By Jake Seaton, NBC17
RALEIGH — Irish mega group U2 hit the stage Saturday night at N.C. State’s Carter-Finley Stadium in front of more than 55,000 fans.
For some, the show was the long-awaited make up date for the band’s ill-fated stop during their PopMart Tour 12 years ago. For others, it was a concert performance 27 years in the making when U2 made a stop at Keenan Stadium on April 23, 1983 during its War Tour.
Regardless of when the band was — or was supposed to be — in the Triangle last, the U2 360° Tour is unlike any performance to date. The band, along with designer Willie Williams and architect Mark Fisher, created a stage that provides little view obstruction from any angle, and puts the band in the middle of its fans.
As frontman Bono explained, the set brings the band closer than ever to its fans. An experience rivaled only by intimate club shows.
Taking the stage about 30 minutes after the show’s scheduled start time, the electricity in the stadium surmounted as Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton, The Edge and finally Bono made their way to the front of the massive spider-like structure and launched into “Breathe.”
| October 3, 2009 SETLIST Breathe Get On Your Boots Mysterious Ways Beautiful Day No Line On The Horizon Magnificent Elevation In A Little While New Year’s Day I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of The Unforgettable Fire City Of Blinding Lights Vertigo I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight Sunday Bloody Sunday MLK Walk On ENCORE One Where The Streets Have No Name Ultra Violet (Light My Way) With Or Without You Moment of Surrender |
Largely the band’s set consisted of songs from their last three albums – which some may refer to as post-millennium U2. The three albums are some of the band’s most commercially successful affairs, especially after the dismal returns from their 1997 album Pop.
However, the October 2000 release of All That You Can’t Leave Behind – an album that launched the band back into the public and critical spotlight – marked a point that polarized fans. While some accept the post-millennium U2, others – especially Gen Y-ers – view the band as becoming more pedestrian and focusing more on international affairs than on music.
For that — being that the band brought its $750,000-per-day tour to a collegiate football stadium – perhaps the set should have focused more on U2’s earlier catalog. Despite nine of U2’s 12 albums being released pre-2000, only 10 of the set’s 23 songs came from those formative years.
But in the grand scheme that was U2 360°, the set list plays little into the fact that the self-professed “best band in the world” put on one hell of a show. Bono’s political musings were tastefully delivered, and the 150-foot stage quite literally wowed the audience.
If U2 was looking to give fans the ultimate live experience in a truly unique setting: mission accomplished.
And perhaps Gen Y-ers should give those post-millennium albums a second listen; because with 15 Grammy Awards and eight Platinum certifications, they’re far from pedestrian. If anything, U2 is on the top of their game.
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October 4th, 2009 at 9:40 am
What an amazing band,what an awesome concert..the likes of which we’ll never see again
October 4th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
We’re one, but we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
October 4th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
It was an amazing concert. I hope they come back to the Triangle. I have wanted to see U2 for over 10 years. I like their message as well. I think it would be great if the city of Raleigh for future events of this magnitude offer bus shuttle service through cat, or other, as other major cities do for major events. Overall it was an amazing experience and in my case, i am grateful that I did not have any issues with traffic or parking. it was worth the wait.
October 4th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
wow u2 rocked raleigh, thankx
October 4th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Been a fan of U2’s for the last 25 years, and having had to drive three hours to see them in Charlotte the last two tours, I was thrilled to find out that they would be playing 20 minutes from my house for this tour. And they did not disappoint last night. This was my second time seeing the 360 Tour (the first was at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA two weeks ago) and it was just as amazing the second time as the first time. I was really pleased to see how full the stadium was as well, hopefully that’s a sign to them that coming back to Raleigh for future tours (including arena tours, with the RBC Center conveniently next door) would be a good thing.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
3rd time seeing U2… best show yet! on my feet from the first song to the last, still shaking my head at what a great night it was!!
took my (pre-teen) kids – they loved it. I told them that no concert will ever compare to this one.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Made a 3 hr. trip for this show, well worth it. Even saw Bono outside of stadium 3 hrs. before showtime, meeting fans, posing for photos, etc….
And to think this very approachable man would be rocking 55,000 fans in a couple of hrs, amazed me and made me admire him even more than I have for over 27 yrs!!!
The show did not disappoint and we were fortunate enough to get into the inner circle almost center stage, which is an experience I will not soon forget. I was pleased to take my 16 yr. old daughter to her first U2 show, and to see the smile on her face, rocking to the songs I grew up on, was worth it alone!
I cannot wait to see them again, and if you have the chance, don’t even think twice, SEE U2 LIVE!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Most overrated band of all times.
Dozens rock bands paly better than U2….ohh sorry..they don’t play rock….