Boston Feels Like Home, U2 Fans Agree

Boston: U2 arrived into Boston with a wave of support from Toronto fans that just had the most amazing experience and a few dreams come true.  Boston is a special place for U2.  This town is home to the first North American spins for U2 music. This town totally supports U2 and of course the band embraces Boston. Critics and Bloggers throw their comments around as if their words carry weight with the band.

This band does not perform for the critics.  Last night the band stepped into TD Garden for the first of four sold out shows and that's just the way the band likes it. Having performed in Boston 23 times this is home to them. This is the summer show to see and its almost over for North America. A few dates in Boston and off to New York to close out the North America leg. In the business of touring New York happens to be the perfect end.  The crew and all that cargo can be wrapped up and shipped overseas with out skipping a beat. U2Bike will be packed up nicely and ready to be riding around the country side in September.  So enough about New York. We still have Boston right in front of us.  

Sound check saw the return of Invisible and yet to be performed on this tour New Years Day. The band continues to blend in their extensive catalog and while they may sound check a few tunes that does not mean the songs make it to the performance. 

Venue Boston TD Garden July 10, 2015

1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
2. The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet)
3. Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (snippet) / 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 / Young Americans (snippet)
4. Elevation
5. Ordinary Love
6. Every Breaking Wave
7. Bullet The Blue Sky / 19 (snippet)
8. The Hands That Built America (snippet) / Pride (In The Name Of Love)
9. Beautiful Day / Moment Of Surrender (snippet)
10. Bad / Moment Of Surrender (snippet)
11. With Or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet)

Encore(s):

1. City Of Blinding Lights
2. Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
3. One
4. 40

* Snips Provided By U2GIGS

Phoenix Surprise

Last night was the first of two shows in Phoenix, AZ. A couple of changes, first the opening walk out song was changed to “People Have The Power” by Patti Smith. 

The rest of the evening set list was pretty much the same has the May19th show ( San Jose) with a few welcomed additions. “In Gods Country” (not printed on the set list) remember we said earlier changes could happen on the fly. We will do a complete wrap up of Phoenix and show special on Sunday.

Last Nights Setlist

1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
2. The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (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
9. Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
10. Until The End Of The World
11. (Intermission)
12. Invisible
13. Even Better Than The Real Thing
14. Mysterious Ways / Young Americans (snippet)
15. Desire
16. In God's Country
17. Sweetest Thing
18. Every Breaking Wave
19. Bullet The Blue Sky / America (snippet) / 19 (snippet)
20. The Hands That Built America (snippet) / Pride (In The Name Of Love)
21. Beautiful Day / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (snippet)
22. Bad / Moment of Surrender (snippet)
23. With Or Without You

Encore(s):

1. City Of Blinding Lights
2. Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

U2 Raw, Naked and Intimate

A throw back to the eighties with new album images offers a rare view into Larry’s shy world. U2 say the album cover reflects "the new songs and their inspiration in the early years of U2 as teenagers in Dublin."

According to a statement on U2.com, the artwork by British fashion photographer and film director Glen Luchford, "resonates with the band's iconic 1980 debut album Boy - and the album War, three years later." 

Both of those albums featured the face of Peter Rowen, the younger brother of Guggi, Bono's childhood friend growing up on Cedarwood Road in Dublin.

Their music has always been about community, family, faith and friends this new project reflects a very intimate side that should stand on its own. Bono said, “With this record we were looking for the raw, naked and personal, to strip everything back” and the images on the album reflect the innocence and the unique relationship of a parent and child.

The photo shoot with Larry and his son was really an experiment however; everyone loved it because of its visual metaphor and thought this was a prefect image to use on the album.

"If you know the album, you will see the themes in the visual language, how 'holding on to your own innocence is a lot harder than holding on to someone else's" said Bono.

The release date has been set for October13th  and will be available in three formats, with exclusive bonus material including two new studio tracks, two alternative versions, and a 6-song acoustic session. 

U2 Oscar® Nomination

Congratulations goes to U2 for the nomination of "Ordinary Love"  This is going to be a banner year for the boys

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from “Frozen”
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson