Vertigo Tour Fans

June 19, 2005 - London, England - Twickenhaim Stadium

2005-07-06T23:42:00.000+01:00

Second London night. At the end of a very hot day, the heath goes higher as the boys go on stage. On a day when Aung San Suu Kyi celebrats her 60th aniversary, a snipet of 'Walk On' is included on the set.

Set:
Vertigo
All Because of You
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day - Blackbird
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still - Happy Birthday - Walk On
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You - Take Me to the Clouds Above
Yahweh
Vertigo - London Calling

In The Clash's home, a snippet of 'London Calling' closes the night. 'One' is dedicated to Bob Geldof, who is in attendance tonight.

June 18, 2005 - London, England - Twickenhaim Stadium

2005-07-06T23:25:00.000+01:00

Tonight there are no surprises on the set. The great thing...is that BBC2 is covering the show, and from 'City of Blinding Lights' till the end of the show, it's broadcasted live on the radio.

Set:
Vertigo
I Will Follow
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day - Here Comes the Sun
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
All I Want Is You
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Yahweh
Vertigo

June 15, 2005 - Manchester,England - Manchester Stadium

2005-07-06T23:07:00.000+01:00

Second night, second surprise in the set. 'All I Want Is You' makes it's debut in the tour, after been rehearsed in Germany. The set is also bigger then usual.

Set:
Vertigo
I Will Follow
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
All I Want Is You
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You
Yahweh
Vertigo

'I Still Haven't Found' is played for the delight of many fans. Making the set longer than usual, and maybe also because of local laws , the encore it's shorter.
Diferently from first night, tonight there are no problems while waiting in line. The previous day, several fan complained about local security, not able to keep order to those in line.

June 14, 2005 - Manchester, England - Manchester Stadium

2005-07-06T22:54:00.000+01:00

First of two nights in Manchester. We have a surprise in the set. 'I Will Follow' is played for the first time in this tour. And having Joy Division's bassist in attendance tonight, and because it's their hometown, Bono sings part of 'Transmission' and 'Love Will Tear us Apart' during 'With or Without You'.

Set:
Vertigo
I Will Follow
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You - Transmission - Love Will Tear Us Apart
All Because Of You
Yahweh
Vertigo

Bono mention's Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's efforts leading to the G8 cancelattion of $40 billion of third world debts.

June 13, 2005 - Cologne, Germany - TV TOTAL

2005-07-06T22:30:00.000+01:00

U2 perform live for a German TV show - TV Total. U2 play 'City of Blinding Lights' (released today) and 'Vertigo' and give a 10 minuts interview to Stefan Raab. A relaxed interview, with no big details. Bono makes the initial count to 'Vertigo' in German. The show is broadcasted on that same night.

June 12, 2005 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Schalke Arena

2005-06-18T22:33:00.000+01:00

2nd european gig. The first one 'eye witnessed' by members of Vertigo Tour fans. What an amazing show. For the first time, the 'everyone's' usually used after 'Arcade Fire' aren't used, and 'Vertigo' kicks OFF with no warnings. A great show witnessed by 60.000 souls in a gret venue.

Set:

Vertigo - Bullet with Butterfly Wings
Beautiful Day - Here Comes the Sun
Cry - The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Please
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
All Because Of You
Yahweh
Party Girl
Vertigo - Stories for Boys

Snippet of a Smashing Pumpkins song at the end of 'Vertigo'.
There's no fan on stage for 'Misterious Ways', but Bono and Edge make it right dancing together. Adam messed up a bit during 'Miracle Drug', and Larry ended up loosing himself on the rhytmic section..but nothing too serious. 'Running to Stand Still' is dedicated to the 'United Nations'. 'party Girl' is played full force for the first time. Bono misses the lyrics, but Edge helps him, and after that Larry joins in with the drums and there's even Edge doing the solo.
Before the gig, songs like 'Crumbs' , 'All I Want is You' and 'Original of the Species' were rehearsed, but none of those made it to the final set.

Reviews:

Review and photo by Kite

June 12 is a day I won't forget! My first U2 gig EVER....expectations were high. And I was never let down. What an extraordinary show it was.
The venue was amazing for itself. The Auf Shalke Arena is huge, with 60.000 people. The huge crowd witnessed a not so great performance from The Thrills, but had an amazing warm up with FEEDER. Great one. But amazing was to see Dallas Schoo get on stage and start tuning Edge's toys. From that moment ON, all just went UP. Arcade Fire...I knew it was going to blow any second. I was waiting for the EVERYONE...EVERYONE. but instead, I totally freaked out with the kick out of Vertigo....'Unos, dos, tres...catooooorce'! The arena was on fire and ready to burn for long. It was very nice Bono sang a few lines from Smashing Pumpkins 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings'. 'Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in the cage' sang a few times, and Vertigo was over. Then it was the normal set. Beautiful Day came out, not so strong like I thought, but ?Cry/Electric Co? soon brought the madness again?.those old pearl are fantastic. It?s amazing to see how tunes with 20 years still work out so well live. Then an amazing 'Elevation' with the fantastic effect of the 'ehuuuuu uuuuuus' at the beginning, the crowd singing all together. 'New Year's Day'. Now THAT was a moment that made me shiver. I hold that song very dear to me. And I was holding a sign saying: 'THE BOYS PLAY ROCK AND ROLL/CAN THIS GIRL PLAY THE DRUMS? NEW YEAR'S DAY' so once it started I just jumped all over and held the sign up high. I swear in a few seconds, Larry was looking straight in my direction, probably trying to figure out what my crazy sign had written. Coincidence or not, at the end of NYD Bono crossed the catwalk, and came towards me....first looked at a sign of two fans on my right...and then he saw my sign. and stared at it for maybe 15 seconds...scratching his beard with a very thoughtful face, then looking at me...it was unbelievable. Then he just turned around and made a sign for the band...'City' started. I love this tune. I guess it has been growing a lot since the tour started, and has been conquering a great meaning. ?Miracle Drug?. Adam messed up a bit, and the boss, Larry Mullen Jr?looked at him willing to break his neck. Larry ended up loosing himself on the rhythm section, but nothing very serious. I love this tune on the album. But the thing is?it doesn?t work well live. Maybe over production on studio?I don?t know. But I definitely felt something was ?missing? there. A great light effect at the end. A green sign of a heart beat crosses the big screen?as it slows down and stops?.when Bono introduces the next song: ?This is for my father Bob?. ?Sometimes You Can?t Make It On Your Own?. WOW. This song is so human, so perfect, and reaches so high?you feel a naked heart on stage?really. It?s a highlight of the show for me. Bono reached the high note perfectly. What a voice. He is in a great vocal shape.
From ?Sometimes? stillness to ?Love and Peace?s wildness?.God..this tune is so fantastic and mixed me so much?that I can?t even quite remember what I felt or what I did during the song. This may be a bit worrying though. And talking of military beat, straight off to ?Sunday Bloody Sunday?. I thought ?Sunday? could rest this tour. I apologize now. It?s great and has a great soul live. Everybody sang along. During the slow part of it, Bono makes everybody think about his CoeXisT band. Religious union. All equal under the eyes of God?all sons of Abraham. Off to ?Bullet?. It?s a strong full message, ending with a humble surrendered Bono on his knees, using a snippet of a POP track, ?Please, please, please?get up of your knees?. Very strong moment of the gig. It?s easy to get carried away with it. ?Running??.Bono starting OFF with the harmonica it?s a unique moment as well. Very relaxing?.takes you back there to the nostalgic days of The Joshua Tree. Not as powerful as the live version of it during Zoo TV, which ended with those screamed halleluiahs, but this sort of whispered version has a very deep magic on it. This part ended with the ?human rights? being showed in the screen.
A short break, and they come back with ?Pride?. Maybe the one I liked less. Apart from the nice singing from the crowd, with the ?oh oh oh oh?oh oh oh ohs?, the song is easy to dismiss, specially if compared to what was coming next. The living hymn, the sacred place immortalized in a song, the one and only ?Streets?.
No words to express what happened there. It?s U2?s musical symbol and that?s all. A crazy crowd danced and jumped and sang along all the words?great light effects as well. I love this ?africanized? version of it. But, before the breack for the encore, time to relax a bit with another great classic: ONE. Time to appeal for humanism and solidarity from the crowd. Because? we are more powerful when we act as ONE?. Great momentum, specially the cell phones raised up high. Beautiful.
Short break?and we needed it?because we had to get ready for the best part of the whole set..the AB block.
?Zoo Station? DAMN?this is the tune I never thought I would hear live. This tour resurrected it. And in a very wonderfull way. I was taken back there?to 92/93. Bono?s image, ?kicking? the air?.fantastic. Great visual as well.. on to ?The Fly?. This tune sounds better then ever to me. Just came to prove Edge is getting better every single day. That man is really a show man. Edge was right near to me and I could see him hitting those strings with a controlled rage?fantastic. Bono came from the opposite b stage to join Edge to ?Mysterious Ways?. No fan on stage to dance, but the boys did well. Edge left?and Adam?s bass couldn?t disguise what was coming next?another smashing classic from U2?an eternal one??With or Without You?. This tune makes me shake for being so mysteriously good. Bono just really connected with the audience, first with eye contact, then literally jumping to the fence and holding the fans hands.
It was great. He was standing so close to me that I could see his big blue eyes?! He left as the song ended?head to the main stage..and ?All Because of You?. This tune may be called simple, common, whatever. But the truth is it works perfectly well live and everybody jumps and sings and it?s a great feeling at the entire venue. Bono and Larry went to one b stage, while Edge and Adam came to the other?and they started ?Yahweh?. The live acoustic performance of it makes the album version sound like a b side. It showes that, when a song is good, maybe the best we have to do it?s to totally undress it, take all away and leave it simply with it?s naked beauty. That?s what I felt with ?Yahweh?. Then Bono said this was a very special occasion, because of the great things happening with the G8 and forgiving the debts of the poor countries (and for a second I thought: WOW?we will have the premiere of ?Crumbs?)..but no..Bono just said: ?Let?s sing ?Party Girl?. It was great?some mistakes though..but nothing worrying. Bono forgot the lyrics and went to Edge. Then, Larry joined them playing the drums. I freaked out. I thought they would do it acoustic?and they were doing it FULL FORCE?.! Edge even did the solo. Amazing. And?.for the grand finale, sadly it wasn?t 40 or ?Bad??but ?Vertigo? came to show ?the end if as fun as the start?.

What can I say? It was great..it was grand. The band seemed in a great mood. Adam was the real Jazz Man we know. Always smiling, with his very own coolness. He is great. Edge was better then ever?.Larry just knocked me out?and Bono?s voice? Oh dear?words for what? It sounded strongly perfect. To those of you waiting to see U2 live, I have only one advice: ?Get ready?to leave the ground?

Photos by Kite

June 10, 2005 - Brussels, Belgium - Roi Baudouin Stadium

2005-06-18T22:04:00.000+01:00

Official kick start of the European leg. The huge LED video wall behind the band makes dazzling visual effects. Fantastic. The set list came with a few changes...not many.

Set:

Vertigo
Until the End of the World
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day - Here Comes the Sun
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
Vertigo - Stories For Boys

'Vertigo' it's the official opener for Europe. '40' at the end was replaced by a second 'Vertigo' closing the gig. 'Until' is added to the set, and 'Running' is played acoustically.

Pictures from U2Tours.com

June 9, 2005 - Brussels, Belgium - Roi Baudouin Stadium

2005-06-18T21:38:00.000+01:00

When everybody thought U2 were going to use their 'OFF' days between the American and the European leg, resting...U2 showed there's no such thing as days OFF when they are on tour...so better rehearse a lot...and see if all it set for Europe.
They did a full dress rehearsal on the eve of starting the european leg, showing some of the parts from their American shows would remain on the set.

Set:

Vertigo
Until the End of the World
The Electric Co.
Elevation
New Year's Day (stopped)
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh

And...for the first time...images from what will be....the major...the beautiful beast...the european stage! The 'bomb shelter' or elipse was replaced by two b stages and two catwalks and the LEDS courtins replaced by a huge screen that looks like a Popmart take two!

(Thank You U2Achtung)

May 28, 2005 - Boston, EUA - Fleet Center

2005-06-18T20:51:00.000+01:00

If you are going to close the american leg, you'd better close it with a golden key. And...that's exactly what happened. 'Wild Hoprses' is played live full version for the very fisrt time since 1992, and 'Until' and 'Party Girl' make it on this party night.

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo
Elevation
The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh - Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day - Here Comes the Sun
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
The Fly
Until the End of the World
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
All Because of You
Yahweh
Party Girl
Vertigo

Before 'Miracle Drug', Bono mentioned again the problems that almost stopped them from going on tour, and sais they did it because they had faith on each other and on the fans.
Two kids are pulled on stage during 'Into the Heart', has it has been happening on the American 1st leg. They decide at the last minute to replace '40' with 'Party Girl' and a second 'Vertigo', and Bono sprayes the fans with champagne during 'Party Girl'. U2 say goodbye to America for now. They will be back in the fall. Right now..Off to Europe.

Pictures from U2Tours.com

May 26, 2005 - Boston, EUA - Fleet Center

2005-05-27T12:46:00.000+01:00

Second night in Boston, surprises are back. 'Until' has it's second apearance in the tour, and for the very first time...one of the most incredible and old songs from the band comes back. 'Out of Control' makes truth of it's own name...and drives the crowd to a very high moment.

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo - Walk This Way
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
Beautiful Day - Dream On
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
The Fly
Until the End of the World
With or Without You
Out of Control
All Because of You
Original of the Species
Bad - 40

The encore just encore tore the house down. Seemed to have been taken out of Bono's wishes. The band gave up from their set lists and decided what to play at the moment, acording to Bono's will.
A girl was brought on stage during 'Bad', taking the crowd back there to 1985 and the whole Live Aid/Bad moment 20 years ago.
'Original of The Species' was dedicated to 'everyone with babies on their bellies'.

Pictures from U2Tours

May 24, 2005 - Boston, EUA - Fleet Center

2005-05-27T12:15:00.000+01:00

U2 are back to Boston, their so called unnoficial hometown in the USA. The band was tight. The crowd was wild. This was definitely a special night. Nearly 2 hours of musical magic. A door to such a huge amount of raw feelings, that it's hard to explain. From the very first sign of 'City', till the last martial beat of '40' 'everyone was 'ready to leave the ground'.

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo - Stories for Boys
Elevation
The Electric Co.
The Ocean
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways - My Sweet Lord
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

The crowd was energic enought to set the mood incredibly high tonight and set things on fire. The band just gave it right back, and set an explosion of emotions and crazy feelings in everyone around. The cpounting for 'Vertigo' is made in Gaelic, while Bono claims 'Boston is an Irish town, not Spanish.
The rythm section was at the top of it's shape. Larry and Adam kept a defined strong beat trough the whole set. The level of energy from the audience and the sheer volume of interaction has not been topped on the tour to date.

Reviews:

Review and picture by Jay (Thank you Jay)

The heat is finally turned up in Boston!

U2 made their first appearance in Beantown tonight and what a night it was!

The crowd was very loud and very into it and the band fed right off of that.

Bono was in a very good mood, joking and laughing.
I've recently heard a fan complain that Bono didn't make eye contact and was always just out of reach from the fans outstrectched hands. But not at this show. He made eye contact with several people (myself included) and shook a few hands too. He even accepted a rose from one fan and walked along the catwalk and handed it to one lucky female sitting just up from the floor.

Adam was strutting his stuff and smiling all the while and Edge and Larry were very happy too. Mr. Mullen just shrugged and laughed when he missed a symbal during Pride.

As Bono says, "things were going off in the Bomb Shelter" tonight. The crowd was jumping up and down and singing along to every word. We were so loud in fact, that I couldn't even hear Bono sing during Sunday Bloody Sunday.

The sound was mindblowing. I don't know if it was the acoustics or if the sound technicians finally figured out the perfect instrument to voice ratio, but whatever it was, it worked.

The Ocean made another appearance (a first for my ears) and Electric Co, Love And Peace, Pride, and All Becaue Of You were extremely intense.

It was basically the same setlist as the other 3 shows I've seen but I didn't care one bit. The whole vibe of the show made up for it.

I took my 12 year old nephew with me. It was his first U2 show (my 21st) and he had a ball.

At one point Bono said, "it's good to be home." And he's right.

It's great to have U2 back in Boston.

Picture from U2.com

May 22, 2005 - Philadélphia, EUA - Wachovia Center

2005-05-23T08:35:00.000+01:00

Brilliant night, with sounds of heaven and loads of feelings. Specially tonight, the intro for 'Miracle Drug' was very touching. 'What it holds in science and technology and the idea that the world can change shape and be better. We believe God is inspiring scientists and doctors and nurses, we met someone today at the airport and this is for the little baby she is carrying...this is Miracle Drug.'

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo (Snippet of 'Stories for Boys')
Stories for Boys
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
Beautiful Day (Snippet of 'Ultraviolet')
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore):
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

As 'Beatiful Days' is close to end, Bono makes himself a 'rapper' with the lines 'We've had a great past in this band but the thing that excites us most is the future'
Fans are pulled on stage during 'Beautiful Day' and 'Mysterious Ways'. The lucky lady who got on stage during 'MW' had a long time on stage, trough a 'last time added' 'With or Without You', unscheduled on the set.

Pictures from U2Tours

May 21, 2005 - NY, EUA - Madison Square Garden

2005-05-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

The first and only gig by U2 on this beautiful magical place in NY: Madison Square Garden. And it seemed like a rain of 'stars'. From Tim Robbins to Julia Roberts and Matt Dillon, to Nicole Kidman, not to mention David Bowie and Patti Smith.Great night, great spirit in the room....on a night when Bono recalled how the american put the man on the moon back there in 1960, but makes the call, asking them ?to put mankind back on earth?, to bring equality to the people of Africa, an end to ?stupid? poverty in this generation. A white pearl on a golden performance.

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo (Snippet of 'Rockaway Beach')
Elevation
Cry / Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into the Heart
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky (Snippet of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
Running to Standstill
Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets have no Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly (Snippet of 'Jean Genie')
Mysterious Ways
Original of the Species
All Because of You
Yahweh
Vertigo

Having in mind that the show took place just two days after the anual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash concert, Bono added a snippet of 'Roackaway Beach' during 'Vertigo'. 'One' was dedicated to Jeffery Sachs, economist, that has been fighting the same worldwide causes as Bono.
At the end of 'The Fly', the full band goes into an abbreviated version of David Bowie's 'The Jean Genie.'
A very close friend of mine was lucky enough to be in the the right place at the right time. Not only did he talk a bit with Bono's childhood friend, Guggi, but also shook hands with Edge and Larry, and saw Bono standing one meter away from him. More then that, he did witness this wonderfull night and catched with his camera the end of The Fly as well as the cover of the David Bowie song. An exclusive vídeo from U2Portugal. (Thank you Vitor).

May 18, 2005 - New Jersey, EUA - Continental Airlines Arena

2005-05-19T08:15:00.000+01:00

Tonight 'Still Haven't Found' came out of the box...with a new shape. It was performed with a local band, The Bank Robbers and they gave it a new aproach. In this town, both shows started with the same tune: 'City'.
But the changes in the set where the same as usual.

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys and Pump It Up)
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Bad - 40

Tonight Elvis Costello is in attendance to the show. That's the reason for the snippet of 'Pump it Up'.
The lil snippet of 'Stories for Boys' is back. I think it hadn't been played since Vancouver.
During the performance of 'Still Haven't Found, The Bank Robers' members borrow U2 instruments, but the drummer uses Larry's tom from 'Love and Peace' instead of the regular drum kit. That gives the tune a new sound.
The part 'Pride'/'Streets'/'One' is incredibly moving and emotional tonight.
After One and before the first encore people were yelling "dont go" and basically making fun of the entire idea of an encore. Bono just replied "Oh dont worry, see we are going to go down those stairs now (pointing to the stairs behind the stage), but we will be back up in a minute." That got enough laugh from the crowd who probably realized how staged the idea of an encore is in todays concert business.

May 17, 2005 - New Jersey, EUA - Continental Airlines Arena

2005-05-19T06:15:00.000+01:00

I can't believe this is the third gig without 'New Year's Day'. I never thought they would leave it behind, but it seems like this time the tune is fading from the set.
In a night full of emotions...with the longest encore so far...and a few gags...here's the setlist.

Set:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh - Into the Heart
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Original of the Species
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40
Vertigo

"Tonight, Jersey turns Irish," said Bono after walking around the elliptical track, which allows the band to walk into the middle of the crowd. "You're all so beautiful tonight."
For the first time this tour, a song is played AFTER '40'. Sometimes '40' was changed for 'Vertigo', but they hadn't played both before.
Larry was alone on stage playing '40' and getting ready to leave, then he played faster and faster and faster and then - boom, they are all back out again to play a very wild version of 'Vertigo'. Bono mentioned that in Italy, with opera, if they like a song, they play it twice.
I'd say 'Original' wasn't planned. Because Edge was about to start to play the chords for 'All because of You' and all of a sudden he went straigth to the keyboards to play 'Original'.

May 14, 2005 - Philadelphia, EUA - Wachovia Center

2005-05-15T04:44:00.000+01:00

Tonight was the most very special feeling for me....just because I had the chance to hear lots of the show over the phone...it was like if I was there. UNBELIEVABLE I can say. No changes in the set. It's the regular set....same tunes. Anyway....tonight I can say (based in what my own ears heard) that the boys are back in great shape...ready to rock each single soul that has the priviledge to be in the right place at the right time to ear them play.

Set:
City of BLinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Electric Co
An Cat Dubh
Into the heart
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky (Snippet of 'When Jonnhy Comes Marching Home/Hands that Built')
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Streets
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

Two little girls about 10 years old were pulled to the stage during 'Into the Heart'. At the end, Bono asked their names, and told them: 'My name is Paul, but I call myself Bono'.
For 'Mysterious Ways', a fan is pulled on stage from the front row of the elipse. Her time on stage is very short though.
Larry slightly failed the beggining of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'.
Bono's voice failed a bit at the beggining. but with 'Sometimes' and right after sounds unbelievable. He hits the high notes in such a strong and easy way that it's incredible. he started 'Sometimes' saying 'This is a song about my father Bob' and nothing else. He just went straight to the tune.

Reviews:

Picture and review by Jay (Thank you Jay)

'Saw the show last night. The following is just my opinion so there's no need to rip into me if I say anything negative.

Bono's mike was off for the first two songs (City and Vertigo) but it was fixed by Elevation. There was some kind of miscommunication going on between Bono and the Edge at the end of Vertigo so it ended a little abruptly.

