U2 Experimenting

U2 / U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson @2016

U2 / U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson @2016

New York: Back at the studio the boys have been working something fresh, experimental and some may say it feels like Zooropa. Songs of Experience, their fourteenth studio album. 

Bono and the boys are just having fun creating music that will embrace their roots and pull along those new fans and bring them into the fold. U2 has had their challenges during the last tour.

One would think that may come into play with the new music. So the question most of you want to know. When will U2 hit the road again ? Well sources suggest that we should see the boys around the world in 2017 !  Yup that's the noise in the system right now. We tend not to support or agree with the noise however knowing that the marketing machines and the venue routing information would normally kick into gear right about now for a summer tour. 2016 looks likely not be in scope. 

 

U2 Continues To Evolve Concert Staging

Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS 2015

Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS 2015

New York: U2 has been no stranger to extravagant set designs over the last three decades. While the band is most known from its hits from the 80s — spawned mostly from 1987’s classic album The Joshua Tree — U2’s lavish set designs did not start until after the release of Achtung Baby in 1991. The “Zoo TV” Tour that followed was the band’s first with massive screens and what was deemed an intentional “sensory overload.” Screens played a mixture of closeups, prerecorded videos and live television while renovated Trabants were a part of the lighting system. Since then, the evolution of U2’s concert experience has continued to place the band in a story played throughout the show.

Even as the show and production value continue to expand, it is the music that always brings fans back to the shows. Editor-In-Chief/Founder of U2TOURFANS.com Andres Gonzalez is one of such fans, noting that “Young rock bands should take notice. U2′s original sound builds a success-long career which includes sold out shows at Madison Square Garden.” U2 still has six shows remaining at Madison Square Garden, the last of which will be Friday, July 31.

The mixture of sound and show has brought the experience of U2 concerts from its simple atmosphere of the 80′s to the massive production it is today. 1997’s “PopMart” Tour featured a 150’ by 50’ LED screen – the largest of its time – along with a 100-foot high arch and a 35-foot-high mirrorball that transported the band between main and side stages. U2 has continued to build upon its unique stage designs with each passing tour and there has been no shortage of innovation since. Such originality has continually kept ticket demand high, especially for U2 tickets on the secondary market.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2015/07/21/with-video-cage-u2-continues-to-evolve-concert-staging-and-experience/

October Arrives Early to Madison Square Garden

Mark peterson /u2tourfans 2015

Mark peterson /u2tourfans 2015

New York City: The North American tour will come to close in New York City on July 31st.  The band held their normal sound checks with an addition of "October" which has not been played publicly since 1989. "October" has normally been positioned as lead in to "New Years Day" not last night.

"October" arrival in the second set proved once again that the boys have such a vast catalog of music that a few mix ups in the set list can and will happen. MSG has been a special place for musicians.

Selling out the place is a hard thing to do in New York no matter who you are due to the vast nightly event list. New Yorkers have all types of entertainment available nightly. Fans that have traveled to NYC to see the show have lots to do around the city during the day. 

Tickets for the show have been sold out for some time. Fake tickets have been spotted around the venue. Fans get up set that ticket scalping goes on at all of the U2 shows. 

However the band and Live Nation have put in controls to curb the scalping of tickets the amount of tickets available on the secondary market continues to grow.

One thing we noticed about this, fans are selling their own tickets back to secondary brokers. Those tickets then become available for sale. The fake tickets around the venue are not from secondary brokers rather from scammers with a printer and time.

Our photographers have been spotted around town taking photos of the fans.  GA Line has a life all to its own. The hardcore U2 fan that will wait in rain or snow in line for that small little space upfront close to the band. U2 fans are the most dedicated fans around the world. Some traveling as far way as Iceland to see the show.

This is their time to connect with other U2 fans and share the experience. U2 fans also connect socially using twitter to follow the show and share their views of how the evening has been going, its a community that has been connected by music. 

Seven more shows over the next few days and a couple of breaks in the middle and that's it North America will be in the can as the boys take off to Italy. A much deserved break in the middle. 

Venue: New York Madison Square Garden July 18, 2015

Set List

  1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
  2. The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet) / On Broadway (snippet)
  3. Vertigo / God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) (snippet)
  4. I Will Follow
  5. Iris (Hold Me Close)
  6. Cedarwood Road
  7. Song For Someone
  8. Sunday Bloody Sunday / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet)
  9. Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
  10. Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet)

(Intermission)

  1. Invisible
  2. Even Better Than The Real Thing
  3. Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet) / Young Americans (snippet)
  4. Elevation
  5. Ordinary Love
  6. October
  7. Every Breaking Wave
  8. With Or Without You / In The Garden (snippet) / Shine Like Stars (snippet)
  9. City Of Blinding Lights
  10. Bullet The Blue Sky / 19 (snippet)
  11. The Hands That Built America (snippet) / Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Encore(s):

  1. Beautiful Day / I Remember You (snippet)
  2. Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
  3. One / Invisible (snippet)

** Snippets Provided by U2GIGS

October made its first appearance in a U2 setlist in 25 years, 8 months, and 7 days (or 9,380 days) The rest of the set list and news can be found on the http://www.facebook.com/u2tourfans

Boston In the Review Mirror, New York City Lights Ahead

Boston:   Boston Strong was the theme of U2's four night appearance. Bono and the boys had not performed consecutive shows since Elevation Tour June 2001.  The band and fans have a great love affair going on for sometime.

