User blog:BeccaSchmecca/Paul Thibert in Real Life: 1996 Tour

1996 Tour was the third headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Paul Thibert, in support of his third studio album 1996. The tour began on June 11, 2016 in San Diego and concluded on February 5, 2017 in Lyon, comprising 74 concerts.

Background and development
The tour was announced in January 2016. Tickets went on sale in early February of that year. Each show started between 6:00 and 8:00 in the evening.

Reaction
A reviewer from The San Diego Union-Tribune says, "The concert reached the next level with the new selection, "Holding Back", a standout dance anthem from the LP that shows just how much heart and soul Thibert brings to the party, especially with the right material." A Clarion Herald journalist who attended the New Orleans show said that Thibert "made Amir Haddad proud with a stunning cover of "J'ai cherché", not to mention that the band mostly made room for backing dancers". A writer for Nashville Scene stated that "Not only did Paul sing to the audience, but also connected with them. You've probably been to a concert where a worldwide sensation came off as trying to be some sort of higher species."

Jon Bream writing for Star Tribune said, "There was never a moment during Paul's roughly 90-minute show that the crowd of over 2,000 wasn't with him every step of the way, from the synchronized jumping up and down during "Que se passe-t-il" to the heartbreak of "Wednesday" with a lone acoustic guitar to a mixed English/French rendition of "Happy Birthday" for a 12-year-old fan in the auditorium." A reviewer from the Calgary Herald said, "Thibert was soaring in many culling crowd pleasers delivered with one hell of an approach complete with a simple banter." and "his brilliant Atsushi Satō-ish voice and personality were more than enough to fill the arena." A writer from The Seattle Times who attended the concert at Seattle's Paramount Theatre said, "The Rechercher une étoile 2010 veteran proved just how much grit he has in his gymnastic tenor. His voice was in perfect shape throughout the whole show."

Tour dates

 * Notes
 * The July 6, 2016 concert in Calgary was originally scheduled to take place at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, but was relocated to Scotiabank Saddledome due to maintenance.
 * The August 3, 2016 concert in Philadelphia was part of Today's Hits Under the Stars.