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own was extremely powerful last night. The close-ups of Bono's face on the four screens over the stage had me on the verge of tears. His glasses were off, his eyes were closed and he was singing with more passion than I've ever seen him. AMAZING!!!

Where The Streets Have No Name was one of the best versions I've seen them do (and I've seen them do it 19 times). Pride was exceptional too (and this is a song I think they should've dropped from the setlist three or four tours ago). Both songs got the crowd totally to its feet and the crowd in general was a lot more into it than at the tour opener in San Diego (sorry San Diegans-I just think the East coast is a lot louder).

My only complaint (and this is purely for selfish reasons) is it was the same exact setlist as San Diego with the exception of adding Mysterious Ways last night.

But, I've got twelve more shows on the tour so I know they'll mix it up a little bit in the future.

One last note: Philly is a great city (my first time there) and everybody was extremely nice. So kudos to Philly. And thanks to the gentleman who gave me all the advice about where to go and what to do.'

By Theresa (Thank you Theresa)

This is my first U2 show ever, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! If i had another chance, i would definately go to another one of their concerts! They played more new material this concert from what i noticed from the set lists from other concerts they put up on the site. Personally, I haven't screamed so much in my life since i was in middle school during one of our pep rallies, and that was 6 years ago. I'm surprised I never lost my voice at all because of all the screaming I did, and my sister did and she did as much screaming as I did, if not, close to it. I may have screamed more than she did! I had danced and jumped so much as well as screaming; I may looked like an idiot, but i honestly don't care. i had so much fun, you can't believe! Our (my sis and me) seats were in the lower level of the Wachovia Center in section 107 (they can look up the seating chart at WachoviaCenter.com ) which is dead center view of the stage. They were awresome seats! I jus wish the tix i won from the radio staion (93.3 WMMR - their site is WMMR.com and u can listen to the station online) were on the floor in the elipse...

I loved how they went straight into Vertigo from City of Blinding Lights (which was the first one they sung tonight, well last night now that it's after midnight), then into Elevation which everyone in the stadium did the "oooo-ooo, ooo-a-oooo" (how ever it goes, u guys know what i mean, right? ::scratches head while thinking 'i hope'::). When they did "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" they had the Light Curtains down with a man walking in the middle one (the man had no face or ne thing) and Bono was singing on the Elipse, and he was crying. I could hear it in his voice, and you could tell by the 4 video screens they had way above the stage. During the song, i even tried not to cry b/c i felt his emotions, along with my own b/c I think of my loved ones and how I would feel if I didn't have them when i hear that song. I severly felt bad for Bono, hell, still do. I would be crying to if I was singing a song for someone close to me that died. They played an acoustic version of "Yahweh"; it was real beautiful, i wasn't expecting them to play it acoustic. They played "One", "Pride", "Where The Streets Have No Name", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "All Because of You" towards the end, " So much more, even ended it with "40". Bono brought 2 little girls on the elipse and walked with them towards the end of the song to the very end of it (sucks that I can't remember the song right now), and brought a woman to stage for "40" (if not "40" the song right before it, but i definately thing it was "40".). Definately worth not coming home until midnight for, u know?! The lights were marvelous, the video screens above the stage were awesome when they weren't showing the Boys. If you ask me "what was my favourite part of the concert?", it would be from the first step the boys steped onto the stage and Bono appearing out of no where on the elipse all the way to the dead end of the concert. The worst part was for me was waiting for the Kings of Leon to get off stage (Goddess, they were aweful, they only had a good beat for 2 songs and they couldn't even sing) for the boys to come on! I was a lil upset that they didn't do "New Year's Day", I was looking forward to seeing it live. When they did "Bullet in the Blue Sky", Bono started out drumming on the drum on the elipse with his headband and shades, and then later in the middle of the song/towards the end (by this time, he was on the stage), he pulled his headband down over his eyes and knelt down for a bit. Then got back up to finish singing. Every was just about singing every song played or every other song played (from what I noticed, anyway, including myself singing a lot of them...).

Words can't explain anymore of how awesome and great the concert was, I have no idea how to explain anymore it at all. Yea, me so "wow"ed, amazing, and giddy still (Tee-hee...!) :-D

So yea, the Kings of Leon sucked so bad that my sis and i were actually waiting for them to get off stage within the first 5-10 minutes they were playing. And their songs went on and on and on, especially the first one.... Jus sucked for me especially b/c I forgot my cell phone at home so i couldn't play any of the games one it (i have Tetris on it, too!!).

I wish I could've brought my camera - the tix said that we couldn't bring any cameras or recorders in at all.... Well, at least i had the memories! To me, that's all that matter. Jus wish i could go to another concert and then some, and my sis wants to go to another concert, as well!

Pictures from U2Tours

May 12, 2005 - Chicago, EUA - United Center

2005-05-13T23:34:00.000+01:00

What the hell happened tonight? I think nobody knows. But what an amazing show it was. Tonight the show wasn't even recorded...cameras from previous shoot were OFF....but tonight was GRAND. A new tune to open the show...the most predictable one from the very beggining. New tunes...new classics...new vibes....unbelievable. Energy comanded the whole night...it took control of every single soul inside the venue. No wonder after you read this amazing setlist!!/p>

Set:

Vertigo
All Because Of You
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
Running to Stand Still
City of Blinding Lights
Original of the Species
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Until the End of the World
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without (Snippet of 'Strangers in the Night')
Yahweh
Bad (Snippets of 'Norwegian Wood' and 'Sexual Healing')
40

The stunting, beautiful, perfect, unbelievable 'Until the End of the World' saw the lights for the very first time in this tour. It sounded just like a dream, to the many fans who have been talking so much about missing her. 'All Because of You' and 'Priginal' make it in the main set instead of being played in the encore.
The set seems to be so fluid...so natural...I'd say they almost hit perfection! And finally, tonight's changes just came to prove to everyone that it's nice to go to a show not knowing what will be played next.
I always said that 'LPOE' would be the best opener. But from the fans in the spot....it seems like 'Vertigo' works out better then any of the other regular choices.

Pictures from U2Tours

May 10, 2005 . Chicago, EUA - United Center

2005-05-11T08:29:00.000+01:00

Bono's birthday party...tonight...with place to sing 'Happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you..happy birthday dear Bono...happy birthday to you'.

Set:
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Cry / The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Party Girl
All Because Of You
Original Of The Species
Vertigo

For the second night, the show was recorded for the DVD.
UOPS...they did it again! :) '40' was left out in order to give place to 'Vertigo' being played twice. But the last version was a lot more energic.
He picks a little boy, named Eric, from the audience during 'Into the Heart'.
'Running to Stand Still' was dedicated to the US Military.
During 'Mysterious Ways', Bono gets a girl on stage to dance with him. After 'Mysterious Ways', the band and the crowd sing 'Happy Birthday' to Bono, wo celebrates his 45th aniversary, and then a fan in picked from the audience to play 'Party Girl' with them. Her name is Laura. The funny thing is...the fan is the same that was chosen the previous night. Tonight, after she played, Bono sprayed a bottle of champagne over her, the band and the crowd.
The show was incredible. Bono's voice had a great performance tonight. Totally in shape.

Reviews:

Paula (Thank you Paula)

'Lights go down, it's dark... the United Center was rumbling from the roar of the crowd as U2 came onstage. Straight into City of Blinding Lights, on into Vertigo and I was a dancing fool as thousands of us were jumping up and down, hands in the air, crashing into each other on the floor, having a blast! Elevation was next - a cool-cat slowdown that came off well. Bono then said, "This is one from... uh... before the War!" and went into The Cry/Electric Co., follwed by An Cat Dubh. Then Bono pulled up a young boy from the ellipse and sang Into the Heart to him. Beautiful moment!

A couple songs later was Miracle Drug, one of my recent favorites, and The Edge's vocals literally made my jaw drop. I've never heard him sound so good! Then came Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, a song I've always liked, but it never really struck a chord with me until that time. When Bono came to stand in front of me and belted out the words, he connected with my own memories and I whispered along with him. As he hit that one powerful note, the crowd roared and I cried. He turned and walked away and I called out "Thank you!" - I hope that if he heard me he understood.

The pace slammed back into high gear with Love and Peace Or Else, with Bono playing his rock star role full-tilt and Larry almost shyly joining him on the catwalk. Then a half-dozen old favorites ended the first set as Adam was all over the place, posing along the catwalk and grinning like a schoolboy - he was having a great time!

A strange slot-machine graphic of the space baby brought them into a three-song montage from the Zoo TV days. Bono pulled a girl up from the crowd for 'Mysterious Ways' and she danced with him around the catwalk like she belonged there. A second encore treated us to All Because of You and Original of the Species. Even though Bono claimed they hadn't really worked out that song yet, it came off gorgeously. Party Girl was next, with a girl from the crowd playing guitar along with the whole band. Bono screamed "This one's for me!" as Vertigo closed out the show.

My first U2 concert in over 17 years and it was fantastic!!!'

Joyce Bishop (Thank you Joyce)

'Butterflies. I remember having butterflies in my stomach all week, wonder would it be worth it. With high expectations, I joined the fan club in January just under the wire to get tix (I know, a very bad confession!), only to be shut out like many others. So I angrily stormed down to the United Center on January 29, 6am and got my bracelet, dressed in layers, hoping to get 5/7 or 5/9. As fate would have it, I got the WORST lottery number. The guy pulls 017 and I'm 016. AARRGGHH! Still, I wait and hope, and what show opens up just as I'm almost in line? 5/10/05!! I'm ecstatic and foolishly only buy tix for one show!

Fastforward to 5/10, which comes slow enough. I could not convince my sister to skip work and come down to the UC around 10 am or so to get a good space in line. We lucked out with the warmest day last week! Then I got a tip that the group sometimes stop to sign autographs as they enter, so I got there around 2:15 to a full crowd. Bono did stop and pose for pictures and sign autographs. I was THIS close but he didn't sign the big birthday card we'd prepared (hopefully you can see it on the DVD!). So we go off to GA line and then the line splits for U2.com members and we're even closer. I have to give big props to the u2.com organizers for keeping it in order. We wound up about 4 rows off the railing to the left of the catwalk. Of course I'm kicking myself now because seems like most stuff happened to the right of the catwalk, but still it's GA and the crowd was great, except the 2 Goliaths who were in front of us, knowing they could see over our heads. They moved a bit just as U2 come on, so it was all good.

Odd moment: A Latino (maybe Asian?) appeared at our side, maybe drunk, and asks if we minded being among the few people of color at the concert. I said it did occur to me (African American) but I asked if it bothered him. He shrugged. My sister thought he was odd but i felt a bit bad for him, seemed like he was alone and maybe he was looking for something in common with someone. He drifted off and we didn't see him again. Hope he's alright.

Concert was AWESOME! I'd heard about Laura's solo the night before and was glad to witness it. Adam was everywhere and I think I got a few good pics of him with my camera phone, which I thought was great but really is only good up close in lots of light. Our big sign read 'Happy Birthday Bono' on one side and 'Walk On! Please?' on the other. I'm sure you'll hear about it, as we probably brained a few people with it as we held it up whenever a band member wandered by on the catwalk. But alas, it was not to be. I had heard about a few people dancing on stage at other birthday concerts but we weren't so lucky. Didn't sing an official 'Happy Birthday' either, tho I noticed a few lucky people in the ellipse doused with champagne. I was surprised the final encore was 'Vertigo'. As a relatively new fan I had looked forward to the '40' phenomenon but it's their show and their rules. Loved 'Pride' and the Africa tie-in. I was thrilled to hear 'Original of the Species', which is now close to my favorite song on the album after hearing it live. How amazing, 20,000 people singing the words to your songs. GA wasn't as bad as I thought and next time I'll do it alone if I have to, get there around 10 am and pray again for the elusive ellipse. My toes were a bit numb the next day, tho!

