U2 Concert SLC 5-24

[CardiacCoug]

The Fray actually sounded pretty much like they do on the radio.

The main thing I noticed about The Fray is that their lead singer was one seriously ugly dude. He looked like a bald hobbit.

Also I thought I would maybe know 2 of their songs and I actually recognized at least 5 or 6 of them

[Sizzle]

Great show tonight. Lots of energy, lots of fun. The stage/video screen was incredible.

The stage really was incredible. I loved how the screen moved up and down during parts of the show. The bridges moving was also a pretty cool touch. As far as production of the show went, that element of it really was pretty incredible.

I had a blast. Beautiful Day and All I Want is You were my favorite moments.

Bono introduced Beautiful Day by bringing up three sisters (were they from Utah?) who took turns reading a cheesy poem about Utah. At the end of the song, Bono says "More poems about this beautiful landscape, please." Very cool.

...

Hold me, Thill me was better than expected. Loud and rocking and fun.

The concert was interesting. I can't think of many concerts that bring out such a diverse set of people. Two rows down from us were an absolutely wasted couple in their mid 40s. Right next to us was a guy and his wife probably in their 70s rocking out (he was really cool, I actually regret not talking to him them more). There were plenty of daddy-daughter dates, a few kids probably in the 7-8 year old range, etc. The people watching was entertaining. I enjoy U2 but I am not in the group of people who worship them (tix were free, so I couldn't complain too much) but I did have fun at the concert.

Here are some of my thoughts from a non-U2 diehard. Bono can come across as a bit of a douche. He's what, 50ish and on stage channeling his inner MPFunk and air humping a microphone trying to get the crowd amped... it just wasn't believable for me and made me laugh and not get pumped. I also didn't particularly care about the lecturing we got during the concert, and the lady who was just released from the Burmese house arrest (Aung San Suu Kyi, thank you google) when her video came on screen it had a very Zoolander-esque feel to it, which made it hard for me to take serious. But I get that is part of U2, so whatever, and I shouldn't hold it against them too much.

The Edge was pretty amazing on the guitar. That dude can shred and his expression didn't change hardly at all during the concert. He was fun to watch.

I'd agree with Jay, "All I Want Is You" was one of my favorite songs they played. I also quite liked "Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me, Kill Me" though Bono swinging on the microphone again is hard to take seriously from a dude that is over 50. I was a bit disappointed in "With Or Without You" though. It seriously disappointed. "Elevation" was one of the early songs they played that I liked.

I guess my biggest issue is U2 isn't the type of music that I'd listen to that gets me amped like at a concert. I'd dig a more acoustic type of performance in a more intimate setting I think, but I get that you lose the coolness of the screen/stage which really was awesome. It was a fun concert and they really put on a great show, but I can't say I came away liking U2 more than I did previously.

[Sizzle]

The main thing I noticed about The Fray is that their lead singer was one seriously ugly dude. He looked like a bald hobbit

Yes. Yes he did.

[Sizzle]

So they sounded like a really crappy band?

My wife would disagree with you... but yes.

[CardiacCoug]

The stage really was incredible. I loved how the screen moved up and down during parts of the show. The bridges moving was also a pretty cool touch. As far as production of the show went, that element of it really was pretty incredible.

Agreed. Good review.

The other thing Bono did a few times that just seemed kind of silly and contrived was when he did stuff like leaning over the bridge toward The Edge holding a rose out toward him.

My wife is a huge U2 fan and she even said something like "What's up with the bromancing?"

[Sizzle]

Agreed. Good review.

The other thing Bono did a few times that just seemed kind of silly and contrived was when he did stuff like leaning over the bridge toward The Edge holding a rose out toward him.

My wife is a huge U2 fan and she even said something like "What's up with the bromancing?"

There was one time when Bono leaned in really close to I think it was Adam Clayton (don't remember which song it was) but it honestly looked like we were about to have a Brittany Spears/Madonna moment where they started making out.

[Shaka]

The Fray gave a solid performance. I too was shocked how many of their songs I recognized. I'm not sure what the singer being ugly has to do with anything.

U2 is known for theatrics. Usually things like the failed rose passing go over a little better. For the record I didn't mind it.

