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U2 balance magic, meaning at Rose Bowl stunner
October 26th, 2009, 5:09 am · 53 Comments · posted by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Only U2, the biggest band in the world bar none, could have produced a show as massive as the one that sprawled out and towered high overhead Sunday at the Rose Bowl before a record-setting crowd of 96,000 longtime and newly established fans — many of whom came from far and wide for this sole California appearance of 2009.
But it’s only now, nearly three decades into their career and a dozen years since their last mammoth dazzler, that the four Irishmen even could have conjured such a magnificent, meaningful spectacle.
The 120-foot-tall, four-pronged framework that envelopes the band throughout its two-hour-plus performance is simply a staggering sight. An ominously futuristic creation called the Claw –- its shape (if not swiveling pieces) modeled after LAX’s space-age Theme Building –- it most resembles an alien craft from War of the Worlds having made this titanic Pasadena playpen its headquarters for an occupation of the Western U.S.
And yet –- here’s its real magic -– the open-air expanse beneath and between its spindly industrial-strength tendrils leaves loads of space for Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. to stay at the forefront of this wild machinery. Miraculously, they still convey in this setting the sort of intimacy they so easily evoke inside 20,000-capacity arenas.
U2 has lived and learned, and returned to staging spectacles much wiser and surer than before –- so that this current 360° Tour (returning June 6 to conquer Angel Stadium) now stands as the perfect synthesis of every major production the band has concocted since The Joshua Tree set Bono on a course toward sainthood.
It’s easy to forget that though U2 has been packing stadiums since shortly after that ’87 masterpiece arrived, the band has really only indulged two globetrotting behemoths –- the dizzying visual overload of the Zoo TV Tour (1992-93), behind the aesthetic-shifting Achtung Baby, followed by the stunning enormity of PopMart (1997-98).
Both were groundbreaking wonders that by tour’s end had become as much of a draw as the music itself – sometimes more so. I don’t remember much of what the guys played that muggy Vegas night in April ’97 when they launched PopMart, or later on in the trek, when that gigantic drive-in movie screen was set up at the Coliseum. But I’ve never forgotten how it felt to be dwarfed by such an immense backdrop.
The chief problem, of course, was that U2 quickly drowned in the decadence of it all; the eye-grabbing euphoria eventually emptied out until it had seemingly alienated as many admirers as it had gained.
So, after years of being overshadowed by artifice (and getting stuck Spinal Tap-style inside a giant mirrored lemon), Bono and the boys retreated this decade to the stark sparseness of its emotionally raw ’80s tours. Back to basics, in other words -– just four guys doing their thing with minimal effects and affectations, safe in assuming that songs not spectacles are what would instill passion and harness rage in a post-9/11 world.
That move succeeded brilliantly, even profoundly –- people had the old U2 back, just when we needed it most. What’s remarkable about the far less emotionally charged 360° Tour -– apart from how sweepingly tremendous Bono’s vocals are these days, as forcefully chiming as the Edge’s fretwork –- is how deftly the band and its production designers have melded the grandeur of those ’90s tours with the deep austerity of outings this decade.
Yes, you’ve never seen anything like the Claw –- but unlike the PopMart screen or the Zoo TV wall, its primary function is structural, not distraction. As should always be the case, once the band has settled into the atmosphere and kicked into high gear, visual wow factors should recede, or at least ebb and flow, so that attention can get redirected back to the music.
That was certainly the case Sunday night. The Claw’s glowing presence was at first startling, even overpowering, as the band entered to the strains of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and one of its own unreleased tracks before stomping through “Breathe.” Genuine power started oozing out with the second selection, “Get on Your Boots,” the first single from this year’s moodier album No Line on the Horizon and arguably the fastest song in the U2 songbook. Yet for me energy didn’t really coalesce for a few more songs, until the end of an otherwise too laid-back “Mysterious Ways” and a dutifully ebullient “Beautiful Day.”
