Shout Out ! U2 Crew !

Rehearsals over and now it's time to get to work. Sure daily sound checks will happen, however for the most part rehearsals are over.

The crew all packed up and ready to go. The trucks are all ready for tonight's load out. Band rested and ready to go.   

Vancouver has been a great host.  Bono has said in previous interviews "We always had a thing for Canada in general, but Vancouver has been very, very welcoming to us at a time when we're very fragile," "Because you get quite vulnerable when you are preparing to launch a tour. And I know that sounds odd, but there is a level of nausea and, sort of, you feel ill in the pit in your stomach. It's an anxious time. Here in this city, we feel very free. And I like to get out of the city, and I go wandering, cycling, I get lost around here, and I like getting lost in B.C."

Everyone is anxious during this time. The crew has to get the timing for load in's and load out's and be able to map out a plan for the local that will change every night on tour.  This touring crew has been together for many years; sure some new crew members will join the team. However, most of them have been on this crew for some time.

It's a family no it's not at all like that HBO show its much more work, long hours, short nights and long days.  As a crew member, you know that everything your doing brings the best possible experience.  The crew stands at the edge of the stage and looks over and smiles "Yea I made it happen, and I'll do it all over again tomorrow."

Crew a big shout out to you! You bring all the parts together so that the band creates an experience of a lifetime.  You are a crew member of the world's largest rock band, that's not a bad gig at all.

#U2TheJoshuaTree2017

 

U2 Rehearsals Rolling Forward

Vancouver:  The band returned to work on Saturday, B.C. Place Stadium packing in four full days of rehearsals before the opening of the tour this week.  The band did not start until about 9 pm and ending around 10:40 pm local time. Getting the set list just right does require a couple of starts and stops and changes to the set list. 

Most of the fans around town seem to have enjoyed the set list and a few have started streaming the muffled rehearsal which gives fans a little insight as to what to expect. We are all settled in and ready for a busy week ahead. We will have our team on the ground with live reporting and of course lots of U2 concert images. As always we welcome your submissions with full credit.  Please send the to concertphotos@u2tourfans.com You can send in your videos to concertvideos@u2tourfans.com

 

U2 Rhearsals Offers Insight Set List

Vancouver:  The boys form Dublin have taken over Vancouver as rehearsals continue.

One week before U2 kicks off their "The Joshua Tree Tour." fans have been getting a treat of listening to the band rehearsals. Social media is a buzz as the boys have taken up residency at B.C. Place Stadium.

Of course, a few of the locals are not so happy about the extra noise. However, it's only for a few weeks. The band has been spotted around town.

30-year anniversary tour of the album release has U2 playing the full set list from the album.  33 shows scheduled. 21 of them in North America and 12 in Europe. Most shows have sold out within minutes and now that the set has been confirmed any hold back tickets sure to have been released.

Don't worry we will keep you up to date on all the U2 tour news as the tour rolls forward.

U2 iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour Vancouver Review

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Tim Durkan

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage / U2TOURFANS 2015

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage / U2TOURFANS 2015

First and foremost - those of you planning to see U2 on their innocence + experience World Tour are in for a magical, one of a kind experience that you’ll never forget.

It’s been Nearly 4 years since their hugely successful 360 Tour wrapped up here in Canada and here is where
they’d open up their widely anticipated tour for capacity crowds in Vancouver B.C.


There had been a lot of speculation about possible delays after Bono’s serious accident earlier
this year and followed by last week’s passing of Larry Mullen’s father - but the band pressed on.
After 5 weeks of intense rehearsals here in the mountain town renowned for it’s warm hospitality, U2 signaled to the world that they are not only up for the rigors of a world tour - they
are excited to perform.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage /(U2TOURFANS 2015)

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage /(U2TOURFANS 2015)


With no opening acts scheduled, the band finally took the stage and Thursday and Friday nights
to very receptive and capacity audiences. Opening night had them breaking into their signature song off the new album “Miracle (of Joey Ramone) followed by ‘Out of Control’ ‘Vertigo' and ‘I will Follow’. It was clear the band was ready to give the crowd what they came for - a mix of new songs, signature favorites and a level of emotion that only grew with every song.

Admitting his last few months of recuperation were tough, Bono thanked the doctors who took care of him and told the crowd he wasn’t going to ‘stay in the past too long’ as he and the band had their sights set on the future. Having recently voiced the band’s concern over maintaining relevancy after nearly 40 years of making music, Bono also alluded that this tour was to be much more intimate and scaled down from the massive 360 production - almost as if he was trying to curb our expectations in
advance. Well played Bono!


