Chicago U2 Fans Scream OMG !

Chicago:  Many U2 fans have heard or met Deena a long time U2 fan and dedicated Larry Mullen Jr. sent in her report from opening night Chicago. 

Deena Dietrich: OMG! That was amazing! Nothing will ever beat the Elevation Tour for me, but this Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Tour has my favorite set list with the exception of one. I was excited for every song except of “Miss Sarajevo.” 

Each of U2’s first five albums were represented except October, and only two of the last seven albums were represented. There was nothing off Rattle and HumPopHow to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, No Line on the Horizon and Songs of Innocence. 

We were inside by 5:45 – just going in after the GA line was already in. We walked all the up front on the far left (Edge side) on the outside of the Red Zone. We had a great view of the main stage, the huge b (Joshua Tree shaped) stage and the video screens (Larry was on the screen facing us). Plus we had a rail to lean on – and saw some VIPs go back stage. The Lumineers took the stage at 7:30 and played until about 8:25 – they are not my cup of tea. 

U2 took the stage at 9:10 and played until 11:15, probably one of the longest U2 shows I’ve seen at over two hours. I knew nothing about the show as I’ve stayed off U2 social media since rehearsals started. So when Larry strutted on stage in his black capped sleeve tee and black pants all the way down the catwalk to the b stage, I about lost my mind. The screams they were loud! I love Larry in black! 

U2 opened the show with four songs on the b stage: “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Year’s Day,” “Bad” and “Pride.” Then I realized what they were doing. Two songs of War and two songs off The Unforgettable Fire leading into The Joshua Tree.

U2 went to the main stage and played the complete The Joshua Tree album in order. I missed the original Joshua Tree Tour in 1987 when my mom wouldn’t let me go because I was 14. The Joshua Tree got me into U2 and is still my favorite album 30 years later, so hearing this album live in its entirety in order was a dream come true – and something I thought would never happen. 

I was blubbering throughout “Red Hill Mining Town” (even though I prefer the original). I was obsessed with this song in 1987 and is still one of my faves, and I truly thought I would never ever hear it live. Edge and Larry were on fire during “Exit,” which took right back to Rattle and Hum. It was great to hear “Trip Through Your Wites” complete with Bono on harmonica. 

The concert could have ended here, and I would have been happy. But U2 left the stage long enough for Larry to change from his black tee into a white capped sleeve tee (very 1950s!) and played six more songs starting with “Beautiful Day.” Then into “Elevation” where Bono said “Larry Mullen we believe in you!” Just as on the 360 Tour, “Miss Sarajevo” does not fit in this set list at all – really brings the crowd down. 

“Ultra Violet” was a tribute to women complete with famous women and the feminist movement on the video screens. I am pretty sure Bono is more of a feminist than most women, and I love him for that! “One” included the extra ‘do you us coming Lord…’ verse, and U2 returned to the b stage to conclude the show with their first single “I Will Follow.”

Deena Dietrich /U2TOURANS

Deena Dietrich /U2TOURANS

I think this may be the first concert of the 91 U2 shows I have been to the past 25 years where they did not play “Mysterious Ways.”

Also I think this was the first time I have not seen Larry and Adam leave the stage for Bono and Edge to do an acoustic duet. Keep the rhythm section on stage! Larry and Edge were having a blast tonight, especially Edge.

The Edge was dancing and twirling and jumping like it was 2001. Bono was struggling a bit with his voice and drinking lots of water. 

Well those are my thoughts on my first Joshua Tree show. Hopefully it was coherent as I have been up for 22 hours and stood for 11 of those without a proper meal.

Check back later for a full report on my entire Chicago trip – and tomorrow for my thoughts on the second Chicago Joshua Tree 30 show.  Deena's site called   On The Road With U2

 

 

Source: https://ontheroadwithu2.com/

U2 Finds its Mojo In Houston

Houston:  Awake to the reviews of the show last night and the best quote of the evening may have just come from Craig Hlavaty reporting for Houston Chronicle.  The band seems to have found a new fire inside them performing the cuts that redefined them as arena rock's reigning intellectuals at the end of the '80s. Now three decades later they seem to be rediscovering the mojo that made them international heroes. All it took was a trip back to the desert for some reflection.

Could it have been the plan all along for U2 to return to the past for some reflection towards the future? The Songs of Experience has been a challenge for the band to find its way thru this political chaos, fears of terror attacks.

All indications point towards this band not giving to terrorist attacks. While security was as tight as a Super Bowl game with delays entering the venue.  Fans poured in ready to be taken back 30 years with a backdrop of images including the works of Anton Corbijn; which seemed to place fans in the driver's seat for an experience of a lifetime.

The tour moves on to Dallas and off to Chicago for a few nights. The band has pretty much settled into their setlist and the show is a visual experience that is not to be missed.

The full setlist was:

  1. Sunday Bloody Sunday
  2. New Year's Day
  3. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
  4. Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
  5. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
  6. With Or Without You
  7. Bullet The Blue Sky
  8. Running To Stand Still
  9. Red Hill Mining Town
  10. In God's Country
  11. Trip Through Your Wires
  12. One Tree Hill
  13. Exit / Wise Blood (snippet) / Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (snippet)
  14. Mothers Of The Disappeared

Encore(s):

  1. Miss Sarajevo / The New Colossus (snippet)
  2. Bad / America (snippet)
  3. Beautiful Day
  4. Elevation
  5. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
  6. One
  7. The Little Things That Give You Away

* Snippets provided by U2gigs.com

Tonights Show Expect Increased Security

Fans you should expect to see some beefed-up security measures at Wednesday's concert at NRG Stadium as a result of the bombing in Manchester, England that killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande show.

On Tuesday, Houston police chief Art Acevado said the department routinely reviews security procedures before any large-scale event in the city.

"We have taken out and dusted off our plans to make sure we are not missing anything," he said. "We're always looking at what's going on at all special events in our city."

Anyone with information about activity that appears suspicious can make a report at iwatchhouston.org or call 1-844-iWatch4. 

 #U2theJoshuaTree2017

U2 Weekend wrap up and Kimmel performance

U2 / Tim Durkan / U2TOURFANS.com

U2 / Tim Durkan / U2TOURFANS.com

New York: Bono pays tribute to Chris Cornell, who died by suicide last week at age 52, during the Rose Bowl show by dedicating The Joshua Tree cut “Running to Stand Still” to the late Soundgarden frontman.

Bono introduced the song by calling Cornell a “lion” and a “beautiful, sweet soul” before launching into the 1987 track, which follows a Dublin couple struggling with heroin.

Survival was on the band’s minds. (At least we can presume Bono spoke for everyone, since, as usual, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen remained mighty but mute.) “Here we still are. Here you still are. What a blessing,” Bono said, not needing to state that no other group with the same stature in rock history has survived with its original lineup intact for 35-plus years. And: “Let’s do this again in 2047.”


Coming up Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel welcomes U2 as his guests on Tuesday, May 23, as part of their Joshua Tree tour. It will be “their only sit-down TV interview and performance while on the road in the U.S. for The Joshua Tree Tour 2017,” ( Note the press release did state performance )