By that point, I had gazed up and down the Claw’s curved framed long enough to realize just how static and even color-resistant it can be. It tends to blend with the room –- should the Bowl itself get coated in red or orange light, the Claw adapts like a chameleon. Plus, its movable catwalks seem sparingly used, each only occasionally sliding to and fro above the heads of fans closest to the stage.
That’s not a bad thing -– if anything, I consider it stadium subtlety. Yet it was while watching Bono and the Edge traipse across those short bridges to an outer circular walkway –- one that separates standard GA ticket-holders from diligent die-hards who lined up as early as 5 a.m. to stake out such spots –- that it finally struck me just what has developed here.
Despite how much money has been sunk into this tour to help turn it into something special –- although with three of these multimillion-dollar stages roaming the globe at once, it’s not expected to break even until sometime next year –- U2’s approach has merely been proportionately expanded from 20,000 fans to this onslaught of nearly 100,000.
Imagine the Claw as an arena rig unleashed from its walls … view the collapsible hexagonal hi-def screens as simply a larger version of the band’s more direct display earlier this decade at Honda Center and Staples Center … notice, too, how everything else about the stage (ramps, circles, pits) smacks of the Vertigo Tour on steroids … and, well, it isn’t a stretch to see how this could all be downsized into an even warmer, looser arena gig.
Not that this one suffers from seeming too detached. True, as with the Police and the Stones, size matters to U2 –- the bigger the crowd, the better Bono performs. And talk about expectations: not only was this show streamed as-is live on U2’s YouTube channel, but it will later be released as a DVD.
Good thing that when the cameras are on them, the spotlight’s glare only tends to bring out their best, whether the mood turns dark and biting (a dramatic “Until the End of the World,” a rousing “Sunday Bloody Sunday” set against images of Iranian rebellion) or hearty and punchy (the cries of “Elevation,” a percussion-heavy mix of “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”) or supremely uplifting (an acoustic version of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” was a clear highlight, as was a terrific rendition of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”).
It was during moments like those and so many others that the awesomeness of the stage took a backseat to the steadfast, efficient power of U2: the tempered thrum of Clayton’s bass placed against Mullen’s drums, still martial after all these years … the sheer sonic wizardry of the Edge … the soulful yearning for deeper understanding that Bono’s aching voice has defined all decade (all his career, really).
What’s more, the potency of their playing (and Bono’s phrasing in particular) helps the show push past its lively yet often inconsequential artifice, so that some semblance of intentional concept can be seen.
That is, these 24-song sets are envisioned partly as a reflection of Bono from boy to man (“let me in the sound,” he insists at the outset) yet they are also partly an outlet for his (and their) political side. At the conclusion of the main set, for instance, the singer dedicated the captivating (if brief) “MLK” and a regal rendition of “Walk On” to Burma’s embattled opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi, then had Bishop Desmond Tutu introduce “One” via video sermon.
It takes some insane kind of daring to present something so personal on a scale that automatically makes it seem universal. Yet they’ve done it again, or maybe it’s that they’ve finally done it for the first time: from within the palm of this audience’s collective hands, with each set piece another expert melding of sound and spectacle, U2 has risen to another Olympic-wide zenith. Stadium shows, what’s left of them, will never be the same.
On paper, the Black Eyed Peas seemed a terrible choice to open such an auspicious occasion, especially seeing as other stops were treated to warm-up sets from Muse, a more suitably dramatic band for such a meaty headliner.
Yet within just a song or two, leading with a rock-heavy take on “Let’s Get It Started,” the Peas seemed to thoroughly surprise the restless, ready-to-live-it-up crowd. By the time they got through “Where Is the Love?” (this generation’s “What’s Going On”) and brought Slash out for a fair handling of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” (did Fergie flub some of the second verse on that?), they had clearly won them over.
It’s interesting how perspective can change: a little more than two months ago at Pacific Amphitheatre, the Peas were endlessly annoying; here, they were positively infectious. Even the omnipresent inanity of “I’ve Gotta Feeling” couldn’t be resisted. And only a cold-hearted Grinch would give the L.A. group anything but kudos after such a momentous career high.