I am still KICKING myself for not getting tix to more shows! On a whim on Thursday I did a search on TM and had a single GA ticket on my screen! It took all my willpower not to buy it.

I do have tix for 9/21 show at UC that I got in the 2nd presale, but I will have to try for 9/20 tix too. One show ain't enough!!

Thanx for letting me rave, express, rant, etc. I can't imagine how the concerts abroad will be! I'm sure they'll take some ribbing for 'Uno, Dos, Tres, Catorce'!!'

Pictures from U2Tours

May 9, 2005 - Chicago, EUA - United Center

2005-05-10T08:11:00.000+01:00

'Lights, go down, it's dark'...and what an amazing gig it was. For the very first time on the Vertigo Tour, 'Party Girl' was played. And yes...after midnight...it was Bono's birthday, so the night just had a special feeling.

I'd like to take this chance, to make my little tribute to THE man, BONO. For always being kind and great, for caring and making us care. May you just have more 45 fine ones like you just did. Thank you mate!

Set:
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Cry / The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
Party Girl
'40'

Before the show started, Rocko, a member of U2's road crew warned the audience for the fact that tonight the show would be recorded for the oficial DVD of the Vertigo Tour.
Bono brings a little girl on stage during 'Into the Heart'.
For 'Party Girl', Bono picked a girl from the audience to play the guitar. Her name is Laura. She has some troubles at start, but along with Bono's encouragement, and the enthusiastic crowd, she makes it.

Pictures from U2Tours

More details has they arrive.

May 7, 2005 - Chicago, EUA - United Center

2005-05-08T22:48:00.000+01:00

Not much to say about tonight. It seems like Adam had a really great time and was in an excelent mood. Walked very often around the elipse, smiling at everyone, while Bono would call him 'sexy man'.

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo
Elevation
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Bad
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because of You
Yahweh
40

Tonight, Chris Martin, Coldplay, Gwineth and Keanu are in attendance. Before 'Miracle Drug', Bono greated Coldplay and thanked Kings of Leon for their suport. During 'New Year's Day', they lead the audience to a round of flamenco style clapping while the song went to it's high.

Has it has been happening, Bono played the tambourine for 'All Because of You'.

Not much news...no surprises. The tour became a bit predictable. Some fans complain about it. There are two very specific types of setlists....and they keep switching them from night to night and town to town. But in the end, those informed of what is happening on other places, start having the feeling of going to the shows and knowing what will happen on each show.

My advice? If you are going to see a U2 gig soon....stop reading about the current shows if you think it'll spoil the surprise...

Review:

Mary Jones (Thank you Mary)

I was at the show on Saturday and had GA's. While I wasn't one of the lucky 400 to get into the Bomb Shelter, I was VERY close to the front of the catwalk (like I could actually touch the barrier).

I have been a U2 fan for over 20 years and Saturday's show was absolutely amazing. To be that close to Bono and Adam was overwhelming for me. I still don't think it's completely sunk in yet!

I didn't look at a single set list before Saturday's show because I wanted to be surprised, and I was! Running To Stand Still is one of my favorite songs and it was amazing. At one point during the show, Bono threw in a clip of Blackbird. I cried when Paul McCartney sang it during the Back in the USA tour and then I thought WOW, the band that I absolutely love is singing one of my all time favorite songs.

Bono sang a good portion of Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own in front of me which was particularily moving. My father is still alive, but he almost died about 7 years ago and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. It emphasized how lucky I am to still have him.

In addition, I was overwhelmed by the number of really cool U2 fans I met. Especially a guy named Charlie who switched places with me so I could see better (I'm 5' 1"). I can't thank him enough for giving me the one of the top 5 moments in my life.

In summary, it was outstanding. The band was amazing, the fans were fun, funny, RESPECTFUL, kind, helpful, and just downright decent. It is a show I will never forget!

Pictures from U2Tours

April 29, 2005 - Vancouver, Canada - GM Place

2005-05-08T22:23:00.000+01:00

Tipical set of the second night on each town, opening with City...

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because of You
Yahweh
40

Tonight things get really rough for the crowd. Things become really agressive, and some fans need to be removed or helped to get oustide the crowd.
Bono picked a girl on stage during 'Yahewh', but it seems like she goes to far and tried to get control of the situation. Bono dislikes it, and her presence on stage is really short. Apart from that, not much interaction with the crowd.
Tonight's gig was filmed, as Bono told the crowd (problably to prepare for the real shoot to take place in a few days, in Chicago, for the oficial Vertigo Tour DVD).

Pictures from U2Tours

April 28, 2005 - Vancouver, Canada - GM Place

2005-05-01T23:59:00.000+01:00

Tonight, the show was marked by a very special moment...ONE moment! Having in mind that the Prime Minister Paul Martin recently broke his promise of giving aid to the poor countries, a few fans helped to remind him of that.

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Running to Stand Still
Bad
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Original of the Species
40

During ONE, Bono brings a group of fans on stage (4 girls and one boy) - all wearing ONE campaign t-shirts. They came up with a shirt for Bono too, and he dressed her. It was a very high moment of the show. One girl was also brought on stage and sat right next to Larry.
The entire show started and ended later then expected, because of some last work on the video for 'City. Gavin Friday is in attendance on this first Vancouver show.

April 27, 2005 - Vancouver, Canada - GM Place

2005-05-01T23:51:00.000+01:00

Tonight wasn-t scheduled...but it was a nice surprise. U2 shoot for the video of the soon to be released 3rd single of 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'-'City of Blinding Lights'. The shoot was anounced in a local radio station and nearly 4000 fans had the chance to witness this moment, even though some people don't know the words to the song.

Set:

City of Blinding Lights (twice)
Hokey Pokey
City of Blinding Lights (4 times)
Vertigo
All Because of You

Encore:
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

The song was performed several times, to make the video. While theey were making a break on the performance, Bono entertained the crowd with the 'Hokey Pockey' (a sort of a coreography), with musical suport from Edge and Adam.

After the set, they decided to come back for an encore, and played 'Sometimes'. Bono mentioned he was going to sing it to relax himself.

April 25, 2005 - Seattle, EUA - Key Arena

2005-05-01T23:28:00.000+01:00

You guys remember what used to happen in early 80's? When 11 O'Clock used to be used at the beggining and at the end of the gigs? Or maybe The Ocean? Tonight something similar happened. 'Vertigo' apeared on the set two times. Odd, I'd say. Playing a song twice when you have lack of songs is one thing. Doing it now, in a time when you have to dismiss several important songs in the set...I think it's not a very good choice.

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky *Snippet of When Johnny Comes Marching Home(
Running to Stand Still
Bad - Norwegian Wood - Ruby Tuesday
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore>

Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Original of the Species
Vertigo

Once again, Bono dedicated 'Miracle Drug' to a local girl called Jennifer, who is sick.
Suring 'Sometimes', Bono brought a young boy on stage named Jason. Arm to arm, Bono sang the song in a very touching way...the boy was singing along...and tears streamed down BOno's face, like if he was taking the kid as one of his own.
Suring 'Mysterious Ways', Bono joined Adam at the tip of the catwalk.

April 24, 2005 - Seattle, EUA - Key Arena

2005-04-28T08:26:00.000+01:00

The show is not al about the band, right? The crowd plays a very important role on the mood of the gigs. And tonight...they were just amazing. The crowd was loud and energized even before the band got on stage. No big susprises on the set...still another great show.

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys)
Elevation
The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Running To Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because of You
Yahweh
40

Before the show started, a huge 'wave' goes around the arena several times.
The band is matching the crowd's vibes. Three fans have the priviledge of going on stage. One of the fans is a male whearing a shirt saying 'ME, ME, ME'. Bono pulls him and jokes about himself and his 'egos'.
Eddie Vedder, from Pearl Jam, is among the crowd. Somewhere after 'Vertigo', Bono brought up a woman on stage (on the ramp) and began to dance. They were kind of 'locked' in this hug, motionless mostly, for about two minutes. It was intense and great.
Before 'Miracle Drug', Bono made a long introduction, mentioning a ill girl attending tonight. Before 'One', the usual mention of The One Campaign, and of Bill and Melinda Gates, involved on the process. For 'Mysterious Ways', Bono brought up another woman and gave her a piggy-back ride. After, she kind of ran back along the ramp to her seat, and Bono, wanting to escort her back, ran after her.

Pictures from U2Tours

Hello Hello...It's a plane called Vertigo

2005-04-22T09:33:00.000+01:00

This is the look of the plane that has been flying U2 trough the american skies. The Airbus A320-211 is comanded by Air Canada and will serv the irish band during the first American Leg. The plane was transformed to work as a private jet and counts with a crew of 4 flight attendants and a mechanic technician. This way, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry can fly trough San Jose, Phoenix (Glendale), Denver, Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston. On free days, it will also fly to San Jose Del Cabo, in Mexico, and Nassau, so that the band can have some rest.

In the mean time, Bono and Adam were 'caught' arriving in Phoenix.

(Thank you Jeremy Irish/cactuswings.com for the pictures)

April 21, 2005 - Denver, EUA - Pepsi Center

2005-04-22T08:38:00.000+01:00

OK OK OK...NOW I get it!
Second 'Vertigo Tour' lesson: If you are a fan...and you live in the United States, make sure you will see two shows at the same venue. That's the only way you will have two kinds of show and hear more songs.
EUA...two nights per town. They do their two kinds of sets. First night, one opener, a few 'BOY' pearls and the set goes....second night another opener, diferent pearls and a few surprises here and there. That's what happened tonight. This leaves me a little more curious to see what will happen in Europe, when there will be only one gig per town at most of the cases.

Set:

City Of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love And Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
Bad
Pride
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
Original of the species

Encore:

The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
'40'

For the first time in the tour, 'Yahweh' wasn't played. 'Original' was played for the second time as well as 'Bad' and 'Gloria' came back. 'Zoo Station' was left out. The 'Cat', 'Into the Heart' and 'Electric Co' were replaced by 'Gloria' and 'The Ocean'.

More details as soon as they arrive.

April 20, 2005 - Denver, EUA - Pepsi Center

2005-04-21T22:59:00.000+01:00

What happened tonight? I really don't know. The set was good (Even though without surprises). The show has been the same...but it seems that a few songs did not work well live. A few sound problems, problably because of the poor acoustic of the venue. The crowd wasn't very enthusiastic as well.

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories For Boys)
Elevation
The Cry / Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One (Snippet of She's a Mystery to Me)

Encore:

Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because of You
Yahweh
40

The only change tonight was the snippet of 'She's a Mystery to Me'. The rest...all went as expected.
During 'City', Bono walked a little boy along the elipse.

Photos from U2Tours

April 15, 2005 - Phoenix, EUA - Glendale Arena

2005-04-18T00:20:00.000+01:00

She is back...one of the most beautiful, powerful, meaningful music U2 ever did...a song that marked the world in 1985 with that amazing live performance to 'feed the world' with the 'Live Aid'...not only a song...but maybe THE song...BAD! Back to 'City' opening and a 'little smell' of another old one...tonight was once again strong enough to set the arena on fire!

