Phoenix is waging an impressive campaign to invade the greater NYC area this week. For a bunch of non-megalomaniacs. If you wanna see how a true takeover is done, of course, you must look to St. Bono and the U2s, who do the Saturday Night Live season premiere with host Megan Fox tomorrow after having performed two shows at Giants Stadium this past Wednesday and Thursday. These were the band’s final gigs at the nearly defunct arena and they went out in spectacular fashion, convincing 84,472 fans (breaking the Pope’s record) last night to worship at the monstrous altar to Bono’s ego known as The Claw. It’s the linchpin to this 360º Tour, which is David Byrne’s favorite tour. It completely redefines “performance in the round,” and it is a very logical step for a band like U2. As long as you don’t think too hard about the stage’s $40MM price tag vis a vis children starving in Africa, so please don’t it’ll be more fun that way. In a classy move, U2 tipped their hats to NJ patron saint Bruce Springsteen — who turned 60 week and will close out Giants Stadium for real with a run of five shows starting Tuesday — by covering “She’s The One” last night. Bo Diddley beat in tact, but with a gender shift to the titular pronoun. Because, The Boss.
Also, Mayor Bloomberg was there and Bono has a huge crush on him:
You can watch the 360º play out in this video for “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” and then watch U2 play out some more on Satuday Night Live‘s season premiere tomorrow night at 11:30PM EST.
Here’s U2′s setlist from 9/23 (via Brooklyn Vegan):
01 “Breathe”?
02 “Magnificent”?
03 “Get On Your Boots”
?04 “Mysterious Ways”
?05 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
?06 “She’s The One” / “Desire” (snippet)
?07 “Elevation”?
08 “Your Blue Room”
?09 “Beautiful Day” / “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (snippet)
?10 “No Line On The Horizon”
?11 “New Year’s Day”
?12 “Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”
?13 “The Unforgettable Fire”
?14 “Mofo” (snippet) / “City Of Blinding Lights”
?15 “Vertigo”
?16 “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”
?17 “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
?18 “MLK”?
19 “Walk On” / “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (snippet)
?20 “One” / “Amazing Grace” (snippet)
?21 “Where The Streets Have No Name” / “All You Need Is Love” (snippet)
—-
?22 “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”
?23 “With Or Without You”
?24 “Moment Of Surrender”
UPDATE: Freakin’ live from New York…
“Breathe”
“Moment Of Surrender”
“Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”
(via The Audio Perv)
After the closing credits, U2 played “With Or Without You” and Seth Meyers’ mom almost fainted.
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Why even post this information? It isn’t like nobody could find where these played-out over-commercialized bland sacks of grandpa are playing. They are probably the biggest band in the world right now (barf). Stick to reporting stuff with artistic merit and just go ahead and ignore shitfests like U2 concerts. That shit is for people with no fucking taste; people who listen to the radio.
Couldn’t agree with you more, brah.
People who love U2 really only love themselves.
They are selfsih, stupid, and greedy.
U2 is the mirror for their own ego.
Fight the Feed!
-Farmer Ted
Would the world be better with Farmer Ted or Bono in it? Hmmmm. Sorry brah.
Jon, you’re so obnoxious you make me wanna listen to the radio.
LMAO, good one!
Somehow you outdid him!!!!!!!!! You really are Loco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ Jon. yeah, who cares about U2? No one. No one except the over 2 million people that have seen them since 6/30. Douchebag.
I love U2 but I have to admit that NLOTH was kind of overrated, it totally sounds the same as the stuff they’ve been releasing this decade. I wouldn’t be against them working with a new producer for their next LP. Love the set list here but it would have been nice if they would’ve included my favorite song: “Until The End Of The World”.
Agreed, they need to change things up and make some exciting music again, like they did back in the 80s and early 90s. Well I’m not saying they should go back to making music like it’s 1988 all over again, but they should definitely go for something new and fresh that still inspires people. NLOTH sounds like a second-rate HTDAAB. I mean, geez enough already, come up with something new.
I was there on the second night and they did play “Until The End Of The World”. It was fantastic.
U2 are my favorite band. I have always respected criticism about them for being so “mega”. They have put out some mediocre stuff and they might be on their last legs but any lover of music has to respect that fact of four original band members sticking around together for over 25 years. Even the Rolling Stones can’t attest to that. I love indie music as well. I love all types of music if I LIKE IT. I’m sick and tired of people ragging on bands likes these because there mega popular and very rich. All you indie hipsters have to chill about being so snobby about some music. Just relax and like what you like.
Couldn’t agree with you more! They have transcended generations and we will never see bands of this larger than life stature ever again, weather thats a good or bad thing I don’t know. Would’ve liked to have heared ‘Bad’ though this tour, saw them at the rogers centre in Toronto.
I would venture to say that if U2 released their Debut Boy this year, it would generate a whole lot of indie hype, and the whole cycle would start over. I admit their newer stuff can be a bit MOR and at it’s worst Adult contemporary, but their back catalogue is amazing by any standards, and for that they can be loved and admired.