Photos by Joshua Sudock, The Orange County Register.
Set list: U2 at the Rose Bowl, Oct. 25, 2009
Intro music: Space Oddity (David Bowie) / Kingdom of Your Love (excerpt)
Main set: Breathe / Get on Your Boots / Magnificent / Mysterious Ways / Beautiful Day (with snippets of In God’s Country and the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows) / I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (with a coda of Stand by Me) / Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (acoustic) / 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 (with snippet of the Stones’ It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Redanka Remix) (with snippet of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Two Tribes) > Sunday Bloody Sunday / MLK > Walk On
First encore: Bishop Desmond Tutu message > One > Amazing Grace > Where the Streets Have No Name
Second encore: Ultraviolet (Light My Way) / With or Without You / Moment of Surrender
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Had a great time last night at the concert. Never been to one with that many people and U2 was awesome!!! We sat behind the stage which I thought was fine given the name of the tour is 360, but they didn’t circle around that often. Little dissapointed with that, but overall it was a great show!
It was a pretty good concert. Nice A/V setup.
Weakest show I’ve seen by U2 by a long shot. You could really see the band’s age and lack of creativity through their new tunes. For those of you that missed it, you didn’t miss much
buddy U2 are legends. your a pansey.
They are legends but the show last night sucked big tuna!
AGREE!
@Idontbuyit
I saw the show on Youtube & totally thought the same thing. I was impressed at all with that concert. I also attended Vertigo & thought that was slightly better than this show. U2 really needs to retire while they are on a semi high note….
Maybe it was better in person, but the concert via youtube was rather bland. Bono’s vocals are still pretty good but for a stage that expansive you need a lot of physicality and Bono’s is going downhill. Except for his one lap around the track, he stood or walked. The toned down and disjointed setlist reflected his slower abilities. Plus the songs on the new album are weak, especially for a bowl setting. He was panting heavily at times. I understand. The dude’s 40-something.
Watch the June 2001 concert in Boston for a killer U2 performance.
I like U2, but I have a hard time imagining that their dirge-like material could generate an “exciting” concert. But, I wasn’t there.
I hate to give away my age, but I feel sorry that this generation will not likely witness the excitement of seeing absolute icons like the Stones perform. They are legend, still have it better than ever, and (I’m sorry) would blow anyone off the stage in the sheer excitement category.
Check them out if you want to witness the ultimate spectacle of live rock and roll.
Don’t the Stones still perform, at Laguna Woods?
never really liked u2- they have a few good songs with energy- the rest are repetitive and boring. as a guitar player i would like to hear more from the edge
Bono sucks.
Easily one of the top three most over rated bands ever. Totally over blown repuation and I personally would not and have not spent one dime on any of their so-called music. Terrible at best.
I thought the show last night was pretty strong, with U2 able to still deliver the goods for sure. Many members of the audience were not the greatest, but that seems how it is with the bigger shows nowadays…
What do you mean by, “Many members of the audience were not the greatest”…?
probably he means all the hundreds with their MEXICO flags in the audience. Next time you go to a concert in LA bring your AMERICAN, MALE, FEMALE, BLACK, AFRICAN, ARAB, ASIAN, UK, FRENCH, IRISH, CANADIAN, SWEDISH, ISRAEL, BRAZIL, COSTA RICA, BAHAMAS, UN, etc FLAGS. Seems MEXICO thinks they RULE!
I noticed the Mexican flags. Apparently some people think that Los Angeles belongs to a foreign country. Those idiots - I would have been happy to rip up their flags if I happened to be standing next to them. I think the security guards took away some of the flags toward the end of the show when Bono got near.
I went last night, they should have called it the 180 degree and seldom 360 degree show. I wasn’t pleased to sit and watch a big screen tv all night. I like U2’s music and have been a fan for years. My seats were behind one of those pillers I wasn’t happy about that either. Just wished I had better seats. What a waste of time and money.
