|
A great concert and definitely up there (if not better) than Twickenham Park and Cardiff Arms shows from previous tours. They've still got the magic and the...
More...
A great concert and definitely up there (if not better) than Twickenham Park and Cardiff Arms shows from previous tours. They've still got the magic and the old songs really make for a brilliant singalong :)
|
|
|
|
I went to see the boys " U2 " at Wembley both days and then on to see them at Cardiff. Out of all the concerts, the Cardiff one was the best of them. Untill ...
More...
I went to see the boys " U2 " at Wembley both days and then on to see them at Cardiff. Out of all the concerts, the Cardiff one was the best of them. Untill the 3+ hour traffic jam to get out of Cardiff. But it was WELL worth every visit. Love to see them in USA now. Boys if you look on here!!!! Dont take so long to come back and blow us away. Oh yeah!!! THANKS FOR A GREAT 360 CONCERT.
|
|
|
|
Can't believe that it's just over a week has gone by since the gig at Cardiff. I had waited over 25 years to see the guys, for one reason or another, I had n...
More...
Can't believe that it's just over a week has gone by since the gig at Cardiff. I had waited over 25 years to see the guys, for one reason or another, I had not been able to see them until now. My Wife and I still can't get over just how stunning a show it was, quite simply the best ever, and even better than Pink Floyd (Earls Court in 94) Genesis (Knebworth 78 & Liverpool Empire 80) Simple Minds (Maine Road Manchester 91) and a few others.
It was our first time to see an event at The Millennium Stadium and for the most part they put on a good show (except for the merchandise areas where it was a shambles and no proper queing system like the food/drink bars. It was because of this that I missed most of the hours set, which went down well with the crowd, unlike Glasvegas who were bloody aweful, dull, droning monotonous, songs that really took the mood down, unlike the hours, I don't know who made that decision, but it certainly didn't work. Actually I was very disappointed to see that neither Snow Patrol or even Elbow both of whom we really like were not the support especially Elbow being from Manchester, but I guess that's the way it goes.
The guys from start to finish played a stunning show, and no it didn't matter that Bono fluffed a few lyrics, or looked tired, just being there was an experience. It was so uplifting to hear the older songs, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bad, Where the Streets have no name, Pride, alongside the newer material, like Magnificent, which is my favourite from the new album. The stage and the view screen was just draw dropping, and certainly created a visual experience, mind you if you were in the block next to ours (we were in M5) all you would have would have been the huge finger of the claw, so not a good view.
For me the highlights were Sunday Bloody Sunday, Walk on, and Pride, we certainly sang our hearts out to these.
|
|
|
|
U2 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff / 22 August 2009
Impressions of U2 at Cardiff, from two days perspective.
This was a very good show and you couldn't ...
More...
U2 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff / 22 August 2009
Impressions of U2 at Cardiff, from two days perspective.
This was a very good show and you couldn't really fault it. Some fans writing online have claimed Bono was off-peak and maybe that is true: hardcore fans who go to a lot of dates on tours are always the most exacting in their critiques. This may have been a “day at the office” rather than a particularly high peak, but what else can you expect? Even superstar musicians are only human.
Apparently Bono fluffed the lyrics of “...Go Crazy Tonight” but I must confess I didn't notice. I must have been concentrating on something else at that point.
Drummers sometimes get lost at the back, so it was good to be able to see Larry Mullen properly at centre stage, and also pleasing that he came on first and got the show going with the drum intro to “Breathe”.
Adam and Edge seemed to be enjoying it. As ever it's amazing to have a view of Edge actually playing those guitars in front of you, especially the his most distinctive axe, the angular Gibson Explorer.
When a band has built up their working rapport as U2 have done over their entire adult lives, they play with a natural synergy that makes it difficult for them to do a really poor quality performance.
If you read the verdicts of concert attendees that have appeared online, they veer between “absolutely brilliant, best show ever” and “slighty below par”. I imagine the truth is somewhere in between. For those who are seeing the group for the first time, it's always going to be more thrilling. But even for us third-timers, there were plenty of moments to get excited.
I don't like to criticise set lists because they're the artists perogative; it's their statement, not a jukebox. But if I'm going to be picky I would say that of the new songs, “Unknown Caller” didn't really do much for me. From the new album I'd have preferred “Stand Up Comedy” - it's catchy hooks and big Led Zep-styled riff would have been much more fun. But then I do enjoy the playful side of U2.
As a fan of the Achtung/Zooropa/Pop era, I'd have lapped up more songs from those records, but I saw the Zoo and PopMart tours so I can't complain. This set is how the band want to present themselves right now and it was a good overview of their career, and effectively sequenced in the manner we've come to expect.
I was surprised to find the Millennium stadium to be smaller than I expected, and this did allow the show to take on quite an intimate feel, which was enhanced by the state of the art lighting, again, no less than we expect.
From the stadium floor, about ten people back from the outer walkway, the view of events was excellent and I really felt I experienced the show rather than just observing it. The stage is a great innovation, although as some have pointed out, it isn't really the full 360 degrees in the sense that those situated at what is normally “stage rear” don't get to see as much of the band. It would have been interesting to see it done with the stage dead centre. Maybe there are technical reasons why this is more difficult, I don't know.
Sound quality was good throughout. Not the very best I've heard but perfectly fine. I remember being quite disappointed with the sound at the PopMart show at Wembley in 1997. No complaints here.
One image that sticks in my mind occurred when they first came on. I was looking over the heads of the crowd in front of me, seeing dozens and dozens of little screens with the same image on them. It's the first time I've been on a stadium floor during the camera-phone era and seen so many people making their own memento of the show.
|
|
|
|
|
Worth coming home for!! Outstanding gig!! The crowd singing was better than Wembley too!! LOL!! Well it's Wales, you'd expect nothing else!! :-)
|
|
|
|
|
Fabulous atmosphere. Haven't enjoyed a U2 gig so much since Cardiff Arms Park in 1987
|
|
|
|
The Claw!!!! What can i say...unbelievable,best gig in ten years,Glasvegas?...Droll...boring monotomy, but U2 blew us away
nice one cardiff..never forget la...
More...
The Claw!!!! What can i say...unbelievable,best gig in ten years,Glasvegas?...Droll...boring monotomy, but U2 blew us away
nice one cardiff..never forget last night....
|
|
|
|
|
Awesome, so emotionally brilliant! best gig of theirs ever! Even Cork August'87.
|
|
|
|
Amazing show last night,great 2 hour set,sunday bloody sunday my favourite of the night.
|
|
|