U Don't Have to Call" "Throwback" "Bad Girl" "Can U Handle It?" "Superstar" "Do It to Me" "Confessions (Interlude)" / "Confessions Part II" Encore "Video Sequence" "Burn" "Yeah!"
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueAfricaMay 21, 2004JohannesburgSouth AfricaThe Dome at NorthgateMay 23, 2004Cape TownBellville VelodromeMay 25, 2004DurbanICC ArenaMay 27, 2004JohannesburgThe Dome at NorthgateEuropeJune 4, 2004StuttgartGermanyHanns-Martin-Schleyer-HalleJune 5, 2004OberhausenKönig Pilsener ArenaJune 6, 2004FrankfurtFesthalle FrankfurtJune 8, 2004CopenhagenDenmarkForum CopenhagenJune 9, 2004StockholmSwedenStockholm Globe ArenaJune 11, 2004BremenGermanyStadthalle BremenJune 12, 2004HamburgColor Line ArenaJune 13, 2004BerlinVelodromJune 14, 2004MunichKulturhalle ZenithJune 16, 2004MarseilleFranceLe Dôme de MarseilleJune 17, 2004MünchensteinSwitzerlandSt. JakobshalleJune 19, 2004ForestBelgiumForest NationalJune 20, 2004ParisFrancePalais Omnisports de Paris-BercyJune 21, 2004RotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam Ahoy SportpaleisJune 23, 2004ManchesterEnglandManchester Evening News ArenaJune 24, 2004LondonWembley ArenaJune 25, 2004June 28, 2004June 30, 2004ManchesterManchester Evening News ArenaJuly 1, 2004BirminghamNEC ArenaJuly 2, 2004GlasgowScotlandSECC Concert Hall 4July 3, 2004DublinIrelandPoint TheatreJuly 5, 2004LyonFranceHalle Tony GarnierJuly 6, 2004LilleZénith de LilleJuly 7, 2004NottinghamEnglandNottingham ArenaJuly 8, 2004LondonWembley ArenaJuly 9, 2004North AmericaSources for tour dates in North America:August 5, 2004HamptonUnited StatesHampton ColiseumAugust 6, 2004Baltimore1st Mariner ArenaAugust 7, 2004RaleighRBC CenterAugust 9, 2004TorontoCanadaAir Canada CentreAugust 10, 2004ClevelandUnited StatesCSU Convocation CenterAugust 12, 2004DallasAmerican Airlines CenterAugust 13, 2004HoustonToyota CenterAugust 14, 2004New OrleansNew Orleans ArenaAugust 17, 2004CincinnatiU.S. Bank ArenaAugust 19, 2004PhiladelphiaWachovia CenterAugust 20, 2004Washington, D.C.MCI CenterAugust 21, 2004East RutherfordContinental Airlines ArenaAugust 22, 2004BostonFleetCenterAugust 25, 2004ColumbusValue City ArenaAugust 30, 2004Los AngelesStaples CenterAugust 31, 2004GlendaleGlendale ArenaSeptember 2, 2004Los AngelesStaples CenterSeptember 3, 2004OaklandThe Arena in OaklandSeptember 4, 2004September 5, 2004Las VegasMandalay Bay Events CenterSeptember 9, 2004MinneapolisTarget CenterSeptember 10, 2004RosemontAllstate ArenaSeptember 11, 2004Auburn HillsThe Palace of Auburn HillsSeptember 12, 2004MilwaukeeBradley CenterSeptember 17, 2004MemphisFedExForumSeptember 18, 2004St. LouisSavvis CenterSeptember 19, 2004Kansas CityKemper ArenaSeptember 23, 2004MiamiAmerican Airlines ArenaSeptember 24, 2004TampaSt. Pete Times ForumSeptember 25, 2004JacksonvilleJacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaSeptember 28, 2004TallahasseeTallahassee-Leon County Civic CenterSeptember 30, 2004CharlotteCharlotte ColiseumOctober 1, 2004GreenvilleBI-LO CenterOctober 2, 2004BirminghamBJCC ArenaOctober 3, 2004AtlantaPhilips ArenaOctober 6, 2004PittsburghMellon ArenaOctober 7, 2004PhiladelphiaWachovia CenterOctober 9, 2004GreensboroGreensboro ColiseumOctober 12, 2004AlbanyPepsi ArenaOctober 13, 2004New York CityMadison Square GardenOctober 14, 2004October 15, 2004HartfordHartford Civic Center