Wow! I went last night and had a blast. It was awesome, and I have been to alot of concerts….I would go again tonight if it was possible. U2 rocked, the light show was gorgeous, the Black Eye Peas were so fun and even the huge crowd was great, singing and dancing..I stayed in my seat and just soaked it all in..
Ben, we were at the same concert? This was the WORST concert experience EVER. Either the Rose Bowl (City of Pasadena) can’t handle nearly a 100k, or U2 got real greedy to cover the cost for a stage that doesn’t add any ’special’ effect to the concert. Or both. U2. com emphasized how IMPORTANT it was to take the bus instead of driving into the parking lot at the Rose Bowl. WHAT A NIGHTMARE! 1000′S WAITING TO GET ON A BUS THAT TOOK OVER AN HOUR. And no security in sight! WORSE! when you FINALLY arrived to get to your $200.00 seat; they wouldn’t let you in because the tunnel was full. UNBELIEVABLE! I now know what the folks at the stadium during Hurricane Katrina felt like. TOTAL CHAOS! Never will I attend an event at the Rose Bowl and I will stay away from LA! There was no sense of unity or connection like there was during their 2005 Vertigo tour at Honda. I love U2, but I am not going to pump up a concert that was totally pitiful in so many ways. For those who enjoyed, I have no idea what you paid, prior experiences or maybe you have low expectations…it sucked! BIG TIME! Sure you got the groove on, but I had a better time rocking out in my own living room the night before; listening to the Vertigo Chicago Live tour and it was FREE!
I know what JR is talking about in terms of how poorly the event was managed. The Rose Bowl and/or Pasadena Police, etc. did a terrible job. I am looking forward to U2 playing at Anaheim/Angel Stadium in June 2010!
When we left the concert last night, we missed our shuttle because of how difficult it was to exit the bowl, and we had to walk 2 miles back to the Westin where our car was parked!
Why would anybody want to call the Anaheim Angels the Los Angeles Angels? L.A. is no gem.
LOL! thanks I am feeling a little better. We left at the first encore since it was so miserable getting there. We made it to our hotel.
The BUMMER is 40 is one of my all time favorites, but it just wasn’t worth the hassle at that point. I’ll watch it when the DVD comes out LOL!
I agree with both of you. I enjoyed the concert because I enjoy U2 music but it was by far one of the worst events I have attended for U2. I felt like I had a dollar sign tattooed on my forehead the moment I got in line for the shuttles. I never once felt like I had a connection with the band nor my fellow concert goers except when being shuttled about like cattle.
I am hoping the Anaheim show will be fantastic!
Erin CATTLE is exactly what it was. And the “crowd” ….ugh! I am just thankful I have the beautiful memory of the deep connection at Honda!
WHOA! According to the set listed , U2 DID NOT PLAY their traditonal last song 40. Woohoo! it’s a beautiful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How gia-normous was the carbon footprint from last night’s show, Mr. Boner?
Hypocrite “artists” and their big mouths . . .
Get back on your electric airplane and leave.
It was great
I was there, it was amazing to see so many people at the Rose Bowl… you should’ve seen the line to the ladie’s restroom. It was so long that women started sneaking into the men’s restroom and they were telling us “we won’t look we promise.” This was my first time to see U2 perform.. I think it would be better if they didn’t mix politics with the music (even though I tend to like their positions on the issues). Toward the end I felt like I was attending a political campaign and not just a concert.
We had an amazing time. When you know that nearly 100k people are going to be there, you can’t expect no lines or no waiting, so we just went with the flow. When you have that attitude, it helps you enjoy the whole scene a lot more.
Oh, and for all those people who had issues with shuttle buses and 2 mile walks, 2 words: Preferred Parking LOL… it was SOOOOO worth it!
