Review of U2 360 Tour Live at the Oakland Coliseum, Tuesday June 7th

OH MY GOD!
Or OMG as the kids would say.

Unfortunately this exclamation related to the $40 parking fee the Oakland coliseum were charging to attend the U2 360 tour last Tuesday. Exorbitant to say the least. Ok..Deep breaths. We’re here to see U2, the biggest rock band on the planet and Irish as they day they were born.

The stage, the claw as it’s know was something to see especially if you’ve been to an A’s or Raider’s game. The place was completely transformed. Giant digital screens, lights, a futuristic spectacle

Being on the floor (general admittance) it never felt too crowded. The crowd was pumped up and showed their appreciation.

The boys, Bono, Edge, Larry Mullins and Adam Clayton made their way on stage to David Bowie’s Space Oddity. , Their rock star swagger was unmistakable and they didn’t waste any time kicking off the set with “Even better than the real thing”.

Many hits and crowd favorites followed such as ‘Mysterious Ways’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘With or Without you’.Thank goodness there was a sprinkling of magic when they played ‘Miss Sarajevo’, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Pride’.

The problem with the huge stage spectacle is that it can actually detract from the music - too many bells and whistles. Also, there was a feeling that everything was completely rehearsed and it didn’t have the impromptu ad lib feel that you might associate with U2.

One exception to this was when Larry Mullins broke into a version of Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ and mentioned that Lou himself was in the audience.

When U2 started out they seemed angry, politically inclined and full of the ‘unforgettable fire’. Now they are mega – stars. Their musical prowess is undeniable and they still make this Irish girl proud. However, they are almost like a rock and roll conglomerate who have lost some of that early fire.

I’m going to rent ‘U2 - Live at Red Rocks’ and bask in the glory days….

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