Daily sound checks offer possible mix ups in the set list. A bar offered a U2 experience that finally U2's twitter feed had to set the record straight. Kind of reminds us to be young NOT dumb.

One of the interesting things on the tour has been @u2bike which not many have picked up on. A member of the crew has been out around each city taking some wonderful images of the city as well as the venue. 

Social media was a buzz "I heard the Fly" " Was that the Fly" mixed in with Invisible. The Fly has not made an arrival this tour. We have go all the way back to May when we heard an acoustic version. During last nights intermission video "The Wanderer" was replaced with a video mixed by Gavin Friday and over the PA was The Fly.  ( Yea we heard that Gavin was in the house) A visual awakening with messages flashing from ZooTV.  "Gloria" made her appearance early in the evening.

Boston Strong! "No bomb can break you" U2 may have physically have left Boston however their message of uplifting hope will carry on until they return. Will they return ? Surely as the Summer turns to a Boston Winter. 

Venue Boston TD Garden July 15, 2015

  1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
  2. Gloria / Van Morrison's Gloria (snippet)
  3. Vertigo
  4. I Will Follow
  5. Iris (Hold Me Close)
  6. Cedarwood Road
  7. Song For Someone
  8. Sunday Bloody Sunday / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet)
  9. Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
  10. Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet)

(Intermission)

  1. Invisible
  2. Even Better Than The Real Thing
  3. Mysterious Ways / Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves (snippet)
  4. Volcano
  5. Stuck In A Moment
  6. Every Breaking Wave
  7. With Or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet)
  8. City Of Blinding Lights
  9. Bullet The Blue Sky / 19 (snippet)
  10. The Hands That Built America (snippet) / Pride (In The Name Of Love)

encore(s):

  1. Beautiful Day / Happy Birthday (snippet)
  2. Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
  3. One
  4. 40

 

** Snippet provided by U2Gigs

U2 TOUR Annoucement Expected ( RUMOR)

U2 Fans before we all get to crazy about this. It’s a rumor at this timer. However, U2Place has posted some interesting facts before and while we can not confirm the information at this time.

We tend to think this might be spot on. We have a call into our sources in Dublin so lets all ease back from our computers and listen to some music as we await the possible announcement on Wednesday December 3rd

The announcement will be posted on U2.com on 12/3/14 The tour name will be "Innocence And Experience Tour " in support of both albums. Pre sale tickets will follow the normal process for subscribers.

Tickets expected to be on sale December 4th.  Vancouver will kick off the tour on May 14th and May 15th We can expect eight shows at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, from 26 May to 8 June. Montreal, Boston, New York. European tour dates as we expected Torino would kick it off.

Now as our friends at U2Place have said this is all rumor at this point and we as well as they will update the information as we get more information. Expect that we will have something to report later today.

 

Source Credit: U2PLACE

U2 and Apple Music to our Ears !

Music to our ears ! If its true ! Apple and U2 have had a long standing relationship that started back with the iPod Red. Remember? 

The U2 Special Edition. Jet black, it bears a prominent red Apple Click Wheel and, on the flip side, the autographs of each U2 band member.

It came with an exclusive U2 poster and, of course, the signature white iPod earbuds and it included iTunes Music Store coupon you can use to get $50 off your purchase of "The Complete U2." As unique as the iPod itself, this digital boxed set brings together an amazing 400 U2 tracks. Songs span the band's celebrated career.

From "Boy" to "War" to "The Joshua Tree" to "Zooropa" to the soon-to-be-released "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," it includes every U2 album and features over 25 rare and unreleased tracks.

So the idea that U2 and Apple would team up again for the release of iPhone 6 is really not that far off. U2 wants to reach the largest audience possible and wants to be tied into something hip and cool why not the iPhone 6 it seems to be the coolest item coming to market right around the same time as U2 releases their new single and expected new album, which we have great hopes that the album will be called "Lucky 13".

We have journalists in Ireland, the band has been rumored to have shot a music video in Dublin starring the next generation iPhone. We have tweets about the band located in LA right now and yet its all silent on the home front.

U2 Headliners for World Cup 2014

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  U2 could headline the World Cup’s opening ceremony in Brazil 2014.  Insiders are open to having U2 open the FIFA concert in Sao Paulo on Jun 12 2014. ( So far no source has been able to confirm this )

So far FIFA has set a side 15M for the show. News around Brazil suggests this is a done deal.

A source said: “For something as big as a World Cup opening ceremony they would want a massive name given it will be seen by millions and U2 would fit that bill perfectly – especially as they are liked and listened to in countries across the world.”

FIFA have already signed up top-class director Franco Dragone to produce the show, following his success with Cirque du Soleil and Celine Dion’s live Las Vegas concert.

And it is claimed U2 would take over the majority of the show if they were to sign up, which is likely to be their first new tour date.

U2 spokeswoman told the Irish Mirror they had no information to give out on the band’s plan to take part in the World Cup opening ceremony.

Industry sources yesterday revealed that their follow-up to No Line on the Horizon would not now be released until spring 2014, which would fit perfectly with a World Cup performance.

U2 have almost finished the so far untitled record but are working on finalizing art, videos and other elements that will be needed for the release.

Bono said: “We have a deal with our audience, they give us a great life and they expect us to be great and that’s tricky. As you get better you get very good and very good is kind of the enemy of great.

“You can mistake it for great. People don’t get excited about us being very good. Who needs a new U2 album?

“There are loads of them out there. We have to make a great U2 album and they don’t care waiting as long as it’s great.”