The Joshua Tree Tour 2017

Sep 3 2017
Detroit, MI, US / Ford Field
with Beck
41

U2

'Midnight, our sons and daughters…’

When & Where
Sunday, September 3rd 2017, Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan; the 33rd show and opening night of the 2nd North American leg of the #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 

While it's been just two months since U2 wrapped the first North American leg of the Joshua Tree tour on July 1 in Cleveland, it's been a tumultuous time in the U.S. while the band toured Europe. As they returned to the U.S. Sunday night, they brought a few changes to the set from the first two legs of the tour, and had a couple of surprises up their sleeves for the Motor City crowd. The show opened with the familiar quartet of Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Bad, and Pride (In the Name of Love) before launching into The Joshua Tree in its entirety.

 Social Posts
@danleach971 said: 'How poetic…It was 20 years ago this last April @U2 played their first ever stadium show at the Silverdome. Now brilliant at Ford Field…It's pretty amazing much of a perfect album Joshua Tree is…and played in its entirety is simply magical #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 

If You Had To Pick One Song 
'Mothers of the Disappeared' 

@donrumgayjr: 'U2 had Patti Smith join them onstage tonight in Detroit to sing Mothers of the [Disappeared]…I can die now.'

'In the trees our sons stand naked/Through the walls our daughter cry/See their tears in the rainfall.'

It was one of those 'epic' moments that U2 fans will be talking about for years—'Were you in Detroit the night Patti sang 'Mothers'?' Patti Smith, a longtime friend of the band who lived for more than a decade just outside Detroit with her late husband Fred 'Sonic' Smith and their son and daughter, joined them onstage for the final song on The Joshua Tree album. While Bono made his way back to the mainstage from the tree stage, Smith appeared center stage reciting lyrics from her iconic rock anthem 'People Have the Power' while Edge played the 'Mothers' distinctive opening riffs—'I was dreaming in my dreaming of an aspect bright and fair/and my sleeping it was broken by my dream it lingered near…' Then Bono and Patti they sang 'Mothers' together, trading lines, and the refrain. 
'I am a mother—my children were born in Detroit,' Smith said while the band played the second verse. 'All the mothers. Weep for the mothers….Hear their heartbeat.'  As the song drew to a close, Bono invited Smith, who is included among the 'luminous icons' of the HERSTORY multimedia montage that has accompanied 'Ultraviolet' throughout the tour, to sing acapella a few lines, which she interpreted in her inimitable style, singing: 'Hear their laughter in the wind, feel their tears in the rain. Hear their hearts beat. Hear their hearts beat.'

'Patti Smith!' Bono enthused. 'There is no one to compare with Patti Smith, our muse,' he said. 'We would not have written The Joshua Tree without her. What an honour to have her on stage.' 

What (else) did Bono Say?
During his introduction to 'One,' which closed the show, Bono had a message for the American audience: 'I would like to thank any of you here tonight who are making the world around you a bit better. Whatever organization you sign up to to … whatever you're doing, privately, whatever it is, I want to thank you tonight. That's what this country is. That's what this country is about, and I guess that's what we've learned from the last week,' he said, referring to the rescue and relief efforts around flood-ravaged Houston, Texas. 'For all the hate and all the bile and all the spleen and all the summoning of dark spirits in this country, with Hurricane Harvey we discover who America is. Who you are, what America is.

'And if I might say, America means everything to this band,' he continued. 'Second home—second home to us. Not just a country. An idea. A great idea. So we've so much at stake in seeing this idea of yours succeed. And we want to see you prosper here in Detroit, Michigan—extraordinary feeling in this city. So it's clear this country can do anything when it works together. You can put a man on the moon or rescue some people out of the flood water—it's America. Anything is possible when you work together as one.'