So right, little missy. We did the preferred parking as well and even brought along our own private bathroom. The bathroom lines were crazy in that parking lot - a guy came by later in the day to ask if his daughter could use our bathroom so she didn’t embarass herself by having an accident. (Of course we said yes.) The concert was awesome but we did have to wait in that line to get through the tunnel and to our seats. Even then, it wouldn’t have been bad if it weren’t for all the people around us complaining about it. Not sure what loud complaining accomplishes…
We tried going to that Picnic in the Park - what a waste of time that was. We got in, got our 21+ bracelets, looked around and promptly left. The lines for a $9 beer were intense and I didn’t even see where the beer/wine tasting was. We had a much better time tailgating at our truck, especially since we made friends with our neighbors.
I loved the old U2 but have not found more than 2 songs since the Joshua Tree album that I would consider a U2 song. Jeff you are right U2 is probably the most overrated band now but at one time they deserved all those accolades. Listen to War or Joshua Tree and then listen to the newer stuff it’s like a different band. They are much more of a show band now all fluff and no substance looks like they are ready for the Vegas Hotel circuit.
I have been writing about music for The Register for more than 15 years and attended hundreds of big concerts since I was in high school. I rank U2 as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, just behind the Beatles, but equal to the Rolling Stones, Who and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. With the possible exception of Radiohead, U2 is one of the best big acts performing today.
If you missed them in Pasadena, make sure to catch them in Anaheim in June 2010.
People complaining about the old U2 is like people complaining that “Revolution” or “Strawberry Fields” are not like “Love Me Do” or “Eight Days a Week.” Grow with the band, or shut up. And complaining about the “politics” is silly, too, when all of their songs are about being one people and loving each other. That may be religious, but it’s not political; it’s apolitical.
The show was great, but because of the setting it could never be a 10. The new album is amazing. Buy it and listen to it more than once. That music held its own with every old song. I remember when “The Joshua Tree” came out and people complained that it wasn’t “War.”
The Rose Bowl sucked in countless ways. Those complaints are valid. Angel Stadium has to be better. But to complain about Bono? Which of has used our fame to focus attention on humanitarian problems? Or complain about Mexican flags? Are you aware how many fans drove up from Mexico because there are no Mexican shows on this leg of the tour?
If you want to see a band of four teenage friends who have been making music together for 35 years without OD-ing, imploding, or giving in to hopelessness, you’ll have a chance in June. If you disagree with their (overtly Christian) message, dislike their tunes, or think Bono’s glasses are weird, stay home. And then post nonsense on this website.
To preface, I’m not a U2 hater. I’ve seen them at the LA Sports Arena for Joshua Tree, Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium for Zoo TV, San Diego and Staples for Vertigo.
The disconnect that people experienced in this show must be from their new album which wasn’t as well received as their previous two albums/tours (Vertigo & Elevation). I’m on the same bandwagon, because the latest album is also far from my favorites. When they played these recent songs (7 of their 24 setlist), they even lost this longtime U2 fan. What did keep my attitude high was the stage setup and the atmosphere. My seats were to the side and mid-way up from the floor. What I couldn’t see on stage was well shown on the screen.
Overall, I did enjoy the whole experience; mainly because I mentally prepared for the chaotic lines, paid for the preferred parking in advance and prepared for the tailgating due to an early arrival. I got to the lot at noon and parked within 200 yards of the stadium. After the last song, I was out of the lot within half an hour as well.
After reading all these negative comments, I guess I’ll just consider myself lucky but also well prepared.
well-said, Flipper… we did the same. We prepped for a long day and made a day of it, and it was great. I guess what you get out of it is what you put into it sometimes.
lucky for you guys…..you are not U2 sucker members who begged you to shuttle. Must be their green cause. LOL! Trust me. It’s not like we can’t afford it. After nearly a grand for a night with trash in Los Angeles to see U2..you bet there’s disappointment. . Well we did see Paris Hilton, Ben Stellar, Debra Messing, Nick Nolte etc. Priceless LMAO!
little missy– I know it’s hard to believe, but there was a good majority of people there, myself and my husband included, that didn’t just jump on the bandwagon to be at the biggest concert in a long time. We are actually fans (LOL). We belong to the U2 fanclub (OMG), we actually own their music (LOL), and we’ve been to their concerts before. We were there for the music and the band (LOL). And us true fans took the recommendations that were given to us by the U2 website and we parked offsite (OMG).