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day (Snippet of In God's Country)
Vertigo
Elevation
Gloria
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running to Stand Still
Bad
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:

The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

So, 'Bad' made it's very first apearance for the Vertigo Tour. It was considered a 'very intense driving version'. Bono stayed with the rest of the band, and didn't venture around the ellipse.
As it usually happens in Arizona, 'In God's Country' has almost turned into a tradition...so Bono added bits of it after 'Beautiful Day'. (The band actually played the song in 2001, November 23 in Phoenix. At the end of 'Elevation', Bono exclaimedd the line 'desert sky' and then made an extended snippet at the end of 'BD' as well).

A girl was pulled on stage to do 'the thing' during 'Mysterious Ways'. As always ... 'Streets' was a very high point of the show, bringing the house down. 'Gloria' 'ressurected' once again...another high point of the night. Two musical 'pearls' on a so called 'visually impressive show'.
Adam seemed to be specially willing to interact with the audience tonight.

April 14, 2005 - Phoenix, EUA - Glendale Arena

2005-04-17T23:53:00.000+01:00

Tonight the set list had no surprises. The 4 days break seemed to help Bono with his voice. The band performed in great shape.

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys)
Elevation
Cry / The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

Encore:

Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

Bono did not pick any girl on stage to his 'Mysterious Ways' performance. No dancing and swinging around this time. He picked a fan at the end of 'Zoo Station' for 30 seconds, hugged him and sent him back to the crowd.

Photos from

U2Tours

April 10, 2005 - San Jose, EUA - HP Pavillion

2005-04-11T08:50:00.000+01:00

Tonight was different...tonight it was big...tonight...it was special!
A new song was played for the very first time. 'Original of The Species' came to 'give a rest' to 'Zoo Station'. Back again to 'LPOE' opening. Many 'BOY' tunes and the 'Cat' is back!

Set:

Love and Peace or Else
Vertigo / Stories For Boys
Elevation
The Cry / Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky / Hands That Built America
Running to Stand Still
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Original of the Species

Encore:

The Fly
Mysterious Ways
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

'Original of the Species' saw Edge on the piano, and Adam and Larry joined Bono to sing the song.
A girl is pulled on stage for 'Mysterious Ways'.
The night was also marked by the over reacted behavior of the crowd. Outside of the elipse, people get rowdier than usual and security has to help fans to avoid extreme consequences. At least 2 fans nearly crush early in the show. Maybe because of that, the band doesn't play much at the edge of the elipse.

Reviews:

Saba Jamaluddin (Than you)

San Jose 2 WOW!!!
They opened with 'LPOE' and introduced 'Original of Species' to the set list. I suspect Steve Jobs was at the show tonight as there was a reference to how this is the home of the IPOD earlier in the show. Then Bono improvised by calling Adam and Larry back (to the stage) who had gone for a break before the encore to introduce 'Original of Species' which Steve Jobs said was his favourite off the album when they all revealed the IPOD U2 here in San Jose late last year.

That said the show was amazing... definately more energy tonight.

My seat was behind The Edge... OMG.... right by his keyboards so he was RIGHT there during 'New Year's Day', 'Running to Stand Still' and 'Original of Species'. Actually my spot was between Larry's drums and Edge's keyboards so I got a great view of the two lovelies!

The band does visit the back so not bad seats!
The Edge even came up to us and stood and smiled at the crowd... My God he has a sweet smile

The girl Bono asked onto the stage during 'Mysterious Ways' did a FANTASTIC job of dancing. Even Bono was surprised. He looked to the The Edge and smiled and mouthed "WOW" he truly looked impressed and surprised by this performance!
Then he took her around the to the back and made her sit by Larry while he went off to finish the song. During that time Larry turned to her and smiled to her (turning away from his drumming to face here) ... probably telling her what a good job she had done! Bono then came back for her bowing to her and then said her dancing was a gift from her to us all and the band!
I feel so lucky sitting behind the band as I got to see their expressions and saw them smile in person. Adam strolled past us and he is so obliging and sweet, smiling at us all.

The highlight for today was 'Mysterious Ways' for me other than the band opening with 'LPOE' which has proved to be a hit indeed worked well again today. I loved 'Bullet the Blue Sky' yesterday and today they had 'The Fly' SPOT on... it was fantastic though Bono did not venture to the catwalk, I guess mainly as he had no 'Zoo Station' to act on.

Fantastic show (but we expect nothing else) however, the only problem was the sound again. I actually felt is bounce right back to where we were. Talk about OPAMPS and feedback! During 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' I felt the bass hit me again and echo echo back and reverberate... the acoustics are really very poor in this San Jose Arena. Thankfully the next time they come here they play in Oakland.

Oh yeah and as I was coming out of the arena I got to see the girl who danced with Bono and she seemed really calm and happy considering she had just impressed U2 and 20.000 people with her dancing. Lots of people went up to congratulate her..... I am not usually impressed by stuff like this but she actually made me think of 'Mysterious Ways' as highlight at a U2 show... my God!

While they played 'Into the Heart' I could not get over The Edge's guitar... what genius and yes he is a "zen like master"

Yesterday I was kinda scared that the Bay Area had not been welcoming enough but sitting behind the stage today proved that no, people were engaged. The show DID have more energy today .. or maybe my seats were closer!

Photos by Sabba

April 9, 2005 - EUA, San Jose - HP Pavilion

2005-04-10T11:32:00.000+01:00

OK..I am a fan, and I know sometimes fans can demand a little too much...but tonight's setlist just didn't convince me! NO surprises...'City' opening...I think it's the poorest set they used so far.

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo (snippet of Stories for Boys)
Elevation
Cry / The Electric Co.
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running to Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

All Because of You
Yahweh
40

Well...what would I change on it? I'd go back to 'LPOE' as the opener. 'Elevation' and 'Pride' ... I would wave them goodbye in a second. Then we have songs like 'Until', 'Out of Control', 'I Will Follow' that seem to have been forgoten, and 'An Cat Dubh/ Into the Heart' that was so well received among the fans hasn't been a 'must play', what leaves me a little worried cus this is one of the songs I'd really really like to have the chance to hear live this tour!
This is just me talking my thoughts. In the end, no matter what they play, once we are INSIDE the show...all is good and we all become 'elevated' and 'get ready to leave the ground'!

Now...details on the gig.
BOno pulled a girl on stage during 'Mysterious Ways', called Alli. Lucky enough, that was the same girl that was pulled in a gig in Sacramento in 2001.

More details as soon as they arrive.

April 6, 2005 - Los Angeles, EUA - Staples Center

2005-04-07T18:48:00.000+01:00

First 'Vertigo Tour' lesson: 'Take NOTHING for granted'! That's how it looks like. Today...not many changes in the set, but back to the firts opener...and a new 'old pearl'.

Set:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Cry / Electric Co.
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running to Standstill
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Pride in the name of love
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
All Because of You
Yahweh
'40'

Good news from the night: 'The Ocean' came back! 23 years after it was last played, on December 15, 1982 in Sweden, the band had only played snippets of the song. Last time it happened was on April 9, 2001, in Canada, when after 'One' Bono sang a few lines.
During 'Mysterious Ways' a girl was pulled on stage to dance with Bono. WHile they danced, another fan jumped out of nowhere into the stage and started dancing along with them. Bono grabed the first fan an ran away along the elipse and sayd: 'You scared us'. After saying goddbye to the girls, the 'invader' just started crawling towards him like a cat.
Bono used a hat sent to the stage by a fan. a Dodgers hat.

Reviwes:

Mike (Thank You)

I just wanted to share this with everyone. My wife and I saw the band tonight at Staples in LA. We are late 40's and between us have seen plenty of concerts over the years: Stones in '75, '78' 80, Zeppelin in '75, Who "74, Tull '75, Pink Floyd early 70's, Kinks too many times to mention, Springsteen, God I could go on and on but I couldn't even begin to tell you who else we've seen from the early 70's up to bands like Oingo Boingo et al in the late 80's. My wife "really likes" U2 and I have been a hard core fan since Boy but for whatever reason I have never seen them live. I just guess that as I got older, concerts weren't as big as they were when I was younger (and nowhere near as expensive). But this was one tour I was not going to miss. Tonight in LA, the second night of their stop here was beyond belief. Inspiring, heartfelt, sincere, gentle, kickass tough, and more than anything else - uplifting. I have never...and I mean NEVER...in over 30 years of concerts, seen 20,000 people on their feet the ENTIRE concert. As I would look up from where we were just off the floor (GA) seats, all I saw was the entire stadium standing, singing and dancing for the whole show. Even the people in the highest level seats. It was beyond belief. The entire stadium seemed to sing every song as well. And as a matter of fact, after Elevation, Bono said, "Wow..we're SINGING tonight!"
I could go on and on but just wanted to share how moved we both were after the show. It was amazing and I'd sit for another 2 hours listening to them. I've seen posts here where people have said, "they should play this", or "why didn't they play that". Listen, they could play for 6 hours and you'd STILL say, "Damn...they were great but I wish they'd played X song". That is merely testament to the band's longevity and talent. For those who are still waiting to see them, get ready, it's amazing. And oh, Bono sounds freakin amazing. It astounds me that he still sounds as good as he does at his age. I didn't hear him hedge on anything. Thanks guys, you didn't let us down. We were incredibly moved tonight.

April 5, 2005 - Los Angeles, EUA - Staples Center

2005-04-06T08:12:00.000+01:00

No big twists tonight. From the ones that have regularly been played, only 'Elevation' is gone.

Set:

Love And Peace Or Else
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys)
Cry/The Electric Co (Snippet of Send in the Clowns)
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
City Of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running To Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways

Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

All Because of You
Yahweh
40

I think this is the kind of set the band will 'sit' on and then maybe make some small changes from night to night. We have classics, we have new songs and we have 'oldies'. Then it's up to them what to add or remove. Yet, having in mind the changes they did on the first shows...we never know what will happen. Let's see what keeps happening.

More details, as they arrive.

Bono pulled up a little boy from the audience, took his hand, and walked with him around the ellipse. He then asked the boy what his name was. The boy replied into Bono's microphone, "My name is Jack." Bono then asked, "Where's the beanstalk?" Then Bono told Jack to look up to the sky and point his finger up there. Then a sea of red, silver, and white gum-stick shaped confetti came falling from the ceiling and led into "City of Blinding Lights." Bono took Jack back onto the main stage and had the boy sit down next to Larry on drums while he sang. After the song, he took Jack to the side and a stagehand and asked to find Jack a home again.

During 'City of Blinding Lights'(needs confirmation) Bono was wearing a hat that a fan had thrown on stage and he was walking around with the hat up front as if asking for money. So the fans started throwing money into the hat and on the stage.

It seems like a lot of limousines were seen outside the Staples Center. The VIP's did not miss the chance to see best band in the world.

Reviews:

Lisa Pendse (Thank you)

A review of LA 1... some songs are out of order and I didn't mention
others, but you've all seen the set list already... maybe this will
give you an idea of what the show was like.