A political message is part of the U2 thing. I can't for the life of me see how anyone could be annoyed by the stuff they showed at the show. Who can't get behind the prison release of someone who shouldn't have been there in the first place. The message wasn't a partisan one and in my opinion is meant more to remind people that there is still weird crap going on in the world. I for one appreciate U2's approach to these matters. I for one think the world could use a few more Bonos.

[Sizzle]

The Fray gave a solid performance. I too was shocked how many of their songs I recognized. I'm not sure what the singer being ugly has to do with anything.

Nothing other than the fact that he looked like a hobbit.

A political message is part of the U2 thing. I can't for the life of me see how anyone could be annoyed by the stuff they showed at the show.

I didn't say their cause is wrong or a bad one. Just that if I'm going to a concert I am going because I want to be entertained, not given a lecture. It's not a big annoyance, just a minor one.

[RC Vikings]

Fifty thousand people and I didn't see one AA person. I'm not sure why I noticed but I did.

[DU Ute]

Fifty thousand people and I didn't see one AA person. I'm not sure why I noticed but I did.

Must be quite a shock coming from Rexburg.

[Sizzle]

Fifty thousand people and I didn't see one AA person. I'm not sure why I noticed but I did.

I remember seeing a few. But not many.

[STLcoug]

Fifty thousand people and I didn't see one AA person. I'm not sure why I noticed but I did.

Well you can look for them here:

http://www.u2.com/gigapixelfancam/110524/

This is pretty cool. A Gigapixel FanCam of the SLC show.
If you attended, you can zoom around the stadium and find yourself.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Well you can look for them here:

http://www.u2.com/gigapixelfancam/110524/

This is pretty cool. A Gigapixel FanCam of the SLC show.
If you attended, you can zoom around the stadium and find yourself.

The editor of the Ensign could save himself some time and effort by just getting one of these Gigapix fan cam things and putting it inside the conference center.

[oxcoug]

The Fray gave a solid performance. I too was shocked how many of their songs I recognized. I'm not sure what the singer being ugly has to do with anything.

U2 is known for theatrics. Usually things like the failed rose passing go over a little better. For the record I didn't mind it.

A political message is part of the U2 thing. I can't for the life of me see how anyone could be annoyed by the stuff they showed at the show. Who can't get behind the prison release of someone who shouldn't have been there in the first place. The message wasn't a partisan one and in my opinion is meant more to remind people that there is still weird crap going on in the world. I for one appreciate U2's approach to these matters. I for one think the world could use a few more Bonos.

People who complain abt U2's politics or try to argue that their music sucks are usually poser wannabe-iconoclasts (yeah I'm pointing at you... abt half of CUF) or big fans of glam / cock rock.

The reality is that Bono has been remarkably NON-partisan - he's hung out w/ and befriended a range of Republicans, not that long ago made the comment in a public setting that President Bush did more for Africa than previous US presidents....

The thing that makes Bono's outsized ego-play acceptable is that at the end of the day he really doesn't take himself that seriously. If you haven't ever seen this with him and Ricky Gervais among others take a minute [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DgIRjecItw"]YouTube - ‪BBC One - Comic Relief - Ricky Gervais‬‏[/nomedia]

I love his cameo on Entourage in Season 6 basically mimicking himself in a "it's for the children" fit of self-righteousness telling Vince to "get off your arse."

[oxcoug]

And if you haven't ever read Bono's deeply pro-American commencement given at U Penn in 2004 just when the entire world was hating hard on the US, it's a pretty great read.

http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/between/2004/commence-b.html

"Me, I'm in love with this country called America. I'm a huge fan of America, I'm one of those annoying fans, you know the ones that read the CD notes and follow you into bathrooms and ask you all kinds of annoying questions about why you didn't live up to thatŠ.

I'm that kind of fan. I read the Declaration of Independence and I've read the Constitution of the United States, and they are some liner notes, dude. As I said yesterday I made my pilgrimage to Independence Hall, and I love America because America is not just a country, it's an idea. You see my country, Ireland, is a great country, but it's not an idea. America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it some baggage, like power brings responsibility. It's an idea that brings with it equality, but equality even though it's the highest calling, is the hardest to reach. The idea that anything is possible, that's one of the reasons why I'm a fan of America. It's like hey, look there's the moon up there, lets take a walk on it, bring back a piece of it. That's the kind of America that I'm a fan of."