What could go down as one of the greatest live experiences of my life, the U2 360 tour pulled into New Jersey's Giants Stadium for a two night gig that will go down in history as one of the greatest events that venue ever hosted. To explain the stage set up for Ireland's biggest band in words would not do it justice. From up top it looks like claw over two circles connected by bridges, the catch is the bridges move and slide around each circle. From lighting to sound to performance, my favorite band outdid themselves.
Walking out to David Bowie's "Ground Control to Major Tom," drummer Larry Mullen Jr hit the skins to open the night with "Breathe" from the band's latest No Line On The Horizon. From the get go, Bono and Edge looked like they were in the mood to party, out of the plenty of times I have seen the band I have never seen bassist Adam Clayton move so much. All of the tracks off the new record sounded better live than on disc, as I suspected. What was completely fantastic was the bands mix of new songs, classic tracks, a great remix of "Ill Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" and nice live rarities. Playing a few surprises from Achtung Baby, "Until the End of the World" and "Stay" to "Ultraviolet" during the encore. It was simply breathtaking. The classics's such as "Where the Streets Have no Name," "Beautiful Day," and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which was dedicated to the people of Iran, sounded better than ever. Bono even found ways, as he normally does, to include classic rock tunes such as "Rock the Cashbah," "Stand by Me," "Amazing Grace" and "Blackbird" at the end of various songs. The band was in top form, with Bono running like a track star around the circles and Edge and Adam dancing as if they were in a European club back home. U2 proved why 82,000 people will pay any amount of money to see them. In the biggest crowd in Giants Stadium's history, U2 has managed to outsell hometown hero Bruce Springsteen and even The Pope.
While the set list was fantastic, and the band on fire, the real star of the show is this multi - million dollar structure they play in. A character within itself, U2 has managed to create a benchmark in touring, the issue now is where do they go from here? Knowing my band, they will even find a way to top themselves, for they are the greatest show on Earth.
Opening the show was UK heavy weights Muse. Known to be the loudest band on the planet and can easily sell out Madison Square Garden and stadiums in Europe, they came on stage and owned it as if it was their own. Firing off tracks from Black Holes and Revelations and their latest The Resistance, which just went #1 in 16 countries, to playing their big hit "Time is Running Out," Muse is one act I will see again and again. Playing only for 45 minutes may have been short for them and the audience, however, to have them and U2 on the same bill, you cant find a better ticket in town.
U2 Setlist 8/24/2009 Giants Stadium
Breathe
Get on Your Boots
Mysterious Ways
Beautiful Day
No Line on the Horizon
Magnificent
Elevation
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Unknown Caller
Until The End Of The World
Stay
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
Encore:
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender