U2ieTOUR hits Toronto - All Discussions

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:I think there's sometimes a discrepancy between being there and hearing a boot regarding Bono's performance. Maybe it's the way he's moving, the look on his face, I don't know. But last night he didn't sound tired or look it at all. I think it was the most I'd seen him open up and talk or tell a joke all tour, and after a number of songs the crowd really opened up as well. At first everyone was a little reserved and it was a bit lame, but I think the Torontonians being on stage (dancer and marks tribute band) the crowd was just nuts. When we reached Bad and Pride, the crowd had lost all of their inhibitions and were just giving themselves to the show. People were dancing, had their hands in the air, cheering, crying, you name it. Bad should be played every night and it seems like they're getting there.

Can't wait for tonight!!!! I'm going to try and get my group better seats than the nosebleeds, my seat last night was awesome.

Originally posted by MoFoNYR15:[..]


So happy for you Matt!! hope you have just as much fun tonight!

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]
Hmm. That could be another reason they only opened up about halfway through. But I definitely heard a good number of people singing along to some of the new songs. Funnily enough I think it was mostly the younger fans like myself :p I'm 24. As far as the age range, I didn't see any kids. So maybe like my age all the way up to a guy right behind me who looked to be in his 70s.

I would say it was less confusion and more just not knowing the songs. They were definitely all received very well whether people were singing along or not.

Originally posted by kris_smith87:I didn't really notice people singing the new songs but they were into some of them.

There were people my age and way way younger. Like little kids.

I did wonder if the screen actually took away from the new songs as you almost have to follow the screen for the story?

Originally posted by kris_smith87:I didn't really notice people singing the new songs but they were into some of them.

There were people my age and way way younger. Like little kids.

I did wonder if the screen actually took away from the new songs as you almost have to follow the screen for the story?

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:Never thought about that..could be, but I think it depends on what you're looking for as a reaction to the screens and songs that use it. Like I think it might be weird for people to be cheering and going nuts during songs like Raised By Wolves. It's almost more comforting when people don't. It's not a happy part of the show, you know? Neither is Iris. But I can say people around me (including me) were genuinely affected by those songs. Iris always makes me have that "I can easily cry right now if I just let it go" reaction.

Despite including excellent early songs Out Of Control and I Will Follow along with Vertigo, U2 chose to fill the first set with material from Songs of Innocence starting with The Miracle Of (Joey Ramone) and followed by Iris (Hold Me Close) - about Bono’s mother who died when he was 14 years old - Cedarwood Road, about Bono’s childhood home, Song For Someone, about Bono’s wife, and Raised By Wolves, about a real-life car bombing in Dublin.

None ignited the crowd until the oldie Until The End of the World driven by the Edge’s great sounding chimey guitar.

Even Sunday Bloody Sunday was stripped down and robbed of its usual anthemic power and it started to make me wonder if the U2 curse - Bono had a bad bike accident last fall in Central Park that required major surgery, the Edge walked off the stage at the tour launch in Vancouver in May - was continuing.

The second set began slowly with yet another new song, Invisible, but then it all started to go very right beginning with the belly dancer who told Bono later she had danced with them ten years earlier at the same venue.

Elevation got the crowd further pumped up and then cover band Acrobat was helped up on stage after Bono noticed their bassist wearing a disco ball hat.

“That’s a good start,” said the singer. “Are you any good?

Turns out they were and when the fake Bono threatened to eclipse the real Bono, U2 finally kicked into high gear.

Stuck in A Moment was simply but beautifully presented with the Edge playing piano and the new song Every Breaking Wave proved to be the most palatable of the night.

Bullet The Blue Sky, Pride (In the Name of Love), Beautiful Day, Bad, And With Or Without You followed and the momentum kept up during the encore of The City of Blinding Lights, Where The Streets Have No Name (despite Bono not running around the stage as in previous tours), I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and a cover of Stand By Me.

Originally posted by iTim:[..]


Toronto Sun

Originally posted by iTim:[..]


Toronto Sun