Whether you like the new u2 or not, I would say that it is way too late to be promoting their new music. As far as megan fox goes….clap clap snl..way to put this country’s current favorite piece of ass in a comedy show. I’d laugh harder at grass trimmings.
this is a really odd setlist to me. no “pride?” just a snippet of “desire?” i feel like achtung didnt get any real love. “one” is just overused these days. and forget mysterious ways, play some “whos gonna ride your wild horses.” them seem to ignore the 90s entirely…rattle and hum (“angel of harlem”??), zooropa (“stay (faraway, so close!)”???), pop.
i just feel like with the emergence of the claw, we lose the true spontaneity of u2 as a live band. im sure this show was incredible…but isnt the setlist a little stale? go deeper!
oh, and if anyone tries to argue that they went deep with “your blue room,” then thats just bullshit. thats a typical random obscure setlist choice by bono to fuck with people.
no one gives a shit about passengers, bono. stop trying to legitimize it as an actual u2 project. theres a reason you didnt release it under your own name.
I like U2 a lot but I think the spontaneity of their shows might have disappeared around the time that their crew laminated their setlists for the Achtung Baby tour because they knew it was going to be the same show night after night.
I went both nights. First night was one of the best shows I have seen them do in the over 20 times i have seen them. My Blue Room was great. One of my faves. All the new songs sounded better live. On paper the setlist looks kind of lame. You had to be there. I was about 30 ft from the stage in the center.The sound was amazing. They did mix up the set a little. Until The End Of The World ans Stay were played 2nd night, another 2 faves. As for a new producer, they should just let Eno & Lanois produce the kind pf album they want to instead of going back to the tried and true. Love FEZ/Being Born from the new one. Would have loved to hear that one live. They should mix up the encores a bit. Moment Of surrender a lousy way to end. All in all I’m glad I went twice.
the fact that they played stay/until the end of the world on the second night made me far happier. i dont know what they took out to play those two, but those two songs alone make the setlist that much better in my mind.
The price they spent on the stage considering bono’s alleged concern for the third world, not to mention the carbon footprint of over 100 trucks to every gig, or however many it is, is disgusting. If you ever had any doubts about how much of a hypocrit bono was, look no further. Assholes.
Glad to hear that you sold your car, volunteer every week at the shelter and give half your paycheck to charity. Otherwise you would be a hypocrite (correct spelling).
Must go, thanks for absourving this event.
I hope that show realises that the only “suprise” cameo that wil work for me at this point is Jimi showing up to correct that “Get on your Boots” shit for them…
i’ll be seeing U2 next weekend with my girlfriend, who is crazy about Muse. then i’ll be seeing built to spill in two weeks, my favorite band. BOO YAH CAH SHA!!
David Byrne is right…what a waste of electricity
“megalomaniacs” – god forbid a band with a gazillion good songs continues playing them on a regular basis
Breaking the Pope’s record…LOL
this blog is officially old and irrelevant now
Yes. This blog should only focus on early 20′s kids from Williamsburg who just got done with their MTV phase and are now showing how different they are from everyone else in their hipster phase. Accessible equals evil!!!!!!!
They need more Raditude LOL
What are the odds those five Springsteen shows total over 24 hours? Those are going to be some great shows.
U2 > Every single indie band ever Shit, if this site champions Kanye, Jay Z etc, they certainly should mention U2. At least they are a rock band, not overhyped junk.
Seeing Ultraviolet performed *almost* makes me wish I saw this ridiculous tour. I saw their last two tours and loved them, but wow… I just really can’t stand No Line on the Horizon. For some reason, it just irritates me. I really used to love U2, but this new album is just soooo… blahhh. I wish they’d do something really interesting again, like Achtung Baby and the Zoo TV tour. The progression of their last 3 albums seems like they’re just trying too hard to be poignant and transcendant, and with this new album it just sounds boring and rehashed. Oh well.
Like I said tho, that Ultraviolet performance was cool, and I officially want that jacket and a glowing target microphone I can swing around on.
Look @ bonos sneakers on Pic 11 ! That says everything. It´s the small things that counts…;-)
Sure these guys are not perfect. Greedy, egotistical, narcissistic, whatevs… they have written some great songs though. Real hits that will stand the test of time. And they are still going strong. I’m a fan…. have been for a while and will be forever. <3 U2!
I think U2 are great they maybe a lot of things but people still turn out to see them, they sell their music if it is not your type of music then thats fair enough but you have to appreciate that 30 years in music is an accomplishment and they are still a huge success. I like some of their new music releases but I am more a fan of their older songs.
Kings of Leon are the next U-2.
LOL, some of the comments here are funny. What I hate the most about U2 is Bono’s ego. This guy really thinks he’s something else. I wouldn’t say U2 are awful, but they are just a ordinary band. If you don’t like U2, you’ll find this amusing:
http://www.whythisblogsucks.com/2009/10/13/why-u2-sucks/