Original setlist May 28, 2005 - Boston
Setlist changed from what was printed, adding Party Girl and an encore of Vertigo, nixing 40. May 28, 2005 - photo (c) Steve Lawrence / @U2
Archive for May, 2005
Highlights from the end of 1st leg - May 28, 2005
The end of the first leg of U2’s Vertigo tour brought a few suprises. Here are the highlights (in random order):
Talking with Dennis Sheehan, fans in Europe can expect a bigger stage and more songs added to the setlist. He said that the band has been practicing an accoustic set to add to the stadium shows.
U2 fan Jason Royal asked his girlfriend to marry him during Beautiful Day. He said, “Well, Beautiful Day started and I was thinking to myself, ‘this is it’ I turned her around about half way through and I said to her ‘Do you know the main reason I brought you here tonight’? and she said ‘No’ so I said
‘There is something that I want to ask you!!’ Immediately her face lit up. I took her hand and put the ring on her finger and asked her. I know she didn’t hear me but I know that she knew what I had asked. She said yes. and Immediately started to cry, her face went from a big smile to a ‘Happy Cry’ which also got me teary eyed. After the concert we talked and by the way she talked to me I can tell she is happiest as can be. It could have not been any more perfect.” Good job, Jason!
At the end of One, instead of showing the names of people who had texted UNITE, they showed video and names of the U2 Vertigo crew as a thank you for everything during the first leg.
Starting with the Fly through the end of the show, Bono sang with a black feather boa around his neck.
Larry’s right elbow was taped up quite a bit - I hope the tendonitis hasn’t started bothering him again.
Jim Henke, curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, was in attendance at the show, and given props during Pride. Henke said that the Rock Hall is really excited with their new Tommy exhibit and there’s hope that they may be able to get Pete Townsend to some in for a special talk with fans. He also said that his work on the U2 by U2 book has been completed and has been passed on. (Henke wrote the introduction to the book, due out sometime next year).
The original setlist did not include Party Girl or the encore of Vertigo. The original setlist had Yahweh, then 40.
Bono announced from the stage about how he was happy to have received the warm welcome from Boston with bringing the weather of home back (as it was raining and in the 40s all week), but that he loved the sun and the warmth (which we finally had on Saturday). He mentioned that Larry and Edge had both been sick all week as well.
At the end of Yahweh, Bono showed to everyone the Proclamation from the City of Boston and Mayor Tom Menino announcing that May 24 was U2 Day in the city of Boston. Bono said, “We want it to be U2 for Life - this is is normally something you get once you’re dead!” He also said “Larry Mullen enjoys this.” He then was given a bottle of champagne, which immediately lost its cork. He took a sip, then proceeded to spray those in the ellipse with the it, breaking into Party Girl.
Bono closed the show by announcing the band as “The almighty Larry Mullen, Jr., seated at the right hand of Adam Clayton, and there’s the Edge.” He also said “See you in the fall.”
Overall, the audience was the loudest it’s been since June 9, 2001’s Elevation show in Boston. Everyone was singing along, sometimes drowning out Bono.
Boston Ticket drop update
As of noon EST, there were over 200 people waiting in line to buy tickets at the Box Office window at the Fleet Center. From creditable reports in line, over half of those in the Box Office line are supposedly paid line holders for scalpers and brokers.
These line holders have abandoned the normally peaceful line order, upsetting fans who are genuinely trying to find tickets for just themselves. People have been threatened with physical harm and the Fleet Center staff is doing nothing to control the conditions. More news to follow.
May 28 - Boston GA line entrance sign
Good morning!
There are already about 60 people waiting in a queue with the hope that tickets will be released for tonight’s show - and that was at 10:00 a.m.!
The GA queue wristbands started at number 302 for the U2.com line today, and by the time we got there at 10:00, we were numbers 180+181 (or 482+483 on the wristband). We were told to come back by 5:00 and to not lose the bright orange wristband. Once inside, they’ll swop this wristband with different ones.
As a side note - I think the Fleet Center staff are trying to confuse fans with where the “real” GA line is!
Philly Photos (part two)
And not to be outdone, “bonobaltimore” has uploaded some great shots from both Philly concerts, which you can browse through in @U2’s photo pool.
