U2 Rocks Steel City

U2 360 Tour/ Mark Peterson 2011 PITTSBURGH – The final USA show of the 360 Tour after 24 months was out of this world.  U2 had a couple of surprises.  The 2 ½ hour show ended as normal with “Moment of Surrender” which has been the last encore song for a couple of shows. Out of Control had appeared as the last song a couple of times. Well last night after a brief huddle the boys belted out “Bad” and snip of “40” Bono said the song “Bad” was inspired from someone around here. 

The boys took the stage a few minutes after 9 pm with the normal opener; “Space Oddity” by David Bowie and during “Beautiful Day” a snippet of Bowie’s song reappeared to support the space station clip. 

Bono referred to Pittsburg as “The Steel City” a few times a reference to some pretty cool people that have come from around here such as Andy Warhol, Perry Como and Bronson – We will spare you the references to the boys.

U2’s first gig was way back in 81 a place called “The Decade” Bono said “I was proud of my mullet” an interesting look during the time period.

The show was the last of a very long tour, which had its bumps along the way. However last night was not the night to rehash all of the bumps; Bono did have his chance to talk about politics, and social causes, shoot out to Aung San Suu Kyi and brief word on Amnesty International.

This was the final night of the band’s U.S. tour — the last stop of the two-year trek is Saturday in Moncton, New Brunswick — and Bono thanked fans “For this grand madness,” motioning to the band’s gargantuan, record-sized stage with its 150-foot tower.

Amazed and Delighted Rain Soaked Fans

Rain could not keep U2 from rocking the TCF Bank Stadium this past weekend. The road crew has started the removal of the stage, fans crushed in traffic and yet a hush of peace has gently taken over the crowd. 

Some fans as one of the best shows have considered the Minnesota show thus far; Bono delivered a performance as if rain was not even a concern. Fan having waited for this show had concerns that it may never happen, yet in the end Bono did provide the fans what they expected to hear, some where impressed others just happy to see them back again for one more time. A few surprises over all a show this large has very few surprises, set changes, comments customized per city and events, that sort of thing.

Opening the show with Even Better than the Real Thing, and the set list was packed with all of the fan favorite hits, including many from the album Joshua Tree. The band dedicated Stuck in a Moment to the late singer, Amy Winehouse, in a heartfelt tribute. Stuck in a Moment was originally written for the late INXS lead singer, Michael Hutchence, who sadly took his own life.

Fans enjoyed the video appearance of astronaut Mark Kelly from space! Prerecorded a message for his wife, which made the performance “Beautiful Day”.  

Fans had no fear of rain, lightening did some people for cover, who wants to be hit by lighting at U2 concert.

We are close to the finish line, we can see the end and its as clear as today, U2 will wrap up its US tour later in the week, fans that traveled the country this summer to see every show will head back to their normal lives and begin remember the summer of U2.  How do you remember it ? Did you travel the country in search of the best U2 show ? Do have photos and videos that you want to share ? Post your comments on our facebook page.

Fans Ready in Minnesota

Bono / Mark Peterson/ U2TOURFANS/2011St. Paul, Minn. — GA ticket holders have been streaming in since 6 a.m. at The University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium. General admission will open today at 4:30 pm. We can expect about 60,000 fans to attend tonight’s show. Scott Ellison (athletic director) has extra staff in place. Many people are arriving to the stadium for the first time. Do not expect to catch the show from outside the stadium that is going to happen.  Weather could be a problem tonight, its still to early to tell what we can expect from the weather.

So if you have not arrived yet. Consider taking public transportation leave the car home, arrive early and remember NO ALCOHOL will be allowed – As that means no to Smoking weed.  Security will be checking bags as you enter. School campus rules across America have a dry stadium rule for many years to avoid fan injury.

 Send your photos and videos into our facebook site and remember if your not attending the show tonight we will stream it live.

Bono Does a Throwback Classics

Bono / U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson 2011 Bono described himself as a man of simple tastes: “200 tons and an army of trucks to put on this show.” Thirty years and 23 appearances after their Asbury show, they still remain the greatest show on earth.

‘New Jersey, hot summer night, where you gonna take us?’ asked Bono. Jumping aboard the U2360 spaceship, you never know where you’ll be taken just that you’ll never come back the same.”Where we gonna go, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.’

The band took the crowd through an eclectic mix of songs from three decades. Yes, obvious crowd pleasers like “Elevation,” “Vertigo,” “Pride,” and “I Will Follow.” “Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For” had Springsteen’s “Promised Land” stitched into it tonight as a tip o’ the hat to The Boss, who was reportedly in the house. “Thank you, Father Bruce, for tonight’s altar and many other things.”

There were songs included in tonight’s set list that represents a massive re-haul from the set list played 2 years ago. “Miss Sarajevo” makes her debut onstage before a slinky, sexy read of “Zooropa.” “Stay,” a track from Zooropa that is one of the most soulful things the band have ever produced in this humble reviewer’s opinion (and Bono’s), was stripped to just an acoustic guitar, producing a rare quiet moment that brought the most goose bumps.

Maybe it was The Boss or maybe it was the hot weather, but Bono’s mind was on the Jersey Shore tonight! He told a story about how thirty years ago they were playing the Fast Lane in Asbury Park.

So much has changed, so much hasn’t’, mused Bono. ‘Four Irish boys, out of control…’ It led to a read later that night of ‘Out of Control’,  in the set in 1981  that Bono says included “The Ocean,”11 O’Clock Tick Tock,” “I Will Follow,” “An Cat Dubh.” Imagine being at that show!

Bono prowled the stage with a large green guitar before gently strumming Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a spine-tingling start to a goosebump-inducing “Where the Streets with No Name.” It produces one of those magical moments that makes pushing through the stadium traffic so worthwhile. 

The band tipped the hat to Clarence Clemons with “Moment of Surrender,” a sentimental track from the newer No Line on the Horizon. “Clarence was a beautiful man and a symphonic personality,” Bono said.

Bono and The Edge Awaken The Meadowlands

U2 arrived in the Meadowlands ready to prove that they are still the “greatest rock band in the world” Bono reached into his pocket; pulled a sheet paper out that was an old set list, which dates back some 30 years to a club that has long been gone, yet we are still here said Bono.

Reviews are still coming in, yet some of the press has failed to understand that the tour has been around the world and they are on the home mile. Of course, the show is a visual masterpiece unlike any other show that has been played at here, yet the boys seemed a bit disharmonious.

Bono was a bit chattier – referencing the tour equipment and the lengths to which the tour has gone. The boys are about 2 years late in their arrival. The set list has followed the last couple of shows. Fans enjoyed the experience.   The band has gigs in Minneapolis and Pittsburgh before wrapping up its road run at the Magnetic Hill Music Festival in Moncton, New Brunswick.