San Jose, CA
SAP Center
It's a little strange to be writing about a U2 show a little less than a year after my LAST U2 show, but that was an anniversary tour; last night was a new album tour. Fortunately, in addition to the ticket to the show, a copy of the new album, Songs of Experience, was included for download or CD with each ticket. Being back to work, I spent much of the last two weeks listening to U2's latest. I enjoy it, but nothing really leaped out for me as a must listen song. Hearing the songs performed live, however, definitely made them more impactful.
The show was set up with the same stage and video screen that they used for their Songs of Innocence tour a couple of years ago. While the "wow that's cool" factor of having Bono and the band appear inside the raised screen isn't the same as the first time I saw it, it is still a pretty neat way of staging the show.
My friend Mary and I had seats behind the main stage, so it was an interesting way to watch the big screen. In general, I've never had an issue with sitting behind the stage. Sure, there are the occasional blocked views due to cables and such, but overall it's an up-close experience with the added perspective of seeing what the performer sees from the stage. Unfortunately, the sound was distorted most of the night which I suspect was due to the speakers directed towards our seats being a bit too much for the short distance to the back wall and thus caused an echo.
Getting the one and only complaint I had with the show off the list, on to the many different high points. We'll start with the opening of the show. Because of our seat location, we were able to see the band exit the backstage area and enter the space beneath the stage just before the show began. I kept watching to see where they'd come up on to the stage and wondering why they hadn't come out yet. Well soon the video screen, which had been showing images through out the pre-show time, began to change and the lights went down and the music started. Then there they were -- the whole band standing and performing inside the video screen singing "Love Is All We Have Left" (the opening track to Songs of Experience) with loads of energy. They followed that up with another new track, "The Blackout" before the band returned to the stage leaving Bono inside the screen for one more new song.
It's always tricky when an established act is out on tour with new music. Long time fans are always waiting for their favorites and playing a bunch of new songs, especially right off the top of the show, can be tricky. Some performers can grab the audience with the new songs and bring them along, some can't. Fortunately U2 has Bono as a front man and he remains as dynamic as ever and the crowd was really into the new songs. This was a good thing as the show continued since the set list was heavy on newer material. (I suspect after having just done the Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Tour which was all about the older, classic, beloved material, it was a deliberate choice to stick with newer songs.) That's not to say older songs weren't performed. I was stunned a little while later when "I Will Follow" was followed by "Gloria." It took me a minute to recognize it (mainly due to the distortion issues) and another few seconds to call up the lyrics from my mental database of songs. The crowd ate it up.
Somewhere in the early part of the show (I think three or four songs in) Bono was out on the smaller stage at the opposite side of the arena from where I was sitting and he did what I can only describe as "the Bono strut" and my brain flashed on the "Sunday Bloody Sunday" video. We're all a lot older now, but that was an instant flash back to youth. With a crowd mostly in their 40s and 50s, it was nice to go back in time like that. From my viewpoint behind the stage, it was great seeing the people on the general admission floor jumping up and down all night long. I'm sure there was a lot of Advil consumed afterwards, but for a night everyone ignored their physical age and felt their emotional age. (I swear, I'm still 30!)
The show moved on with more of the Innocence/Experience songs, with Bono heading back inside the video screen for "Cedarwood Road" which ran with animations similar to the Innocence tour. When the song ended, Bono descended from the screen on a little platform at the end stage. Larry grabbed his snare drum and started beating on it as the band walked out to the catwalk. A slow, measured version of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" followed. The video screen for this was filled with a combination of messages about peace and messages about when Ireland gained independence from England in 1916 and the "troubles" that followed. This was followed by "Raised by Wolves" a companion piece to the theme. One of the things Bono kept mentioning throughout the show is how Ireland finally found peace when they found compromise. Much of the show was from the perspective of someone from the outside holding up a mirror to America and saying both "take a good look at yourselves" and "remember who you are." There was an even more poignant moment in this regard later in the show I'll mention shortly, but with that theme running through out the show it really drew attention to the new songs and what they're about. Light in the darkness. Love is difficult but necessary for change.
There was a brief intermission while a recorded version of "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" played and the road crew set up on the small stage for the next set. That opened with "Elevation" and Bono sporting a top hat, some white make up on his face, and no glasses. Energy levels rose with the tune and continued on the high end when the band launched into "Desire." Then Mephisto made an appearance in a very interesting animation for "Acrobat."
My next two favorite moments came up next. With Larry and Adam back under the main stage for a brief break, Edge and Bono remained on the smaller stage for an acoustic version of "Staring at the Sun" which was amazing. Watching them I just imagined a couple of kids sitting in a garage somewhere in Dublin working out their first songs. I can't even say what evoked that feeling but it was likely a combination of the acoustic guitar and seeing a band I've loved since high school with a friend I've known since we were freshmen talking about music we loved.
In contrast to that feeling, however, were the images on the video screen. Foremost among them were the images of the marches in Charleston from last year. All kinds of images of hatred and bigotry. They were really hard to watch, especially since I just don't understand that kind of feeling. That was compounded by a conversation I had with a friend's husband on Sunday. He's from Syria and we had a long talk about politics, religion, racism, and tribalism and how they're impacting everyone on all sides. In the end, we agreed that true freedom comes when we all recognize each others freedoms.
So this was then followed up with a bit of "This Is Not America" as the band moved on to "Pride." I cried while singing my heart out on that one. Bono reminded us that it was 50 years last month that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and that his work still remains unfinished. The images on the screen were much more positive and encouraging including several that just said "Vote."
The band worked their way back to the main stage (Edge and Adam having been on small platforms on the sides of the arena) for "Get Out of Your Own Way" and "American Soul" which I heard with different ears. The main set closed off with "City of Blinding Light" with a lot of colorful lights around the stage.
Back out for the encore with more encouragement to compromise and love one another and to listen to the lessons of the past. "One" was followed by two new songs, "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" (which Bono introduced by saying "this is the best line I've got") and "13 (There Is a Light.)" Both brought a lump to my throat, especially "13" which is a variation of "Song for Someone" from Innocence. It is a message we need to remember.
If there is a light you can’t always see
If there is a world we can’t always be
If there is a dark that we shouldn’t doubt
And there is a light, don’t let it go out
Set list (courtesy of setlist.fm)
Love Is All We Have Left
The Blackout
Lights of Home
Beautiful Day
I Will Follow
Gloria
All Because of You
The Ocean
Iris (Hold Me Close)
Cedarwood Road
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Raised by Wolves
Until the End of the World
-Intermission-
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Elevation
Vertigo
Desire
Acrobat
You're the Best Thing About Me
Staring at the Sun(acoustic)
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Get Out of Your Own Way
American Soul
City of Blinding Lights
Encore:
One
Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
13 (There Is a Light)
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