U2 Croke Park 2009 - all discussion, no ticket sales.

H8GHOTI · 29-07-2009 12:31pm

Great concert, really enjoyed it.
Best live act in the world. That screen was just amazing.

However, I have to agree with some of the points made before:

Sound could have been a bit louder but it wasn't sh*t or anything.
Having Hill 16 empty behind the stage did take from it a bit.
I enjoyed the opening sequence but did think the end was an anti-climax.

I've read the whole thread and I know the reasons but it would have been better to get the proper 360 experience. Maybe if they left empty rows at the very back of the upper tier and moved these people to the hill and still keep the capacity @ 80,000. The empty seats would not be so noticable up there. Or, if the stage was down the canel end then the people in the Davin stand would be behind the stage and the empty pitch space would have been up the hill end. That would probably been better too. At least then everyone facing the stage would see the crowd behind instead of a whole lot of empty space.

But all in all it was still the best concert I've ever been to and I left like this

and not like this

OutlawPete · 29-07-2009 1:25pm

kuku wrote: »

thats true, it is sad to see people going away with plastic botte of wine etc...
maybe gigs like that should not be in crocker....hm, i was there on the Police too, and was in seated area and from then i decided to always and ever go for pitch if it is a crocker, as atmosphere is much better
i am not a big drunker so it doesnt really make a big diffrence for me...but i have to admit its annoying eg. yesterday i had no time to have a beer before a gig, so i ended up by having one very quick Bud...and run to pitch....

Oh don't get me wrong - we still had couple of beers in our seats, it's just that we had to walk past the stewards with a plastic bottles of beer up our sleeves.

One of mates was very greedy & had to have three so let's just say he looked as if he was very well endowed

Nic

term · 29-07-2009 1:54pm

Went on Monday and really enjoyed it.
Feeling with the 3 others I went with was that the opening 3/4 songs in the daylight were a bit anti-climactic. Did feel the end of the show lacked oomph as well, with 3 relatively slow songs to finish off. Can admire their bravery in the setlist, don't forget they are punting a new album with the tour, not a greatest hits show. Question for the Bruce & AC/DC show attendees, did the songs from the new albums stand up with the older material at their recent shows?

But....

Absolutely loved the City of Blinding Lights/Vertigo/Crazy Remix/ Sunday Bloody Sunday segment.
Loved it when they did Stay acoustic
Loved the set/effects/sound, esp when dark

Left Croker feeling I'd just seen a fantastic show which kind-of answered a lot of the pre-show bitching about tax/crap-album that was going around.

H8GHOTI · 29-07-2009 2:09pm

kennyu272 wrote: »

Yeah i'm heading over to the first wembley show on the 14th august.
It will be my 5th show of this tour.(barcelona,dublin1,2,3)

Would like to hear your thoughts on Croke Park vs Nou Camp.

Are you going to any others or is five enough for you? :pac:

kennyu272 · 29-07-2009 4:15pm

H8GHOTI wrote: »

Would like to hear your thoughts on Croke Park vs Nou Camp.

Are you going to any others or is five enough for you? :pac:

The atmosphere in the nou camp was electric that night,something that was lacking a bit in croke park.
But overall they were 4 cracking gigs.

Wembley unfortunetly is my last one this year, but since they are on tour again in 2010, no doubt i'll be seeing them somewhere.

HorseRadish · 29-07-2009 4:19pm

gscully wrote: »

Thanks. Yeah, I think they're generic ones. Don't imagine there'll be any concert-specific ones on there though. No harm!

There's Vertigo Croker 05 ones on there. MSG,Austraila as well.

HorseRadish · 29-07-2009 4:20pm

kennyu272 wrote: »

The atmosphere in the nou camp was electric that night,something that was lacking a bit in croke park.
But overall they were 4 cracking gigs.

Wembley unfortunetly is my last one this year, but since they are on tour again in 2010, no doubt i'll be seeing them somewhere.

Nou Camp was class,would have done the 2nd night if I could,but went to see the Boss in Munich:)

H8GHOTI · 29-07-2009 6:38pm

kennyu272 wrote: »

The atmosphere in the nou camp was electric that night,something that was lacking a bit in croke park.
But overall they were 4 cracking gigs.

