SPOILER - Rehearsals at Nou Camp Part II - SPOILER

[mikal]

i swear, if that electrical storm bit is just to tease us i'll kick some ass.

yeah, i normally don't get too wound up about things, but i would be very disappointed in U2 if they did that.

 

[coolian2]

yeah, i normally don't get too wound up about things, but i would be very disappointed in U2 if they did that.

it's one thing like vertigo where all we ever saw about it was it was a warm up for guitar techs or something, but to have a member of the band playing notes on a video on their own website and then doing nothing? that would just be rude.

 

[mikal]

it's one thing like vertigo where all we ever saw about it was it was a warm up for guitar techs or something, but to have a member of the band playing notes on a video on their own website and then doing nothing? that would just be rude.

agreed. and it scares me that this may end up becoming reality because, other than the U2.com video, there have been no reports of ES being rehearsed. hopefully if it doesn't show up on opening night, it will end up being the "Kite" or "Stay" of the Elevation Tour, where the band starts playing it 10-15 shows in.

 

[Jim]

nice new video on U2.com

 

[ClaytonsKitten]

as elevated mentioned, all bands have their crazy fans with their over-analytical chart porn

-dan

Chart porn. I love it.

 

[nirniva]

I honestly think people who go to concerts with the express intention of hearing specific songs are doing it wrong, whether they're a casual fan just going because they heard some hit on the radio or some fanatic hoping for a particular beloved song. Sooner or later, you're going to be very disappointed.

Sure, everybody has songs they'd like to hear. I can give you a lengthy list of songs I'd dearly love U2 to perform. But I go to gigs expecting the band to play songs they're most enthused to play, and to play them well. Maybe they'll play my favourites; maybe they won't. Either way, I want to see a scintillating live performance. If the band play well, then playing my favourites is simply a bonus.

The songs I tend to criticise U2 for continually playing without a rest are those that I think have become tired and reveal a lack of a passion for playing them - the songs the band feel they "should" or "have" to play. If you are as good a live band as U2, you don't "have" to play anything; you can play a whole bunch of rarities and obscure songs, but with such fervour, intensity, and passion that you still have the crowd in the palm of your hand. In short, if a band wants to play something, their audience is going to enjoy hearing it. You folks all know I'm not a fan of Ultra Violet, but I'd rather hear the band perform it with unbridled enthusiasm than an aimless, lifeless version of something I like more.

EDIT: Awesome chart. I'm guessing that anything in at least the 80% range is going to be at just about every show, while stuff lower than that might be alternating nights. If my theory is correct, it looks like UF is going to have a surprisingly prominent place in the setlist...

AND YET ANOTHER EDIT: Arrrgh, my computer is freaking out and won't load the new countdown vid! It mentions something about "the lights [being] down" in the description...

 

[yester]

This new vid is an entrance of the band from the back stairs all lights down, then when they walk on the ramp 2 spots light up & make them light angels

 

[cleazer]

That seemed like it might have been an entrance for an encore.

 

[nirniva]

This new vid is an entrance of the band from the back stairs all lights down, then when they walk on the ramp 2 spots light up & make them light angels

Sounds like an awesome way to open the show! Any music playing in the background?

EDIT: Or, as cleazer said, it could open the encore. Hmm...

 

[cleazer]

I've never seen U2 live. I might get to see them next year if they make some time in their schedule to visit the fifth largest area in the United States.

Why wait? Go to the FedEx Field show this year. Cheap tickets are still available.

 

[yester]

An encore ? don't think so, usually they arrive as a 'surprize', I mean with no lights pointing at them..

Music on the background sounds for me like the 2seconds at the beginning of NLOTH, some say otherwise

edit : we actually SEE know that the metallic legs reflect really any colour shone at them, like the blue at first, then the spots white

 

[mikal]

that could be the intro to Breathe, since it seems to be in the same key as the cello intro. and they have opened with Breathe in their rehearsals.

 

[KristenCaNaDiAn]

nice new video on U2.com

Uhhh these teasers are killing me. Thank god its only a week away

 

[nirniva]

Uhhh these teasers are killing me. Thank god its only a week away

Setlist parties!

 

[thelaj]

I'm not sure if anybody else has mentioned it, but here is an extract from Willie's last diary entry on U2.com (emphasis mine)

The set list is always my primary concern; call me old fashioned, but I can't help feeling that if we know what the script is, then we might stand a better chance of constructing a great show. Ironically, looking at the available material now presents an embarrassment of riches. U2 could play for four hours and not run out of great songs, so some judicial editing is called for. I made a speech to the effect that in the wonderful world of musical theatre, a show is written and rehearsed over-long. As opening night draws near, cuts are made and you can feel the whole show tighten up. It also means that if something simply isn't working for some reason, then it can be dropped without panic. This is the tack that I've gone in on and, at the time of writing, we have a rehearsal set list of about 30 songs.

Due to over-crowding and the need for some fresh air, we've let go of some of the mighty war-horses of previous tours but fear not gentle reader, heaps of classics remain, as well as some highly unexpected gems. A couple of these have even surprised me, much to my delight, so may the best songs win. No doubt we won't be able to entirely please all the people all the time, but it feels like a rip-snorting set to me. And I've seen a few U2 shows.