Thanks bb!
Philly Photos
Flickr user U2rob has a sweet (and substantial) set of shots from Philly 2 earlier this week. Great stuff, U2rob.
Pure Bliss
I’m sure you’ve read the reviews on U2Tours.com about last night’s show at the Fleet Center, but I just have to say that after hearing close to 75% of the tour so far and watching a handful of shows, last night was just pure bliss.
The crowd was not as loud as Tuesday’s crowd, and to be honest - at the beginning, New England Patriots defenseman Tedi Bruschi received a louder cheer than the band did at the start of City of Blinding Lights. The crowd just didn’t seem into it at all…until the first encore.
To be honest, The Fly is my favorite song in the set this tour. It just rocks and is that visual overload that defined my years in college. You want a full-out, head-banging, hard-rockin’ song…it’s The Fly. That song was really the start of the concert for me. The crowd started getting more into the show, and then when they ever came out with Until the End of the World - oh my! Bono’s cues from the stage looked like they were just throwing out the setlist and trying something fresh. Out of Control took a little coordination, and it was the most raw sounding version that I’ve heard yet. It was genuine, and it was something that got the crowd into such a frenzy that we needed something a little soothing to bring our pulse rate back to normal. Then it was With or Without You! This was *THE* song that sealed the deal about my fandom many many years ago. The bass and drums in that song….enough said!
I didn’t think the 1st encore could be topped. All Because of You had Bono fighting with his microphone and mic stand as he turned into a tambourine machine, and it looked like the band were just having fun with it.
Originial of the Species was one of the best sounding songs of the night. At the end of it, Bono turned to Larry and gave a “wow - that was great - we did it” motion/vibe (hard to describe). He was so pleased with the way that song turned out.
All people are going to be talking about for the next little while is Bad. It was phenomenal. Hands-down, the BEST version of that song performed to date. For me, it was all about Larry. He made this song special last night. The way he commanded the intensity of that performance brought tears to many eyes in the audience, myself included.
I don’t know how they plan on surprising the fans for Saturday night. People in the GA line could hear a full rehearsal of Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. Saturday’s show will surely be the fan’s show - I know a lot of hard core U2 fans who are coming into town for Saturday. It’ll be intense, and I can’t wait!
No Cover Charge
Pillar, a Christian rock band from Hays, Kansas, has covered U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” You can hear the song cover on their website, http://www.pillarmusic.com/, or find it on the limited edition version of their recent album “Where Do We Go From Here” out now on Flicker Records.
Man About Town
Does this man never sleep? Sunday, Bono makes an appearance at the Fall 2005 Edun Trunk Show at Barneys in New York City… he shows up in Boston for a little book signing in a Barnes & Noble - making 150 or so fans very happy (thanks!) and then today he’s off in Washington, DC having lunch with the movers and shakers. Oh yeah - there was a little concert in there somewhere…
How To Handle A GA Line
Greetings from sunny Boston - after waking up to pouring rain and a temperature of about 45 degrees, I would like to thank the good folks at Fleet Center for the awesome GA line procedures. Our crew joined the GA line shortly after 6:30 (numbers 34 through 37) and after only an hour and a half in the rain, were given numbered wristbands. We’re now free to go get warm and dry, and won’t have to show back up until 5:00 for a 6:00 admission. Fleet Center - for being so organized with this process - thank you, thank you.
Update: The perfect handling of the line extended all the way through the evening. Nice and orderly, exactly as they published they would handle it. After the show, I spoke with the director of security for Fleet Center, and was told that the rest of the week would run the same.
There are two lines, one for U2.Com and one for regular GA. You will need to bring your U2.Com membership card or a printout of your profile and a GA ticket when you line up the morning. You’ll be given a numbered wristband. Fans began to line up again around 4:00, and we were ushered into the building shortly after 5:00 - very welcome indeed as the temperature was around 40 degrees F and the wind and rain was blowing. By far the smoothest GA I’ve seen on any of my shows, and I hope the other arenas can take a lesson on how to keep fans from lounging all over your property all day. Those of you in town for the rest of the Boston shows - you’re in for a treat.