The show is AMAZING. We stand right outside the ellipse, to the right
facing the stage. We get in line at about 3, 3:30 in the afternoon and
there are 113 u2.com members in line ahead of us and about 150 general
GA ticketholders, on the other side of the arena. People have been
there since 7 am but it doesn't end up making one bit of difference -
when they let us into the arena, your ticket is scanned first, then you
receive a green GA bracelet, then you approach to a table where they
have a laptop set up and they scan your ticket again, if the screen
turns blue it says PROCEED TO FLOOR and you go to the floor... if it
turned red it would say PROCEED TO CIRCLE or something like that and
you got into the ellipse. Out of the 10 or so of us that were chatting
in line, 2 got into the ellipse. When Kings of Leon went on at 7:30 on
the dot, the ellipse was only 1/3 full; it didn't fill up completely
until just before U2 came on. Terrible system, they should let the
first 400 u2.com GAs in, simple as that.

Kings of Leon play a very long set that is really not that great. The
anticipation of seeing U2 is enough to make Coldplay look mediocre, I?m
telling you. They play for about 45 minutes, U2 don't come on for
another 45 (they go on at about 9 pm, right after the Arcade Fire song
plays over the speaker system).

You know how in GA, everyone inches up closer and closer to the barrier
by the time they go on? I could barely move or breathe, and LA fans are
tough. For the first 3 songs I was one person away from the barrier,
and I gradually got pushed back so I ended up 5 behind. TERRIBLE. But
most is forgotten by the time the house lights dim.

They open with . . .

Love and Peace or Else! Described in three words: AMAZING INCREDIBLE
WOW - all 4 come on stage with spotlights and walk around the catwalk
shining it on the audience while the bass line from Love & Peace plays
... then they go to their respective instruments and all at once the
sound DEAFENS around you, it is absolutely stunning... beaded curtains
of lights, spotlights, red lights, such a spectacle. From Love & Peace
they launch straight into Vertigo, with red and black targets dancing
on the light curtains, that segues into Stories for Boys for a few bars
and then lifts right back up into the end of Vertigo. The songs fit
together splendidly. They play Elevation which sounds totally dirty and
more hard rock than when they played it on the last tour ? the band?s
evolution is apparent in this and the other song from ATYCLB.

They enter into the Boy trilogy? Electric Co, An Cat Dubh, Into the
Heart - a screen came down with the cover of Boy...

Now up to recent material, Beautiful Day, and Miracle Drug (which was
really sonically arresting live), and Sometimes You Can't Make It On
Your Own... I am not ashamed to say I cried during this. Bono walks out
to the edge of the ellipse (it would've been the point of the heart had
it been a heart), takes off his glasses, and just SINGS the song. Hit
the opera note perfectly. I've never seen him so vulnerable? just him,
a bright spotlight, and there were tears in his eyes.

Next comes one of my favorite parts of the show:
Bono pulls a little boy up on stage, asks him his name... he says Jack?
and Bono says, "Jack, here is your beanstalk... look up..."

And everyone looks up, and there is red, gold, and silver confetti,
two-inch pieces as thick as two fingers that come from the ceiling, oh
my god, it was absolutely breathtaking, because the confetti twists and
floats through the entire stadium as they launch into City of Blinding
Lights, I cannot even describe how amazing it all looked and sounded.
Complete sensory amazement. The audience was delighted and I was merely
speechless at the spectacle.

Now comes a video about Human Rights during Running to Stand Still, and
then... they do ZOO STATION. One of my favorite songs from Achtung, I
never dreamed I?d hear it live! It is gritty and scathing, and goes
directly into... THE FLY. Another favorite! You can tell Edge has a
blast with that one. He is at absolute top form during this song.
Towards the end of song the band goes into a decrecendo and Edge rips
into his guitar for a nasty amazing solo. Then into Mysterious Ways.
Again, very gritty, dirty, heavy bass, Bono growling. Fantastic.

Pride segues into Sunday Bloody Sunday and Streets. I REALLY miss the
gorgeous transition they had on Elevation, WOWY into Streets, or Bad
into Streets, or whatever it happened to be... Streets was still
amazing of course but this entire show was missing those beautiful
flowing transitions that made Elevation so unforgettable and magical.
Bono?s run around the catwalk is also missing. At any rate, those three
were big crowd hits and showcased Larry absolutely brilliantly.

The band leaves the stage after nearly an hour and fifteen minutes of
creating a nonstop sonic wall to prepare for?

Encore #1, which consisted of One. It was good, it's One, I don't get
why people love that song so much. It was tempered with a beautiful
string background, much like Bad is supplemented on live shows with a
background track. Another video about texting your name to UNITE to end
poverty flashes, and Bono requests everyone turn on their cell phones
and hold them high...he requests the house light and stage light be
turned off, because he ?wants to sing this one in the dark, with all of
the fireflies...Gorgeous.

Segue into Yahweh: acoustic. Absolutely beautiful. Not one of my
favorites from the album but this performance will change your mind
about it if you didn't like it already.

The band exits for another break before?

Encore #2: after the darkness of One and Yahweh, this one is a real
visual treat. ALL of the lights come on, Bono grabs a tambourine and
the band rips into All Because of You which is SO GOOD live. HTDAAB is
really a great live album. Larry plays the keyboard on this ? as the
song ends, Larry makes his way back to his drum kit to bring us?

40.

A perfect way to end the night. Each member waves goodbye and walks
out, first Bono, then Edge, then Adam, and while the entire crowd keeps
singing "HOW LONG, TO SING THIS SONG" Larry bursts into this incredible
ridiculous drum solo, throws the sticks down, walks off.

What a day. What a night. My final impression is that of course, they
put on one of the best shows in rock and roll. But Vertigo seemed to be
just a dirtied-up, grittier version of Elevation, the show was
essentially the same but with out the love and joy everyone in the room
felt during Elevation. The design wasn't different enough. They went
from PopMart to Elevation and it was like night and day, but Elevation
to Vertigo is like morning to late evening. Vertigo is Elevation's film
negative. Elevation was white and gray and blue and hearts, and Vertigo
is black and red and scribbles and distortion. Elevation was about not
needing what what you don?t have, Vertigo is about dismantling what you
don't need.

April 2, 2005 - Anaheim, EUA - Arrowhead Pond

2005-04-03T12:02:00.000+01:00

Set: Love And Peace Or Else
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys)
Elevation
Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
City Of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day (Snippets of Blackbird, from The Beatles)
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky (Snippets of The Hands That Built America)
Running To Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways

Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

Tonight the set was nearly perfect for me. The best opening song they could use, 'LPOE', then 'Vertigo' to blow everything and everyone around. Then 'Elevation'and straight to the 'oldie pearls', 'An Cat Dubh' and 'Into the Heart'. Perfect. Then the set goes on and on in a way that....even though I haven't heard yet, but seems to work really well. The songs seem to perfectly fit each other.
'Miracle Drug' was dedicated to the pope, Jean Paul II, who sadly passed away yesterday.
During 'Into the Heart' Bono picked a little girl from the audience and they walked along the elipse.

April 1, 2005 - Anaheim, EUA - Arrowhead Pond

2005-04-02T08:31:00.000+01:00

Set: Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky (Snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running to Stand Still
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Beautiful Day
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One

(Break)

Zoo Station
The Fly
Elevation
Mysterious Ways
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo (Snippet of Stories for Boys)
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

Tonight the show brought a lot of changes in the set list. No pearls from the early days. The hole set seems to have been turned upside down. And the opener? Oh well. I can only be happy for that. I think 'City' is a great tune, but it isn't strong enough to open a set. I always had my hope on 'LPOE' to open the set, and it seems tonight my hope was accomplished. And this hole changed set is great news for fans. It'll be a lot more fun to go to a show and have no clue of how the set is going to be.
Tonight the band worked harder the proximity with the audience.
Bono pulled a girl from the audience. She was somehow dressed like McPhisto, with platform shoes. Her name was Tiffany. Bono pulled her out of the ellipse during Mysterious Ways, and she was escorted by Bono around the ellipse. When they stopped on the far side, she danced to the song.
There were no encores...a unique break on the hole set...right after 'One'.'40' was dedicated to the Pope, because of his delicate state of health.

Reviews:

Dan Henretty from Ohio (Thank you)

The boys had sweat dripping down everyone's backside tonight!

While most of the songs were the same as the first tow nights in San Diego, they mixed it up and it worked GREAT as it gave a whole new feel to the night.

To start, each of them started out the show by walking around the ellipse with a spotlight and shining them into the crowd with the place in total darkness! You could only see four spotlights moving around and barely make out a silhouette of the rock star carrying it. The next thing you know, the band breaks out with Love and Peace or Else! Yes, the drum for Larry is already at the far end of the ellipse for Larry and on they go!

The set list for the night was:
Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Running to Stand Still, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, New Year's Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Beautiful Day, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One, Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40

The "Africa" thing went a lot smoother tonight too I thought. Bono did a much better job of letting the crowd know that he wanted them to continue singing along to Running to Stand Still rather than chanting Africa. (Once you see it, you'll know what I mean.)

After the boys played for just over 70 minutes Bono said "Give us a minute will ya?" and off they all went under the stage. The crowd didn't really know what to do, so everyone just kind of sat tight and waited. There was not real loud screaming or clapping demanding an encore as probably no one in the house imagined they were done already. Just a few short minutes later, out they came and they started rocking the house again. From that point on they just continued to play. Occasionally after a song they would talk to each other and play some more. It was almost like they had thrown the set list out the window and were just going with the flow!

When they started playing Mysterious Ways, Bono spotted a girl in the ellipse dressed as Lady Macphisto in huge platform shoes! He couldn't resist getting her up on the stage. They made their way around the complete ellipse and as they approached the other end she danced away. As Bono thanked her and asked her name (Tiffany) he cracked "you know this stage is built for platform shoes!" He says to Edge, "Edge, there is no graceful way out of this, why don't you start the next song". She left the stage and the show started again.

City of Blinding lights had the effects down to the MAX tonight as the confetti really looked like fire flies lighting the city as the song says.

Before they started Vertigo, Bono asked The Edge "are you with us Edge?" (cracking on him for not hitting his volume foot switch in San Diego earlier in the week) Edge replies by making his guitar TALK and say YEAH! Bono says "are you sure?" and Edge again makes a sound come from his guitar just like it is freaking saying YES and off they charge into Vertigo!

It was a magic night, and in my opinion, the BEST of the three shows of this very young world tour thus far! Myself and my son (age 9, on his second U2 tour as he saw them first during the Elevation Tour when he was 5) have been fortunate enough to see them all three shows so far. But, spring break has come to and end so we must wait for Chicago in May to see them again.
In the mean time, ROCK ON boys!

Pictures from Dan Henretty

U2Portugal 5th Aniversary

2005-04-01T02:17:00.000+01:00

U2Portugal is a portuguese site that has been keeping the fans together and updated on U2 and their projects, and this site celebrates today their 5th aniversary.

To celebrate this special day, they made an exclusive interview with Dave Fanning, DJ on 2FM (RTE) on 'The Dave Fanning Show'.

It is my complete honour to post here the interview.

I'd also like to thank Dave Fanning and Joan Torsney for making this possible!