Boy: 0
October: 0
War: 2 (Sunday Bloody Sunday, Drowning Man)
The Unforgettable Fire: 4 (Pride, The Unforgettable Fire, Bad, MLK)
The Joshua Tree: 3 (Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You)
Rattle And Hum: 1 (Angel Of Harlem)
Achtung Baby: 3 (Even Better Than The Real Thing, One, Ultra Violet)
Zooropa: 0
Pop: 0
All That You Can't Leave Behind: 4 (Beautiful Day, Elevation, Walk On, In A Little While)
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: 2 (Vertigo, City Of Blinding Lights)
No Line On The Horizon: 7 (No Line On The Horizon, Magnificent, Moment Of Surrender, Unknown Caller, Crazy Tonight, Get On Your Boots, Breathe)
Total: 26

+ Electrical Storm (from U2.com countdown) = 27 songs rehearsed.

Then if we consider "reasonable" options such as Mysterious Ways, The Fly, Desire, Staring At The Sun, Kite, Stuck.... Willie seems on the money here.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

vague and unspecific

 

[digitize]

We know of 26 songs they've rehearsed, although I'm not sure I count Real Thing.

Although I'm starting to doubt somewhat the authenticity of what we've been getting out of EastLink. I'm not sure.

 

[chrissybaby]

^ surely eastlink can't be being less than honest can they?
We have also seen the setlist on the mixing desk photograph which concurs with eastlink's sources. The only confusion for me are the alleged remix versions and I can't help thinking that that is something lost in translation...

My only doubt comes from the fact that the only audio we have had is of songs not out of the ordinary...

 

[mikal]

^ surely eastlink can't be being less than honest can they?
We have also seen the setlist on the mixing desk photograph which concurs with eastlink's sources. The only confusion for me are the alleged remix versions and I can't help thinking that that is something lost in translation...

My only doubt comes from the fact that the only audio we have had is of songs not out of the ordinary...

i'm pretty confident that they've been honest with their reporting.

 

[ayearwome]

I believe its been honest. I just wonder if 1) every song has been properly identified 2) there hasn't been some songs missed or 3) some songs accidentally written down more times then they've been practiced thus far.

 

[mikal]

I believe its been honest. I just wonder if 1) every song has been properly identified 2) there hasn't been some songs missed or 3) some songs accidentally written down more times then they've been practiced thus far.

that is a really good point. i do wonder if there have been songs missed.

Electrical Storm is a great example of this. the U2.com video shows them working on it during the daytime, yet all the rehearsal info has been from their night sessions. so they easily could have busted out Electrical Storm at noon, and no one was paying close enough attention to actually report it.

 

[digitize]

I was going to make a point by editing a fake setlist into the image of the soundboard from the other day (it can't be too hard to do), but then I opened the image and realized that it is still in a camera's RGB profile, which makes me think that there's a much lower chance that it was photoshopped.

 

[yester]

Electrical Storm is a great example of this. the U2.com video shows them working on it during the daytime

No.
the U2.com video did show larry playing some notes of it while no one else was doing anything, so I won't let you say 'them', & I don't expect it too much, yet
BUT I admit the point that they can easily rehearse things during the day for no one notice/ pay attention too much.

 

[digitize]

No.
the U2.com video did show larry playing some notes of it while no one else was doing anything, so I won't let you say 'them', & I don't expect it too much, yet

Unless you count the big guitar line that Edge started at the end.

 

[nirniva]

i'm pretty confident that they've been honest with their reporting.

Speaking of EastLink, are there going to be rehearsals today? If so, at what time?

 

[phillyfan26]

Why wait? Go to the FedEx Field show this year. Cheap tickets are still available.

I'll be at college, that's why. I've tried to go to New York, it just cannot work with my schedule. The only thing I could possibly do is go to Philly, because it's by far the closest and would involve the least amount of travel and time taken up.

 

[phillyfan26]

That's not exciting. The main point he makes is that he wants a structured show with few to no surprises.

 

[AmagnyZoid]

that is a really good point. i do wonder if there have been songs missed.

Electrical Storm is a great example of this. the U2.com video shows them working on it during the daytime, yet all the rehearsal info has been from their night sessions. so they easily could have busted out Electrical Storm at noon, and no one was paying close enough attention to actually report it.

I read a report that they have a rehearsal room in the Camp Nou Stadium as well. So they can work during daylight. I'm trying to find that report. I'm quite sure it was on a spanish paper. As soon as i find it i'll bring it on....

Here it is: "Son días de trabajo duro para Bono y sus colegas, tanto sobre el césped del Camp Nou como en la Sala Basilea del interior del estadio, donde han montado una espectacular sala de ensayo." Translation:" It's been hard days for Bono and friends on the stage at the field as well as in the Sala Basilea inside the stadium, where they have a spectacular rehearsal room."

This is the link:http://www.elperiodico.com/default....ioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=622617&idseccio_PK=1028

 

[last unicorn]

Of course they're rehearsing during daytime as well. apparently at a "secret" location without any sound going out. Only in the evenings when they are in the stadium wouldn't be much.

 

[phillyfan26]

If they have a rehearsal room, that adds a whole 'nother element of opportunity for songs to be getting chances before they try them on the big stage.

I'm guessing if they're doing an acoustic set, that's probably in the rehearsal room still.