JKerova1 wrote: » Trying to process my thoughts and it is a mix of euphoria tinged with disappointment... I am lucky enough to have seen U2 twice on this tour having seen them in Rome last week too. Looking at it completely objectively I have to say that the Rome concert was superior in almost every aspect. Firstly, the curfew doesn't help. U2 did not come on stage until 9.20pm in Rome at by that stage the entire stadium was buzzing with anticipation. It also meant that we got the full effects of the stage show, for example nobody even saw Larry walk down the b-stage at the start so when the drums to SBS kicked in it was a big surprise. Plus it allowed them to play until 11.30pm or longer if they wanted to. Secondly, almost the entire crowd in Rome was comprised of young, rowdy and extremely vocal LOCAL fans. I wouldn't begrudge anybody who puts their hand in their pocket to travel abroad to see U2 but I must admit it was a bit weird being at a concert in Dublin and feeling like the only Irish person there. I'd imagine it was a bit odd for the band too when they arrived on stage to see a sea of Belgians in front of them. I know they tried to address this on the I&E tour by giving presale codes to fans with an Irish address but that was obviously just a once off. It's great for the local economy to have thousands coming from abroad for U2 but doesn't do much for atmosphere. Most of these people are part of well-organised (almost militant) U2 fan clubs in Holland, Belgium, etc. Why is there no Irish fan club?! Several people have mentioned this before but for the first hour I thought it was gearing up to be an epic evening but then it just died. I was sure they would have added in one or two extra songs (Sort of Homecoming or I Will Follow) but they didn't bother. Finally, someone else mentioned the Croke Park 'stormtroopers'. I saw these guys reprimanding people for the most innocuous things but about 45 mins before the end of the gig this completely wasted junkie started pushing his way to the front in our area and was randomly grabbing and groping women, almost causing a couple of fights and ruining the last portion of the concert for lots of people. I tried looking around for a yellow bib to help and they were nowhere to be seen. It just left a bit of a sour taste and I especially felt sorry for an American couple that were accosted by this waste of space. It was my third U2 concert at Croke Park and once again it wasn't quite what I hoped it would be. That air corps fly-by during Streets will stay in my memory forever though!
bodhrandude wrote: » Everyone seems to be raving about this flyover but its all been done before back in 1975 at Knebworth festival with Pink Floyd, they had a flyover when they opened with Shine on you Crazy Diamond.
Mr E wrote: » See you for the Achtung anniversary tour in 4 years.
MisterAnarchy wrote: » Zoo TV 2021, now that would be something I'd be drooling over.
FixdePitchmark wrote: » Loved the gig - but is true in hindsight , the ending is a nonsense - Go out with a belter.
jsms88 wrote: » On the contrary, if anything, it makes too much sense. They open with pre-JT songs, then play JT in full, then post-JT songs and finish with a new song off their upcoming album. Almost perfectly chronological.
FixdePitchmark wrote: » Still a bit arsey - to not give the crowd a big finish.
jsms88 wrote: » Don't think anybody claimed it was a first. Everybody is watching each other in the music industry. Roger Waters (to continue with your Pink Floyd reference) is currently touring America with a huge video screen down through the centre of the arena. Now, who did that before only 2 years ago, can anyone remember??
bodhrandude wrote: » Well it could be argued that Pink Floyd were the first to use a cinema screen backdrop, but I suppose they all influence each other, I'm not too hot on Water's new material though.
jsms88 wrote: » You're right. Hopefully, they will have a few more lively, rockier tracks on the new album too. Then again... Get On Your Boots anyone?
Mrs Shuttleworth wrote: » Hold Me Thrill Me is good and was on the 360 tour. I'd love to see them break out of their comfort zone on stage, even just for a few minutes.
Madam Oblong wrote: » Had a blast. Wish people would have just enjoyed it rather than try to record the whole thing on their phones...
Andres Brave Ping-pong wrote: » I'd hardly think ending a gig with a brand new song that no one has heard and an entire 2nd half of an album that the majority know **** all about, is them in their comfort zone
Mrs Shuttleworth wrote: » What I meant by that is change their musical style a little bit in how the tracks are performed.
starWave wrote: » I read somehwere that the videos were shot in 8k. I imagine the screen was also in 8k? Someone mentioned it is the biggest screen anyone's ever toured with, but is it really? It looks similar to the size of previous tours.
Gintonious wrote: » Anyone else have The Waterboys on repeat today?
MaxManis wrote: » Apparently it's a 7.6k screen they use
Synergism wrote: » I didn't see Aung San Suu Kyi during Ultraviolet, they were very quick to distance themselves from her!
johnpatrick81 wrote: » As powerful and important the Syria message is, it absolutely sucked the energy out of the stadium. I love miss Sarajevo but it clearly doesn't work on the current set. This has been universally noted by everyone since day one of the tour. Ultraviolet similar. If you left after Mothers of the disappeared you'd be better off.
