U2 and a didgeridoo

U2 and didgeridoo player on stage in Brisbane at the end of their set.

Our man Down Under reports:

“The line up process was well organised with a first in best dressed policy (no fan club priority) . I got there just before midday and secured a position right on the railings of the stage (Adam’s side) The show seemed pretty much the same as what had been done previously but with a few changes here and there. ‘Walk On’ was performed as a full band again, and it showed that it had been a while. It seemed to take a the first verse or so for the band to get it right.

The main noticable difference was the final encore. ‘The Saints are coming’ sounded a little rough but nonetheless a great addition to the set. The show closed with ‘Kite’, which again seemed to take a little bit for the band to get into. The intro went on for a while whilst Bono had a chat to Adam. Then it took off. There was a guy playing a didgeridoo throughout and the ending of the song was quiet magical with Bono flying a kite on the b-stage, then releasing into the air. The Edge’s solo’s were longer and the end was extended.”

U2′s Aussie Vertigo Tour kicks off in Brisbane

U2 played their first show of the 5th leg of the Vertigo Tour on Tuesday night in Brisbane. The Aussies were treated to the following setlist:

City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Elevation / Until The End Of The World / New Years Day / Beautiful Day / Yahweh / Walk On / Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own / Love And Peace Or Else / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Bullet The Blue Sky / Miss Sarajevo / Pride / Where The Streets Have No Name / One / encore: Zoo Station / The Fly / With Or Without You / The Saints Are Coming / Angel Of Harlem / Kite

• Yahoo news: U2 blasts back in Brisbane
• Sydney Morning Herald: A hitch or two, but undoubtedly you know who
• ABC: U2 rocks Brisbane
• The Australian: City sees blinding light as U2 better late than never

Some more details courtesy of various fan lists/forums.

U2 in the land Down Under

U2 have arrived in Queensland, Australia and set up camp in a reportedly ‘stupid expensive’ hotel on the Gold Coast. While their crew continues to work on getting the venue ready for the show, the band will take a few days to acclimatise. Bono told the press: “I don’t really feel like Bono at the moment, I looked in the mirror and saw a little man with sunken eyes.”

Their Denton interview from March this year is going to be repeated on Monday and the band will appear on Rove on Tuesday night.

The stage in Brisbane is almost fully set up.

We haven’t had any info yet on how GA lines are going to be handled. Aussie fans, we welcome your reports and tips.

• The Daily Telegraph: U2 touch down, in pictures
• The Courier Mail: Bono’s soundcheck
• New.com.au: U2 lands for Vertigo tour
• The Gold Coast bulletin: Still a beautiful day for jetlagged U2
• News.com.au: We will rock you says U2
• The Courier Mail: Another day in paradise

Meanwhile, Billboard publishes the U218singles track list, including the new song ‘Window in the Skies’, and U2place.net has what might be the album sleeve.

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U2 and Green Day to perform in New Orleans

U2 and Green Day will perform together at a pre-show for a NFL game at the Superdome in New Orleans on September 25. This will be the first event at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina. U2 and Green Day are expected to perform three or four songs, including The Skids’ “The Saints Are Coming,” which they recently recorded together.

The performance will air live on ESPN, as well as be streamed on the Westwood One World Network and Rhapsody.com. A download of “The Saints Are Coming” will be sold at Rhapsody.com to benefit Music Rising, an organization founded by Edge that aims to help musicians replace the instruments lost in Hurricane Katrina.