Cancellations and rescheduled shows June 6, 2004Frankfurt, GermanyJahrhunderthalleMoved to the Festhalle FrankfurtJune 8, 2004London, EnglandWembley ArenaRescheduled to June 28, 2004June 9, 2004Copenhagen, DenmarkValby-HallenRescheduled to June 8, 2004, and moved to the Forum CopenhagenJune 23, 2004Grenoble, FranceSummumCancelledJune 24, 2004Lille, FranceZénith de LilleRescheduled to July 6, 2004June 26, 2004Dublin, IrelandPoint TheatreRescheduled to July 3, 2004August 14, 2004Columbus, OhioValue City ArenaRescheduled to August 25, 2004August 25, 2004New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana SuperdomeRescheduled to August 14, 2004, and moved to the New Orleans ArenaAugust 26, 2004Houston, TexasToyota CenterRescheduled to August 13, 2004August 31, 2004Oakland, CaliforniaThe Arena in OaklandRescheduled to September 4, 2004September 15, 2004Dallas, TexasAmerican Airlines ArenaRescheduled to August 12, 2004October 6, 2004New York City, New YorkMadison Square GardenRescheduled to October 13, 2004October 7, 2004New York City, New YorkMadison Square GardenRescheduled to October 14, 2004October 7, 2004Hartford, ConnecticutHartford Civic CenterRescheduled to October 15, 2004
Box office score data VenueCityTickets sold / AvailableGross revenue1st Mariner ArenaBaltimore11,061 / 11,061 (100%)$584,657RBC CenterRaleigh13,272 / 13,272 (100%)$583,238Air Canada CentreToronto14,678 / 14,678 (100%)$1,007,323CSU Convocation CenterCleveland10,092 / 10,092 (100%)$510,753American Airlines CenterDallas12,374 / 12,374 (100%)$653,882Toyota CenterHouston11,950 / 11,950 (100%)$695,100New Orleans ArenaNew Orleans13,498 / 13,498 (100%)$734,708U.S. Bank ArenaCincinnati10,413 / 10,413 (100%)$521,382Wachovia CenterPhiladelphia24,837 / 24,837 (100%)$1,572,338MCI CenterWashington, D.C.13,271 / 13,271 (100%)$883,562Continental Airlines ArenaEast Rutherford14,383 / 14,383 (100%)$918,219FleetCenterBoston13,870 / 13,870 (100%)$870,305Value City ArenaColumbus9,986 / 9,986 (100%)$521,625Staples CenterLos Angeles27,831 / 27,831 (100%)$1,633,339Glendale ArenaGlendale11,671 / 11,671 (100%)$638,135The Arena in OaklandOakland23,474 / 23,474 (100%)$1,293,184Mandalay Bay Events CenterLas Vegas9,232 / 9,232 (100%)$711,328Target CenterMinneapolis12,317 / 12,317 (100%)$645,493Allstate ArenaRosemont12,818 / 12,818 (100%)$746,564The Palace of Auburn HillsAuburn Hills15,226 / 15,226 (100%)$900,727Bradley CenterMilwaukee10,334 / 10,334 (100%)$594,763FedExForumMemphis12,725 / 12,725 (100%)$660,255Savvis CenterSt. Louis11,724 / 11,724 (100%)$673,086Kemper ArenaKansas City13,447 / 13,447 (100%)$700,303American Airlines ArenaMiami12,203 / 12,203 (100%)$697,882St. Pete Times ForumTampa11,184 / 11,184 (100%)$637,280Jacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville10,450 / 10,450 (100%)$614,287Charlotte ColiseumCharlotte10,082 / 10,082 (100%)$417,336Pepsi ArenaAlbany10,133 / 10,133 (100%)$520,590Madison Square GardenNew York City26,658 / 26,658 (100%)$2,026,698Hartford Civic CenterHartford10,192 / 10,192 (100%)$618,297TOTAL425,386 / 425,386 (100%)$24,786,639
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