Wembley unfortunetly is my last one this year, but since they are on tour again in 2010, no doubt i'll be seeing them somewhere.

Did the crowd all around the stage add much to the atmosphere?

Anyone see anything official about 2010 tour yet? I read somewhere they are coming back to Europe. I'd love if they played the Aviva stadium next year.

Tomohawk · 29-07-2009 7:11pm

You mean Lansdowne stadium, I dont think the residents round here would put up with the disruption of the load in and load out for such a future gig. Let the northsiders deal wit it...

H8GHOTI · 29-07-2009 7:51pm

New name will be Aviva (I presume you know this, just not sure from your post)

Also, I don't know what the residents are complaining about, why buy a house next to a stadium and then complain about noise

Irish-trucker · 29-07-2009 7:58pm

Nico22 wrote: »

What did surprise me was how he butchered the song by singing Rock the Kasbah in the middle of it.

Whats that all about ..

I thought the exact same !
What was he playing at

For such a meaningfull song and then singing rock the kasbah :eek:
He goes from listing off names of people who died during the troubles in Slane to That - he needs a clip round the ear :P

I was at it on friday , in the lower tier of the davin stand and i came away feeling as it it was'nt worth the €100 i paid for the ticket .
Ive been years waiting to see them ,but i expected too much from them.
I think they should have had the concerts in the phoenix park , and it could have been a proper 360 degree experience .

When all is said and done though, i was glad to see them .
They make you proud to be Irish.

Drugness · 29-07-2009 9:06pm

Hello all
Does anyone know the names of the songs and artists that were played in the build up to the gig? Specifically i'm referring to the songs played between the support acts and the U2 intro - Space Oddity by David Bowie.
There were some catchy tracks in there!
Thanks everyone

kennyu272 · 29-07-2009 9:13pm

Drugness wrote: »

Hello all
Does anyone know the names of the songs and artists that were played in the build up to the gig? Specifically i'm referring to the songs played between the support acts and the U2 intro - Space Oddity by David Bowie.
There were some catchy tracks in there!
Thanks everyone

From what i can remember

Bat For Lashes - Daniel
Interpol - The Heinrich Manouvre
Joy Division - Transmission
The Airbourne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
Kings Of Leon -
The Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven

Drugness · 29-07-2009 9:27pm

Thanks very much Kerryu272 good work from you

Len_007 · 30-07-2009 5:48pm

Undead wrote: »

Really good pictures mate, would love to see more?

Sure. Was right in front of the edge, so most the good ones were of him. On hind sight I should of moved reound the pit for better angle's.

cuterob · 31-07-2009 1:46am

monday i was in the hogan stand and the sound was crap.. not much interaction with the crowd either.. pretty bland gig.. didnt step away feeling wowed or anything

Austin 3:16 · 31-07-2009 2:25am

cuterob wrote: »

monday i was in the hogan stand and the sound was crap.. not much interaction with the crowd either.. pretty bland gig.. didnt step away feeling wowed or anything

Gotta agree, pretty lifeless, not a patch on vertigo or slane.

kennyu272 · 31-07-2009 1:26pm

kennyu272 wrote: »

From what i can remember

Bat For Lashes - Daniel
Interpol - The Heinrich Manouvre
Joy Division - Transmission
The Airbourne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
Kings Of Leon -
The Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven

Here's the full list that i found on another forum:

MGMT - Time to pretend
Doves - Winter Hill
M83 - Graveyard Girl
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a dream
Hot Chip - Ready for the floor
M83 - You, appearing
Bat for Lashes - Daniel
Interpol - The Heinrich Maneuver
TV On the Radio - Family Tree
The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime around midnight
Kings of Leon - Slow Night, So Long
Moderat - Les Grandes Marches
Muse - Starlight
The Killers - Spaceman
La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream remix)
The Gossip - Standing in the way of control
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
LCD Soundsystem - Time To Get Away
The Pixies - This monkey's gone to heaven
Santogold - Lights Out
White Lies - Death (Chase & Status Remix)
David Bowie - Space Oddity
U2 - Kingdom (excerpt)

