U2 “The Joshua Tree 2017 : Rehearsal” London Twickenham Stadium 07 July 2017
Notes : audio/video taper – Mark Peterboro
Audio conversion, photos, and words : Mark Reed (also present at the show)
Details : Soundcheck / Rehearsal . A small invitation only soundcheck show for employees and guests of the London Fire Brigade, announced by internal company email on the morning of the perfomance. Employees had to respond and their names were entered on a list by 3pm : entry was by photo ID only. Employees were able to bring 1 or 2 guests. After much frantic wrangling and rearranging of childcare, we were both able to attend and decided to only announce it was happening on the Internet etc., once we were in and they couldn't deny us entry. Since the show was at short notice, we worked with the technology we had with us (i.e. mobile phones and a Canon PowerShot IS150) and in constant fear we'd get a tap on the shoulder and asked to stop recording.
During “Beautiful Day” the taper noticed a low battery warning, so stopped the recording for a few seconds to connect a new battery and secure the rest of the show.
The original recording is an MP4 file : the video streamed on Periscope live at it happened and this is the best quality you will be able to get unless the band release it themselves. Don't ask for FLACs – you can't add quality that was never there by converting to FLAC. This is the best recording there is of a unique show recorded in unusual circumstances at a moments notice. (Quite literally : we went from a phone call saying “Can you get to Twickenham by 6.30?” to being in a cab in 15 minutes).
The sound may be distorted in places, and you might hear us singing, enjoying ourselves, and talking but I always believe you should live in the moment first and enjoy it. Any recordings are a happy extra we weren't sure we were going to get.