Well, they’re all among the hottest artists on the tour circuit right now, plus they’ll be sharing support duties for arguably the world’s biggest touring act on the fall leg of the U2 Vertigo 2005 world tour.

Dashboard Confessional will open the first eight dates of the North American trek, starting September 12-17 with four shows in a row at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

Keane jumps on board October 3 in Boston, and will support U2 for two Beantown shows as well as five gigs at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. U2 will return to both cities for two more shows each later in the tour.

When the band hits Philadelphia October 16-17, it’ll be with Damian Marley in the opening slot. Marley will stay on through November 9, playing 15 shows from Washington, D.C., to Oakland, Calif.

Patti Smith is scheduled to appear November 21-22 when U2 returns to Madison Square Garden, and Arcade Fire will represent the Great White North in Ottawa and Montreal November 25-28.

Bono & Co. will close out the tour with Kanye West opening in St. Louis, Omaha, Salt Lake City and Portland, Ore., December 14-19.

Support acts are still to be confirmed for shows in Florida and Atlanta November 13-19, as well as several dates in and around the East Coast December 4-12.

U2 has been on the road since March in support of its 11th album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. All 110 shows sold out prior to the tour’s launch in San Diego.