U2 - post your reviews here

[Dutchy]

Im guessing there is quite a few going tonight. Im one of them, looking forward to hearing their old stuff....put your reviews here, hope it lives up to the hype

[RustyCage]

Did Bono try to save the world?

[Squawk]

Thought it was sensational.

Got off to a good start when I coincidently arrived at the ground at the same time as they did, and when they got out of their cars Bono and The Edge came over to a group of about 40 people and started chatting and signing autographs! Needless to say, 40 soon became 140!

I was very impressed with their delivery - they didn't just sing, they performed. They showed emotion, passion and energy, commitment to their philosophies and appreciation for their supporters.

Once again, their use of multi-media innovations was cutting edge. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights was read out and subtitled on the huge stage backdrop/screen/lightshow and for that time, the crowd was silent, thoughtful and reflective.

The band's rapore with the crowd was strong. Their thoughts for others were clear - dedications of songs included:

Sunday Bloody Sunday - to all victims of the Bali Bombings
(forgotten which song now, but?) dedicated to the people of Louisiana (after Hurricane Katrina)
another song was dedicated to all the military personnel serving around the world (Kite was it?)
One - dedicated to the co-existence of christians and muslims
Sometimes You can't make it on your own - dedicated to the band itself for supporting the Edge when he delayed the tour to support an ill relative.

The only disappointment for me with the band's performance tonight was a recognition that Bono's voice is starting to lose its resilience - in some songs towards the end of the night I noticed his voice was tiring. But, who can stop ageing, hey? This is not a crticism, it was just a moment of sadness in a way and I wondered if we would see them here again.

I also have to credit Bono's research which he does to "connect" with his local audiences. Once again, he sporadically showed insight into the city of Adelaide and South Australia by weaving customised verses into established songs that included references to Glenelg, St Peters, the River Murray, the Barossa Valley etc.

I was a bit disappointed that all lids had to be removed from bottles "to prevent them becoming missiles". Yet, one guy lit a flare and there were about 10,000 digital cameras in there! Also, at the end of the night there was a dangerous crush imminent around the bus station. It was sardine-esque and for whatever reason, officialdom blocked off the passage through to the car park on Max Basheer Reserve. In essence, a convergence of bus patrons, Max Basheer car parkers and walking further" patrons found itself stuck hard and fast between the stadium and the fencing around the bus lanes. In the end people ended up having to spill onto the bus tarmac to get away from the stadium safely and run the gauntlet of the bus traffic! Fair dinkum, this was a joke and SAPOL should have been more prepared to manage pedestrian, bus and car flow than was evident on the night.

Wont go in to Kanye West tonight - someone else can post about them. Need to hit the hay!

[Booney]

Fantastic production,sound,lights and performance worthy of a world class act,and this is why,IMO they are the biggest band in the world at the moment.

"One" was perfect,Bono and The Edge sounding studio like with voice and lead breaks,just like the album version.

Bono trying to get every one to SMS your name to a 19 number to help save poverty was a little too commercial for one who appears to "stick it to the man" as often as he can,wonder who the carrier (service provider) was for the SMS grab?

THE BAR WAS SHUT!!!

Other than the bar being closed,had a great night seeing one of the worlds most accomplished bands perform live.

[am Bays]

For those who saw the Zooropa tour in '93 how did it compare???

That concert has grown on me as I reflect on it in my later years.....

[smac]

Interestingly, the 3 people from work who went are raving about the light show and how much work Bono does for poverty. Not one of them has commented on the music so far.

I would love to know, do you go to a U2 concert for:

1. an entire experience (light show, humanitarian efforts, music),
2. the music and get the ‘bonus’,
3. the music and get fooled into thinking they are still good because they have all the other stuff floating around.

By comparison, I went to a Billy Joel concert on Sunday night and am still singing songs from the concert (well, at least TRYING to) - I went to watch Billy Joel and got Billy Joel.

Not trolling, just really curious.

[Aerie]

Interestingly, the 3 people from work who went are raving about the light show and how much work Bono does for poverty. Not one of them has commented on the music so far.

I would love to know, do you go to a U2 concert for:

1. an entire experience (light show, humanitarian efforts, music),
2. the music and get the ‘bonus’,
3. the music and get fooled into thinking they are still good because they have all the other stuff floating around.

