The Tour of the Hemispheres marked the absolute zenith of Rush's complex progressive era, pushing the band's physical and musical endurance to its limits. The set list was heavily dominated by massive, technically demanding epics, prominently featuring the side-long title track "Hemispheres," the intricate instrumental "La Villa Strangiato," and a near-complete "2112." To make room for these sprawling centerpieces alongside new additions like "The Trees," the band compressed several of their early staples into a high-energy, rapid-fire encore medley of "Working Man," "Bastille Day," and "In the Mood." The immense stamina required for this tour, combined with their rapidly expanding catalog, led the band to begin making rotational changes to the set list throughout the run; a practical strategy that would become much more commonplace on future tours.