March 30, 2005 - San Diego, EUA - San Diego Sports Arena

2005-04-01T00:36:00.000+01:00

Second night in San Diego

Set:City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo/Stories For Boys
The Cry/The Electric Co.
Gloria
Beautiful Day
With Or Without You
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky/Hands That Built America
Running To Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Elevation

(encore)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
All Because Of You
Yawhew
40

Tonight the set was very similar to the kick start one. Two slight differences: An Cat Dubh and Into the Heart where replaced by Gloria and With or Without You. Gloria came back 15 years later, since it was last played in a Lovetown show back there in 1990.
Before 'Miracle Drug', Bono invited a fan to go on stage and 'teach him Spanish lessons' having in mind that in San Diego Spanish is spoken really often.. Before 'One', Bono mentioned Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's lead singer and raised in San Diego.
The 'egg' is called 'bomb shelter' by Bono, before singing 'Yahweh'.
Tonight the band sounded much more confident and the whole concert sounded much better. 'Last night we were pretty good...but that was the rehearsal'. That's what Bono said about it.
For the first time I had the chance to see the 'samurai Bono' playing the drums at the end of 'Love and Peace' and it was incredible. Lots of energy in there! High point of the gig, once again.
They have an incredibly strong setlist...'The Fly' sounded amazing. I'd say that...in two weeks...we will see a band better then ever. Time will tell!

March 28, 2005 - San Diego, EUA - San Diego Sports Arena

2005-03-29T08:49:00.000+01:00

Ok...it's official. The world madness started and turned to be a very Beautiful Day. The tour just kicked off right from San Diego and this world is about to be rocked.
Details as we receive them. Right now, here's the setlist played:

Set: City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo/Stories For Boys
The Cry/The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky/Hands That Built America
Running To Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Elevation

Encore:
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
All Because Of You
Yawhew
40

This was a fantastic beggining for a tour. Maybe the best beggining ever. The crowd was very enthusiastic and happy with the bands performance. The band itself seems to be enjoying this very beautiful moment in time they start to write. This tour is gonna be a mark on their carrers, no doubt about it. May it be because of the huge promotional work that was done for it...or maybe just because they are having a very brave and admirable atitude bringing all those old classic moments from their previous tours, like 40 ending the set.

Snippets from San Diego

March 27, 2005 - San Diego, EUA - The Hard Rock Cafe

2005-03-27T16:58:00.000+01:00

From Karen Simpson (Thanks Karen)

'OK... A lot of you know that we are doing an African Well Fund fundraiser show at The Hard Rock Cafe San Diego on March 27... the day before the Vertigo Tour starts! The show has been sold out since the day after it was announced... so thank you to everyone who bought tickets and are supporting this great cause!

IT IS TIME TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG!

The Joshua Tree is pleased to announce that we will be working with 91X radio in San Diego for a remote broadcast/ JT shows on Monday March 28th.

We will be outside the San Diego Sports arena from 3PM til around 8PM performing on the back of a flatbed truck with the afternoon crew from 91X . If you are going to opening night, make sure to come early to party with The Joshua Tree and 91X.

Also check our web site for upcoming April shows in San Jose and Santa Monica.

Hope to you see you!

Chedge
The Joshua Tree
www.u2jt.com

March 26, 2005 - Los Angeles, EUA - LA Sports Arena

2005-03-27T12:57:00.000+01:00

This is it. The Dress Rehearsal. The first truly glimpse of the new tour, witnessed by fans.

Set: City of Blinding Lights
Electric Co. (Send in the Clowns Snippet)
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Beautiful Day (new guitar)
Miracle Drug (very slow intro)
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else (Larry out front with one drum)
Elevation (intro edge/bono, larry/adam kick in at 2nd refrain, new
guitar)
Stuck In A Moment (Bono and Edge on keys)
Yahweh
Bullet The Blue Sky (New arrangements, snippet of The Hands That Built America)
Running To Stand Still (Zoo TV aleluias are back!)

(break for human rights video)

Zoo Station (new ending)
The Fly (new intro `funky edgy remix` seamless into unos dos tres...catorce)
Vertigo (extended ending. Snippet from Stories For Boys)

(Break)

Pride
Streets
One
All Because Of You
40

(Thank you Brian Bennett)

The stage has an oval catwalk that goes around the fans (similar to the heart during Elevation Tour but extends further out onto the floor). 400 fans are allowed inside. The stage is very simple and clean so it's viewable from any place in the arena or stadium. The main stage looks like the spirals from the Vertigo video. There's no B Stage, but at the top of the egg there's enough room for them to play. 3 level video screen.

Now, about the show:

Larry plays keyboards during 'Yahweh'.
During 'Love and Peace', Larry starts the song playing at the edge of the 'egg'. In the middle of the song, he switches to the set in the main stage, while Bono drums at the edge of the egg.
For 'Zoo Station', Edge plays the Vertigo guitar: a black guitar with red circles on it.
For 'Streets', the red background is replaced by flags of the countries of the African continent, shown behind the band.
'40' came back from the past just like it was 20 years ago. Each band member leaves the stage one at a time, and then the show ends with Larry playing alone.
Acording to U2.com the fans had a funny offer, related to the specific time of the year: 'being part of such a select group to see U2 play live was not enough, this was also Easter Saturday - as the fans left the show, everyone was offered a chocolate egg!'

(Thanks @U2 for the details).

We count on having an eye witness of the dress rehearsal sometime during the day. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Info of used guitars (Thank you Jeffrey Ball)

City of Blinding Lights - 1965 Gretsch Country Gentleman
The Electric Co. - 1975 (I think/withblack knobs) Les Paul Custom
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart - 1976 Stratocaster (bw/white pick guard)
Beautiful Day - Explorer
Miracle Drug - Explorer
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own - 196x Ric 330 12 string
Love and Peace or Else - Line 6 Acoustic Variax (silver sparkle)
Elevation - 1966 Gibson SG
Stuck in a Moment... - Edge played piano. Bono played Gibson J200
Yahweh - Edge played his Gibson J200 Larry played keys.
Bullet the Blue Sky - 1976 Strat
Running to Stand Still - Edge plyed piano w/some shimmer.
Zoo Station - 1975(?) Les Paul Custom
The Fly - Line 6 Acoustic Variax (black with red Vertigo targets on it.
Vertigo - blonde Tele (Same as used at HOF induction)
Pride - Sunburst Strat Appeared to be a 3 tone sunburst 60's or 60's reissue and not the 2 tone.
Where the Streets Have No Name - 1976 Strat
One - 1975(?) Les Paul Custom
All Because of You - Epiphone Casino
40 - Edge played Adams natural Lakland bass and Adam w/Edge's `76 Strat

Love and Peace ROCKS live. While he's got what appears to be acoustic Varix guitars for Love and Peace and The Fly... they are HARDLY played in an acoustic manner. The Bullet solo was longer, psychedelic and scorching! Looked to be 5 amps. Two AC30's. The Fender Blues Junior, and two I wasn't 100% sure of.

Reviews: This first review came from a very lucky fan who won a radio contest and conquered the chance to witness the dress rehearsal. Here it is, the live experience, on his very own words (thank you Brian Bennet)

There was about 400 contest winners that were let in. They had us wear these wrist bands that said VERTIGO on them. They had us show our ID's before we got on the busses to go to the show. We were wanded down and patted down before we were let in. They said no cell phones, recorders or cameras....so I was unable to get photos for you all.
We were let in at about 6pm....concert started at about 7pm. Just before it started about another 100 fans were let in. One guy sat next to me. He said that he was there starting at 9am that morning outside. Bono came out around 3pm and talked to a lot of fans. He said that if the crowd did not get too big he would see about getting all of them in to see the show. So just before the show security came out and told everyone to get rid of cell phones, cameras, etc.
I thought we were going to be allowed into the heart, but we had to sit up in the first row of seats. One of the crew came out before the show and said that they wanted us all to see the show and all the lights, etc. They had been playing for about a week there and wantd to run through with fans to see how we would react. We had great views....I sat down front on The Edges' side.
The set was basicly like the Elevation Tour....not a heart, but an egg/oval....same runway for Bono to run around. The light set up on the floor made an bomb target circle thing....when the lights came on.
They started with CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS.... The Edge, Larry and Adam came on stage.....Bono appeared at the tip of the heart to start singing. The best part was this Red, Silver, and White confettie that was released from the roof. It kept comming down the whole song. It looks soooooo cool.
They have these 6 sheets of lights. They were strands of ropes or electrical cords with lights on them. The people from the back of the stage will be able to see threw them.....So you will have great seats if you are there. There were all kinds of lights and colors going around on these curtain type light strands. Like during SOMETIMES there was this big man 2 story man walking around the stage on these light curtains. Very cool.
Next three songs were from old school stuff. There was a big picture of the Boy on the War cover shown up. They played A CRY/ELECTRIC CO. (with snippets form Send in the Clowns) at the end of Electric Co. The played AN CAT DUBH, INTO THE HEART, and BEAUTIFUL DAY.
Then on MIRACLE DRUG....Bono started to explain the story about the boy....but then stopped and said 'you guys already know this'. Made me laugh. The lights were running around the heart, zooming around. All different colors, very cool.
Dedicated SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN to his father.
Probably my favorit song was LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE. The bass just went right threw you. Larry was on the tip of the heart with one drum and a symble. He played from there. He even sang part of the song with Bono. At the end of the song Bono grabbed the sticks and played drums...beating on them like some trible chant while Larry walked back to his drum set and finished the song.
ELEVATION was great. New verson....We all sang the Whoo Hoos at the first with him.
STUCK IN A MOMENT was very cool. Just The Edge on Keys and Bono trying to play guatar. He didn't do to well with his playing, but laughted at himself about it.
YAHWEH was very cool. Slowed down and soft. At the end it was just Adam on Bass and Bono singing. Bono said, 'you never get to just hear Adam...he does pretty good.'
Then right into BULLET THE BLUE SKY....the lights came down and there was this fighter plane zooming around on the light curtains. It was all in red, very cool.
RUNNING TO STAND STILL was very cool. The Edge on keys. At the end of it tons of smoke came pouring out like in ZooTV Tour. They went into this Human Rights reading. There were about 14-15 different bills of rights....it got kind of long.
Came back after their short break with ZOO STATION and then THE FLY...both these songs were very strong with lots of The Edge.
VERTIGO is the tune they used to end the set with. Very good, better than what I have seen them sing it like during the Hall of Fame and on SNL. During the end when he says..."All of this, All of this can be yours..." The song kind of slowed down and stopped....the then sang some lines from STORIES FOR BOYS ...then it sped back up to finish Vertigo. Bono said 'Good night'
Encore #1
PRIDE and then STREETS. During STREETS the curtain lights had all these African flags going all different directions on it. He talked a little about Africa and Debt. He did not do Psalms 116.
During ONE he said that we should hold up our cell phones and turn them on and let the lights shine. The he told us to TEXT our names to UNITE and that our names would appear on the screens about them. It was very cool. So bring your cell phones.
Encore #2
Came out with ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. This song rocked. Very loud and was a great way to close out the show.
.....'40'.....The greatest way to end a U2 show. He talked to us and thanked us for coming out. Wished us a Happy Easter. Bono had this bright spot light and shown it around at everyone. He then set the light down pointing up at the roof. He waved and walked off. So did Adam and The Edge. Larry was left there playing the drums and we were all still singing just like in the old days. He played for 3-4 minutes and then left.
What a great show. This Tour is going to just get better. It is a very strong show and setlist.'

March 14, 2005 - New York, EUA - Waldorf Astoria

2005-03-27T12:38:00.000+01:00

Set: Until the End of the World, Pride, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Vertigo

This was a very special night'not only for U2, but for Rock and Roll itself. On this day, U2 got inducted on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
6 years after Bono inducted Bruce Springsteen, now it was the right time for the BOSS to induct the Irish band. Most of all, it was a night full of deep feelings, very good speeches ... and music ... great music performances.
U2 played a short 4 songs set. During 'Until the End of the World', Bono enjoys the party by going into the middle of the audience and spraying a champagne bottle.
Bono also sings a bit of Springsteen's 'Promised Land', and Bruce joins the band and sings 'Still Haven't Found' with them.
After the ceremony, the band talked briefly to the press, and answered a few questions. Once again, the band apologized for the issues concerning ticket sales.

