U2 concert @ the Rose Bowl 10/25/09 - my review
As most of you know, this concert was streamed live on youtube.com for all the world to experience, and Bono and the boys played up to the hype. A crowd of over 95,000 showed up to support the boys from Dublin, Ireland. Let me first say that I was a bit disappointed to find out that the Black Eyed Peas were the opening act for U2, but pleasantly surprised with their performance. The energy and the enthusiasm shown through in their performance. Maybe the fact that most of the band came from Los Angeles had to do with their energy. Still wished The Muse opened up for them as with the earlier shows on the tour, but oh well. Our seats were in section 3H row 60, that's about 10-15 rows from the top, pretty high up, but got a great view of the stage.
U2 finally hit the stage at about 9pm. The band started out with the song "Breathe" from their current album "No Line On the Horizon", in my opinion, not one of their better opening tunes, but the boys played with energy, maybe due to the film crew that was their to capture it for all eternity. It was a pretty eclectic setlist from the band, but they only played music as far back as the "War" album from 1983. Wished they played some tunes from "Boy" (the band's first album back in 1977) such as their very first single "Out of Control", that would have made the whole night for me. But to say I was disappointed would be untrue. The stage, lighting and sound were phenomenal as always when you're at a U2 concert. Although playing in front of over 95,000 fans he tries to make it more intimate bringing the crowd in during choruses.
The boys played for nearly 2 hours, a record in my book. They usually play 90 minutes and that's including the encore. Overall I'd give this concert an 8.5 out of 10, not bad, but I was hoping for some earlier songs on their setlist.
After the concert, it took my wife and I 45 minutes get from out seats to the shuttle back to PCC where our car was at. While in line for the shuttle, it felt like we were being herded like a cattle ready for the slaughterhouse, winding us through these mazes like we were in Disneyland. Some guy next to us even mooed a few times and a few folks got a good laugh out of that.
Ripped from U2tours.com:
Main Set: Breathe, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment, No Line On The Horizon, Elevation, In A Little While, Unknown Caller, Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo - It's Only Rock and Roll, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone
Encore(s): One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender
Comments: U2's only California show of the tour is filmed for DVD and streamed live online. It's the first time a major artist has offered a full concert for free on YouTube, and the live stream is nearly flawless. Beautiful Day includes short bits of In God's Country, God Only Knows, and The Maker. One includes the 'Hear us coming' coda. In Moment of Surrender, Bono raps similarly to how he did during Saturday Night Live (Sept. 26). Dozens of stars are at the show, including Stewart Copeland (The Police), Dave Stewart, Pierce Brosnan, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Alyssa Milano, and others. It's the largest concert crowd ever at the Rose Bowl.
I'd like to add that Bono also mentioned that Buzz Aldrin (the 2nd man to walk on the moon) was also in attendance.
Below you'll find some pics of the stage etc. Enjoy. If you have any comments, please feel free to post them up. The full set of pics and a vid can be found here: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v367/whatchoowant/u2
CLICK THE PICS FOR A LARGER VIEW.
The shuttle line at PCC:
U2 finally hit the stage at about 9pm. The band started out with the song "Breathe" from their current album "No Line On the Horizon", in my opinion, not one of their better opening tunes, but the boys played with energy, maybe due to the film crew that was their to capture it for all eternity. It was a pretty eclectic setlist from the band, but they only played music as far back as the "War" album from 1983. Wished they played some tunes from "Boy" (the band's first album back in 1977) such as their very first single "Out of Control", that would have made the whole night for me. But to say I was disappointed would be untrue. The stage, lighting and sound were phenomenal as always when you're at a U2 concert. Although playing in front of over 95,000 fans he tries to make it more intimate bringing the crowd in during choruses.
The boys played for nearly 2 hours, a record in my book. They usually play 90 minutes and that's including the encore. Overall I'd give this concert an 8.5 out of 10, not bad, but I was hoping for some earlier songs on their setlist.
After the concert, it took my wife and I 45 minutes get from out seats to the shuttle back to PCC where our car was at. While in line for the shuttle, it felt like we were being herded like a cattle ready for the slaughterhouse, winding us through these mazes like we were in Disneyland. Some guy next to us even mooed a few times and a few folks got a good laugh out of that.
Ripped from U2tours.com:
Main Set: Breathe, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment, No Line On The Horizon, Elevation, In A Little While, Unknown Caller, Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo - It's Only Rock and Roll, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone
Encore(s): One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender
Comments: U2's only California show of the tour is filmed for DVD and streamed live online. It's the first time a major artist has offered a full concert for free on YouTube, and the live stream is nearly flawless. Beautiful Day includes short bits of In God's Country, God Only Knows, and The Maker. One includes the 'Hear us coming' coda. In Moment of Surrender, Bono raps similarly to how he did during Saturday Night Live (Sept. 26). Dozens of stars are at the show, including Stewart Copeland (The Police), Dave Stewart, Pierce Brosnan, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Alyssa Milano, and others. It's the largest concert crowd ever at the Rose Bowl.
I'd like to add that Bono also mentioned that Buzz Aldrin (the 2nd man to walk on the moon) was also in attendance.
Below you'll find some pics of the stage etc. Enjoy. If you have any comments, please feel free to post them up. The full set of pics and a vid can be found here: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v367/whatchoowant/u2
CLICK THE PICS FOR A LARGER VIEW.
The shuttle line at PCC:
Wife texting while waiting in shuttle line:
Me and the misses between the changeover:
Miscellaneous stage pics:
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