Well burnt · 31-07-2009 2:07pm

H8GHOTI wrote: »

New name will be Aviva (I presume you know this, just not sure from your post)

Also, I don't know what the residents are complaining about, why buy a house next to a stadium and then complain about noise

Lots of the residents have been happily living beside Croker for 20 plus years.
Till 10 odd years ago Croker was used 6-10 times per year. Presently, it hosts 34 odd events per year. A slight increase you'll agree? So perhaps you might now know or consider what they're complaining about.

me-skywalker · 31-07-2009 2:53pm

Pal wrote: »

Well...

I went and enjoyed it.

Because I really like U2
but not Croke Park !

Probably the worst stadium on the whole tour.

haha you sir are the worst fan on the tour!
Croke Park is one of the best stadiums in world its U2's production that fcked it up and not putting it in the actual middle so in that sense it was terrible!

me-skywalker · 31-07-2009 2:59pm

Irish-trucker wrote: »

I thought the exact same !
What was he playing at
For such a meaningfull song and then singing rock the kasbah :eek:
He goes from listing off names of people who died during the troubles in Slane to That - he needs a clip round the ear :P

wow you are extremely unlearned!! 3 things.....
1. U2 started out as a punk band
2. The Clash are one of their biggest influences and it was hint back to that
3. The two songs share the same theme's!

tsk!

Sideshow Mark · 31-07-2009 3:07pm

term wrote: »

Question for the Bruce show attendees, did the songs from the new albums stand up with the older material at their recent shows?

Certainly, Outlaw Pete was a highlight and will be played for years to come.

I have to say I came away from U2 with a new appreciation of the current album.

Peadar87 · 31-07-2009 3:21pm

Have to say i really liked the new stuff think it sounds alot better live.
I appreciate the new album alot more now

penexpers · 31-07-2009 3:41pm

Tomohawk wrote: »

You mean Lansdowne stadium, I dont think the residents round here would put up with the disruption of the load in and load out for such a future gig. Let the northsiders deal wit it...

Why not? There were concerts there before the stadium was done up, don't see why that's going to change. Pretty sure they'll get a similar license to what Croke Park has.

The one thing that Aviva will have going for it is that it will be mostly idle during the summer months when the outdoor gigs usually happen.

niallon · 31-07-2009 5:56pm

I saw first and last nights of the Vertigo gigs and I can safely say they surpassed this year by bucket fulls. I suppose Bruce two nights in a row two kind've dampened the impact of this gig but I just was left very much unimpressed. Bono has reached his most prancy, saying a handful to the crowd and mostly just prancing about waiting for crowd reactions. Cringed like hell when Bono actually STOPPED SINGING during One in order to change guitars, even though he's not playing anything nor is he being heard. Rule #1 in Live Performance 101, never ever ever stop! Still a great gig and worth the €60 easily but they were incredibly outperformed by The Script and it wouldn't hurt for them to realise that there's a little more effort required on their part to maintain their "Best Band In The World" mantle, just showing up and knocking out the songs does not suffice.

Mr Alan · 31-07-2009 9:07pm

niallon wrote: »

Cringed like hell when Bono actually STOPPED SINGING during One in order to change guitars, even though he's not playing anything nor is he being heard. Rule #1 in Live Performance 101, never ever ever stop!

are you really trying to tell Bono, the front man of the biggest band of the last 2 decades, a band who are famed for their live performances, what he should do at a gig? really?

Beechman · 31-07-2009 11:55pm

I was in the Hogan on the Friday, Cusack on the Saturday, unfortuntly could not get a ticket for the Monday. I did get the next best thing, A mate has an appartment at the back of Hill 16 , on the roof top garden at least 60 of us enjoyed the gig , we could hear it perfectly and see the screen!

Best Gigs ever , hopefully they will be back next year to finish off the tour in Ireland

niallon · 01-08-2009 1:47am

Mr Alan wrote: »

are you really trying to tell Bono, the front man of the biggest band of the last 2 decades, a band who are famed for their live performances, what he should do at a gig? really?

