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Review by Andy Argyrakis
Photos by Phil Bonytata
Every time U2 hits the road, the foursome attempts to outdo itself with stage
spectacle and stadium-filling excitement. While iconic tours such as "Zoo TV"
and "Elevation" will always be artistic and entertainment pinnacles of the
enduring group's career, the brand new "360 Tour" ranks right alongside those
influential outings. For starters, the band's touring in support of the stellar
new CD No Line on the Horizon (Interscope), followed by the fact that this "in
the round" experience literally played to every angle of a gargantuan football
stadium.
Granted, the guys have slowed down ever so slightly when it comes to animated
interaction, but they didn't miss a lick instrumentally and Bono was right on par
with his unmistakable vocal prowess. And there was plenty of compensation for his
mere handful of sprints (rather than all out marathon) around the massive circle,
which was adorned by a jumbo-tron that separated and reconnected like an intricate
puzzle, a lightening stick radiating vibrant lights and even a flashy disco ball.
But U2 was and continues to be a band that doesn't even need the spectacle because
of its uncanny chemistry, plus cavalcade of hits and current cuts that are even more
razor sharp than when the fellas first started in the early 1980s. Faithful hoping
to hear early career cuts were relegated to just a handful of golden oldies ("I
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "The Unforgettable Fire,"
"Sunday Bloody Sunday"), while tunes from the 2000s ruled the night.
"Breathe" kicked off the evening with a bang, "Magnificent" stood amongst
the band's most triumphant tunes to date, while "Beautiful Day" and
"Elevation" were militant sing-a-longs of epic proportion. Considering No Line
on the Horizon draws several artistic parallels to Achtung Baby, '90s tunes
"Until the End of the World" and "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)" fit right
into the song choices and were virtually timeless.
The oddest moment of the night was a dance club remix of the current "I'll Go
Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight," fitting perhaps for Cher or the Pet Shop
Boys, but a bit bizarre for these Dublin boys. Nonetheless, they returned to more
flattering roots with a moving take on "Walk On" (dedicated to the peace-keeping
efforts of Amnesty International), which flowed seamlessly into "One" (augmented
with the old time spiritual "Amazing Grace" and used as a catalyst to promote
the band's hunger relief centered "One Campaign").
However, The Joshua Tree alum "Where the Streets Have No Name" ruled the
night, kicking off with The Edge's charging jangles and exploding with Bono's
bellows. In fact, the track could arguably be the best modern rock song ever
written, and even though it's well over twenty years old, it sounds like it was
literally conceived yesterday. And at the end of the two hour and ten minute
experience, that's precisely why U2 is still on top of the world. Members may be
veterans approaching their golden years, but have managed to maintain a genuinely
youthful exuberance, unparalleled enthusiasm and inspirational appeal that
transcends every age and demographic, sure to swell exponentially as its legacy
expands.
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