Sunday afternoon in the Superdome


Photo: Associated Press

This afternoon U2 and their crew prepared for the band’s performance with Green Day tomorrow night at the Superdome. Rachel, our spy inside the Superdome, provided the following report:

2:45 pm – The U2 crew practice putting up and striking the stage as quickly as possible. The stage design is simple.

3:20 pm – The Edge and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day film interviews together in the end zone with Good Morning America and CNN. Bono runs around inside the stadium with photographers following him. Paul McGuinness surveys the action.
[Video of the Good Morning America interview at ABCNews.com // Video of the CNN interview at CNN.com]

4:20 pm – The Edge rehearses some Green Day songs, as well as “The Saints Are Coming” and “Beautiful Day,” alone to a tape. His trusty tech Dallas Schoo stands by.

4:40 pm – Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton arrive with the rest of the members of Green Day, joining Edge on stage for rehearsal. Bono is the last on stage, wearing a different outfit than what he arrived in. It’s a black military-style jacket with an atomic bomb starburst design on the back, black pants, and a black tee. Bono grabs his microphone and says, “Welcome to the black and red conference.”

4:45 pm – The bands rehearse “The Saints Are Coming,” segueing into “Beautiful Day.” Every volunteer and staff member working in the Superdome is on the field watching the bands rehearse.

4:55 pm – The bands rehearse Green Day’s song “Wake Up When September Ends” repeatedly.

5:05 pm – Rehearsal continues. The song order for the performance tomorrow appears to be “Wake Up When September Ends” and “The Saints Are Coming/Beautiful Day.”
[Video of the rehearsal is available at KUTV.com.]

5:30 pm – Bono changes into a different outfit for the second half of rehearsal.

6:30 pm – A brass horn section joins the band on stage for “Wake Up When September Ends.”

7:10 pm – Rehearsal breaks with a round of applause from everyone on the field.

7:55 pm – Both bands return to the stage to rehearse the set again.

8:05 pm – Rehearsal ends.

U2 and Green Day’s performance tomorrow during the pre-game show will air live on ESPN and at Rhapsody.com at 7:20 pm CT.

34 thoughts on “Sunday afternoon in the Superdome”

  1. Wow!

    These boys are sure racking up the frequent flier miles. With Abbey Road, Fashion Show win New York, back to London and Dublin for book signings and now N’alins they must be on overload.

    I bet Bourbon Street is happening tonight!

  2. Wow!

    These boys are sure racking up the frequent flier miles. With Abbey Road, Fashion Show win New York, back to London and Dublin for book signings and now N’alins they must be on overload.

    I bet Bourbon Street is happening tonight!

  7. I was there! I’m part of the on field audience of about 1000 for the set, and I had to be there last night for a run through of things.

    We got into the building and on the field around 6 pm. Listened to them rehearse for over an hour before there was a break before the full rehearsal.

    Wait until you see and hear!

    Wow!!!!

    BTW, that’s not any random brass line-up. It includes the New Birth Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, and others. Local greats. I know that New Birth and Trombone Shorty have had their connections with Edge before.

    It’s actually very cool how they created the music line to make them a part of it.

    😀

  8. I was there! I’m part of the on field audience of about 1000 for the set, and I had to be there last night for a run through of things.

    We got into the building and on the field around 6 pm. Listened to them rehearse for over an hour before there was a break before the full rehearsal.

    Wait until you see and hear!

    Wow!!!!

    BTW, that’s not any random brass line-up. It includes the New Birth Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, and others. Local greats. I know that New Birth and Trombone Shorty have had their connections with Edge before.

    It’s actually very cool how they created the music line to make them a part of it.

    😀

  9. Anyone else irritated that if you have a mac, you can’t download the song?! I would spend well over $.99 for the song, but I *can’t*.

  10. Anyone else irritated that if you have a mac, you can’t download the song?! I would spend well over $.99 for the song, but I *can’t*.

  15. possibly the worst U2 collaboration i’ve heard. possibly the worst song, including all the B-Sides and ‘Vetigo’.

    i heard the tracks on the radio at work yesterday- an office full of music fans came to a standstill. is it over? (again)

    U2 need another Achtung Baby, or the world is doomed. No matter how well intentioned the song’s theme was – I couldn’t hear it through the wall of guitar slashing.

  16. possibly the worst U2 collaboration i’ve heard. possibly the worst song, including all the B-Sides and ‘Vetigo’.

    i heard the tracks on the radio at work yesterday- an office full of music fans came to a standstill. is it over? (again)

    U2 need another Achtung Baby, or the world is doomed. No matter how well intentioned the song’s theme was – I couldn’t hear it through the wall of guitar slashing.

  29. You’re welcome! Still, I am also not able to download the offical version as I do not live in the US. I can only hope they will include the live version as a b-side on the single in November.

  30. You’re welcome! Still, I am also not able to download the offical version as I do not live in the US. I can only hope they will include the live version as a b-side on the single in November.

  31. Taste is subjective, Callum. Vertigo is one of U2’s best songs. Ever. Leave the “worst song ever” line to the Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy. 😉

  32. Taste is subjective, Callum. Vertigo is one of U2’s best songs. Ever. Leave the “worst song ever” line to the Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy. 😉

  33. I’ve FINALLY heard the Skids cover and … meh. I agree with Callum (tho not about Vertigo!) The cover’s ok, but nothing to get excited about imo. I got more excited when U2 segued into Beautiful Day. But the cause (Music Rising) the cover supports is more important than the song. It’s also gonna be on the new U2 Best Of being released on Nov 20th … start guessing the 16 tracks now.

  34. I’ve FINALLY heard the Skids cover and … meh. I agree with Callum (tho not about Vertigo!) The cover’s ok, but nothing to get excited about imo. I got more excited when U2 segued into Beautiful Day. But the cause (Music Rising) the cover supports is more important than the song. It’s also gonna be on the new U2 Best Of being released on Nov 20th … start guessing the 16 tracks now.

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