U2 packs 'em in ... to 1,000-seat theater

SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts -- U2 shook a small city, and riled up a core of rabid fans, when it gave a private concert in a venue a tiny fraction of the size of the stadiums it plans to fill later this year.

The Irish rock band played the 1,000-seat Somerville Theatre in Davis Square on Wednesday night as fans swarmed the area, looking for a way into the show or for just a glimpse of the musicians.

The group played five songs, four from its new album, "No Line on the Horizon." U2 started off the set with the new song "Get on Your Boots." It also played "Vertigo."

U2 was big in the Boston area before it was big everywhere, and played the Paradise club in Boston in 1980 during its first North American tour.

"This is where it all began for us, Boston, Mass.," said lead singer Bono, who along with the rest of the band, took written questions from the audience after the performance.

There were several days of rumors and speculation before the location for the concert was revealed. Tickets were long gone by showtime, many through local radio stations.

The theater is one of the small venues U2 is playing as it promotes its new album. The band is touring this summer, starting in Europe and ending in the United States.