The U2 warm up threads

[danbailey80]

Just saw on a U2 message board, a quote from their stage designer saying that U2 had Glastonbury-specific rehearsals in New York in early May. Could easily be 'technical' rehearsals, given that it will of course be with different lighting/visuals etc, but could also be a sign that they're going to do something quite different to the norm, or pull a few songs out that aren't or haven't appeared on this tour.

[Wooderson]

From u2gigs

Over the last few days news has been rife that U2 have rented out the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg. Fans spotted cases with U2's name being moved in, and it has been reported by numerous fans and Canadian media agencies that U2 are filming a documentary with It Might Get Loud director Davis Guggenheim for a future remastered release of Achtung Baby; a fact confirmed by Bono to CBC News on Friday night. This follows on reports that U2 reherased much of the album in Hansa Studios several weeks ago.

Last night, numerous fans reported that U2 had rehearsed in the Burt until 11:30 PM; songs they had played included Achtung Baby live staples One, Until the End of the World, and Mysterious Ways, as well as Even Better Than the Real Thing, numerous renditions of The Fly, and Love Is Blindness. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me, Elevation, Where the Streets Have No Name, and Magnificent were also played.

Today, @tony_chiappetta on Twitter reported that U2 were once again rehearsing. They played several songs from Achtung Baby, though details as to the full rehearsals are currently sketchy. Confirmed songs include Until the End of the World, and a segue from One into Streets. The performance is ongoing, and we'll update as soon as we have more details and confirmation on today's video shoot.

Update 1: It seems that U2 may have finished. tony_chiappetta reports that there has been no music heard for quite some time and the band's drivers are waiting.

Update 2: Scratch that. After a break of about an hour and a half, @nwox on Twitter reports that U2 have resumed their rehearsals. Songs played so far incliude Even Better Than the Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, two renditions of Where the Streets Have No Name (preceeded by the Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow snippet), One, and the remix of Magnificent with a new gospel choir addition. We'll continue to update as news becomes available.

[Wooderson]

Love is Blindness at Glasto.

Come in. Your landing gear is down.

[Wooderson]

Interesting comment from Bono in Hotpress.

"Actually I was speaking to him (Chris Martin) the other night about Glastonbury and I said, "Have you any suggestions?" And he said, "Yeah, play all your B-sides!" (laughs). He says, "We're on the night after so play all your B-sides."

[poromenos]

He is taking this thing seriously.And thats a good thing

[Gnomicide]

This is starting to sound like it really could be special.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I actually can't wait. I'm not as a hardcore fan as some of you lot here, but some of the main staples are going to be incredibly special, and "glasto" moments. I'm just watching videos of Slane, Boston, Milan etc. now.

Edited June 1, 2011 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[Torcs4]

There's little doubt U2 themselves consider this to be a very, very big deal. They haven't played a festival since the mid 80s, and they will probably never play one again.

Also, haven't seen this in here...

"We are spending a lot of money on it. For U2 we have to do it. It's the biggest show on earth so we are throwing everything we can to please them. It's going to be one hell of a set because they will be playing all their favourite old songs. They'll be on-stage for two hours but I think we will allow them to do a few encores," said Eavis.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Torcs4

[Pooog]

Keep monitoring those webcams for Pyramid developments!

[the_hedge]

Latest set list from Edmonton

Venue: Commonwealth Stadium

Opening Act(s): The Fray

Main Set: Even Better Than The Real Thing, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World, All I Want Is You, Stay, Beautiful Day - Heart of Gold, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights - Singin' In The Rain, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (remix) - Discotheque, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Encore(s): One, Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

[Wooderson]

I think "Stay" will be one of the highlights of Glasto for me. Good to see it consistently in the current show.

[The Nal]

Latest set list from Edmonton

Venue: Commonwealth Stadium

Opening Act(s): The Fray

Main Set: Even Better Than The Real Thing, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World, All I Want Is You, Stay, Beautiful Day - Heart of Gold, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights - Singin' In The Rain, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy (remix) - Discotheque, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Encore(s): One, Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

[the_hedge]

I think "Stay" will be one of the highlights of Glasto for me. Good to see it consistently in the current show.

[danbailey80]

Starting to get concerned about the lack of Bad in any recent set lists or rehearsals....

[The Nal]

Starting to get concerned about the lack of Bad in any recent set lists or rehearsals....

[Wooderson]

Starting to get concerned about the lack of Bad in any recent set lists or rehearsals....

[Torcs4]

Bad is played very rarely, but pretty consistently, in that, it will pop up only a handful of times, but usually in fairly predictable places. e.g. On this US/Canada leg, it's not at all surprising to not see it getting played in, you know, Winnipeg, but far more likely later on in somewhere like Chicago or Toronto. It's kind of a 'gift' song to bigger cities or places with a long history with U2, or gigs that are considered 'special' for whatever reason. If it doesn't appear at all in gigs or soundchecks/rehearsals between now and Glastonbury, I don't think that says anything about its chances in any way. I'd say it's a very good bet for the festival. It's exactly the kind of gig they do play it at.

Edited June 2, 2011 by Torcs4

[The Nal]

it's only a snippette when they do play it, isn't it?

the tease...

[the_hedge]

You can't play Discotheque without the addition of The Lemon....

It's a good song live bit I do tend to skip it when it pops up on the old ipod.

Bad just needs to be played aty Glasto, it would be epic. My personal live staple used to be Bullet but it's not been played at all on this tour so the chances are very slim.

[danbailey80]

Bad is played very rarely, but pretty consistently, in that, it will pop up only a handful of times, but usually in fairly predictable places. e.g. On this US/Canada leg, it's not at all surprising to not see it getting played in, you know, Winnipeg, but far more likely later on in somewhere like Chicago or Toronto. It's kind of a 'gift' song to bigger cities or places with a long history with U2, or gigs that are considered 'special' for whatever reason. If it doesn't appear at all in gigs or soundchecks/rehearsals between now and Glastonbury, I don't think that says anything about its chances in any way. I'd say it's a very good bet for the festival. It's exactly the kind of gig they do play it at.

[Bobser]

I love that jingle at the beginning of Bad when played live. As soon as I hear it I scream like a girl and look like a lunatic as the song doesn't kick in for another 5 seconds or so.

[bonosbaby25]

I love that jingle at the beginning of Bad when played live. As soon as I hear it I scream like a girl and look like a lunatic as the song doesn't kick in for another 5 seconds or so.

[The Nal]

Setanta are showing U2 live at Glasto. Yes, Setanta the sports channel. Not sure how much of it they’re showing but looks like all of it!

[The Nal]

Really?

How does that work... seeing as the beeb seem to have the rights..?

[bouncing beetle]

Absolutely no idea but they've just announced it.