That being said, it was also the WORST CONCERT EXPERIENCE we’ve ever had. It was truly disappointing to hear all the hype and the money that was put into it, then experience the logistical nightmare that was last night. It was unsafe and it ruined the whole experience. I am a long-time fan and I am beyond disappointed in the mistreatment of the many people who were really there to follow a band that they love.
I’m actually a fan also and my fiance is a member of the same U2 site. We even have our confirmation number for the June 2010 show in Anaheim. We went to see U2 perform, we didn’t attend to be a part of any record breaking or history making concert.
Regardless of how much I love a band, 9 times out of 10, I’m going to pay for preferred parking and carpool. At a “normal” show, shuttle buses and such are a logistical nightmare. When you have a show with almost 100k people, well, the nightmare grows exponentially, as you and other devout “fans” have attested to. Add to that the fact that I’m almost 8 months pregnant and I’m sure even a “true” U2 fan as yourself wouldn’t find fault in me taking my own vehicle. (We bought the tix before I got pregnant)
I wanted to enjoy the whole experience, from the tailgating to the events that were in the picnic area to the concert itself, and you know what…. I DID and I have no regrets.
It’s unfortunate that “real” U2 fans didn’t have the same wonderful experience that this U2 fan had. Just because I’m a fan of the band, it doesn’t make me a lemming. I knew that there was no way I would be able to enjoy it as much as I did if I didn’t prepare well in advance for the crowds and just go with the flow. Sometimes we have to think for ourselves and do what’s right for us, not what a band who doesn’t know us personally, would like us to do.
shdanapoint- I’m on the U2 site as well. Since the Joshua Tree I’ve been to all the tours (only skipping PopMart). I also own (not downloaded) a majority of their albums and singles (including Boy and October pressings); so MY ‘bandwagon’ days started a long time ago….
Please don’t say that in order to be a ‘fan’ you must belong to their club. Please don’t say, to be a ‘fan’ you need to personally purchase their merchandise. And please don’t tell me to be a ‘fan’ you require to have personal experience and history with them. BUT MOST ESPECIALLY, please don’t say the ‘true fans’ deserve treatment beyond the scope of the general population.
I too had to make that fork-in-the-road decision on the shuttle vs preferred parking. I too read all the comments and recommendations regarding the venue. I guess I was just fortunate to make the lucky decision to get there early and pay for the close parking because that part of the experience was very easy.
I’m sorry about your bad experience. I saw those mad queues on my departure and didn’t just rejoice in my fortune, but actually felt sorry for those in line. You didn’t deserve it BUT neither did the respectable people who are ‘not’ fans.
Well after reading all of the comments from all the cry babies on here, I consider myself lucky! My best friend works at the bowl he’s a ” Sound Tech ” I got in for free and was on the floor Front & center!
Bono is a fantastic performer! I loved every minute of it. except for all the drunks falling on there faces around us! It was a great nite.
Whoo Hooo!!!!
cool kat. and that was what made the concert so unprofessionally pathetic. You general admission folks should have had your OWN entry/exit/parking access. Some of us are beyond our sardine cattle years and prefer a little dignity during concerts. woohoo!
Then go to the symphony….
LOL! good one. But they put me to sleep usually.
I didn’t have to see the show to tell you that the Rose Bowl is the absolute WORST place to see any concert on the planet!!!! Glad I didn’t waste my money….
The writer of this article suks. Couldn’t finish reading. Looks like he over used the Thesaurus and then some on this one.