During the closing verses of 'One', a message appeared on the screen behind the band with the familiar Red Cross logo: Text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation 

Review from Billboard
'Bono spent plenty of time honoring Detroit and its resurgence from a 2013 bankruptcy years ago during the two-hour show. Calling it "the city of invention, the city of reinvention, the city of history, fast becoming the city of the future," during "Bad," he spoke of the "extraordinary feeling in this city." And during "Pride (In The Name Of Love)," as excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech were show on the massive video screen, Bono noted that it was "a dream started in Detroit, on a march for freedom." (King first delivered the speech on June 23, 1963 during the Great March on Detroit -- two months before the more famous recitation during the March on Washington.)'
 
Review on U2.com 
dacol66  'Thank you U2. Magnificent evening at Ford Field (Detroit)! Got to share the experience with my 23 year old son who has grown up trying to understand dad's obsession with this band called U2. Now he understands. Bullet the Blue Sky and Exit were the highlights of the evening for me! I know Bono always thanks us for giving him and the boys a great life. I want to thank him, Larry, Adam and Edge for giving me so much and for being such a special part of my life.'

Other Noteworthy Stuff
Bono gave a shout out to Fred 'Sonic' Smith, the late guitarist and founding member of the legendary Detroit band MC5, who was married to Patti Smith until his death in 1994. Bono also dedicated 'One Tree Hill' to 'Rob'—the recently deceased father of three fans he'd met earlier in the day in Detroit. 'There's no end to grief, that's why we know there's now end to love.' 
Heather Heyer was added to the living pantheon of trailblazing women honored in the HERSTORY installation during 'Ultraviolet.' Heyer, 32, was killed when a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters during a far-right rally on August 12. 

As 'One' and the show drew to a close Bono, added: 'Sisters and brothers across the States, we hold you in our prayers this Sunday evening,' he said. 'Amen. Are you ready now? Hear us coming Lord, hear us call, hear us knocking, knocking at your door….'

Were at the show at the Ford Field in Detroit ? Tell us all about it. Add your own review and photos below.

    Sao Paulo - last show of The Joshua Tree Tour 2017. Video by instagram.com/mvsphotography
    Comments
    41
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    tawnyad
    U2 in the D!
    I am so excited that U2 added Detroit! I have been wanting to see them for a long time, but it never worked out until now. I'm even more excited to be bringing my son, so he can see why his dad loved U2 so much. "A Sort of Homecoming" was my late husband's favorite song, so it would be amazing if U2 would play it while they are performing in Detroit. Thank you.
    Rejoicer
    A Sort of Homecoming
    Saw the shows in Louisville and Cleveland. I had an absolutely transcendent experience both times. Please play "A Sort of Homecoming," though, in Detroit. We fans LOVE this song!!
    ivangonzo42
    Our Labor Day is Coming to Motown
    U2 on Labor Day weekend in Detroit Rock City. How cool!!! = : < )
    Fakeedge
    A Sort of Home Coming
    I was so happy when Detroit was announced, because I was unable to attend the DC show. My wife is from Detroit and it has become my second home over the last 15yrs, so it is always a sort of homecoming when we go there. Please add "A Sort of Homecoming" back into the rotation that night. It was the song that roped me in back in the day and this trip will be one...so...
    james_amin
    Just got Detroit Tickets ! Awesome!
    Wire Group is now open and working!
    borders101
    U2 and divorce
    I am engaged to a woman who loves U2 more than I do. She had tickets to the MSU show in 2011 that her ex said was her birthday and Christmas present for two years. After 31 years of marriage they were divorced. She got nothing, not even her family photos. Her ex and her son went to the 2011 show. It has taken years and now she can listen to U2 again without openly weeping. I hoping this show in Detroit will add to her healing. My sweet Deborah. I hope I get tickets for her and they are not sold out.
    sneelands57
    Beyond excited!
    This is a bucket list concert. I must go!
    Daniperez
    After going to Chicago, Toronto and Clev
    Amazing new, I was wondering when it would happen...but it´s here ;-)
    melodyof1974
    Thank you for stopping
    Great to see you playing Detroit again.
    patriotsfansc
    Can't wait!
    wmstuart
    Thanks for adding Detroit- The Home of R
    Very stoked that this special tour will be stopping in Detroit. Hoping to order tickets asap.
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