Let’s talk tour

For months, we haven’t heard any news or rumors about the postponed Vertigo tour dates being rescheduled, but all of that is quickly changing. We finally have some tour information to share from a number of reliable sources.

Our friends at U2japan.com have learned that the Tokyo Dome has been reserved on December 14 and 15 for U2’s use. They report that the promoter and U2 management are locked on the issue of ticket price. U2 want to keep prices fair; the promoter wants to sell “premium” tickets. If U2 perform at the Tokyo Dome, it will likely be to fans all sitting in reserved seats because of Japan’s strict fire codes.

U2japan.com also has learned when and where U2’s stage set is to be delivered to their part of the world. An employee of the sea transportation company that will be handling U2’s set revealed the company expects U2’s set to arrive in Yokohama Port in September or October. If this information is true, it may mean U2 intend to rehearse in Japan before beginning the tour again in Australia and New Zealand in November (the current rumored tour commencement date) — or it may mean the first rescheduled dates will be in Japan — or it might mean nothing other than Yokohama Port is a common delivery point for sets and equipment.

We’ve heard from several sources that the tour route will be slightly different than originally planned, with Australia getting their rescheduled dates first, followed by New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii. The show at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium may be a New Year’s Eve show, which fits with the publication of a curious item at Ticketmaster.com on March 1. For a short time on that date, Ticketmaster.com listed an event at Aloha Stadium on December 31st for $1. When questioned about the event, Ticketmaster said it was a placeholder in the system for an event to be announced later. Even then, fans suspected it was for U2’s rescheduled show.

Perhaps the most interesting news we’ve heard is there may be additional concerts in countries that were not previously listed on the tour schedule and countries that have already been Vertigo-ed. Yes, that means the United States. Again.

Of course, we need to point out that all of this information could be rubbish, or it could be true for the moment and false tomorrow. Whatever the case, we like tour talk and are ready for more.

Last Night in Mexico

U2’s third and final Vertigo tour date in Mexico last night was filmed but will not be broadcasted like the rest of the Latin shows. The shows in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina will be aired on national television.

Last night’s audience was really loud and participative, again bringing thousands of balloons to delight the band. Bono sported a new jacket, similar to the one he wore during the Elevation tour with the American flag lining, but with the Mexican flag instead. The band offered a great performance, but Bono did not speak to the audience as much as the night before. He chose to dance with the same girl for both “Mysterious Ways” and “With or Without You.”

During “Beautiful Day,” Bono changed the lyrics to:

See the world in red and green
Mexico City in a waking dream
From Guadalajara to Monterrey,
Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco Bay
A new world is in motion

An after-show party was organized for the band, but they did not attend. Immediately after the show, U2 retired to their hotel.

Setlist:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Until the End of the World
New Year’s Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Beautiful Day / Cielito Lindo
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (semi-acoustic)
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky / Johnny Comes Marching Home / The Hands That Built America
Miss Sarajevo
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
Fast Cars
Original of the Species
40

4th leg of Vertigo tour kicks off in Mexico

U2 kicked off the fourth leg of their Vertigo tour in the Mexican city of Monterrey yesterday (Feb. 12). 48 hours before the concert, more than 600 fans were sleeping at the gates of the stadium in order to get into the ellipse; 24 hours before the show, there were more than 2,000 fans. Mexicans have really missed the band, since the last time U2 visited Mexico was during the PopMart tour in 1997.

Bono spoke in Spanish several times during the concert. Before “One,” he said to the audience: “La gente dice que no se puede cambiar al mundo, que tu no puedes, que yo no puedo, The Edge no puede, pero si se puede, si actuamos todos como UNO.” Translation: “People say you can’t change the world. You can’t, I can’t, The Edge can’t…but it is possible if all we act like ONE.”

One surprise during the show was a snippet of the traditional folk song “Cielito Lindo” during “Bad.” Other highlights include Bono pulling two girls on stage for “Miss Sarajevo,” and another one during “With or Without You.”

Full setlist:

Vertigo
I Will Follow
Electric Co
Elevation
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For
City of Blinding Lights
Original of the Species
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
Bad/Cielito Lindo
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Until the End of the World
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
Yahweh
Vertigo

Photos: Mexican fans fill the stadium // Bono on the b-stage // Edge // Bono gets down

Press (in Spanish): El Universal // Excelsior // El Sol de Mexico

The second show of the fourth leg of the tour will be at Mexico DF on February 15. Right now more than 200 people are queueing at the gates of the stadium.
(Photo: Associated Press)

U2’s fabulous year

Billboard has published Paul McGuinness’ reflections on 2005:

“This was such a great year for U2. A No. 1 album in 20 countries, 110 shows all sold out, 3.3 million tickets sold, 100% of the tickets we put on sale. Nine million-plus sold of the current record, 3 million catalog, 2 million DVDs. U2 have never been bigger or better. Next year after Mexico, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, we will end the Vertigo tour in Honolulu.”

We’d say that was a pretty good year too, full of many numbers.

A Nite Out in Mexico & South America

ETS, the official tour and travel operator for the Vertigo tour, has informed us that it is now offering Nite Out packages for the shows in Mexico and South America. (Previously, ETS was only offering hotel and ticket packages for those locations.) Nite Out packages provide you with admission to a pre-show party and a ticket to the show. Good deal. Good fun.

Fluxblog sees Kanye West and U2 in St Louis

Fluxblog’s Matthew travels to Missouri to see the band in concert at the Savvis Center in St. Louis. He reviews both the opening act and U2, and touches on the political implications of the current ‘heart of darkness’ part of the band’s set. There are some good reactions in the comments.

“Love and Peace Or Else” was far better in St. Louis than in the 10/8/2005 MSG set, as was the rest of the so-called ‘heart of darkness’ mini-set that also includes “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Bullet The Blue Sky.” Though I quite enjoy “Love and Peace,” this is by far the weakest part of the Vertigo tour – for one thing, these three songs in a row feels more than a little redundant on a musical level, but more than that, there are very troubling political implications in the repurposing of the latter two songs…”

Read more at Fluxblog.