Also too, I totally agree 100% with ocbear that POLITICS DO NOT BELONG AT A CONCERT!! There should be a new law of ‘Separation of Concert and State’, but that’s U2 for ya, has been for years. Don’t get me wrong, I like U2 ever since the early 80’s in HS, but their stand on politics should be kept to themselves. You pay (a lot of money) for music and that’s all you should get is music, and the drunks and the long lines etc.
Have you never heard a U2 song?? Since the beginning, they’ve been a politically charged band. It wasn’t like a political rally by any means. They did have some political points, as they always do, but that comes with the territory.
I went to my first U2 concert when I was 17. Sunday night I took my 14 year old son to the concert. We had a great time. We knew there were going to be 96,000 of our closest friends at the show so we went into the experience deciding that no one was going to ruin our evening. And no one did. Clearly the Rose Bowl wasn’t ready for crowds of our size and that was unfortunate. Still, for me it was a great evening and I’m so happy that I got to experience a U2 concert with my son. He loved the show and we’re planning on going to the concert at Angel Stadium in June.
It’s that type of attitude that helped you and those around you enjoy the concert. Becoming frustrated with lines and such only leaves bad memories and lessens the experience.
Good for you! I’m glad that you and your son were able to enjoy this together.
I’ve read a lot of posts on other sites. Most people were disgusted how the event was handled. This poor couple never even got to sit in their seats because there was vomit all over it and no one to clean it up. Wow! I had a GREAT time and didn’t even know it. LOL
It’s amazing to read how many negative comments were posted. I know about 20 people who were in attendance & every single one enjoyed it. This is my 3rd or 4th U2 concert (I can’t keep track anymore) and not only did I love every minute of it, but I’d have to say it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever gone to. Traffic was reasonable getting there, we kicked back and did a little tailgating, and then headed in. The weather was perfect, we didn’t have a any obnoxious people in our area, and the energy of the crowd was infectious. Yes lines were long, yes it was crowded, and yes getting out of a bit of a pain……but with 96,000+ people did anyone really expect it to be different?
Seriously, I am glad YOU and SOME others had a nice time. Of course we all expect lines for traffic and getting in at large events, after all we live in So.Cal. That’s not what people are upset about it. It was the complete chaos, no sense of assembly and no security presence whatsoever. We’re all lucky no one was killed. All it would have taken was ONE incident and it would have been a stampede. Others had far worse experiences that are posted elsewhere. More infuriating is the City of Pasadena, police department and event consultants are BRAGGING how well it was handled. AND how they made 300 to 400k and only FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE WORKED FOR THE EVENT. Furthermore, your preferred parking didn’t even sell out because the NIMBY neighborhood lobbied to make sure folks took the shuttle. It worked! Apparently, after the concert they passed out fliers to WALK back into town. Pasadena handles over a million for an annual parade, yet treated U2 fans like dirt to make a profit. These aren’t NEGATIVE comments they are FACTS. Again, count your blessings YOU had a different experience and were LUCKY..NOT well prepared as you say. The rest of us have been to U2 numerous times also, BUT were treated with dignity. There’s a big difference between complaining vs. feeling like your life is endangered. One poster was hilarious saying how he really enjoyed all the pretty white girls walking through his neighborhood, because you don’t see them in the ‘hood’. That guy has great energy, too bad he wasn’t at the concert. Drunks, vomit, hog seaters, aisle pissers, over flowing toilets etc. are not my idea of good energy. Different strokes for different folks. And I don’t think it is what U2 is about.
I saw my first u2 concert 20 years ago, til this day I still remember hearing the first notes of Where the Streets have no name, it was one of the greatest concerts I’d ever seen (and still is). This time around I agree with the lack of connection to the audience. I was disappointed with the set list (even though I’m not a big fan of the newer stuff I understand that some of the attendee’s are). My personal experience was satisfied but empty. I didn’t get to hear “the oldies but goodies”. The venue was AWFUL for parking, but the sound was great for as big as it was. I don’t love LA, I hate the Rose Bowl, but without the parking fiasco overall it was what I expected and I still LOVE those IRISHMEN!