Speeches text available from @U2

Springsteen's Induction

Band's Speeches

Press meeting vídeo from U2Log

Audio from U2EXIT

Induction Speech by Bruce Springsteen and performance of 'UTEOTW'

Speeches by Bono and The Edge and performance of 'Still Haven't Found'

Speeches by Adam and Larry and performance of 'Vertigo'

February 13, 2005 - Los Angeles, EUA - Staples Center

2005-03-27T04:04:00.000+01:00

Set: Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own / Across the Universe

This was definitely a night to remember. In LA, the 47th Grammy Awards took place, at the Staples Center. U2 were nominated for three awards and they took them all home. Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, Best Rock Song and Best Short Form Music Video. This marked 17 Grammy awards in a long career. Even though 'Vertigo' was the song that meant all these awards for the band, they performed 'Sometimes' (later, it was mentioned that it happened that way because Bono was having some back issues and wouldn't handle all the needed moves to perform Vertigo).
This ceremony was marked by the unusual lack of words from the front man, whom nearly became speechless while receiving an award. Larry took the chance to publicly apologize for the tickets issues that left some die hard fans empty handed.
Bono also joined Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys and many others in an All Stars performance of 'Across the Universe', from The Beatles, to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami, in Asia.

December 02, 2004 - London, England - BBC Television

2005-03-27T03:09:00.000+01:00

Set: Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, I Will Follow, Vertigo

U2 perform and are interviewed at the british show 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross', on BBC1.
A 15 minutes interview goes very relaxed and interesting, and for the first time Bono talks about the huge success their latest album is having worldwide right around a time when it had already reached nº1 in at least 32 countries.
'Vertigo' is played at the beginning of the show, while 'Sometimes' and 'I Will Follow' are played in the end. After that, Bono claim's the 'One more for us' as he has done in the previous television performances, and they do 'Vertigo' once again.
The program is taped on December 2, and broadcasted on the following day.

November 22, 2004 - New York, NY - Empire Fulton Ferry State Park/ Brooklyn Bridge

2005-03-27T02:13:00.000+01:00

Set: All Because of You, Santa Claus is Coming Town, Vertigo, All Because Of You, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, City of Blinding Lights, Original of the Species, She's a Mystery To Me, Beautiful Day, I Will Follow, Out of Control, Vertigo

This was maybe the most crazy day of U2's pre Vertigo Tour. There were two specific goals to achieve this day, and they ended the best way you could possibly imagine.
The first purpose was to record the video for 'All Because of You' (soon to be the second single of HTDAAB in America). For that, U2 performed on a moving flat bed truck on the streets of New York. It was insane. You could see surprise shining in fans faces. Can you imagine how it would be to wake up early in the morning ... and see U2 performing in your town streets? Unbelievable! It reminds us of the 1987 video of 'Where the Streets Have no Name'. After performing 'ABOY' several times, Bono later sings 'Santa Claus is Coming To Town' for the crowd that has gathered for the shoot.

Later, the band ends the day under the Brooklyn Bridge, with lower Manhattan as a backdrop, as night falls in New York. A 'secret' concert was announced by local radio stations and fans did not miss the chance of witnessing such an amazing moment. The performance was recorded by MTV for the 'MTV Jammed' show (but they ended broadcasting only the 'Making of ABOY' and a few songs of the whole performance).

This is the first full live performance the band does in a while. They are definitely back 'to where they live'! The performance begins and ends with 'Vertigo'.

Video and audio of 'All Because of You' can be seen at U2.com.

November 20, 2004 - New York - NBC Studios

2005-03-23T00:02:00.000Z

Set: Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own, I Will Follow, All Because of You, Vertigo

After performing 'Elevation' and 'Beautiful Day' for the NBC show, 'Saturday Night Live' in 2001, before the Elevation Tour, U2 returned now with some brand new songs from their last album.
Usually, performances for this show are restricted to 2 songs. But, by chance, U2 performance included three full songs and the credits of the show roll over 'I Will Follow'. Once again, after finishing it, Bono requested 'one more'. The band kept playing, going straight to 'All Because of You', and did 'Vertigo' one more time, but these two last tunes were not broadcasted.

During 'I Will Follow', Bono simulated a lap dance with a girl from the audience, sitting in the front row.

This was the first time they did 'I Will Follow' live on this promo tour. The song just came back very, very strong live. Bono's voice is way metter then on the Elvation Tour. I think it's gonna be nearly some kind of fire live. This tune it's gonna swallow the crowd and spit if over again! Time will tell!

Vídeos

I Will Follow

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

November 18, 2004 - Little Rock, Arkansas

2005-03-22T22:10:00.000Z

Set: Rain (Beatles), Sunday Bloody Sunday (Acoustic), The Hands That Built America

Bill Clinton opened the doors of his presidential library at a rain-soaked ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bono and The Edge were invited to perform at this opening ceremony for more than 40.000 invited guests.

As mentioned at the ceremony's program, 'After the presidential speeches, the politically outspoken Bono and guitarist The Edge will perform. They are two of the four members of the Irish band U2, which has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide and won 14 Grammys. Like Clinton in his post-presidential foundation work, Bono is a champion for fighting AIDS and poverty in Africa and has been since he helped start Band Aid in the early 1980s'

After performing the Beatles classic 'Rain' (literally, in the rain), and slightly changing the lyrics, mentioning 'when the rain comes, they run and hide their heads, we've got four presidents out of bed', Bono made a little speech directed to Bill Clinton:

'There are many reasons to thank president Clinton, not least of 27 of the poorest countries in this world had their bad old debts canceled by the United States under his administration. It's an incredible thing. 3 times demand of children going to school in Uganda because of those debts being canceled. United States should be very proud of that.
The other good reason is of course, more close to home. What this man did for the peace that is so nearly there in Ireland. It's an extraordinary thing. We here, myself and The Edge, pay tribute to that and many people made a lot of sacrifices for that peace. But Bill Clinton didn't have to. He chose to.

After this touching speech, they smoothly started and acoustic version of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'. Then Edge played the piano for 'The Hands That Built America', while Bono had to find an umbrella to cover himself from the rain.

Vídeos from the Clinton Foundation:

Rain

Sunday Bloody Sunday (Acoustic)

The Hands That Built America

November 16, 2004 - Dublin, Ireland - Hanover Quay Studio

2005-03-20T23:28:00.000Z

Set: Vertigo, All Because Of You, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Beautiful Day

This was the most intimate performance they did while promoting their latest album. Performing at their own Hanover Quay studios, U2 play a set live for the BBC Radio. Jo Whiley and Chris Moyles packed up their turntables and moved their whole production team from the UK to Dublin studios.
The audience was really small...and lucky! 30 Radio 1 competition winners had the privilege to witness it all.
Before singing 'Miracle Drug', Bono makes a little introduction of it. He tells the story of Christopher Nolan, a former Mt. Temple student who overcame cerebral palsy. No one ever gave any credit to this boy, but his mother kept believing, teaching and reading to him. This along with medical and scientific advancements helped him to move his neck about an inch and he used this mechanism that allowed him to write. His first poem was called 'I learned to battle' and then he wrote a book called 'Dam-Burst of Dreams' and later became a published poet and novelist.
'Beautiful Day's lyrics are slightly changed and mention the BBC event.

Audio from U2Exit

Full set

October 26, 2004 - San Jose, CA - California Theatre

2005-03-20T22:20:00.000Z

Set: Original of the Species, All Because of You

U2's performance on this day saw the band be reduced to 2 elements: Bono and Edge. This event turned public an agreement between U2 and Apple, that included the release of a special U2-themed iPod and a downloadable box of U2 tunes called 'The Complete U2', that included all the albums from 'Boy' to 'HTDAAB', singles and B Sides plus some unreleased stuff. The event was packed filled to capacity with press, music executives, and other VIP guests of Apple.

Bono and Edge performed another new song: 'Original of the Species'. 'Original of the Species' is a song Bono wrote for one of Edge's daughter.
The performance is very different from what they have been showing, because the band isn't represented on it's entirety. Edge plays piano for Original and All Because of You is played acoustic. Anyway, the set works perfectly and spoils the occasion.

All this Apple association brought a lot of discussion around the idea that U2 sold out to a label. An advertisement for Apple was recorded by the band, with 'Vertigo' as soundtrack. No matter what people may say about it the thing just worked really well. A simple colored video, full of shades of the band members seemed to rock a lot of people. Very wise move from the band and it's also a very cool thing for the fans. Digital format is the future. Can you imagine U2 gigs available at iTunes for download, with soundboard quality? Just three words to describe it: heaven on earth!

Audio files from U2Exit

Original of the Species

All Because of You

October 16, 2004 - London, England - Riverside Studios

2005-03-20T01:51:00.000Z

Set: Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, City of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

This time inside a studio, U2 perform a short but strong set of 3 new songs. This performance is made for the CD:UK show, befor a crowd of 150 people and is later broadcasted.
Songs were pre recorded but Bono sings live. At the end of the show, Bono requests silence from the audience and the band plays 'Sometimes' again, because the first performance had too much noise from the crowd. Bono explains that the song is very special and heartfelt, and that he wants to sing it without the crowd screaming and clapping. 'Miracle Drug' is performed for the first time but it's broadcasted later, 27th November, 2004.
A few weeks before U2's performance, the band was interviewd in Monaco, and it was also broadcasted for CD:UK.

Vídeos from U2Exit

CD:UK interview

Miracle Drug

SYCMOYO

Vertigo

October 15, 2004 - London, England - BBC Television

2005-03-20T00:28:00.000Z

This was the first time U2 officially appeared in public to perform new songs from their still to be released album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

London, England @ BBC Television

Set: Vertigo, All Because of You, Desire, She's A Mystery To Me, City of Blinding Lights

Invited to play for the famous show Top of the Pops, U2 where too big to play inside the studios, so they played LIVE in the street at BBC's parking lot and in the rain. But the rain wasn't good enough to scare the rock kings.
From the so waited first performance, BBC broadcasted 'Vertigo'. Music was pre recorded, but Bono was performing live. Bono also played guitar during 'City of Blinding Lights'. This performance gave us a very good glimpse of what was coming up. Bono's voice came back very good. The band returns 'alive and kicking'. It's a good first sight of what's coming ahead.
On the same day, U2 also manage to record 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' inside the studio, and the song is broadcasted later, January 14, 2005.

You can find audio and video files at U2Exit

'Vertigo' vídeo, live from the car park

Rehearsal for TOTP

Full audio of the TOTP performance

Just a dizzy beggining

2005-03-18T00:44:00.000Z

Hello U2 fans from all over the world. This is it. 10 days away from the official tour kickstart.
We are about to enjoy a time when we will want to share all we hear, read and see of the new tour. We will want to share and discuss with other fans that shared the same feelings...some of them same venues and emotions. So lets do it all together here.
Before the tour starts, there is going to be a dress rehearsal in LA. on the 26th of March. But....while we don't have news on the tour...we will make a retrospective of the most important things that happened in previously...concerning to U2 performances around the new album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.