Last night was U2's latest stop in DC - this time to do a little musical lobbying in support of their new CD, No Line on the Horizon.
We took the metro to the show and then walked the mile to the actual stadium. But it was a nice evening and a pleasant walk, and we were inside within 45 minutes of leaving the house. The opener, Muse, went on at 7:30 and played about 40 minutes. Couldn't tell you what they played since it was a big sonic mess of rhythm and pounding bass notes - the usual stadium sound disaster. But they looked good on huge video screens that wrapped the stage.
Our seats were in the upper deck but the stage was so enormous it made us feel like we were much closer than we actually were. U2 came onstage around 9:00 and played for about 2 hours or so altogether. I can 't believe I hadn't seen these guys since 1983 when "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was just taking off and they weren't even headlining big shows yet. I've always thought they were a great band even if I didn't like some of their mid-1990s material. There's a grandeur and power to their music that you rarely find - even in 1983 I knew this band was really special. I got swept away by that same feeling last night when they launched into "Where the Streets Have No Name." What a great moment!
Unfortunately for me, I'm not that familiar with the new album and, honestly, I don't think it's as good as their previous two. But like the Stones and Bowie and Springsteen, who all have amazing back catalogs, they played a number of songs from the new CD since that's what they are promoting on this tour. If anything, the show just made me wish I had seen them more in the late 1980s and early 2000s after they had released Joshua Tree or Atomic Bomb or Rattle and Hum.
But sitting up there at the top of Fedex Field I couldn't help but marvel at those four guys who've had a brilliant 30 year career without jerking from trend to trend or dragging backup players along with them on the road. Just four guys playing rock and roll - which is sometimes way more than enough.
Our seats were in the upper deck but the stage was so enormous it made us feel like we were much closer than we actually were. U2 came onstage around 9:00 and played for about 2 hours or so altogether. I can 't believe I hadn't seen these guys since 1983 when "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was just taking off and they weren't even headlining big shows yet. I've always thought they were a great band even if I didn't like some of their mid-1990s material. There's a grandeur and power to their music that you rarely find - even in 1983 I knew this band was really special. I got swept away by that same feeling last night when they launched into "Where the Streets Have No Name." What a great moment!
Unfortunately for me, I'm not that familiar with the new album and, honestly, I don't think it's as good as their previous two. But like the Stones and Bowie and Springsteen, who all have amazing back catalogs, they played a number of songs from the new CD since that's what they are promoting on this tour. If anything, the show just made me wish I had seen them more in the late 1980s and early 2000s after they had released Joshua Tree or Atomic Bomb or Rattle and Hum.
But sitting up there at the top of Fedex Field I couldn't help but marvel at those four guys who've had a brilliant 30 year career without jerking from trend to trend or dragging backup players along with them on the road. Just four guys playing rock and roll - which is sometimes way more than enough.
Here's the set list:
Breathe
Magnificent
Get on Your Boots
Mysterious Ways
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Elevation
Your Blue Room
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Stuck In A Moment
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy - Remix
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One
Where The Streets Have No Name
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
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