#U2TheJoshuaTree2017 Pre-Show Songs

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2017-05-26)

One of our favourite things to do for each U2 tour is to track the soundtrack of the day, and we have been, right back to the PopMart Tour. On past tours such as Vertigo and U2360, the music heard in the stadiums was compiled by Gavin Friday and is usually the same for each show but may not start / end in the same place each time. As the tour progresses the music does shift and change.

For those that wish to listen as they go through the list, we have set up a Spotify playlist for your listening pleasure.

Prior to the opening act the music played on The Joshua Tree 2017 tour is full albums by single artists. These albums are played through in full and so far we have identified three of these albums during the Seattle concert (we were affected by the delay in the GA line causing us to miss these in Vancouver.) The three albums are Television’s “Marquee Moon”, The XX’s “I See You” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Damn.” (which we did hear in Vancouver as well as Seattle and now Dallas).

The songs identified from those albums are as follows:

Television’s “Marquee Moon” Album:
“Marquee Moon” / “Elevation” / “Guiding Light” / “Prove It” / “Torn Curtain”

The XX’s “I See You” Album:
“Say Something Loving” / “Lips” / “A Violent Noise” / “Performance” / “Replica” / “Brave For You” / “On Hold” / “I Dare You”

Kendrick Lamar’s “Damn.” Album
DNA / Element / Feel / Loyalty / Pride / Humble

Mumford and Sons then took the stage both nights, arriving on stage after “Loyalty” one night and after “Humble” the second show. After the opening acts performance, the evening’s mix of songs starts. One song of note is “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac which is being used by The Lumineers for their entrance to the stage. We mention it here to be complete, but it appears to be part of their act, and not part of the bigger U2 production thus doesn’t fit in the list below. It has been used multiple nights now.

The following is a list of songs we have been able to identify to date:

  • “Drone Bomb Me” – Anonhi
  • “The Stars are Out Tonight” – David Bowie
  • “Loud Places” – Jamie XX ft. Romy
  • “More News from Nowhere (Radio Version)” – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
  • “The Guns of Brixton” – The Clash
  • “1979” – The Smashing Pumpkins
  • “Transmission” – Joy Division
  • “Summertime Sadness” – Lana Del Ray
  • “Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix) – David Bowie
  • “Burn the Witch” – Radiohead
  • XXX” – Kendrick Lamar ft U2
  • “Where’s the Revolution” – Depeche Mode
  • “XX Album Intro” – The XX
  • “How Soon is Now” – The Smiths
  • “All the Young Dudes” – Mott the Hoople
  • “Ran” – Future Islands
  • “Sign ‘O’ The Times” – Prince
  • “And it Stoned Me” – Van Morrison
  • “Someone New” – Hozier
  • “The Man Who Sold The World” – Nirvana
  • “Cars” – Gary Numan
  • “Testify” – Hifi Sean featuring Crystal Waters
  • “Electric Feel” – MGMT
  • “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden (Added in Pasadena, and played before The Pogues)

After this set of songs, the PA increases in volume and the next song was the one which U2 use to take the stage, which we correctly guessed during preshow a, would become the opener.

Pre-Show:

  • “A Rainy Night in Soho” – The Pogues

Post-Show:
There is music after the show as well. We believe on the first night that the closing song may have been missed and the opening mix was used again as two songs from that mix were used: “And it Stoned Me” by Van Morrison and “Sign ‘O’ the Times” by Prince, both of which had been heard in the same order during the opening show in Vancouver.

In Seattle a unique exit song appeared, “A Pair of Brown Eyes” by The Pogues. It was heard after the show in Santa Clara as well. We will continue to update these listings for pre-show and post-show tracks as we find more information. Thanks to any and all who would like to help by tracking what they hear in some manner.

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