No, I doubt Bono is on Boards. If I wished to tell him I would write him a letter. I was simply making the point that it is a general live performance taboo.

Mr Alan · 01-08-2009 4:55am

not really tbh. if the drummer stopped drumming, then perhaps you'd have a point.

singers stop singing all the time during gigs, no big deal.

MisterAnarchy · 01-08-2009 2:31pm

Beechman wrote: »

unfortuntly could not get a ticket for the Monday. I did get the next best thing, A mate has an appartment at the back of Hill 16 , on the roof top garden at least 60 of us enjoyed the gig , we could hear it perfectly and see the screen!

Cool,even better than the real thing.

celticwe · 01-08-2009 5:09pm

Beechman wrote: »

I was in the Hogan on the Friday, Cusack on the Saturday, unfortuntly could not get a ticket for the Monday. I did get the next best thing, A mate has an appartment at the back of Hill 16 , on the roof top garden at least 60 of us enjoyed the gig , we could hear it perfectly and see the screen!

Best Gigs ever , hopefully they will be back next year to finish off the tour in Ireland

Jesus 3 times.

Sorry.

enner43 · 01-08-2009 5:27pm

Beechman wrote: »

I was in the Hogan on the Friday, Cusack on the Saturday, unfortuntly could not get a ticket for the Monday. I did get the next best thing, A mate has an appartment at the back of Hill 16 , on the roof top garden at least 60 of us enjoyed the gig , we could hear it perfectly and see the screen!

Best Gigs ever , hopefully they will be back next year to finish off the tour in Ireland

I've heard that they WILL be back next year.

They're releasing a new album next year and should be playing again. :cool:

H8GHOTI · 01-08-2009 7:37pm

enner43 wrote: »

I've heard that they WILL be back next year. They're releasing a new album next year and should be playing again. :cool:

Where did you hear that?

OutlawPete · 01-08-2009 10:27pm

Irish-trucker wrote: »

I thought the exact same !
What was he playing at
For such a meaningfull song and then singing rock the kasbah :eek:
He goes from listing off names of people who died during the troubles in Slane to That - he needs a clip round the ear :P

I was at it on friday , in the lower tier of the davin stand and i came away feeling as it it was'nt worth the €100 i paid for the ticket .
I

€138 each for ours and felt much the same.

I think the claw thing is crap. Don't get it at all.

If anything, it gets in the way - puts a barrier between the band and the fans. Thought at the last Croker gig it was way better when they just walked out on the walkway things.

Seen Britney in the O2 (don't laugh - was dragged along) and that was more of an 'in-the-round' experience. If U2 play there I think they gig will be great.

Simple Minds will be the first real test of the O2 I think. I missed Kings Of Leon there but seen Coldplay.

Coldplay actually sang an acoustic song in the middle of the crowd there so no real end to what U2 could do there.

If anyone's interested I'll post a vid of Britney singing Everytime live @ The O2 ..

Here's my only YouTube upload so far:

Coldplay - Green Eyes & Fairytale Of New York Live @ The O2

Nic

bonoman66 · 02-08-2009 11:38am

Hi,

Here's some decent quality footage from Croker 3. Its synched / mixed with audio from anither source (Alysha).

Hope you enjoy...more on the way when I get a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnuDtMXVZ6E

hatrickpatrick · 02-08-2009 12:08pm

Monday night was so epic it's unbelievable.
I was in the Cusack literally RIGHT next to the stage until the encore:
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8516/image077o.jpg

I had a wristband to get into the inner ring in front of the stage, but I didn't want to go down during the gig and risk missing a song while trying to find my way down. So I headed down during the interval after the main set, and made it in just in time for the encore. It was even more incredible being that close...
http://img189.imageshack.us/i/image086x.jpg/

What an amazing night! I really hope they do Dublin again when they're on the return Europe tour, as it's rumoured they will do a second Europe leg this time around...

A Disgrace · 03-08-2009 8:52pm

What did you think of Bonos demeanor? And the fact that he stopped Edge during 'Bad' and at another stage said 'Don't forget about us'..

