U2 360: A pre-show primer.

Posted on June 1, 2011 | 5 Comments

Hello Edmonton, and points beyond.  The U2 360 show is heading your way, get on your boots and hold on to your hats.  It’s going to get loud!

My seat before the May 29th show

I was at the Winnipeg show this last weekend and I am just starting to recover in any serious way.  Maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s the extreme number of concerts I have under my belt.  But honestly I think it’s all just good fun and excitement.

My seatmates LB and D

My friends and family in Edmonton are going to have an excellent time tonight and here is what they can expect.

U2 Claw in Blue

Firstly, be ready to be totally overwhelmed.  This stage set up is unlike anything you have ever seen before.  Trust me it’s the biggest stage currently on the planet,  over 150′ tall and over 40 yards square on a Canadian football field. This stage takes almost a week to set up and a week to take down.

U2 Claw in Red

Secondly, U2 is all that and a bag of chips.  Since getting poor reviews in the early years, Bono and group have tossed all care to the wind becoming the biggest nastiest band on the planet.  Yes KISS you can put your dragon boots away you officially are once were’s.  I have been to both shows multiple times and sorry Gene that make-up is just tired and your stage show is so 70’s.

So about social conscience, yes U2 we get that you are a political band and that you speak to world issues but playing to the heartland of North America and showing Islāmic script and images of Intifada during Sunday Bloody Sunday I think confuses mainstream Canada. Yes we get the fact there is a struggle but given the facts of our soldiers fighting and dying now it’s not a good choice.  I know you pick your battles Bono, but if you want to get people with cash and resources behind you I suggest you pick them better.

However I totally agree with the U2’s support of Amnesty International.  A peace loving and totally worthy organization.  The candle lit procession in support was beautiful and appropriate.

In short, Edmonton and points beyond.  Get on your boots and hold on to your hats.  Cause these boys are going to try to blow them off!!  No kidding, it’s been 4 days and my ears are still ringing and my legs are still aching.

U2 rocked Winnipeg and they continue to rock the globe!

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5 responses to “U2 360: A pre-show primer.”

  2. Bob | June 3, 2011 at 11:06 pm |

    Hey Nurse Myra. That stage was off the charts, I was in the upper decks of the stadium and it was above me. So what does that say? Freaking huge!

    I may just be getting old but it took me a good 3 days to get over that show. I had a friend who lives about 6 -7 miles away and could hear it “like radio though his bedroom window”.

    I have given my body and ears to rock and roll. I am actually surprised I can hear at all anymore.

    Hail Hail ROCK AND ROLL!

  3. Nikki B | June 6, 2011 at 10:33 am |

    Sounds amazing Bob! Hope you’re able to get the video footage up!

    One additional point: I think U2 is making a very strong point with using Islamic images and text. Terrorism *does not* equate to Islam. Period. Further, the point is also, I assume, about the rebellions that are happening in the middle east – that those people are rising up (i.e. Intifada) of their own accord, not because we [the US] told them to. We [the US] also did a pretty good job of supporting who we felt like supporting, regardless of how it affected the people there. I have to agree with U2 on this one: it’s high time we, including heartland North America, started understanding those differences and history. Started making more of an effort to understand, and end the blame game.

  4. Bob | June 6, 2011 at 9:10 pm |

    I was just trying to put forward that people seemed uneasy. There are a great deal of people in Winnipeg who rely on the aircraft industry for their livelihoods and when a splinter group with radical ties to a religion that is predominantly Muslim. When some group takes your product and blows up two buildings with it understandably there are ramifications. Lots of people lost their jobs, myself included.

    Now I know that Bono and crew were not espousing violence but rather mirroring the struggles the Middle East is enduring now with the troubles that Ireland suffered earlier.

    I agree that there must be understanding and dialogue, a forgiveness of grievances and dropping of blame. How else are we going to grow as a species? The world is growing smaller and we are all going to have to find ways to live together in peace or perish together in war.

  5. singlegirlie | June 8, 2011 at 9:50 pm |

    That claw is pretty awesome! Funny, I’ve never been a huge U2 fan or understood why they are so popular. Must be something, because they have a shit ton of fans. Some of my friends went to the San Francisco show and loved it. Glad you enjoyed!