By comparison, I went to a Billy Joel concert on Sunday night and am still singing songs from the concert (well, at least TRYING to) - I went to watch Billy Joel and got Billy Joel.

Not trolling, just really curious.

If you were just interested in the music wouldn't you just listen to the cd? Every concert/show/gig you go to is all about the entire experience and how they perform live, no matter how big or small.

[TroyGFC]

Awesome night, got there about 6:15pm and got to about 20m from stage,close to guard rail- still saw didly squat of actual band but felt the music.
Loved when Bono asked everyone to get out their mobiles and hold them up like a Xmas tree it looked awesome- never knew how many people own a mobile. I did the sms and when I got home sometime after midnite (reason taking a sickie!!) recieved a reply from Bono.
Beer was not able to be purchased but I am probally glad as I could have never got to the toilet from oval position.
I am wondering how many people were at North stand- looked too far away, you would have needed a telescope!!
Its a shame the government doesn't do something about the disgrace of lack of traffic police to help direct traffic out, and to bring a train closer to Footy Pk - Westlakes shopping centre.

[Dutchy]

great show and production, well worth going to however I find the BIG stadium show a bit off putting...I know they cant/wont do it any other way, but I keep thinking back to Foo Fighters at Thebby last year and how good that was in an intimate setting. The sound wasnt even loud and I was only 60m from stage!!

Very political, but I expected the same.

Didnt play enough older stuff for my liking...where was New years day, Gloria???

anyone actually believe those names on the screen of people that txted was legit?

the 3 "big" bands Ive seen the last 12 months rate in order - Foo Fighters, U2 and Coldplay....

[MightyEagles]

Maybe they need to do something a little different when Robbie Williams performs in the next few weeks.
Maybe use the footy express bus routes for those who don't live near the city.

[Wedgie]

If you were just interested in the music wouldn't you just listen to the cd? Every concert/show/gig you go to is all about the entire experience and how they perform live, no matter how big or small.

Definately not, live music is always much better than a recorded CD. (well if performed by the right artists that is)

[MW]

you can relive it again on nova 91.9 right now

[JK]

All of the above accounts were about spot on IMHO ... The biggest disappointment was the quality of sound where we were sitting, the reverberations meant Bono's lyrics came out too distorted ... Left the arena and listened to the last 3 songs outside with some mates (who had beer ) and the sound quality was MUCH better!!

BTW Dutchy they did play New Years Day.

[TroyGFC]

Cheers just tunes into Nova.

Here is the complete song list from last night thanks to U2's website:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Angel of Harlem
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride In The Name of Love
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You

The Saints Are Coming
Desire
Kite

[smac]

If you were just interested in the music wouldn't you just listen to the cd? Every concert/show/gig you go to is all about the entire experience and how they perform live, no matter how big or small.

Definately not, live music is always much better than a recorded CD. (well if performed by the right artists that is)

Agreed Wedgie. From what I understand of the U2 concert the 'show' was pretty good - was it needed to make a worthwhile experience or would the music alone enough? Did people go for the music or the show? Still no one has mentioned their music hear at work!

Don't get me wrong, I am not being critical - I went to the Pink Floyd concert at Thebbie oval in the 80's along with Dire Straights at Footy Park and they both had cracking light shows and made the experience sensational, but I had an outstanding night on Sunday watching one of the best showmen alive playing his piano and belting out some great songs.

[TroyGFC]

I thought the music was great, prehaps songs sometimes inturupted half way through while Bono spoke about things that matter such as world poverty, war in Iraq but that was all part of his bands ideas. I agree if you like the songs yes then listen to a CD which is recorded in a quite studio but live is 110% better as you can get a real feeling into the mood of music.

Also the young lad and young filly will never forget lastnight being dragged up stage by Bono. And someone got given Bono's sunnies (probally on ebay by now!!)

[zipzap]

For those who saw the Zooropa tour in '93 how did it compare???

That concert has grown on me as I reflect on it in my later years.....

A zillion times better mate, plus they didn't call up Cornsey making it even better! That show suffered for me because I was such a HUGE U2 fan at the time, I had studied setlists, listened to a lot of boots and knew exactly what was coming next and it was all a bit of a let down. Plus the sound bouncing off those aluminium seats was appalling. I have it on tape though. The Lovetown shows at the Drive were better.