My thought were that he's obviously a little hurt by the backlash about the album, and the fact that they didn't sell out. Possibly the guys, and they're the one band who I think will, are considering quitting with some grace?

Just wondering if anyone got the same impression?

SB-08 · 03-08-2009 9:09pm

I thought it was a bit odd, but at the end of the day the album, while not as well as previous albums, considering the huge decline of sales (especially in the past year_ it has done very well. It topped the charts in over 35 countries and is the biggest selling album of the year so far globally. This tour is most likely going to be not only the highest grossing tour of all time, but also the most tickets sold for any tour in history. So they would definatly be going out on a high, although I cant see it happening anytime seen, considering they only signed a 12 year deal with Live Nation a while back.

HorseRadish · 04-08-2009 9:45am

bonoman66 wrote: »

Hi,

Here's some decent quality footage from Croker 3. Its synched / mixed with audio from anither source (Alysha).

Hope you enjoy...more on the way when I get a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnuDtMXVZ6E

Super video,heard the boot is really good

niallon · 04-08-2009 4:41pm

A Disgrace wrote: »

What did you think of Bonos demeanor? And the fact that he stopped Edge during 'Bad' and at another stage said 'Don't forget about us'..

My thought were that he's obviously a little hurt by the backlash about the album, and the fact that they didn't sell out. Possibly the guys, and they're the one band who I think will, are considering quitting with some grace?

Just wondering if anyone got the same impression?

There was a weird vibe onstage, dunno if I'd say they're quitting though, maybe it's a Lovetown style "Dream it all up again" vibe

iMax · 04-08-2009 4:55pm

HorseRadish wrote: »

Super video,heard the boot is really good

Is there a (professional) bootleg available ?

bruce wayne · 04-08-2009 5:04pm

iMax wrote: »

Is there a (professional) bootleg available ?

I found one online this afternoon, quality is not too bad

iMax · 04-08-2009 5:06pm

Any chance of a PM pointing me in the direction ?

bruce wayne · 04-08-2009 5:18pm

you got mail

A Disgrace · 05-08-2009 12:16am

niallon wrote: »

There was a weird vibe onstage, dunno if I'd say they're quitting though, maybe it's a Lovetown style "Dream it all up again" vibe

Well, hopefully, cos we all know what came after Lovetown!

TheIrishGrover · 06-08-2009 3:16pm

I put a couple of videos up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNie8wP_URA

bonoman66 · 08-08-2009 9:52am

Here's a quick multicam I did for The Auld Triangle from the Friday Night.

Grateful to heartland for his permission to mix in & synch his audio from that night with the cam audio.

Hope you enjoy.

Choose the HQ option & watch fullscreen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiUwq9o7oXY

AlexanderPlatz · 20-08-2009 11:51am

I see there are loads of rumours that U2 will tour Europe again in 2010, I remember there was talk of the band releasing a new album before the end of this year.

Bono had said the tracks were more mellow, would be great to hear an album with more tracks like Moment of Surrender. I would love to see U2 try and move in a different direction sound wise.

It has to be difficult for the band, they are still the biggest band in the world and the fan base is still massive and to keep everyone happy that means large stadium tours. Of course I`m sure U2 like the money as well from these large tours. U2 are still cutting it live and songs like Vertigo and Boots really come to life on stage. I would imagine they have maybe one more big stadium tour in them after 360.

I would love U2 to do a big goodbye to the stadiums tours in 2012/13 and then start to play smaller venues. Can`t see it happening though....

bonoman66 · 13-10-2020 4:07pm

I know its over 11 years but with having time at home recently, I've been going through my digital archives & been working on remastering audio & video from the July 27th 2009 Croke Park show.

I'm creating a 'Remastered from The Pit' Series, showing videos not previously released from the perspective of being in the Pit that night with remastered picture & audio.

Hope anyone that was there that night might enjoy the series. Some videos will be better than others as being in The Pit or GA is where all the crowd rock'n'roll / bouncy bouncy happens :-) - I did my best at the time.

All the best..

bonoman66 · 13-10-2020 4:08pm

U2 Croke Park 2009 - all discussion, no ticket sales.

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