Within 10 minutes of their opening night, the band showed they are still more than capable of
thrilling fans worldwide - and more importantly that they still care about making great music.
Their nerves seemed to settle also as they broke into their first live performance of ‘Iris’ (a
moving song about Bono’s mother), ‘Cedarwood Road’ (reflections of growing up in 70’s Dublin)
and ‘Song for Someone’ (an ode to Bono’s wife). Any concerns someone might have had about
an ‘irrelevant’ or ‘predictable’ U2 would quickly evaporate as a dazzling, high-def curtain of
animated lights descended from the ceiling to recreate in colorful fashion both whimsical and
poignant moments along the band’s journey over the years.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage (U2TOURFANS 2015)

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage (U2TOURFANS 2015)


U2 combined this spectacular display with songs from the new album in spectacular fashion as homage was paid to those people and events which influenced over the years. Lennon, Bowie, Sex Pistols, David Byrne, Lou Reed, BB King, The Ramones and many others all played an important part in making U2 who they are today - and they recognized that fact in grand fashion.


Equally profound was the way in which they honored the notion of peace and love - love of
parents, friends, family, hometown and the memories that clearly inspire them every day.
The band performed segments of the show inside this semitransparent curtain of lights along a
narrow walk way leading to another stage on the opposite side of the arena. U2 has always
been known for their close interaction with their audience over the years and this tour is
probably the best ever in that respect.

It was on opening night that The Edge pushed that experience to the max when he accidentally stepped off the stage and into the audience below - a move that left him a little bruised and embarrassed but otherwise ok - thank goodness! Bono had a little fun with the guitarist’s misstep the following night when he and the other bandmates offered to accompany The Edge down the same walkway to ensure his safety. The quip caused The Edge to break out in a big smile and the audience to have a laugh with the band - life happens, even to rock stars.

Both nights saw the show really begin to take shape and flex it’s personality during renditions of
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Raised by Wolves’. It was at the end of ‘Wolves’ that a tribute to the 33 people killed in the 1974 Dublin car bombings was presented when the faces of those killed were presented along the 100 foot screen - a somber, powerful moment.

Equally strong towards the end of both shows was Bono’s (positive) message to get involved with their red.org in an effort to eradicate HIV worldwide, a worthy goal to be certain. This while a touching rendition of ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ began to play which really got the audience dancing in the isles.

U2 took a considerable amount of heat over the release of this new album, but at the end of the
day their music and performance during this tour remains faithful to the overall ‘soul’ of the band
- and that is the key to their long success. Yes there may be a few missed notes, improvised
lyrics and technical glitches but it’s precisely why we love them so much - they’re real. And in a
world of overly produced and formula driven musical ‘talent’ where over-hyped news (mostly
bad) travels faster than an automatically downloaded album - U2 has managed managed to
remind us all that being relevant in any aspect of life means taking risks, remembering your
roots and staying true to one’s self. Thank you for that gentlemen.


Tim Durkan is a photographer and music enthusiast from Seattle Wa.
He first saw U2 perform in 1987 during their Joshua Tree tour in Ireland and has since seen
them in 4 countries over the last 30 years. Please feel free to visit him on Facebook at
facebook.com/timdphotos or timdurkan.com

U2Tourfans Show Info

We will have people live on the ground reporting in from the show. Here is a list of some important facts.

  • Show starts 7:30 PM local time PST
  • Twitter Feed #U2ieTOUR
  • Videos and Photos - We will post them once we cleared them. Your welcome to send any photos or videos you like with full credit given:  concertphotos@u2tourfans.com
  • Mobile App works for sending images in CONNECTEDU
  • Periscope, we will forward the streams we find ( we will not have one )
  • Streaming Show - No sorry we will pass on doing this.
  • Show Review / Set List we will update the list as quickly as possible (* we validate our set list against U2gigs)

Sit back and enjoy the show. Its going to be a late night for the east coast however we believe its worth it.

 

U2 Vancouver Rehearsals

The band continued to rehearse last night as scheduled. We have already sent out the official communication in regards to the show schedule which will not change. 

During the dinner break catering sent out some pizza for those in the GA line already. 

Also Adam spent a few minutes with those in line prior to his departure back to the hotel.  Bono waived to the crowd and was not getting out of the SUV possible strained voice from rehearsals. 

Just an FYI some fans have been using Periscope to provide some insights so far so good. We expect to see more fans to start using it on Thursday. Download our mobile app to send concert images back to everyone.

@Navid 2015 / Vancouver/ U2 / Adam Clayton

@Navid 2015 / Vancouver/ U2 / Adam Clayton

The rehearsal set list

1. Bullet The Blue Sky
2. The Hands That Built America
3. Pride
4. Even Better Than The Real Thing
5. Mysterious Ways
6. The Miracle (possibly with a piano intro)
7. Iris

Dinner Break

1. The Miracle
2. Out Of Control
3. Vertigo
4. I Will Follow
5. Iris
6. Cedarwood Road
7. Song For Someone
8. Sunday Bloody Sunday
9. Raised By Wolves
10. Until The End Of The World (with an unidentified outro)

Short break.

11. Invisible
12. Even Better Than The Real Thing
13. Desire
14. Mysterious Ways
15. Sweetest Thing
16. Every Breaking Wave (acoustic)
17. Bullet The Blue Sky
18. Pride
19. The Troubles
20. With Or Without You (with some additional work on the outro)
21. City Of Blinding Lights
22. Beautiful Day
23. Where The Streets Have No Name
24. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Set list by U2GIGS