Make no mistake, U2s efforts to make things seem spontaneous are anything but - everything is scripted and done at every show. The mobile phones, the kiddy on stage, letting off a flare, local references (Hello Springfield!) are all staged and have always been with U2. I hated the mobile phone thing - fook it was like the pod people last night with dickheads phoning friends, texting, taking shots all night. Always have to laugh when wallies are watching such a huge show through a 4 cm screen. Tossers - mobiles should be banned at gigs.

So I came to this show pretty cynical and their last couple of albums, by no means embarrassing, have been a tad too bland and safe for mine. But I loved them last night. I couldn't see much and the sound was pretty cruddy from where I was (near the crash barrier about 75m back) and for Kanye it was unlistenable. God that was shite - It was the worst performance I've never seen.

Thought Nobos voice was pretty good actually, he nailed the Pavarotti bit in Miss Sarajevo (a personal highlight) much to my surprise. I was spewing they played nothing from Achtung then played 3 in a row including a very cool 'The Fly'. Streets was uplifting, I will Follow rocked, Sometimes You Can't Make it... was spine tingling. Edge's guitar in Bullet the Blue Sky is always awesome. Must admit I checked my watch during a couple of the blander Stuck in a Moment-type dirges. The Kite stunt at the end was particularly lame

They came on to the Arcade Fire and left with the Go Betweens. Pretty bloody perfect.

Had a good view until about 5 acne & dandruff ridden (drunk) teen ferals turned up and wrecked it for everyone around them. Shouting obscenities, blowing smoke in peoples faces, getting violent, singing the wrong words- out of tune and loudly, and generally being obnoxious arses. And for me that is the thing that leaves me a bit cold and cynical about U2 - you can stand up on stage and preach about the Declaration of Human Rights, Coexisting and loving your fellow man but messages so profound and personal are lost on a crowd of that size and constituency.

After Nobo pontificates yet again from the altar about African poverty and the state of the nation, my dimwit caveman friends let out a beer-soaked cheer, and collectively shrug: "Just play fooking Angel of Harlem...MOTHERFOOKER!!!".

[ca]

I also have to credit Bono's research which he does to "connect" with his local audiences. Once again, he sporadically showed insight into the city of Adelaide and South Australia by weaving customised verses into established songs that included references to Glenelg, St Peters, the River Murray, the Barossa Valley etc.

!

So much so he thought he was in Sydney apparently at one stage:roll: ? Well scripted I think you will find Squawk.

I am fairly cynical about big shows like this, even more so when you hear stories about people not being able to see the band, and just watch it on the screen. I didn't go, so can't really comment but from all reports it was a good show. I haven't heard much about the actual music either more about the stage set up and what Bono said.

Give me a smaller gig with people there to see the music not just the experience anyday but thats just me. Having said that its good to see people getting out to see live music. Hopefully they don't just wait for the next big internationial act to come along before they go again.

[Wedgie]

Give me a smaller gig with people there to see the music not just the experience anyday but thats just me. Having said that its good to see people getting out to see live music. Hopefully they don't just wait for the next big internationial act to come along before they go again.

Agreed ca, not putting U2 down as Ive seen the Stones and Bruce Springsteen amongst huge crowds but I can't even handle the Ent Centre let alone Footy Park.
Only pub gigs for me until my daughter or son drags me to see an international act at the Ent Ctr.
I will make an exception for Festivals however and probably will be going to the BDO.

[ca]

Give me a smaller gig with people there to see the music not just the experience anyday but thats just me. Having said that its good to see people getting out to see live music. Hopefully they don't just wait for the next big internationial act to come along before they go again.

Agreed ca, not putting U2 down as Ive seen the Stones and Bruce Springsteen amongst huge crowds but I can't even handle the Ent Centre let alone Footy Park.
Only pub gigs for me until my daughter or son drags me to see an international act at the Ent Ctr.
I will make an exception for Festivals however and probably will be going to the BDO.

Yeah I agree, for some reason I don't mind the big stages so much at festivals, perhaps just because there is often so much to see over the whole day it doesn't bother me as much. Each to their own.