U2 @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane w/ Jay Z – 8 December 2010 – Live Review

Review: Lana Harris
Photo Credit: Stuart Blythe
View full photo gallery here
The crush down Caxton St at five pm begins the stadium size spectacle that will be U2 and Jay-Z tonight. By the time Jay-Z takes the stage at 6.30pm, the standing room ticket area is already mostly full. Jay-Z lives up to his hype, resplendent in Gangsta Garb, sunglasses welded to his face, rap antics peppered throughout his set, a ten piece accompaniment to his words provided by drumming, saxophone, trumpet and keyboard among others. He’s playing early, to an audience mostly waiting to see a main act distinctly different in style. He copes well with this, managing to get hands in the air and ladies spinning clothes above their heads during the one hour set. ‘On to the Next One’ and ’99 Problems’ get the crowd going, and ‘Forever Young’, covered in an ode to Notorious B.I.G, is also popular. Throughout the set the bass is massive, pummeling the throat, rattling hearts against rib cages. He exits the stadium in a stretch golf buggy.

U2, the global hit making, injustice fighting demigods from leprechaun country, have brought with them a stage fit for their legendary status. Bono describes it as ‘grand madness’, as good a description as any. The (57m tall) Claw in which they play is equipped with lasers and mirror balls and moving bridges that connect the band to a second outer ring stage, allowing them to walk over the heads of the moat of fans below and interact with those further back. Bono and The Edge stride to the outer ring as soon as they take the stage, to roars of appreciation.

View full photo gallery here
Opening under a sky red with twilight, they begin with ‘Beautiful Day’. Bono is a maniac from the start. There is not one iota of his being not devoted to being completely, utterly in the moment and giving everything he has, although the way he does this changes throughout the show, from clawing at the microphone stand to jumping across the stage to when he gets the crowd to sing the first verse of ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ and he stands, eyes closed and fist to heart, immersed in crowd rapture. Fans respond to his passion with their own.

There are plenty of opportunities to sing along to classics, adding your voice to the part carnival, part lurid intoxication atmosphere rippling under the clouds. Halfway through, the video screen expands into a 20 metre net of video cells, and don’t let anyone tell you lasers and mirrorballs don’t look good together – the effect was spectacular. ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ marks the beginning of Bono’s exposé of international injustice, encouraging the crowd to be their best selves and help out their kin– the Amnesty International people trying to sign up people between the train station and the stadium start to make sense. His human rights activism goes on for a few songs and a lot of video footage – a rock message neither blurred nor hedonistic. U2 clearly want to use their powers for good and judging by the Red Zone (a group of fans that were close to the stage by bidding at auction for tickets, with all proceeds of these seats going to charity) they are mobilising their fans to support them in their causes.

After ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’, a brief lights dimming and the rapid approach of ten thirty indicates the encore has begun. This is three slower songs. Following on from the pictures of war zones that backed up his ‘help your fellow humans’ message, the crowd is left in a pensive rather than explosive state as the super rockers walk off stage, but the noise as they leave still reaches deafening.

Artist: U2 ,
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: December 8, 2010
Presented by: Michael Coppel Presents


BUY TICKETS HERE!

BUY TICKETS HERE!
Nov. 25 – Auckland, NZ – Mt. Smart Stadium
Dec. 01 – Melbourne, AU – Etihad Stadium
Dec. 03 – Melbourne, AU – Etihad Stadium
Dec. 08 – Brisbane, AU – Suncorp Stadium
Dec. 09 – Brisbane, AU – Suncorp Stadium
Dec. 13 – Sydney, AU – ANZ Stadium
Dec. 14 – Sydney, AU – ANZ Stadium
Dec. 18 – Perth, AU – Subiaco Oval
Dec. 19 – Perth, AU – Subiaco Oval

For local information and tour updates sign up at www.livenation.com.au / www.coppel.com.au


Related –
U2 @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 8 December 2010 –[Photo Gallery]

More articles by Lana Harris:
* Radio Birdman “Live in Texas” – LP Review
* Montpelier ‘Last Boat’ Single Review
* Weezer “Hurley” – LP Review
* Soilwork “The Panic Broadcast” – LP Review
* Danza Contemporanea De Cuba @ The Playhouse (Brisbane Festival), 15th September 2010 – Live Review
* Polarity @ The Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane 13th September 2010 – Live Review
* Betrayal @ The Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane 10th September 2010 – Live Review
* Crow “Arcane” – LP Review
* Search for more article by this author…



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