No intro Where The Streets Have No Name

[mickthelamb]

I was trailing through youtube U2 concerts a while ago and, I'm pretty sure of this being a US leg of the original Joshua Tree tour, that they played WTSHNN without the guitar picking intro. It just appears to start up mid-set. Does anyone know which concert this is?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Want to maybe share the link so we can see?

 

[prbiker15]

Yes please, I'm intrigued.

 

[mickthelamb]

That's what I'm asking. What gig was it? I can't find it.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

No idea

 

[one_cool_dude17]

It was 9/17/87... why they did this is beyond me. Must’ve been experimenting. It didn’t last long!

 

[david]

Bullet opened that show according to U2gigs. How weird.

 

[Nate Dogg]

The 9/22/87 show opens with Stand By Me, and they go right into Streets...no intro. Sounds like they did this a few times. The bootleg is easy to find.

 

[one_cool_dude17]

Yes, not sure how they thought that was a good idea!

 

[Iggy Fizz]

That's what I'm asking. What gig was it? I can't find it.

note for future: when you make a post with a specific reference to a YouTube clip, you might want to share a link to that clip. this is not difficult, at least for most.

bonus note: the clip probably has show information in the comments or directly from the YT poster. if you read it, you might have found your answer.

 

[Tommy WM]

It didn't happen...unless there's proof.

 

[mickthelamb]

Finally found it due to another question about Larry's drum sound:
U2 - September 17, 1987. Boston, MA, Boston Gardens

The night after was a bit of a ropey intro to Streets:

 

[mickthelamb]

note for future: when you make a post with a specific reference to a YouTube clip, you might want to share a link to that clip. this is not difficult, at least for most.

bonus note: the clip probably has show information in the comments or directly from the YT poster. if you read it, you might have found your answer.

I was actually saying I didn't know where the link was and was asking if someone could tell me.

 

[prbiker15]

Finally found it due to another question about Larry's drum sound:
U2 - September 17, 1987. Boston, MA, Boston Gardens

The night after was a bit of a ropey intro to Streets:

Well that was interesting.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Man thank god that didn't stick

 

[cobl04]

Huh, that's interesting!

 

[dan_smee]

Oh dear. I think it would have worked better if edge came in as Bono said “where the streets have no name”, but there’s an odd silence and it’s so jarring when it just starts

 

[AndrewCowley]

Kind of like the version of Gloria that goes straight into Edge playing the high notes without Larry’s drum intro. A “huh?” moment.

 

[david]

Yeah it’s also weird that they opened the show with BTBS.

 

[cobl04]

It's quite fascinating looking back at the sets from those shows. IIRC, Streets didn't even debut live for quite a few shows and JT wasn't featured that much early on. A capsule in time, when the songs that would become staples were still being worked out.

 

[pacemaker]

The note for this show on U2gigs mentions issues with the band’s lighting rig, resulting in the use of house lights from IWF on. I wonder if the red back drop and spot light array were being finicky so they ditched the intro.

 

[Hewson]

I was at both those shows.

 

[Hewson]

Remember Bono donning Larry Bird's shirt...years later in the new building we'd see his basketball skills on full display.

 

[pacemaker]

Wow, great pic!

 

[Hoppytje]

I just heard "pinball wizard" from The Who for the first time in my life. Does the back guitar track sound familiar? It reminds me of Streets.

 

[mikemiller48]

I'd rather they experimented with the arrangement than not play it at all (as in 2018). The intro has evolved, becoming a segue from another song with a phat keyboard wash instead of the church organ sound. It's been condensed, which makes sense to me. I mean, how many angles can you present it from? It's a bit like "SPOILER ALERT: All the lights come on really, really bright." I actually wish the medley bug would reach the U2 camp a la Genesis. Mix 3-4 of the "obligatories" in a creative mashup.

 

[Hewson]

I just heard "pinball wizard" from The Who for the first time in my life. Does the back guitar track sound familiar? It reminds me of Streets.

Maybe Townshend stole it from Edge...they should sue.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Where the Towns Have No Edge

 

[bono_212]

I was at both those shows.

Is there a concert in Boston during the late 80s/early 90s you weren't at?

 

[phanan]

It's probably a safe bet he didn't make it to Debbie Gibson or Tiffany.